Don't Cry Little One

The Weird Little Mermaid and Peter Pan

"I found her, ninang Ian." Callix said on the other line.

I knew it. I knew that he'll find her. He always does.

When Robi and I told everyone that Sam left to wherever, they went ballistic. Nagalit si Robi liit, Gabi, Batman at Wolverine. Hindi nila maintindihan kung bakit ko hinayaan umalis ang bunsong kapatid nila. Ipinaliwanag naman sa kanila ni Robi kung bakit ko ginawa 'yon. Takot sila sa daddy nila kaya wala silang nagawa kung 'di ang suportahan ang naging desisyon ko.

James, my bestfriend among the Neon guys, talked to me alone after our announcement of Sam's self-exile.

"Sa lahat talaga ng mga anak mo, si Sam ang kaugali mo. Kaya sya din ang paborito ko sa Neon kids." James said.

"Pareho kayo ng sinabi ni Robi." I answered and sat on the swing. We were out on the backyard of our home.

"Nagtaka ka pa, eh pareho nga kami ng babaeng minahal. Iisa ang first love namin. Iisa din ang second love."

"Pero malaki ang pinagkaiba nyo." I smiled.

"Malaki talaga. Mas gwapo ako sa asawa mo eh." James said confidently.

"Sira! Mas gwapo si Robi noh."

"Sus! Biased ka lang sa asawa mo."

"Ewan ko nga sayo, James!" I laughed.

"Sige nga... Anong malaking pinagkaiba namin ni Robi?" Paghahamon ni James.

"Last love..." I answered. Napatingin sakin si James. "True love... Great love."

He looked up at the night sky. Napaisip siguro sa sinabi ko.

"Tama nga naman." He nodded. "Alam mo minsan naiisip ko baka kaya ka nasaktan para matagpuan ko naman yung babaeng para sakin. The end justified the means. Thank you dahil nasaktan ka." He teased.

"Gago ka talaga, James!" I said and punched him on the shoulder.

"Aray ko naman! Binibiro lang naman kita..." He retorted and messed my hair. "What I really want to say is that, maybe... hopefully, you let Sam make the right decision. Baka tama lang na hinayaan mo sya makalipad-"

"Correction. Makalangoy. Tandaan mo, mermaid ang anak ko." I interrupted.

"Fine. Makalangoy. Malawak ang ocean. At ang buhay nya dito, parang aquarium lang. Safe and controlled environment. But Sam? She'll fit-in in any body of water she plunges into."

"I know... That's why I let her go. It's time we let her grow up." I sighed.

"Grow up?! Naku! Pagbalik nun, papakasalan na yun ni Callix!" James laughed.

"Grow up pa lang! Hindi ko sinabi na pwede na mag-asawa!" Binatukan ko pa si James.

Naalala ko na naman noong nag 5 years old si Sam. Callix was 8 years old that time. Nakaupo sa swing si Sam habang tinutulak sya ni Callix. It was a few minutes after she blew the candles on her birthday cake.

"Sampalok, 5 years old ka na! Paglaki mo, papakasalan kita. Yung totoong kasal na. Yung totoong pari, hindi na si kuya James. Tapos bibigyan kita ng ring na may Sapphire, hindi na yung cheese ring ang ilalagay ko sa daliri mo. Tapos totoo na yung 'you may now kiss the bride', at hindi na yung sinasabi nila kuya Robi liit na 'the groom may now be punched by the kuyas of the bride'. Totoong-totoo na kasal. Hindi na kasal-kasalan."

"Kailan ba yun, kuya Callix?" Sam asked with furrowed brows.

"45 years na lang yun. Sabi kasi ni Ninong Robi kanina atsaka nila Wolverine at Batman, pag 50 years old ka pwede mag asawa."