diminutives

photograph

rj bakit ba di ka mapakali dyan?

what do you think? will he like me? mukha na ba akong presentable? yung shirt ko may gusot ba? may dum—

i held his face and smiled at him warmly.

hey relax... you're fine. he'll like you. ok? hindi ka pa nya kilala mahal ka na nya so calm down.

love... what if he—

shhhh... he's your son. besides hihingin mo pa yung kamay ko sa kanya di ba?

he closed his eyes and kissed the palm of my hands.

thank you love. i can never thank you enough...

ok ka na ba?

much better

hey that's them - let's go. let's get you to meet your son

he looked at the little boy wearing glasses walking his way to the arrival of NAIA terminal 1. he looked mesmerized, probably because he's seeing himself when he was four. i smiled at him and squeezed his hand assuring him everything will be alright.

we made our way to fetch my mom, dad and of course our son. before we reached the pavement where my family is standing, i saw the expression of my son. same one i saw on his father's face a while ago. i ran to him and engulfed him in my arms he hugged me back and whispered

"i missed you mom..."

i missed you so much sweetie

he broke the hug and looked at me his back on his father.

"i can see dad found you"

he did sweetheart. he did.

"are you happy mom?"

yes iam

he smiled and said

"good. let me talk to him"

i looked at him and smiled then i looked at rj who is now sweating profusely which made me chuckle, i didn't know only a 4 year old could scare a company SVP. i stood up and held thirdy's hand then we made our way to his father.

"hello sir, my name is richard james mendoza. you can call me thirdy"

he held out his hand for a handshake, rj took it and knelt down so they're the same level

hi thirdy, my name is richard faulkerson jr.

"and how do you want me to address you, mr. faulkerson?"

rj looked at me as if asking for help. i smiled at him and nodded giving him my assurance that it's ok.he looked back at his son and gave him a warm smile.

i would love you to call me dad. what do you say?

thirdy looked at him. it was only a good 10 seconds that he did not say anything but for rj it seemed like eternity. i can see beads of sweat forming on his forehead. i chuckled. finally he met his match.

"i'd love that. dad."

rj let out a sigh and turned to hug his son. i was crying already seeing my son and his father hug each other. i felt my mom caressed my back and my dad side hugging me.

when they broke the hug. thirdy looked at me and smiled then turned to his father.

"but—"

huh? rj looked at his son with puzzled face