Play Pretend

Chapter 60

This is the last chapter of Play Pretend, the first installment of Office Love Affairs. I took a lot longer to write this one than planned, but I never expected I would suddenly have a change of heart on how I should end Chantal's narrative before moving on to the epilogue. As someone who's currently struggling with adulthood, I'm happy to grow with her by writing this story—I hope you also did. So instead of following my initial outline, I chose to let my heart hold the pen, and I love how things turned out.

#OLAPlayPretend

Chapter 60
Wait

The next day, I woke up alone in bed. Mag-a-alas nueve na nang magising ako. I couldn't remember the last time I slept in so late. Lagi ay maaga akong bumabangon para mag-asikaso bago magising si Cami dahil medyo hirap na ako kumilos kapag gising na siya. Masyado akong naging kumportable kagabi katabi ang mag-ama ko kaya lumalim lalo ang tulog.

Wala na sina Cami at Xaiver sa kama, but I could hear faint and indecipherable noises coming from outside. Agad akong bumangon at nakuntento na sa pagsuklay ng buhok gamit ang mga daliri bago lumabas. Dahan-dahan kong binuksan ang pinto upang hindi makagawa ng ingay. Ayaw kong istorbohin sila, lalo na't iyon ang unang araw na makakapag-bonding sila.

I found them making something in the kitchen. Mukhang nakaligo na si Xaiver dahil nakaayos na para sa panibagong umaga. Siguro ay may inutusan siya para pagdalhan siya ng damit. On the other hand, Cami was still in her pajamas. Nakatali nga lang sa magulong pigtails ang kanyang buhok.

Lihim akong napangiti dahil alam ko na agad kung sino ang salarin no'n. At least he tried, though. Iyon ang importante.

Inaalalayan ni Xaiver si Cami sa paghahalo ng pancake mixture sa bowl. Medyo makalat ang lamesa dahil nasa gitna pa sila ng pagluluto. Nandoon ang box ng pancake mixture, measuring cup, at ang shell ng itlog na ginamit.

Ngumuso ako. I found it a bit messy since I am used to cleaning as I cook. Ayaw ko ng makalat kapag nagluluto.

"There..." Hinawakan ni Xaiver ang kamay ni Cami. "Now to make the pancakes pink, we will put a bit of this food coloring. Just a little bit."

Kinuha ni Xaiver ang red food coloring. Seryosong-seryoso siya habang tinatantiya ang pagbuhos. Kapag sumobra ay hindi na pink ang magiging kulay ng pancake na ginagawa nila, and I bet he wanted to impress his daughter that he could make it pink.

"Daddy, me! Me! I will put pink!" Cami volunteered and raised her hand.

Natigil si Xaiver sa pagpatak. He turned to our daughter, looking like he was in a huge dilemma. Ayaw niya sigurong ipagawa 'yon kay Cami dahil baka sumobra.

"This is a very crucial stage in making pink pancakes, my love. Can you do it?" tanong niya kay Cami na tila ba parang nanghahamon din.

"Yes!" Cami proudly answered right away. "Cami make it pink, Daddy! Pink!"

Bumuntonghininga si Xaiver. "Okay, okay, but daddy has to hold your hand while you do it. Is that okay with you?"

"Hold Cami's hand!" sabi naman ni Cami bilang pagpayag.

Xaiver carefully handed the dropper to Cami. Pagkatapos ay agad niyang hinawakan ang kamay ng anak saka inilapit sa mixture.

"Just a tiny bit..." bulong niya.

Mabilis ang ginawang pagpatak ni Xaiver sa mixture. It happened in just a split second. Cami wasn't so fascinated that she couldn't get enough of it.

"More, Daddy, more!" pagalit niyang sabi kay Xaiver. "Please put more, Daddy!"

"I'm sorry, my love, but that's enough."

Cami whined, putting on a drama for his father. She got into the bad habit of doing that to get everything she wanted. Alam niyang kaya niya akong kuhanin sa gano'n, at sa itsura pa lang ni Xaiver, she had successfully wrapped her small finger around her father.