IKAW, AKO AT ANG MUNDO

CHAPTER 29

After what I heard earlier, hindi na kami nakapag-usap ni Leni dahil lumabas muna siya para maglakad-lakad kasama sina ang mga anak ko. except kay kiko na may kinuhang food delivery sa labas.

"Magkikita pa naman tayo, my love," Jill can't stop hugging me the whole afternoon.

"Are you not planning to visit us there?" Jill asked habang nakasiksik pa rin sa akin sa sofa.

"I will, but I can't promise."

Dumating naman sina Aika at Tricia at sumiksik din sa amin.

"Are you okay, Aika?" I asked since tahimik siya lately.

"She's not, Ma." sagot ni Tricia.

"Hah? Bakit? Is there any problem?" I asked.

"Thanks, Tricia," sabay tawa ni Aika.

"What's that, Aika?" I asked then I reached her hand.

"Is it weird at my age or do I have a rights that I'm gonna miss you even I'm also here in the Philippines?"

Bigla akong nangiti when I heard that from Aika. Kung sa softest man, si Jill at Tricia talaga ang masasabi ko. Pero si Aika, manang-mana kay Leni. Hindi mo malalaman agad-agad when she misses you kung hindi pa siya umakap or mag-i miss you ka sa kaniya. That's Leni. But to Aika, may less naman pero this is the first time I hear that from her.

"Aww, my Jessica. Of course, you can miss me at hindi weird, okay? Walang age limit ang pagsasabi ng I miss you," sabay tawa ko.

"Nalulungkot lang ako na we have to separate our ways again. Lalo na kapag nasa Manila na tayo, kaniya-kaniyang buhay. Kaniya-kaniyang bahay ulit na uuwian. 'di katulad dito, sabay-sabay kakain, matutulog, at gigising."

"Aika entering her emo era," pang-aasar ni Tricia.

"Ikaw kaya nauna," asar ni Aika.

"Mas nauna si Jill nasa America pa lang tayo," Tricia said.

"Nanahimik ako rito, Mama," Jill said still hugging me.

"Asus, miss ko kayong lahat, okay? Saka this is not the end naman of our bonding. Babawi pa sa Mama sa inyo."

"Mama," Tricia called me.

"Yes, love?"

"If you settle with Tito Jared na, we are okay."

That reassurance from the kids made my heart happy.

"As long as we're still allowed to see you once in a week, month, not year!" Jill said with a little complain. "He should aware that you don't have just 4 kids but 7!"

"Okay rin ba kela Issa 'yong marrying thing niyo pi ni Tito Jared, Ma?" Aika asked.

"Hindi ko pa makuha nang buo nilang oo."

"They will give that as long as you're happy, Ma."

***
Pagkatapos namin mag-usap nila Jill, Aika at Tricia. Dumako ako sa kusina para uminom ng tubig. Ilang saglit lang, umuwi na sina Issa at Sinta kasama na rin si Ianna at Kiko.

"Nasaan si Leni?" bungad kong tanong nang maibaba ko ang baso.

"Mama Leni needs time, Mom."

"Time? For what?"

"I guess, we are not in the right position to say that. Pauwi naman na po siya." sabi ni Issa.

"Is everything okay?" pag-aalala kong tanong.

"Hoping," sagot ni Issa sabay ngumiti sa akin. "Don't worry, Mom. Everything will be fine."

"Nag-aalala ako, sabihin niyo sa akin kung ano 'yon."