Hiding His Daughter

CHAPTER 37

After ng nangyari hindi ko na muling binuksan pa ang cellphone na 'yon.

"Take care, okay? Don't be so naughty outside." saad ni Mama kay Jaiena habang inaayos ang buhok ng anak ko.

Bibong tumango ang bata. "Yes po, Mommy La! I will not be naughty with Mommy. I will behave po!" sabi niya at humalik kay Mama.

Papa chuckled and kiss her in forehead. "Okay, I will act like you will behave outside with your Mom." he teased. Jaiena pouted.

Mama chuckled. "Very good, I will ask Mommy Eliana if you did behave, because if you did I will buy you whatever you want." pumalakpak ang batang makulit dahil sa sinabi niya.

Umiling ako at hinawan sa kamay si Jaiena. "Ma, stop spoiling her." saad ko.

"Leave me alone, she's our first ever granddaughter... What do you expect?" kibit-balikat niyang sabi.

Bumuntong hininga na lang ako. "We're leaving, Ma, Pa." paalam ko. Hinalikan pa nilang muli si Jaiena sa noo saka umalis na.

"Mommy, why is the sky blue?" she asked while looking outside the car.

"Because of something called scattering, sweetheart. The air scatters sunlight, and blue light scatters more than other colors."

"But why is the sun yellow?"

"That's a good question! The sun actually produces all the colors of the rainbow, but it looks yellow to us because of the way our atmosphere filters the light."

"What's an atmosphere?"

"It's the layer of gases that surrounds the Earth, like a big, invisible blanket."

"Is it warm like a blanket?"

"Sometimes, yes! Other times, it's cold. It depends on where you are."

"Why are clouds white?"

"Sometimes they are gray or dark, too, sweetie. It depends on how much water they have. But mostly, they're white because the water droplets scatter all the colors of light equally."

Parang lumabas bigla ang talino ko dahil sa mga tanong niya.

Jaiena paused, considering this. Then, with a mischievous grin, she leaned closer. "Mommy, do clouds ever fall down?"

I couldn't help but chuckle. "Well, sometimes the water in clouds falls down as rain, or snow, or hail."

"So clouds are like giant water balloons?"

"In a way, yes! Giant, fluffy water balloons in the sky."

Another pause, then, "Mommy, are there clouds on the moon?"

I laughed, shaking my head. "No, love. There's no air on the moon, so there are no clouds."

"Mommy... Why don't I have a dad?" she asked. I hit the brakes at a red light and looked at her. Her small face was serious, her usual bright eyes clouded with a question that felt too big for her.

I cleared my throat. "But you have Daddy Lo, right?" It felt like a weak answer, even to me.

She fiddled with her hands. "I mean, my Daddy. Omer has his dad, and my friends have dads. Where's mine?"

I hesitated. Should I lie? Should I try to explain something she wouldn't understand? The truth felt too complicated, too painful.

"He's in the Philippines, love," I said finally, starting the car again as the light turned green. It was a simple answer, but it felt like a vast understatement.

She clapped her hands. "I want to go to the Philippines, Mommy! I want to meet him!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with a sudden burst of excitement that felt both heartbreaking and heartwarming.