It was a warm Friday night when the Ford couple is tucking their kids to bed. Kathryn was in charge of tucking the boys in, while Daniel was in charge of the family's princess.
"Love, I tucked the boys in their bed na. Aren't you done with Sabby?" Kathryn said while walking slowly to her mag-ama, who's sitting in the rocking chair beside the crib. As she reached them, she gave her youngest a kiss in the forehead.
"Tulog na. Pero gusto ko pa siyang hawakan ng ganto hanggang kaya ko pa." Daniel said with uttermost sincerity.
"Ang drama naman ni Tatay. Sige, maiwan muna kita. Mags-shower lang ako. I'll wait for you there na lang ah" sabi ni Kathryn kay Daniel. Daniel answered with a nod.
"I love you" sabi ni Daniel after he gave a light kiss to his wife.
"I love you too" Kathryn then replied before going out of the nursery.
" Don't grow up too fast, baby girl" Daniel whispered to his baby while kissing her head and clutching her into his arm. Savouring each and every moment with her.
"Hay nako 'nak! Ikaw talaga nakakapagpalambot ng puso ko ng ganto." he said out loud. True enough, this baby girl can melt his heart with just one glance. "Manang mana talaga kayo sa nanay niyo! Isang tingin pa lang tunaw na ako" he added while laughing. Nung umingit ang bata ay doon niya na-realize na napalakas ng kaunti ang tawa niya.
"Shh sorry Tatay didn't mean to." pag-aalo nito sa bata ngunit tuloy lang ito sa pag-iyak kaya humuni na lamang siya ng isang kanta sa pagbakasakaling tumahan ito.
"Be brave little one
Make a wish for each sad little tear
Hold your head up though no one is near
Someone's waiting for you..."
Unang parte pa lamang ng kanta ang kanyang kinakanta ay tumigil na ang bata sa pag-iyak, kaya minabuti niya na ilapag na ito sa crib. Saka dahan dahang tinapik ang binti.
"...Don't cry little one
There'll be a smile where a frown used to be
You'll be part of a love that you see
Someone's waiting for you..."
Minabuti niyang pagmasdan ang anak habang natutulog, kaya't umupo na lamang siya sa lapag sa tabi ng crib. 'Natatakot akong matapos ang mga 'to. I'm afraid na hindi ko na to magagawa kapag tumanda ka' He said in his mind.
"...Always keep a little pray'are in your pocket
And you're sure to see the light
Soon, there'll be joy and happiness
And your little world will be bright
Have faith little one
'til your hopes and your wishes come true
You must try to be brave little one
Someone's waiting to love you"
Nang matapos ang kanta ay hindi pa rin siya umaalis sa inuupuan niya. He's staring at his sleeping child.
"Tatay?" familiar voices called him. Tinignan niya ang nakaawang na pinto at nakita ang dalawang anak na lalaki.
"Bakit 'di pa kayo tulog? Nako papagalitan tayo pare-pareho ng nanay niyo!" sabi ni Daniel, but the kids opted to sit opposite to him on the floor near the crib.
"We heard you singing" Skylar said.
"Umiiyak kasi si Sab" he replied.
"I want to comfort her too" Samuel butted in.
"She's asleep na eh. Ok na. Sleep na kayo sa room niyo" Daniel said
"Tatay, one last." Skylar said
"Ano 'yun?" Daniel asked
"Tatay I got a perfect score in Math, and Sam got a perfect score in English. Can you give us a prize? A money perhaps?" Skylar said without any hesitations. What a straightforward boy.
"Huh? Hoy! Saan niyo naman gagamitin 'yung pera? Naku kung narinig 'yan ng nanay niyo masasampolan tayo pare-pareho nun!" sabi ni Daniel with his eyes wide.
"It's a secret. Please tatay!" Skylar pleaded with Samuel beside him, looking at their father with a puppy eyes look.
"Saan niyo ba gagamitin? Bala sa console? May bago bang labas? Eroplano nanaman ba o RC? Ako na ang bibili. Alam niyo namang bawal pa kayo humawak ng pera eh" sabi ni Daniel, trying to get a hint. Gulat na gulat siya sa panghihingi ng pera ng mga anak. Well this is the first!
"Tatay! We told you it's a secret! And it's not for a toy or a console game!" Samuel said with an irritated look.
"Samuel." Daniel gave him a warning voice and look.
"Please Tatay!" Daniel just gave them a look. The two boys looked at each other and sighed in defeat.
"Tatay, a classmate of mine showed me her new doll, and I think Sabby would like it. I want to buy her that, so I told Sam to do well on his test so we could ask you for some money for that toy" Skylar explained with his head bowed low.
"We want to give Nanay a bogay too" Samuel exclaimed in a low voice. Daniel laughed at it.
"It's bouquet, Samuel" He said as he ruffled his son's hair.
After realising what the boys are up to, his heart melted at how genuine and generous his kids are. Natutuwa siyang marinig sa mga anak na gusto nilang pasiyahin ang kapatid at ina nila. It's something Daniel would always want to instil in them, and seeing them voluntarily do it, makes his heart melt. Tuwang tuwa siya sa mga anak. Sobra pa sa tuwa ang kanyang nararamdaman.
"Sige, show me the picture of that toy then I'll buy it and the bouquet tomorrow for you and then you give it to them. Okay?" sabi ni Daniel sa mga anak.
"Really Tatay?" The two kids asked. Nagniningning ang mga mata ng mga anak sa narinig sa kanilang ama. Daniel just nod.
"But for now, sleep time na" sabi ni Daniel sa dalawang bata.
"Say goodnight to Sabrina na" dagdag pa nito.
"Goodnight Sabby." Skylar said after he kissed Sabrina's hand from the spaces of the crib's panel.
"Sweet dreams" Samuel said as he did what his Kuya did. Daniel stood and kissed Sabrina's forehead before ushering his kids towards their own room.
"Tulog na boys ah!" Daniel said after he kissed his children's forehead.
He went out of the room feeling contented.
'Pag gumigising ako sa umaga at iniisip ko kung may kulang pa ba? Wala na. Wala nang kulang. Kompleto na ang buhay ko' Daniel said in his mind.
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Note: Short update for y'all! :)
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