Pieces of Me

And After, Comes Five

"Are you sure I won't get in your way sa center?"

"Magsusulat ka lang naman diba? You can stay in my office while I work on my patient today. Remember Tepi? She's back. Rotator cuff injury. Her dad requested for me personally."

"Poor kid. Did they change instructors na? People ought to take better care of her. She has potential to be an Olympian."

"Unrelated sa gymnastics yung injury niya. She was in her tree house tapos she slipped and almost fell head first but she was able to grab at a piece of rope which helped cushion her fall."

"Oh my god."

"It gets worse. She tried twisting her body so she won't land on her head so the brunt of the force hit her right shoulder which was injured na to begin with. A year off from gymnastics. She's devastated."

"That settles it. No tree houses for our kids."

"No gymnastics too?"

"Well... I won't stand in their way if yun gusto nila pero only the best instructors and you'll be there to make sure they're being handled correctly."

"Wala pa nga tayong anak you already make a good mother. Ang swerte ko talaga."

"Nambola ka na naman. Teka I'll just go get my things upstairs. Does Tepi have long hair pa rin? Magdadala ako ng girly stuff so we can bond when she's resting in between exercises."

"Daig ko pa tumama sa sampung super lotto. I love you, Mrs. Faulkerson, future baby momma. Sagad. Wagas."

"Ang OA mo na. Tama na. Mamaya kung saan pa mauwi yang pambobola mo. You don't want to keep Tepi waiting do you?"

"Walang I love you too."

"I love you too, Bub. Now go start the car."

"Yes dear."

~•~•~•~

"Ate Maine, can you come here with Kuya RJ every time I have a session? Please?  Kasi it's better pag andito ka. I don't get pagod agad. And Kuya RJ is less strict."

"Is that true, Bub? Are you less strict when I'm here?"

"Kelan pa ko naging strict?"

"When Ate Maine is not here. You don't smile a lot. And you don't sing when you're putting away the exercise mats."

"Sinusungitan ka ba ni Kuya RJ kapag hindi ako kasama?"

"He's not masungit. He's just not happy. Like now. See? He's smiling and wala yung tulis ng nguso niya. Plus, when you're here, I go home with a pretty braid. Sige na Ate Maine, sama ka na dito sa center when I have sessions with Kuya RJ."

"Hindi kasi pwede all the time. I have to rest din kasi because something is wrong with my back. It gets really painful minsan eh. Pero I promise, I'll come visit you here as much as I can."

"What's wrong with your back? Kuya RJ fixed my back before! He can fix your back too! Kuya, fix Ate Maine's back!"

"I am, Tepi. I help Ate Maine's doctor in fixing her back pero it's not as easy. O, hala... don't cry. She'll be fine. Isasama ko siya dito basta wala siyang sakit or meeting with her bosses."

"Promise?"

"I promise."

"Okay. Ate Maine, do you know how to do the fishtail braid?"

"Yep. You want that? Sige go get changed na and then get your backpack. Did you bring the hair kit I put together for you?"

"It's always in my bag! Don't go away ha? Wait for me! Kuya RJ don't put away the mats so fast. Ate Maine will braid my hair pa. Wait lang ha? Don't go!"