Anthologies {MIKHAIAH AU}

lego house pt 2

Janna's room was a whirlwind of color—soft pinks and yellows on the walls, shelves overflowing with books, stuffed animals, and toys that Mikha and Aiah had accumulated over the years. The Lego set had already been dumped out onto the rug, pieces scattered everywhere in a chaos that only a six-year-old could organize. Janna was already on her knees, sorting through the pieces with the intensity of a scientist preparing for an experiment.

"Mommy! Mama! Ang daming pieces!" Janna squealed, looking at the instruction booklet that was almost as big as her head. "Paano 'to?!"

Mikha and Aiah exchanged a quick glance. A silent agreement passed between them, and they both dropped to the floor, kneeling beside their daughter.

"Okay, unang step," Aiah said, picking up the instruction booklet and flipping it open. "We start with the base. Janna, hanapin mo yung mga flat na pieces na kulay gray."

"Got it!" Janna said, immediately diving into the pile of Legos like a treasure hunter.

Mikha grabbed a handful of pieces and began sorting them into piles. "Tapos, ako sa walls. Aiah, ikaw sa—"

"Wait," Aiah interrupted, a teasing grin on her face. "Ikaw na agad ang in-charge sa next step? Sino boss dito?"

Mikha smirked, not missing a beat. "Ako. Ako bumili ng Lego set, di ba?"

"Fair," Aiah admitted, raising her hands in mock surrender.

Janna looked up, her nose wrinkling. "Why are you two always like that?"

"Like what?" Aiah asked, raising an eyebrow as she connected two pieces of the base.

"Always fighting but not really galit," Janna said, gesturing vaguely between them. "Like you guys have your own world."

Mikha paused mid-sort, her eyes darting to Aiah, who looked equally caught off guard by the question.

"Ah, well," Mikha started awkwardly, "that's just how Mama and Mommy are. We're... like that. Cool lang."

"Cool lang?" Janna repeated, unconvinced. "Eh dati, you always hugged. Now you don't hug."

"Um..." Mikha faltered, looking at Aiah for backup.

Aiah cleared her throat, leaning forward slightly. "That's true, baby. Pero things are a little different now, di ba? We're still a team when it comes to you, and that's the most important thing."

"Team?" Janna repeated, her head tilted like she was trying to figure out if she believed them.

"Yeah," Mikha jumped in, hoping to steer the conversation back to neutral ground. "Parang basketball. Hindi naman lahat ng teammates nag-aapir every second, pero they still play together."

Janna giggled. "So,  who's the point guard sa inyong dalawa?"

Mikha grinned. "Ako, syempre."

"Hoy, bakit ikaw?" Aiah protested, laughing as she leaned back on her hands.

"Eh, ikaw ba marunong mag-point guard?" Mikha teased, sticking her tongue out.

Janna burst out laughing, clapping her hands. "You're so funny! Mama's the point guard, Mommy's the... ano tawag dun, yung nasa gitna?"

"Center," Aiah muttered, rolling her eyes but smiling despite herself. "Fine. Ako na ang center."

"Eh bakit wala kayong basketball?" Janna asked innocently, blinking up at them.

Both women froze.

Mikha coughed, trying to regain her composure. "Anak, focus na tayo sa Lego, ha? Base muna."