The Correct Way To Drink An Affogato

23

Behind

He flashed his infectious smile. "Thank you for letting my niece play with your son"

My lips protruded when I stopped myself to smile. I don't want him to know that I'm enjoying this play date.

"Everything for Florian" Sagot ko saka bumaling sa anak ko na patuloy na naglalaro sa play place kasama si Cali.

Pinaalis kami ng isang employee sa trampoline kaya nakaupo nalang kami sa labas habang binabantayan ang mga bata gamit lang ang tingin.

"Is it really difficult? To be a single father?" Biglang tanong niya.

I chuckled. "Bakit? Gusto mo na ba maging tatay?" I asked.

He leaned on the table. His big arms occupying the tabletop with his curious eyes looking at me.

"Oo" Seryosong sagot niya na nagpaseryoso bigla sa akin.

"To answer your question. Yes, It's difficult. Florian changed everything in my life. My routine, priorities, and goals because as he grows up, I have to adjust everything to be able to accommodate his needs because it is constantly changing. Example, Ever since we've arrived. He's been sleeping in my bed because I'm the first one he needs to see in the morning or else he'll cry. But last night, He slept in his bedroom but he needs a night light because he's afraid to sleep alone with the lights off..."

I paused when Cali approached. She drank from her water bottle then got back to playing.

"Then?"

"It was eleven in the evening and I'm watching a youtube tutorial on how to make a night light from a lamp." Iniisip ko palang, inaantok na ako dahil alas dos na ng umaga ko natapos ang night light.

Nakatulog naman siya kahit nauwi lang sa flashlight  ang ginamit ko na pangsamantalang night light niya.

"Do you wish sometimes that you have someone to help you?"

Kumaway si Florian sa akin. "Sometimes" Kumaway ako at nag thumbsup naman siya.

"When he's sick, I can't sleep so i stay up late. I wish that sometimes... I have someone to talk to or to just stay up late with" I sighed. All those sleepless nights are worse than being in the hospital working.

Imagine all the diagnosis I made when he's just having a fever...

"Last question, it's okay if you don't answer but why are you a single father? Did his mother left?" He asked the question that even my friends are scared to ask me.

That's when I couldn't help to not smile anymore.

Chismoso rin eh.

"My first year of med school, my mother was diagnosed with stage three cervical cancer. She went into complete remission after months of treatment but she cried to my father that she's scared that she won't get to see and bond with her granchild from me because cancer goes back" I held my legs for support.

"Dad said he has a contact with a surrogate... So I went through with it without thinking of the possible difficulties that comes with being a parent because that time... Si Mommy lang nasa isip ko, ang kasiyahan lang niya."

Nag iwas ako ng tingin dahil masyado yatang napalalim ang kwento ko?

"I know that she's happy in heaven because you gave him a grandson"

I remember his message that night after my mother's burial two years ago. I didn't reply because I might call him and drop everything in my life just so I could hug him.

But I have a son, a family to grieve with, and a demanding job.

"Masaya talaga, Binigyan ba naman ng pang tuition sa medical school si Florian" Sagot ko na nagdulot ng tawanan sa aming dalawa.

Nagtataka naman na lumapit ang dalawang bata sa amin.

"What are you laughing at?" Tanong ni Cali sa Tito niya.

"It's not for kids" Sagot niya na mas lalong nakapagpakuryoso sa bata.

Nag aya naman sa akin na umuwi si Florian. Alas tres na rin ng hapon kaya inaantok na 'to. Nagpaalam na kami sa mag-tito na hindi pa rin tumitigil sa pagtatalo tungkol sa pinagtatawanan namin ni Severiano kanina.

As usual, my baby managed to sleep during the six minutes drive back home.

I can still carry him despite not going to the gym for a month. Well I have a small collection of weights in my room but I haven't set it up because Florian might play with it and get into an accident.

Ihihiga ko na sana sa kama ko pero lalo humigpit ang hawak sa akin. "My bed! My bed!" I sighed.

Mula parking lot hanggang rito buhat ko na siya.

Payapa naman siyang nakatulog nung ilapag ko na sa kama niya.

"Pwede na maging tatay si Ninong Dan-Dan" Tukso ko nung binitbit niya ang anak ko papunta sa pool area kasama ang ibang mga bata at yaya nila.

Connie grinned. "Nagpa-practice na at baka buntis na ang girlfriend"

Nakangisi naman si Elene at Snow.

"Ay sasabunutan ko silang magjowa" Iritadong sabi ni Dani na nagpahagalpak sa amin.

Its saturday morning. My girls decided to just go to a random resort to bond. Kasama ang mga boys pero nasa kabilang cottage. Asher, Kale, Reese, Red, and Connie's boyfriend Emmett.

Magtataka pa ba ako na narito si Red eh hanggang ngayon sila ni Kale ang magkaibigan.

"Ayaw mo no'n Tita Dani ka na" Tukso ko na lalong nagpaasim sa mukha ni Dani.

"Mommy, Ice Cream!" Bigla-biglang sumusulpot itong anak ni Dani na si Himig kaya hindi natutuloy ang mga biruan namin.

Lalo na ang mga bastos na usapan na sinisimulan ni Connie at Elene.

Dani fed her a spoonful of vanilla ice cream. 

Paalis na yung bata nung tawagin ni Elene. "Come to Ninang Elene dali"

"Go ask your Tito Dan-Dan if his girlfriend is pregnant" Utos niya sabay marahang igiya ang bata papunta sa Tito niya na naliligo sa pool.

Nakangiti namang tumango si Himig bago nagtatakbo papunta sa pool.

"Elene! Siraulo ka pati ba naman anak ko!" Eksaheradang panunuway ni Dani... Rinig ata sa buong resort ang lakas ng tawa namin dahil sa tinis ng boses ni Dani.

Dani poured wine on her glass. "Tama na nga, pag iyan talagang kapatid ko nakabuntis, kayong lahat ang magpapalaki" Umamba pang kurutin si Elene.

I leaned on Snow's shoulder while I rest my feet on top of Dani's legs.

"Wow, pagod na pagod ang ulirang magulang ng taon" Kumento ni Dani pero minasahe naman ang binti ko.

Elene rolled her eyes at me. "Ginusto naman niya na huwag kumuha ng katulong kay Florian."

Connie has an assuring smile. She knows the reason why i chose to not hire help. After all, she's a pediatric psychologist.

"It's okay to hire help especially when you're a single parent." Snow commented that I appreciate so much.

"Kami nga ni Asher na dalawa, kumuha pa kami ng yaya para kay Robin."

I sipped on my wine.

"Kukuha pa, pwede namang jumowa nalang ng mag aalaga" Seryosong sagot ko na nagpalaglag ng panga ni Connie at Snow.

Halos mahulog naman sa upuan si Elene at Dani sa sobrang pagtawa.