Dahil may oras pa daw bago ang aming family dinner, nagyaya sina Hani, Sinb at Krystal sa isa pang lugar. Pinagbigyan sila ni Oppa because they are known brats- they always get what they want.
Nang i-park ang sasakyan namin, alam ko na agad kung nasan kami.
"What are we doing here?" Oppa asked after unbuckling his seatbelt.
"I'm gonna go shopping and you will accompany me!" Umiling nalang si Nichkhun at napakamot sa ulo.
"Ano pa nga ba ang magagawa ko. I can't leave you here alone even if I want to." He sighed.
"You are free to leave if you want to, Mister." Inirapan ko siya at nauna na akong maglakad.
Hindi pa ako nakakalayo ay hinabol niya na ako at hinawakan pa ako sa palapulsuan ko.
"I won't let you go again. It's making me damn worried, baby." He looked at me straight in the eye at hinila na ako. I just obeyed and followed his gaze.
"What are we doing here?" Inis kong tanong sa kanila nang makababa sa sasakyan. Nasa hiwalay na sasakyan kasi kami. There's too many of us that we can't fit in one car.
"Isn't it obvious? We're going shopping!" Inirapan ko nalang ang mapang asar na ngiti ng apat na babae at nauna nang maglakad kasama si Nathan.
Although shopping wasn't on my plans, the boutiques captured my attention. Pumasok kami sa forever21 not only for us girls, but for the boys as well. Now, I don't only shop and style myself. I do the same to my son too.
"Mommy, I like this set! Let's buy this!"
Parang modelong naglakad si Nathan papalapit sa akin suot suot ang jeans, red polo shirt and a red topsider, plus glasses.
"Baby, you have too much red shirts in your closet already." He pouted.
"And you have too much pink, too." I frowned. Great, son. Great.
"Okay. Put that here after you get changed." Bumalik na siya sa fitting room para hubarin na ang damit. Napailing iling nalang ako.
"He's like a young version of him, really." Naka ngiting sabi ni Jessica sa tabi ko.
"I know. And it hurts me because I can't introduce him to his Dad now."
"Mommy I'm done!" Natapos ang seryosong usapan namin nang lumabas si Nathan sa fitting room bitbit bitbit ang damit na sinukat niya kanina.
"Okay. Let's go now. We don't have time. Grandma and Grandpa are waiting." Pumunta na kami sa counter para bayaran ang mga binili.
It won't fit in a single plastic bag dahil sa dami ng binili namin. Kaya ngayon, hawak hawak ko ang anim na paper bag na naglalaman ng mga binili namin ni Nathan- sa forever21 palang yun, ah.
Dahil naubos ang oras namin katitingin at kai-ikot sa boutique na iyon, hindi na kami nag check sa iba pa. Bumalik na kami sa parking para makaalis na at makapunta sa Hotel kung saan ang aming family dinner. The family will dine in one portion of the Hotel by the pool. Medyo na-late nga kami dahil nandoon na sila at ang ilang pagkain nang dumating kami.
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"Paps!" Tumakbo takbo si Nathan papunta kay Daddy para yakapin ito at halikan. Ganun din ang ginawa niya kay Mommy.
"Nate, greet Lolo Steve and Mommy Jaz." Utos ko.
"Aigoo. Tinuturuan mo na agad ng discrimination, ah? Call me Daddy Steve instead, baby boy."
"Okay, Daddy Steve." Tuwang tuwa ang elders sa dalawang bata sa pamilya.
They are asking for more, actually. Lalo na sa mga Jung. Yvan is still too slow dahil hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa din siya nagpo propose sa girlfriend niyang artist at kaibigan namin-si Juhyun. Jessica is getting married soon nga pala at malamang, mabibigyan nanaman ng panibagong apo ang pamilya and I hope, it'll be a girl this time. Ang hirap kapag naging tatlo pa silang lalaking magpi pinsan. Itong dalawa pa nga lang, eh. Susuko ka sa kulit.
"Liam Miguel! Don't go near the pool. And stop running, will you? Baka madulas ka dyan." Todo ang saway ni Oppa sa kaniyang panganay na si Liam na nakikipag laro kay Nate. Ito namang kuya, imbes na sawayin ang mas bata, sinasabayan pa.
"Nate, sige. You won't stop? I'm gonna throw everything that you bought today." Tumigil ito sa pakikipaglaro sa pinsan at lumapit sa akin.
Umupo siya sa lap ko at hinalikan ako sa lips.
"Sorry mommy." Iginitgit niya mukha niya sa leeg ko at doon tumawa ng tumawa.
"Manang mana talaga sa Tatay." I glared at Oppa when he said that dahil baka marinig pa ni Nathan at magtanong nanaman tungkol sa Tatay niyang kinalimutan na ako.
"By the way." Daddy sighed. "There's a huge mission allotted to us by the US and Philippine armed forces." I groaned.
"Not again, Dad. We're not working for them." Reklamo ko.
"Yes. But what was the mantra of Exodus?" Umiling ako. "Catch few, Save many."
"Alright, Dad. Let's talk about this tomorrow. Let's not kill the vibe." Si Oppa na ang pumutol ng topic na iyon kaya nag bukas kami ng panibagong topic which is, directed to me again.
"Hindi pa ba nagigising si Nichkhun, Steph?" Salamat nalang talaga at natutulog na ang anak ko. Titiisin ko nalang kahit medyo mabigat na siya.
"Gising na po, Tita. But he can't remember us." Sagot ko sa tanong ni Tita Jasmine.
"Oh. That's sad. His son waited for him for four long years but he can't remember?"
"Yes that is really sad, Mommy. At eto pa, the first name that he said when Tiffany came there was his ex's name." Sinamaan ko ng tingin si Jessica sa pagsusumbong niya na iyon.
Hindi niya nalang pinansin dahil nakatingin pa din siya kay Tita.
"That's insane. Hindi niya manlang inisip ang mararamdaman mo!" Pagod akong tumingin kay Mommy at nag buntong hininga.
"Mom, he doesn't remember me."
"Kahit na! Hindi niya manlang naisip na baka girlfriend ka niya or what." Mommy sighed. "This won't do! Sasama ako sa inyo sa Seoul. I will make him remember!"
"Diane... the kid doesn't remember. Your daughter gives him time to recover. Don't do something pussy that might ruin your daughter's marriage." Paalala ni Tito Steven kay Mommy.
"Pero Kuya, I can't bear to watch my daughter like that."
"You won't and can't watch her because she's in Seoul and you're in LA. So don't worry. She's a grownup now. She can handle those problems herself."
Kung mayroon mang magpapatahimik kay Mommy, si Tito Steven lang iyon. Even Dad can't stop her when she becomes uncontrolled. Takot lang ni mommy kay Tito Steven.
"The kids should rest. Mom, Dad, Tito, Tita, mauuna na po kami. You guys should rest too for your flight tomorrow." Si Yvan na ang nagyayang umalis dahil pati si Liam ay natutulog na.
"Okay.." tumayo ako para makipag beso kina Tita at pati kina Mommy.
"Don't forget to call me if you meed help, okay?" Mommy said then smiled at me. She kissed her grandson goodbye at umalis na kami.
