The Correct Way To Drink An Affogato

19

Son

"Papa, are we there yet?" Tanong niya na inilingan ko dahil dalawang oras pa bago makarating sa Cabanatuan.

A week after passing my diplomate exam, I decided to go to Nueva Ecija. Tito Dominique have been waiting for me to fill the empty slot on his private practice.

It wasn't a rash decision because it was my plan all along. I might go back to hospital duties, not now tho. I want to have a control over my schedule so I have time for my son. Pag siguro nasa college na siya tsaka ako babalik sa pagkuha ng post? I don't know.

Pinagpapahinga pa ako ni Daddy pero mas maraming nangangailangan ng tulong ko. Mom would say the same thing...

I prepared my son to move and he's excited  because he's friends with my friends' children. Connie has Conan, Snow and Kale has Yuki, and Elene and Asher has Robin. Dani and Reese are currently in the states but they'll be back with their three gremlins. Sinta, Musika, and Himig.

Conan, Yuki, Sinta, and my son are incoming grade one students. Masaya na rin ako na mas marami ng kalaro ang anak ko dahil si Aki nalang ang bata sa bahay tapos next year teenager na.

I stared at his angelic face while he's sleeping. I hope that this change will not affect him too much.

Pagpasok sa parking, muntik pa akong mawala dahil dalawang buwan na akong hindi nakakabisita sa unit. Dani and Reese lives in the same condominium but in a different tower so I am confident that I'm safe especially now that there's only two of us.

I carried my son out of the car. Hatak-hatak ko ang dalawang maleta. Isang malaki at isang may kaliitan. Sanay na maging octopus kaysa gisingin ang anak para paghatakin ng maleta.

"Floor?" Tanong nung nakasabay kong babae sa elevator.

I smiled. "Fifth floor please. Thank you"

She nodded. "How old is your son?"

"He's six" Nakangiti kong sagot.

She looked at my son. "He's big, What's his name?"

"Yes he is, uh his name is... Florian" Saktong dumating sa fourth floor kaya bumaba na siya.

Pagdating sa unit, nakaayos na ang mga gamit. We just have to go to the grocery later. I put Florian in his room. I opened the door so he can immediately see me when he wakes up.

I checked the unit if there's any child hazard but there's none.

Dahil kung meron, si Connie ang may kasalanan. Siya ang interior designer nito! Papalitan niya ang anak ko pag may nangyari!

"Papa! Papa!" Rinig ko kay Florian. I was busy updating my friends.

Sumilip ako sa kwarto niya. Pupungas-pungas ang mata. Kagat labing nakaupo sa kama, malapit na umiyak.

I walked towards his bed, "Yes?" Then i kissed his forehead and started caressing his hair. He hugged me immediately.

"You didn't go to the hospital?" Tanong niya pagkalas sa yakap. "Nope. Iiwanan ba kitang mag-isa?"

He yawned. "But how are you going to make money if you don't go to your job?" Inosenteng tanong niya na alam ko naman na sa mga pinsan narinig.

"You don't have to think about that, okay?"

Antok na antok pa pero nung sinabi kong pupunta sa grocery, siya pa ang nag boluntaryong humanap ng damit niya.

"Papa, I want to wear this. Can i wear it?" Pinakita niya yung black t-shirt at shorts na coordinates. I nodded in response. I tried to help him but he looked at me darkly.

"I'm a big boy na" Coñong pambabawal niya sa kamay ko.

Napailing nalang ako. Proud na proud si Dani sa anak ko dahil mga coño rin ang anak niya. May karamay na ang mga anak niya na sinasabihang maarte ng mga ninang at ninong.

Big boy na pero nung makitang may nakasakay na toddler sa baby seat sa push cart, nainggit.

"You can't pick your snacks if you seat there" Pang uuto ko na umepekto naman. "Careful" I warned him when he almost bumped into someone.

Nagtatalon siya saka tinuro ang isang bilog na lata ng cookies na nasa pinakataas ng aisle "Papa, There's my favorite snack that Lola Rabbit buys for me"

Pag naman kukuhanin ko na, ayaw na raw.

"Baby, it's almost six o'clock. We need to go home"

Tumango naman. Dalawang oras kaming nasa grocery dahil lahat ng aisle napuntahan niya. S'yempre susundan ko naman dahil baka kung anong mangyari sa kanya.

Call me an anxious father but this little guy can't be replaced.

Pagpasok sa elevator, nakakapit lang sa akin si Florian dahil maraming tao sa loob.

"Papa, what's our floor?" Tanong niya dahil siya ang tinanong ng babae na nakatapat sa mga buttons.

"Fifth floor, baby" Sagot ko saka ngumiti sa babae na pumindot. "Thank you" I mouthed then wiped the sweat on my forehead.

Nakalimutan ko na kung gaano kainit sa Cabanatuan. This knitted brown cardigan, white shirt, and black slacks combo is not helping with the heat.

I bathed Florian, let him watch his favorite cartoon while I cook dinner for us. Pumunta naman dito si Connie na kasama si Conan. Pumunta pala rito para hindi siya ang kulitin ng anak niya.

"Paano kung magkita kayo ng ex mo?" Tanong niya nung makitang tutok na ang mga bata sa paglalaro.

"Bakit mo naman natanong yan?" Natatawa kong pag iwas sa tanong niya.

She shooked her head. "Ewan ko ba, Lagi naman kasi tayong magkausap kaya ibang topic naman sana"

I sipped on my drink. "Masaya na 'yon"

After all, I was the one who initiated the break up. I wasn't able to process it immediately because I was so drowned by acads, adjustments, followed by Mommy's cancer diagnosis.

When the summer after Level One of medical school, everything hit me like a bus. Summer means no Acads so I was just left alone with my thoughts. I wasn't allowed to go to the hospital because I was a mess.

Inaabot ko ang mga pangarap ko pero pakiramdam ko yung pangarap ko ang hadlang para mahalin ko yung pamilya ko.

Kaya tama lang na nakipaghiwalay ako dahil ayoko siyang hatakin pa pababa kasama ako. I loved him too much that seeing him in pain because of me pains me.

Kaya masaya na 'yon. Dahil ang mga iniiwanan, sila yung unang nakakausad dahil malinaw na ang reyalidad nila. Pero ako? My reality bit my ass after a year. That I have to go through all of the shit in life alone because I pushed my supposed partner.

Kaya masaya na 'yon... Sana.