IKIGAI Series #1: Estranghero

Special Chapter 1

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Third Person's PoV:

It was mid-afternoon in Hong Kong Disneyland.

Mataas ang araw pero hindi ramdam ang init dahil sa malamig na simoy ng hangin at saya na bumabalot sa buong paligid. Elio held Kio's hand habang nakapila sila sa isang food stall na punong-puno ng Mickey-shaped snacks. Sa kabilang braso niya ay nakasabit ang eco bag na may mga souvenirs na pinili kanina ni Kio, karamihan ay puro keychains at plushies na may kulay blue.

Kio, now eleven, was busy scrolling through his phone, pretending to be disinterested. Pero alam ni Elio na may kinikilig itong makita kanina sa parade dahil may mga performers na naka-costume ng paborito nitong anime character.

"Papa, can we just get two turkey legs and some churros? I'm hungry," Kio said flatly, eyes not leaving the screen.

Elio chuckled. "You mean we're hungry. Don't act like hindi ka kanina lang kumakain ng cotton candy."

Kio gave him a side-eye, exactly the same look Kiernan always gives when he's pretending not to be guilty. "That doesn't count, Papa. Cotton candy dissolves."

Elio shook his head, amused. "You're impossible, anak. Parang may kakampi ka pa talaga na kopya mo..."

Bago pa siya makapagsalita pa, naalala niya ang dalawang naiwan. Kiernan had excused himself earlier, carrying their youngest son, Kaito Ren Inoue.

Kaito, now three, was the sunshine of their small family. Energetic, bubbly, at laging nakadikit kay Kiernan. Hindi naman nakakapagtaka-Kaito was biologically Elio's child through IVF, using a trusted surrogate they met in New York a year after their wedding. Pinangako ni Elio noon na walang lihim na ikukubli sa kanila tungkol sa pagkakakilanlan ni Kaito.

At ngayon, he couldn't help but smile. Everytime he sees Kaito's small chubby arms wrapped around Kiernan's neck, parang naaalala niya kung gaano kalayo ang narating nila.

"Papa," Kio suddenly said, breaking his train of thought. "Why does Daddy always make me carry all the bags when we're out? He says I need to 'build character.' Isn't that just child labor?"

Elio smirked, leaning down to his son's level. "Kio, your Daddy grew up carrying heavier things. He thinks you're strong enough for it."

Kio pouted. "I'll tell Lola when we get back to the Philippines. She'll scold him. Daddy's scared of you and Lola anyway."

Elio laughed out loud, shaking his head. "You know, anak, sometimes I think you take too much advantage of that fear. You're exactly like him-suplado, mataray, pero malambot ang puso."

Kio's brows furrowed, clearly not pleased. "I'm nothing like Daddy. He's bossy and he always blames me when Kaito makes a mess."

"Anak," Elio said, placing a gentle hand on Kio's shoulder, "you may not see it, but every time I look at you, nakikita ko siya. The way you argue, the way you roll your eyes, even the way you secretly care... you got all of that from him."

Kio sighed dramatically and went back to scrolling his phone. "Not fair. Why couldn't I get your personality instead?"

Elio only smiled. "Trust me, anak, you have more of me than you think."

Habang hinihintay nila ang order, Elio glanced around the lively park, catching sight of Kiernan from afar walking toward them. Kiernan looked effortlessly striking as always-dressed casually in a white polo and denim jeans, hair a little tousled by the breeze, and carrying Kaito securely in his arms.

Kaito's tiny hands were gripping Kiernan's shirt, his sleepy head resting against his father's shoulder. Kiernan was saying something to the toddler, his expression soft and patient-the kind of Kiernan only Elio and their kids ever got to see.