Waves

Taki's childhood

"O-opo..."

"Maupo ka sa tabi ko--"

"Dad, pupunta na ko sa baba--"

"Teka, san ka pupunta? Iiwan mo ko sa daddy mo?"

Kenneth whispered.

"You need to talk to him, love. Besides, boto naman ata si dad syo. Kailangan ko ng bumaba, hinihintay na ko ng mga girls sa baba. Goodluck."

I said while kissingg his cheek for a sign of goodluck.

"Dad, ikaw na bahala sa loves ko ah? Sige, thank you, daddy!"

I kissed the cheek of my dad and left them both.

Kennneth's POV:

When Taki left, I gulped then sat beside her father.

"Kenneth, wag kang matakot sakin. Hinde ako nangangagat."

"Sorry po, tito."

"Gusto ko lng malaman ang totoo, mahal na mahal mo ba ang anak ko?"

I didn't think twice and nodded, slowly. Then I saw her father sighed.

"Mabuti kung ganon. Alam mo kasi, yang si Taki, masayahing bata yan, mabait, at maabilidad. Pero lahat ng iyon ay nagbago nung nawalan ng time si Ivy sa mga anak namin. Kaya nung isang araw, naisipang tumulong ni Taki sa pagluluto at gustong mapasaya ang kanyang mommy. Nagpaturo sya sa mga yaya kung paano magluto ng Sinigang..."

Taki's childhood memories:

"Yaya, can you teach me how to cook Sinigang for my mommy?"

"Sure naman! Tulungan mo ko, tara?"

"Yipeee! Thank you po, yaya!"

She helped her cook Sinigang then served it on the bowl.

"I hope mommy like this!"

"Oo naman, kasi made with love. Ayan, ilagay na natin dito."

Everyone gathered at the dining table then Taki watched her mom tasting the Sinigang she cooked for her.

"Ano ba yan?! Bakit ang pangit ng lasa?! Ikaw ba ang nagluto nito?!"

Ivy said while throwing the bowl of Sinigang away. The bowl fell on the floor and cracked into pieces. Taki looked at it and went back to her mom.

"M-ma'am, s-sorry po.... Si ano po kasi ung nagluto nyan--"

"Sino?!"

"S-si Taki po, ma'am."

Ivy looked at Taki and pulled her to the stairs, then to her room. Elbert followed them to the room then realized that it was locked. He tried knocking, but didn't work. She then heard cries and loud slaps.

"Mommy! Stop it, please! It hurts!"

"Bakit kasi nakikisawsaw ka sa mga yaya?! Diba gawain nila yun?! Pakielemera ka talagang bata ka!"

"Ivy, stop it! Let Taki be!"

But Ivy didn't stop.

Back to the present...

"Ang hirap po pala ng pinagdaananan ni Taki sa mommy nila."

"And that day, Taki promised herself that she will never be like her mom, she wants to be a better mom than Ivy. And I hope, Kenneth, you will help her."

"I will po, tito."

Then we hugged.