Against All Odds (Complete)

Chapter 21

His Pov

I am now carrying Nicka...

She feel upset because Reign is going back to Manila.

I feel pity for her. I didn't experience this situation for when i was a child mom and dad always let me go with them whenever they went out of the country or out of the city. I feel their complete love.

But for Nicka at a young age experiencing is so hard. She never had the chance to meet and see her parents. As what Reign told me back then.

She will experience again being left by her sister whom she also see as her mother.

So i decided to do something to ease her feelings.

"Baby bunso tahan na, di pa uuwe si ate at kuya mamaya. Sa Lunes na lang ng umaga. Ano gusto mo gawin natin ngayon?"

Tinignan naman ako ni Reign na nanlalaki ang mata at tinanguan ko na lang din siya. Total Byernes ngayon, may sabado at linggo pa. Susulitin na lang.

Bigla namang napatigil sa kakasinghot si Nicka at lumapad ang ngiti.

"Talaga kuya? Di pa uuwe si ate at ikaw po?"

"Yup baby bunso dito muna si ate at kuya"

Sabay pahid ko sa mga munting luha niya at inayos na rin ang buhok niya.

"Yey, kuya pasyal tayo ngayon"

I smile at her and look at Reign for approval. Tumango naman siya, kaya kinausap ko ulit si Nicka.

Naisip kong mamasyal kami at sa labas na rin kumain.

Excited na nagpabihis si Nicka sa ate niya. Samantalang si Reign naman ay sinasabayan rin ang kapatid niya. Pero si Ralph ay may iba rin palang lakad at pinayagan naman ito ni Reign basta wag daw pagabi ng uwe.

So it turns out na kami na lang tatlo ang mamasyal. Nagpaalam na kami sa tiyuhin ni Reign.

Higit kalahating oras rin ang biyahe papuntang city ng kanilang probinsya.

May mga ngilan ngilang buildings ang nandoon. Mga fastfood chains at pizza house. May mall rin ng isa sa mga branches ng isang sikat na mall sa Manila. May mga ilan ilan ring mga private and public vehicles on the street.

May mga tao ring naglalakad sa gilid ng kalsada.

We decided to went inside the mall. Tuwang tuwa naman si Nicka sa mga nakikita, karga ko na rin siya para mas makita niya ang nasa loob ng mall. Hawak rin ni Reign ang kamay ni Nicka.

Una naming pinasukan ay ang department store. I immediately saw some girly stuff for baby's in Nicka's age. There's one maniquin who she admired, wearing a pink dress like on the barbie characters.

I call the sales lady and told her that i'll buy that dress. Then like a star at night, Nicka's eyes twinkle.

Sinaway naman ako ni Reign sabay paalalang wag daw sanayin sa luho ang kapatid niya. But i just reasoned out that Nicka is just a child and we just let her experience things and give what she wants. I just added it that it was my gift for her.

I also ask her if she wanted to buy a dress or anything but she just said no.

After buying the dress and other clothes for her, we enter the toy store.

Nicka's eyes were amazed, her expression is just like her ate whenever she see new things. So cute.

Tinakbo agad ni Nicka ang isang bear na mas malaki sa kanya. It's color pink with a ribbon on the neck and holds a red heart on right hand.

I ask her if she wants it. She just move her head from right to left which means no. But i know she really wanted it, the way she hugged it and the way she look at it i already knew. So i call the sales lady to pack it and i paid for it.

Pinigilan pa ako ni Nicka sa pagbabayad. Niyuko ko naman siya at inilagay ang takas niyang buhok sa tenga niya.

"Kuya Nick, wag na po. Di ko naman iyan kailangan eh. Sabi ni ate may mas importante pang bagay kaysa sa pagbili ng mga gamit na hindi napapakinabangan."

Matuwid pa nitong sabi sakin. Tinignan ko naman si Reign na ngayon ay nakatingin na rin samin. Reign really raise her siblings in a very great way.

"Mana sayo tung kapatid mo maprinsipyo rin"

Sabay ngiti ko sa kanya.
Tinaasan naman niya ako ng kilay.

"Tama naman kasi yung kapatid ko. Tsaka alam mo kung gusto naman talaga ng kapatid ko ipipilit niya talaga"

Tinignan ko naman ulit si Nicka na ngayon ay nakatingin na ulit sa bear.

"But i know she really want it. She's just stopping herself"

Tinanong ko siya ulit. This time tinignan ko siya sa mga mata niya.

"Baby bunso, gusto mo ba yung bear?"

Nag alinlangan pa siya at tumingin sa ate niya. Pinilit ko naman siyang tumingin sakin. Dahan-dahan siyang tumango, sabay yakap sakin.

"See, i told you she want it. Pinipigilan lang niya dahil idol ka niya"

Pinabalot ko na yung bear at binayaran bago kami lumabas ng store.

I check my watch and it's quarter to twelve so i look for a food stall or either a food chain inside the mall.

Pero bago pa ako makapili, tumakbo na si Nicka palapit kay Jollibee at niyakap ito.

"Ate si jobee, si jobee"

"Bunso jollibee, hindi jobee"

Niyakap yakap pa niya ito sabay sabi ng jobee jobee. Her smile is really geniune just like how Reign smiles and laugh when were together.

I can't help myself so i took a picture of Nicka.

Then i went to their place. I asked a girl to take us a picture. Me, Nicka hugging jollibee and Reign. Next one is me carrying Nicka, while Reign is next to me then the Jollibee statue.

After that we enter the fast food and i let them find the table and i ordered our food.

Nicka is happily eating the chicken and the spaghetti while Reign is wiping the smudge that was left on Nicka's mouth.

We eat happily. Sometimes Nicka will clap her mouth and say "sarap". We just laugh at what she's doing.

We spent the rest of the day with smiles on our faces. We went to the park and when Nicka saw the playground she was so excited and run to it. She rode on the swing, the seesaw she even want to try the monkey bar so i help her.

Just like her ate, she asked for the ice cream. Then we ate ice cream then headed home when it's already 5:30 pm.

But before we went home, i make sure to bring something to her brother and her uncle.

Another joyful day. Reign's family is great and wonderful.