With You

Chapter 16: Childhood Name

Chapter 16: Childhood Name

After that Sunday we went out together with Anya, Harrison became very busy with work again. Minsan ay sobrang late na ng gabi siya nakakauwi. Hindi na kami nakakapagsabay sa pagkain ng dinner. Even his dinner became a dinner meeting with his business partners. Kaya naman kaming dalawa na lang ni Anya ang nagsasabay sa pagkain.

"Anya, male-late ulit ng uwi ang Daddy mo ngayon. He still has his dinner meeting..." I tried to explain it to the child.

Hindi ko alam kung ano ba ang tingin ni Kay Harrison... He's her dad, but he's busy...

Sinubukan ko rin ngumiti kay Anya. "Your Dad is working very hard for you, Anya. For your future." sabi ko sa kaniya.

Unti-unti naman siyang tumango sa sinabi ko. I gave her a reassuring smile...

"Anya, would you like me to help you prepare to bed after our dinner?" I asked her.

Tumingin naman siya muli sa akin. "Manang Lourdes?"

Tumango ako. Alam ko na nasanay na siyang sina Manang Lourdes lang ang tumutulong sa kaniya. "If you would be comfortable enough...would you mind if... I also try to comb your hair after you've taken your night bath?" Ngumiti ako muli sa kaniya.

"But... it's the work of Manang Lourdes and the others..." She looked at me with hesitant eyes.

Umiling naman ako sa kaniya. I smiled to reassure her. "If it's all right with you, I can also do that... I can help you..."

Pagkatapos ay unti-unti na siyang tumango sa'kin...

Kaya naman ilang sandali lang pagkatapos ng dinner namin ay kumatok na rin ako sa kwarto ni Anya. And I just waited for a while there. Manang Lourdes and the other two maids were helping her take her night warm bath and change into her lovely dress pajama. She looked like a princess, na napangiti ako nang makita ko siya.

Ngumiti rin sa akin si Manang Lourdes nang paalis na sila ng dalawa pang kasambahay sa kwarto ni Anya. "Ang sabi ni Anya ay ikaw na raw ang tutulong sa kaniya sa pagsuklay ng buhok niya ngayon."

Ngumiti rin ako kay Manang. "Opo. Ako na po ang bahala."

"Sige." Nakangiti pa rin si Manang at umalis na rin sila pagkatapos.

And I was left alone with Anya in her room. "Anya..." I called her.

Bumaling lang naman siya sa'kin sandali. She's already seated in front of her room's dresser. Humarap na rin siya sa salamin nito. Habang pumuwesto na rin ako sa likod ng upuan niya.

"Are you sure you're going to do it?" she asked me.

"Yes, if you'll allow me to do it?"

"It's okay... Daddy just..."

"Your Dad? What about him?"

Nagbaba naman siya ng tingin sa mesa ng dresser. Nakita ko ang repleksyon niya sa salamin na hindi na siya nakaharap doon. "Daddy told me to be good to you..." aniya sa mahinang boses.

Bahagya naman nagparte ang mga labi ko sa narinig na sinabi ni Anya. I also sighed a bit. "You're not being bad at me, Anya... So I think you're a really good girl, too..." I smiled through our reflections on the mirror in front of us. And then I started to gently comb her hair.

At nakita ko na rin ang bahagya niyang pagngiti sa akin habang tinitingnan niya rin ako sa salamin.

"Anya... you don't have to be so strict with yourself around me... I'm not also sure if I'm being really good to you now... But I want to try and be there for you, too... And only if you'll allow me to..." I slowly told her.