CORMAC [TDH - IV]

Chapter 34

IMARI NOELLE

(Long Chapter)

"

Are you really my daddy?"

Vlad touched Yakov's face. Our sweet little boy caressed his father's face and look at Yakov with adornment in his eyes.

"I am your daddy, Vlad." with a hint of exultation in his voice, he immediately hugged Vlad tightly.

I sat on the sofa and watched them get to know each other. Sobrang busy nilang magbatuhan ng mga tanong sa isa't isa at kahit nasa gilid lang ako ay sobrang saya ko na para kay Vlad, he deserves to know who his father is.

"Do you have a big power ranger robot, daddy?"

"What is that, little boy?" halata naman kay Yakov na sobrang invested siya sa kahit anong sabihin ni Vlad.

"I often watch Power Rangers, dad. They fight bad people and they transform into big, big, big robots! They have colors like red, blue, green, pink, and yellow!" halos mabulol pa si Vlad kakabanggit ng mga color at mahinang natatawa si Yakov habang nakikinig sa anak niyang napaka-madaldal.

"Really?! Do you want daddy to buy power ranger robots?"

"Yakov!" sinita ko naman si Yakov agad pero hindi nakinig.

"Yes, yes, yes! I would love to play with them, dad. We'll fight monsters and I will become a hero, too!"

"Alright! But who's your favorite power ranger?"

"My favorite is the red ranger! Because he's the leader and he's strong and very smart."

Vlad's innocence enticed Yakov's heart even more. Habang pinapanood ko sila ay napansin kong kamukhang kamukha pala ni Yakov si Vlad, gusto ko tuloy makita ang baby pictures ni Yakov para ikumpara lang ang mga mukha nilang dalawa ng anak niya.

"And because you like the red ranger who's the leader, and is strong, and very smart, we should eat our lunch now so that you become one, too!" kiniliti ni Yakov si Vlad at napuno naman ng malakas na tawa ni Vlad ang bawat sulok nitong living room ng bahay ni Yakov.

Ang bahay na pinuntahan namin ngayon ay iba sa napuntahan ko noon, siguro ay ito na naman ang bahay na inuuwian niya for the past months, or maybe years?

Hawak kamay kaming tatlo papunta sa dining area, nasa gitna namin si Vlad na magiliw na nis-swing swing namin ng bahagya.

Nang nakarating sa dining table ay handa na lahat ng pagkain kaya naupo na kami. Si Yakov ang umupo sa may isang end ng table at magkatabi naman kami ni Vlad sa kanang bahagi ng table na malapit lang kay Yakov.

There is a variety of food prepared for Vlad. There's chicken, spaghetti, hotdog, meatballs, and etc., but Vlad chose to eat spaghetti paired with the special treat he asked his dad — rocky road ice cream.

Hindi pa man sila matagal na nagsasama ay sobrang spoiled na ni Vlad. Although walang masama dahil bumabawi lang si Yakov sa anak niya, pero ayoko pa rin na lumaki si Vlad na baka maging spoiled in a bad way. But then, I realized that it's our job as parents to provide our child everything he wants and needs, given that we also teach him lessons and values that he should embody as he grows up.

Yakov made a quick phone call and came back as soon as he was done talking to the person on the other line.

"Do you like the food, baby?" Yakov asked and continued eating his russian-style food. I don't know what it's called, hindi ko naintindihan ang chef na nagserve ng food niya eh.