Over The Rainbow (COMPLETED)

Tagalog Time

Year 2023, Faulkerson residence:

Thirdy looks up at M while she watches him write during their review sessions after his class.

No matter how busy the day is, M always finds time even just an hour to sit down with RT and check how he's coping up with school. Most of the time, his son finishes his lessons in 30 minutes so they spend the other half an hour reading random stuff like comic books, kids almanacs and trivia or they just spend the time having some good Mom and Son talk.

"Done, Mama." RT declares as he closes his notebook.

"Wait. Let me see, hon." M scans through his son's work. It is perfect as always. "Wow. Very good, Kuya. Mama is so proud of you. I love you." She beams and hugs her son. "What do you want to do next?"

"Mama, what's tanga?" RT asks randomly.

M's eyes widen and her hand immediately flies up to her mouth and covers it.

"Where did you hear that, honey?"

"One of my classmates called my friend, Tyler, that, Mama."

M looks looks RT in the eyes and holds the little boy's hands. "Well, honey, that is a bad word and kids should not be calling other kids that. Do you understand, honey?"

"Yes, Mama but what does it mean?"

"It means... I'll say this once just so you know what it means but it's not allowed to be said again, okay?"

"Yes, Mama."

"It means "stupid", hon. It's not nice to call people that because nobody is."

"I understand, Mama."

M sighs and analyzes the situation. "I think it's time you and Charm learn to speak Tagalog and it's best that you learn it from us so you will know what is good to say and what is bad and shouldn't be said."

"Okay, Mama. I understand what you and Papa say sometimes too."

"Good then you can learn quick and help me teach Charm."

"What Kuwa teach Charm, Mama?" Charm asks and runs to M's side. R follows her with Seb in his arms.

C sits on M's lap while R takes a seat beside them.

"I think it's time for me and Papa to teach you and Kuya Thirdy Tagalog, sweetheart. Would you like that?"

"Yes Mama. I know Tagawog." C proudly beams.

"Really? Can I hear it?" R asks while letting Seb play with his fingers.

"I know... Pangit." C says.

R&M look at each other and prodded each other on who should ask the next question.

"Now, where did you hear that, young lady?" M asks.

"Tito Dean calls me that when he says I'm being makuwit, Mama."

M chuckles and shakes her head, knowing her younger brother's humor. She look at R and gives him a look that says "It's time."

"Sweetheart, pangit means ugly and it's not very nice to say it." M explains.

"Ugwy? I'm ugwy?" C pouts.

"No. No, sweetie, you're the prettiest little girl I know. Maybe, Tito was just joking then but even if that's how it was, you're still not allowed to call anyone pangit. Okay, love?" M smiles. "Mamaya ka sa akin, Dean." She thinks to herself.

"So, kids, Mama and I will start teaching you nice words to say in Tagalog first, okay?"

"Okay, Papa. How do you say Mama is pretty?" RT asks.

R looks at his wife admiringly and smiles. "Maganda si Mama."

RT and Charm repeat as R says.

"How bout Papa is handsome?"

M stares back at R and smiles. "Gwapo si Papa."

The kids say the phrase as M did.

"Papa, how about I am happy?" RT looks up at his Dad.

R places a free hand on M's right hand and looks directly in her eyes. "Masaya ako." He says, drawing a genuinely happy smile on his face.

RT and Charm repeat as he says and smile.

M smiles back and turns her palm up to hold R's hand.

"Mama, how you say I yuv you?"

M giggles and pinches C's nose gently.

"You say Mahal kita. Mahal kita, Charm." C repeats. "Mahaw kita."

M grins then looks at RT. "Mahal kita, Kuya." RT smiles. "Mahal kita, Mama."

M then slowly turns to R and squeezes his hand. "Mahal kita."

R kisses his wife's hand. "Mahal kita. Mahal na mahal kita." He then rests his cheek on the back of her hand.

"Mahal kita, Papa, Mama, Charm and Seb." RT says and runs in between them to give them a hug.

"Mahaw kita, Mama, Papa, Kuwa and Seb." C says resting her head on her Kuya's back.

R and M look at each other with joyful eyes and lean down to envelop their kids in a warm family embrace.

"Mahal ko kayong lahat." M says.

"Mama that's wong you say mahaw kita." Charm corrects her Mom.

M laughs, squeezing her arms around her family tighter. "Mahal kita Charm, Kuya Thirdy, Papa and Seb."

"Mahal kita, Seb, Thirdy and Charm" R says resting chin on Charm's head while being careful not to get Seb squished in the hug. He then looks up at M, contentedly stares into her eyes and smiles gleefully. "Mahal kita." He tells his wife softly.

R and M bask in that perfectly blissful moment of their family when Thirdy and Charm did only learn the word but also the true meaning of the phrase, Mahal Kita.
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