Hue in my Photograph (Hue Series #4)

Hue #16

Hue #16

Mirn’s POV

“Mom? What happened?” Gabby titled his head as he saw me walking out of the room. “Did you hurt yourself? Why are you walking like a frog?” 

“Huh?” I was confused. “What do you mean? I’m good. Exercise lang ‘to.”

I pretended I was walking as normally as I could, but it was really hurting down there… and Gavion stared at me as if he wasn’t the reason I was feeling the pain. He was huge—I could still feel it. Hindi niya talaga ako tinigilan ng ilang oras hanggang sa makatulog na ako. 

We did it in another hotel room and then I woke up in our suite so he must have carried me. Oh, great! Sana walang nakakita sa amin. Of course, the CCTV footage! Pero nevermind—alam naman ng lahat na may relasyon kami ni Gavion.

But it wasn’t really clear for us. We haven’t talked about it yet. Mas nauna kasi na maglandian pa kami kaysa sa linawin ang lahat. Naiinis nga ako sa kanya kaya hindi ko pinansin. Inirapan ko nga! Pero mas naiinis ako sa sarili ko dahil sobrang rupok! Gusto ko na lang sampalin ang sarili ko dahil grabe ang galit ko sa kanya tapos bibigay rin naman pala—oh, god! Bakit kasi ang sarap ni—ugh! Mere, stop!

Ayoko na! Kailangan kong umarte na wala lang ang nangyari sa amin kaninang madaling araw— wait, what time is it?

“Aren’t you late for the press conference?” Nagtatakang-tanong ko nang makita na alas-otso na ng umaga. “And also for the driver’s parade.”

“I made them postpone the driver’s parade so they might do it tomorrow and the practice game will start at one in the afternoon.”

My jaw dropped. “Wow. You can postpone a driver’s parade but—” I paused and shook my head.

Fine, I will give him the benefit of the doubt. I would believe Kuya Nic when he said that Gavion did a lot of things for me—siguro naman darating ang panahon na mabibigyan niya ako ng valid reason kung bakit iniwan niya ako… kung bakit ganyan siya ngayon.

“Daddy, are you going to win this time?” curious na tanong ni Gabby habang pinapanood na magluto ang ama. Napangiti ako nang maalala na nilutuan din ako ni Gavion noon. Sunog pa nga ng una tapos maalat hanggang sa natutunan na niya ang timpla na gusto ko. 

“I’ll try my best, sweetie…” tipid na ngumiti si Gavion habang nakatutok sa pancake na niluluto. “I am sorry, sweetie. Are you disappointed in Daddy?” Tumingin siya sa anak.

“Hmm…” Gabby smiled a little. “A bit… but as long as you are safe then I am good. Plus, we cannot be winning all the time, right? There are also moments when we will lose, but it doesn't mean that we should give up, right?”

“Wow!” Itinigil ni Gavion ang pagluluto. Kahit ako ay nagulat din sa sinabi niya. “That’s a very good insight. Who taught you that?”

“Grandpa did,” he responded. “He told me that because I was really sad the first time I watched you but you didn’t win. Everyone says you are the best… but it’s okay, Daddy, if you are not in your best shape now…” Lumapit sa kanya si Gabby, tapos kinarga naman ito ni Gavion, kaya ako na ang pumalit sa kanya roon para matapos na ang niluluto niyang pancake.

“Mommy and I are here for you, through your best and worst. You don’t have to worry.” Hinaplos ni Gabby ang mukha ng ama. I looked away as I didn’t want to cry at the sight.

I always thought that Gabby would hate his father… and it would be very difficult for him to accept Gavion, but seeing this now—I realized na sobrang tigas talaga ng puso ko.