Kaia's POV
"Ang ganda naman ng princess namin. Mana sa Tito."
"Kuya Tey, why is she not waking up po?"
"Because she is resting, Cece. Para tumangkad siya. 'Di ba you don't miss your bedtime, too?"
"Kuya Tey, I can't see her."
"Oh, huwag mo lang gigisingin, pogi."
"She's so tiny, Kuya Tey!"
"Ssshh, Eh-Eh. You're too loud. Mama oh, Eh-Eh is shouting. 'Di po ba bawal mag-make ng noise?"
"Sorry."
"It's okay, anak. Hinaan lang ang boses, okay? Natutulog pa si Ate Kaia."
"Why is Ate Kaia still asleep po? Bedtime rin po ba niya, Mama?"
"'Di ba Mommy Callie also sleeps in the afternoon when she's tired from work?"
"Opo, Mama."
"Ate Kaia is also tired like Mommy Callie. Kaya let's allow her to sleep, okay? Kayo ni Eh-Eh, huwag maingay."
"Mama, can we also buy a new baby? I want a baby sister. Please?"
"Eh-Eh, babies are made."
"Hoy, Cece. Saan mo natutunan yan? Bata ka pa. Bawal yan."
"Kuya Tey, I'm already eleven na po. Teacher taught us about the Reproductive System po. I'm not bata na po. Si Eh-Eh po ang bata."
"I'm not a baby. Big boy na ako, 'di ba po, Mama? Big boy na po ako, 'di ba?"
Why am I hearing hushed voices sa kwarto namin ni Livv?
Inaantok pa ako but my curiosity is getting the better of me.
"Hi," nakangiting bungad ni Livv nang magmulat ako ng mga mata.
"What time is it?" tinatamad na tanong ko sa kanya bago pumikit at isiksik ang aking mukha sa kanyang balikat.
I heard her chuckle, "It's past three in the afternoon."
"Give me five more minutes, Livv," pakiusap ko bago haplusin ang kanyang tyan. "Gutom na ba kayo ni baby?"
"She's also asleep in Taylor's arms," sagot ni Livv na ikinakunot ng aking noo.
Sinong tulog sa mga braso ni Taylor?
"Ha?" nagtatakang tanong ko bago muling imulat ang aking mga mata.
Doon ko lang napansin na nakasuot pala siya ng hospital gown kaya napabalikwas ako ng upo. May nakakabit rin sa kanyang kamay at may mga machine na pang monitor.
"What happened? Bakit tayo nasa hospital?" tanong ko kahit ang gulo-gulo.
"What's the last thing you can remember?" malumanay na tanong niya kaya sandali akong tumigil para mag-isip.
Ilang segundo lang ay bumalik na sa aking alaala ang lahat ng nangyari. Nanlalaki ang mga mata kong napahawak sa kanya na nakahiga pa rin.
"W-Wait. Papaano – Ano – Bakit – Teka nga," muli akong tumigil para kumalma. "Anong nangyari? 'Di ba nakidnap ka? Papaano ka nakaligtas? Si Paul. Sinaktan ka ba ni Paul? Iyong anak natin?"
Gosh. Kinakabahan na naman ako.
Bumangon na siya bago ako hawakan sa pisngi. Automatic naman akong napahawak sa kanyang kamay.
She's real. She's here with me. She's safe dahil ramdam ko ang init ng kanyang palad.
"I wasn't kidnapped, Kaia. The ambulance that took me, I was the one who called them. I erroneously sent the address to you at first. When I realized my mistake, I sent it again to them. It was a miscommunication. I wasn't in the right state of mind to tell you that I already asked for help. I'm sorry that I made you worry. You can calm down now."
BINABASA MO ANG
Flawed (5th)
Romance"Picture karma as a celestial DJ, spinning the records of our actions. The beats we create, whether harmonious or discordant, echo back to shape the dance floor of our destiny. So, dance wisely, for the rhythm you set today may be the melody you fin...
