Lost in Tokyo

Ju Hachi

It was my nephew's 7th birthday, and he decided to have an Avengers-themed birthday with lifesized cardboard cutouts of all the avengers. He was dressed like Iron Man, while my Kuya John dressed as Thor, and Ate Niki dressed as Black Widow.

"Happy Birthday, Sweetie!" I kiss Matti on the cheek, and hand him my gift.

"Thank you Tita Ninang! Hi, Tito Richard." He gives Richard a peck on his cheek and hugs him.

Richard went home just to attend Matti's birthday and to do some errands before his big move to Manila. We've survived on video calls and his short visits. I do try to make time as much as possible with him either having dinner in Bulacan or in my condo. Just a few more weeks and he finally moves to Manila.

I was just dressed in a Captain America shirt, while Richard decided to come in an Iron Man hoodie since he was always the biggest Iron Man fan. He explained to me how when he was younger his parents couldn't buy him an Iron Man toy, so when he started to work and earn, he was going to buy all the Iron Man toys he could find. His collection was a simple reminder of how far he's gone in life, and how his successes are signified by these toys.

Lucky enough Matti was also into the same things as him, thus their love for Avengers was always there's bonding whenever he'd come and visit. He would always bring home one of his comic books and read them to him. He would also bring him little pasalubongs like an Iron Man Keychain or a Captain America shirt from Tokyo. It has been their bonding for the past months.

"Hi buddy! Happy Birthday! Excited for your gift?" Richard hands him another present. It was enough to make the seven-year old boy scream in delight. Aside from the Iron Man talking mask, he was able to score an autographed Avengers memorabilia from THE Robert Downey, Jr.

"TITO!!!! ROBERT DOWNEY?!?"

I look at the ecstatic little boy, and I face Richard, "How did you get that?"

"There was a comic-con in Japan. Our company was one of the sponsors. I had passes. I had to get something for Matti. We, Ironman fans, stick together, you know?" He winks at the seven year old boy who was still admiring the memorabilia and tracing every line of Robert Downey's note.

"Thank you, Love... for doing this for him." I kiss him on the cheek. "Matti, baby, did you say thank you already?" 

"Anything for him, Love."

"Thank you, Tito! You're my best friend talaga!" He hugs him and gives him a fist bump.

Matti runs to his parents and shows what Richard gave him, then he runs to his Tita Coleen and Tito Mike, and then he runs to his friends to show off what he has. That boy has always been grateful for the little things, and it was so nice to see him appreciate what Richard has given him.

"Nako, spoiled talaga yan sa inyo noh! Wag niyo naman sanayin. Kawawa naman kami," Niki says as she gives me a welcoming hug.

"It's okay, Ate. Minsan ko lang naman makita si Matti. Mag-anak ka na ulit para iba naman. Di na si Matti."

"Eh ikaw nalang kaya mag-anak! Akala mo ganon kadali?"

"Ay grabe siya! Baby pa ako!" I tell her in a pabebe way and blush at the idea since Richard was intently listening to our conversation.

Actually the more I see his relationship with Matti, the more I think that he is capable of becoming a great father one day.

"Richard, how's the move going along?" She turns her attention to Richard, who was busy chewing his corn dog.

"It's great. I just need to pack a few more boxes, sign and turn over a few more papers, then maybe in two weeks or so, I can finally settle in. I'm still looking for a condo in Manila. So maybe before I leave on Monday I can find one already."