If it were up to me, Rosie would not be in showbiz. Skimpy outfits, boys all around, kissing scenes... These were enough to give me a heart attack. It was difficult having to deal with all of these with my wife and I am realising it is a hundred times more difficult with a daughter.
"Babe, she's four. Come on. You don't have to deal with that now," Maine reasoned.
But I was worried. We've received numerous offers for her to have commercials for baby products or to guest a a child of some star in soap operas and we've all turned them down. However, the Sunday show I was part of was running a Father's day special and they wanted to have Rosie on, so we reluctantly agreed.
"Pag nag back out last minute, walang pipigil okay? If she doesn't want to continue, we stop. Walang pipilit sa anak ko," were my conditions.
So that she won't be too surprised, we ran a rehearsal which we taped. Jerald put her at ease by having her on stage with crayons and drawing papers and talked to her. Rosie was articulate enough anyway, but had trouble with some Tagalog words, and Jerald could handle her. Maine and I stood towards the audience area, where she could still see us.
"Hi, Rosie!" Jerald cooed.
She beamed. "Hi Ningnong Je." Then started drawing.
"How are you?"
"I'm fine. How are you?"
"Fine, too." He got her comfortable, then asked some more questions. "Rosie, di ba you were telling me you wanted to be like Daddy when you grow up?"
"Yes," she nodded. When asked why, she replied, "Kasiiii me when I cry, Mommy doesn't give me money. Si Daddy may money from Boss pag nag-cry."
I looked at Maine. "What? I didn't teach her that!" She said, defensively.
Rosie was now talking about what Maine teaches her, like the alphabet and numbers. "Mommy also says to say po and opo and that we take a bath Sunday, Monday, Tuesday... ummm all days and not to go out of the room na naka-buho."
"Baby, what's buho?"
"Yung walang t-shirt!"
"Does Daddy love Mommy?" I heard Jerald ask next.
"Yes," she answered again and was again asked why. "Because he always kisses Mommy." Maine was beet red. Rosie seemed to be thinking. "Hmm but maybe not always. Sometimes Daddy gets mad at Mommy."
"And then what happens?"
She shrugged. "Nag-play sila then Daddy gets mad, sabi niya 'lagot ka sa kin' and tells Mommy to go to the room. Then lock na room and I have to stay with Manang."
I was signaling to Jerald to cut but he looked a me with a naughty grin then continued, "Then what, baby?"
"One time, I made katok, pero ayaw ni Daddy mag-pasok ako."
"Why?"
"Kasiiii he's naka-buho, sabi ni Mommy we shouldn't go out of the room na naka-buho, di ba?"
Maine rushed the stage. "Umm okay na. Direk cut na please. Rosie baby, let's take a break?"
Jerald was laughing hysterically. Rosie asked, "Mommy, what's happening with Ningnong?"
"He's happy lang." Maine replied and exited the stage, still blushing furiously.
"Ummm next time mag video nalang tayo ng message ni Rosie or pakantahin natin."
Jerald and Direk Mike agreed still laughing. As I was exiting the stage, Jerald called out,
"Paps, patingin ng buho."
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Note: Sana na-gets niyo. =) Posting this now because I won't be able to update this coming week. See you guys! Last 4 chapters then I'm done with Hitched. Thank you so much for everyone who reads my stuff! I really appreciate it.
