"Dito ka ba kakain?"
I stopped swaying the swing as I looked at Sevie, walking towards us.
Napalunok ako ng malalim sa tanong niya. I wanted to eat with them, of course. It's one of my dreams.But still, I need her permission.
"If it's fine." Mahina kong sagot.
She looked at me seriously but later on nodded her head. The twins then immediately pulled my hands again inside the house. They were both so excited as they held my hands, hindi ko ulit mapigilan na mapangiti.
"Okay, let's wash our hands, first." I instructed them.
"Yes, Tatay." They happily responded.
I washed their hands and afterwhich, umupo na kami. Yesh sat beside her Nanay at ako na ang sumunod. While Thiago decided to sit beside me too, kaya napapagitnaan na nila ako ngayon.
I served them their share of rice and tinolang manok. I gave them enough veggies as well. They both looked so interested as I did it, and they even looked at me amazingly. Na para bang ngayon sila nahainan ng makakain.
I watched them eat their food with gusto. Akala ko iiwasan nila ang pagkain ng gulay pero hindi. They were munching the food and looked so satisfied with it. Hindi ko mapigilang mapangiti.
"Tatay, what is your work?" Thiago asked all of a sudden.
I gulped down my food and looked at him. "I am a licensed electrical engineer, I also invest in hotels." Simpleng paliwanag ko.
Mas lalong namilog ang mga mata nito na para bang alam niya lahat ng sinabi ko.
"Then do you have a house here, Tatay?" Si Yesh naman ang sumunod.
Kaagad akong umiling. "I don't. But I could buy a property here."
"Then, mayaman po kayo?" Thiago asked again.
Huminga ako ng malalim. "Well...we are living comfortably." I simply answered again.
"How about Lola? We only have Lola Lorna here." Yeash asked curiously.
Bigla akong napatingin kay Sevie sa tanong nito. I need her permission, pakiramdam ko wala pa akong karapatan na ipakilala sa kanila sina Mama at Papa. Pero kaagad rin naman siyang tumango sa akin, ramdam ko ang pag ginhawa ng kalooban ko.
I looked at Yesh again, and nodded at her with a smile. "Yes, but she is living in Metro."
Then Thaigo quickly asked again. "Then, can we meet her?"
I looked at Sevie again, waiting for her permission. But then she looked at me hesitantly. Napatigil siya sa pagkain. Naintindihan ko, we just started things and we cannot just rush the rest. I will wait until she is ready, kaya ko namang maghintay.
I cleared my throat before answering him. "Nanay and I will still have to talk about it, is it fine?" Mahinahon kung tanong.
I thought they would talk about it more but they just nodded their heads.
"Are you sleeping here tonight, Tatay? Our bed is big and very comfortable. There is a space for you." Yesh offered me.
I cleared my throat. I would love to. But like what I said, we can't just rush things. "We still have to talk about it with Nanay."
Kagaya nang tanong nila sa Lola nila ay mukhang kumbinsido at kuntento naman sila pareho. But their set of questions did not end there. I answered all their curiosity as they asked for more. And when everything was finished, I insisted on washing the dishes but Sevie declined.
