Hue in my Photograph (Hue Series #4)

Hue #2

HUE #2

Mirn's POV

"Yes, sweetie. You have a good memory. He is a famous car racer. I took a picture of him and his team for work before. How about you go and take a photo with him?"

That's all I could think of as of the moment. I figured out that denying would make it more complicated. What would I say? Wala na akong maisip pa. I wasn't prepared for this. Even if I was, how could I deny it? Sigurado naman ako na iniisip na ni Gavion na anak niya si Gabby habang nakatingin dito.

"Yay! I also want to take photos with his teammates, Mom. Can we go to their event?" Masiglang sabi niya. Hindi ko na siya napigilan pa nang tumakbo siya kay Gavion.

Gavion was startled for a bit until he finally composed himself when Gabby reached for him.

"Can I take a picture with you?"

Gavion smiled at him. I knew at that moment, Gavion saw himself in Gabby. Tumingin sa akin si Gavion. Mga matang nagtatanong. I avoided his gaze and focused on Gabby.

"Sure, let's take a photo." Gavion finally said. Nagulat ako sa sumunod na sinabi niya. "Come, let me carry you in my arms."

Agad naman na sumunod sa kanya si Gabby. Hindi man lang nag-isip at tuwang-tuwa na karga siya ni Gavion.

"Sweetie, nakakahiya. You should go down and just---"

"Why would he be shy?" Gavion interrupted, smiling at my son—our son. "How old are you, little kid?"

"I am four, turning five two months from now," sagot ng anak ko.

"I see. When is your birthday?"

"November 10."

Saglit na nanahimik si Gavion hanggang sa ngumiti na siya. Napansin ko na mas humigpit pa ang yakap niya kay Gabby. My hands were trembling. Of course, he knew it already. He felt it.

"What's your name?" He asked.

"I think we should take a picture now," singit ko. "Marami ng tao tapos—"

"What's your name, sweetie?" Hindi ako pinansin ni Gavion at si Gabby ay naka-focus naman sa ama niya. Hinaplos niya pa ang mukha ni Gavion, tila nagtatanong kung bakit kamukha niya ang lalaki.

"Brent Lewis Gabriel," Gabby replied.

I bit my lower lip. Fuck. I am doomed. Hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko. Kukunin ko na ba si Gabby? Tatakbo na ba kami? I do not know. I just stood there...staring at them. I imagined this countless times. I prepared myself for this...yet there's no preparation that would tell me of what Gavion's reaction would be after seeing our son.

I didn't even expect he would laugh. "That's a nice name, sweetie. Do you know that Brent Lewis is the name of the car that gave me my first trophy?"

"Wow, that is cool."

I should end this now. Lumapit na ako sa kanilang dalawa.

"Gabby, let's go now. Nakakaabala na tayo."

“Take our picture," Gavion told me.

"Right, Mommy, our picture together, please..."

I deeply sighed. Umatras ako para makuha ang tamang anggulo nilang dalawa. I was supposed to take only one photo but my son kept on insisting to take a lot. Gavion didn't complain. Bakas sa mukha niya ang saya habang kinukuhanan ko sila ng picture. After some time, I noticed that people started surrounding us.

"Look, it's Ferrari car racer Gavion."

"Cool. Ang gwapo and who's the kid? Kamukha niya. Is that his son?"