The Clairvoyant's Date

One

One
Happy Family

(Author's Note: Please take note of the timeline. Bear in mind of the setting, and remember that this happened on 2018.)

--2018--

"Goodmorning, anak!" Bati sakin ni Mama habang may hawak na sandok. She's wearing a cute pink apron with a kitten print on it.

My mom usually is the one who wakes up the earliest. Nakaplano na kasi sa utak niya ang mga gawain daw niyang kailangan tapusin. Sinabihan ko nga siya na she doesn't need to do that. She could still sleep and wake up whenever she wants pero she said, she loves cooking breakfast for us, parang nakasanayan na niya. Well, I don't know. Ganon naman siguro halos lahat ng Nanay, 'diba? I know it isn't just my Mom.

Lumapit ako sa kaniya at binigyan siya ng halik sa pisngi.

"Goodmorning din, Ma."

The aroma of the food she's cooking immediately got into my nose. My stomach crumbled. Gutom na yata ako.

I heard footsteps from my back habang umuupo ako sa upuan sa dining room. Naramdaman kong hinila nito ang katabi kong upuan at umupo.

I was greeted by his contagious smile.

"Goodmorning, Anak." A tall gentleman said. He's wearing a plain navy blue longsleeved polo tucked in his obviously ironed slacks. The black pointed leather shoes and the necktie he was wearing complimented the whole outfit.

It was my Papa.

I hugged him then gave him a smile to greet him back.

Muling naglapag ng pagkain si Mama sa lamesa bago siya umupo.

"Mukhang ang aga mo yatang nagising ngayon, Raiah?" Mom asked, chewing her food thoroughly.

I drank water first before answering.

"Nightmare again." I said, pinipilig ang ulo.

"Are you stressed these past few days?" My mom asked, nakatuon na ngayon ang atensyon sa'kin while I can see in my peripheral vision that my Papa is listening intently, too.

I stopped moving my utensils for a minute to think of the possible stressors which probably triggered my nightmare. Usually, nagkakaroon lang ako ng ganoong klase ng panaginip pag stressed ako.

Sa pakiramdam ko, hindi naman ako gaanong stressed this week. I am actually feeling light, today.

I shook my head para iparating sa kanila ang sagot na hinihingi ni Mama.

"Were you tired yesterday?" This time, it was my Papa who asked. Nalukot ang noo niya at nagkasalubong ang makakapal niyang kilay dahilan sa pagkakakuryoso sa mga bagay na nangyayari sa'kin.

Pinakiramdaman ko ang sarili. Inaalala ko lahat ang mga ginawa ko kahapon. It took me a minute to fully remember what I did yesterday and I could say na hindi naman ako pagod na pagod. It's actually my usual routine so needless to say, sanay na akong gawin ang mga iyon.

"I was, yeah, pero hindi naman po ako gaanong pagod-pagod. I mean, it's natural for a human to feel tired after all, right?" Nanghihingi ng pag sang-ayong tanong ko.

Tinuloy ko ang pagkain pagkatapos magsalita. Magana akong ngumunguya nang mapansin kong kuryoso pa ring nakatingin sa'kin si Papa, at base naman sa mukha ni Mama, siya ay nag-alala.

Here they go again.

"Come on, Ma, Pa. Eat your breakfast. 'Wag niyo po ako masyadong alalahanin." I said, followed by a chuckle.

Ganyan silang dalawa, mabilis na nag-aalala sa mga bagay-bagay kahit na hindi naman talagang kailangang alalahanin. I don't know if it's just because of their age or ganoon nalang  talaga mag-alala ang mga magulang para sa anak nila? Maybe I'll consider the latter.

"Are you sure you're o—"
"I am, Mom. I am sure I'm okay." I said, cutting her off. I know it's rude but, alam ko na kasi ang itatanong niya. Halos araw-araw ba namang itanong sa'kin eh, siyempre matatandaan ko na. Besides, I really am okay, I don't feel strange or anything. I feel normal, which is good, right? So I guess, there's nothing for them to worry about. Isa pa, even if I was not, I would still tell them that I am feeling alright. Kaya ko naman ang sarili ko. Ayaw ko na silang bigyan pa ng intindihin, especially they're growing old.

I gave them the most assuring smile ever para mapanatag silang dalawa. Hindi naman ako nabigo, nagpatuloy sila pagkain.

As I stare at my Mom and my Dad, I realized how blessed I am for having them as my parents. Napakaswerte ko because of them. They make me feel so loved, yung tipong punong-puno na ng pagmamahal yung buong puso ko. And it feels so good, so good that my heart will explode out of happiness.

"Oo nga pala, Aia, 'wag mong kalilimutang kumain ng lunch, ha? Pati ikaw, Randy." My mom reminded us.

"Oo naman, Mahal. Makakalimot ba akong kumain kung kasing-sarap ng luto mo ang kakainin ko?" My Dad said lovingly to my Mom. I smiled, kahit matanda na sila ay hindi pa rin kumukupas ang pagiging sweet nila sa isa't-isa. You could see the intensity of their love for each other through their eyes. Indeed, the eyes are the windows of the soul.

"Aysus, si Mama at Papa, parang mga dalaga't binata!" Pang-aasar ko naman sa kanilang dalawa.

My Dad threw his eyebrows up and down with a large grin forming on his lips, while my Mom, on the other hand, can't help but blush. Tinatakpan na niya ang mukha niya dahil sa kilig.

I chuckled, I could wake up early everyday just to see this.

"Haynaku, ikaw naman Aia, mag-aral ka ng mabuti ha?" My Mom said, nililihis ang usapan.

Siniko ko ng pabiro si Papa at nginitian.

"Pa, oh. Si Mama iniiba yung usapan. Tama na, Pa. Ginalingan mo masyadong magpakilig eh." Mapang-asar kong sabi habang binibigyan ng ngisi si Mama.

Dad and I laughed synchronizingly. Nagkakasundo talaga kaming dalawa ni Papa pagdating sa pang-aasar kay Mama.

"Haynaku, mag-ama nga talaga kayong dalawa!" Mom said, stopping herself from smiling. Maya-maya pa'y hindi rin niya napigilan at tuluyan nang napangiti.

This is the scene I wake up to everyday, and I will never get used to it.