Over The Rainbow (COMPLETED)

Thirdy

Year 2023:

While waiting for R to come home from work, M decides to take the kids to the village park for the afternoon.

It was two blocks away from their home. Seb is in a baby stroller pushed by M. Charmaine walks beside her pushing a little doll stroller with a Minnie Mouse stuffed toy. Thirdy, who is just learning to ride a bike without the training wheels, follows them with their Nay Pepe watching him as he makes his way to the park on his bicycle and in safety gears.

M sits on a bench and reads a book to Seb while Charm plays on the swing a foot away to her right.

Occasionally, she glances at Thirdy who rides his bike on the pathway in front of her some two feet away while Nay Pepe closely follows him.

M checks his phone and finds a message from R.

"On my way home, Love. See you in 10 minutes. May pasalubong ako for the kids. I love you."

"Okay, Love. We're waiting for you here sa park. Ano na naman yan? They have so many toys already. See you. I love you more."

A few minutes later, M calls the kids to drink some water and to wipe the sweat from their faces and backs.

"Papa will be here soon. Are you excited?"

"Yey! Does Papa have a gift fow me?" C asks excitedly.

"Hmmmm... I'm not sure, sweetheart. It's a secret, you'll find out later."

"Mama, can I ride my bike to meet Papa when he comes?" RT asks for M's permission.

"Yes, honey, but you have to be very careful okay? Promise?" M offers her pinky to her son.

"Yey! Yes, Mama. I promise." RT hooks his pinky finger with M's.

Just then, R arrives. He smiles and waves to them as he enters the park. C gets up on M's lap to wait for her Dad with big smile on her face upon seeing the box of her favorite cake in R's hand.

RT runs to his bike, gets on it and starts to ride it towards R.

"Please be careful, hon." M calls after their little boy.

"Yes, Mama." RT says.

As RT is looking back at her with a smile, he does not notice a toy in his way. It gets stuck in his bike's tires and he falls off.

"Thirdy!" R yells and runs to his son. He drops on his knees beside RT, setting the box he was holding on the floor.

M sits in shock. She wants to say something but couldn't. She wants to get up and run to Thirdy but couldn't. The only indication that she is aware of what's happening are the tears that are flowing unstoppably from her eyes.

Nay Pepe is quick to attend to Seb while calling M's attention from time to time.

"Menggay... Menggay..." She whispers while slightly shaking M.

R checks on RT, carefully looking for cuts or swelling, he finds a shallow cut on RT's right leg and ankle. Thirdy is quietly crying and winces in pain especially when R touched his right arm.

"Can you stand up, buddy?" R asks, trying as hard as possible to stay calm while talking to RT.

"I can't, Papa. It hurts." RT starts to sweat profusely and turning pale as the pain starts to set in especially in his arm.

"Buddy?" R starts to panic. He immediately but gently picks RT in his arms. "Everybody in the car now!" He orders and rushes to the direction of his car.