diminutives

in between

sweetie?  rj knocked while peeping thru his daughter's door

"yes po dad?"

busy ba ang maganda kong prinsesa?   he asked as he approached charm whose sitting at her study table

charm placed her pen down and looked at his father eagerly

"dad kahit po busy ako i'll always have time for the greatest dad and mom in the world" then she flashed a smile at her dad which made the mark on her left cheek visible that made rj smile as well

anak can i talk to you

"about what po?"

your mom

"what about mom po?" she asked with curiosity

i uh... charm you do know how much i love your mom di ba?

she chuckled at her father's distressed expression

"dad no one can ever question your love for my mom" she answered reassuringly

he heaved a sigh of relief. but he still hesitated on what he was about to say

"dad? is there something that's bothering you po?"

ahmm... w-wala naman anak... i— i uhmm i just want to be completely honest with you

she faced her father then held his hand and gave it a little squeeze

"dad you can tell me everything po but nothing will make me unlove you"

i asked your mom to marry me

charm was not able to contain her happiness that she suddenly lounged herself to embrace her father

"tell me she said yes" she asked while still hugging rj

rj smiled and nodded

she did princess. she did.

this is what she had longed for. not a complete family. no that one. but for her mom and dad to be happy. because all her life she knew in her heart that they deserve to have that happiness. for her it's just a bonus that they still find happiness at each other's arms.

"congratulations po"

charm... i uh... i wanted to ask you

"for what po?" she asked with confusion

anak, i know how much you love your mom. and i know that all you wanted for her is to be happy

"and she's happy po with you"

i'm glad to know that, it means alot coming from you, anak

"then ano po ang gusto nyong itanong sa akin?"

he looked at his daughter hesitantly. he is sure of his intentions of talking to her but he's not sure how is he going to convey his message to their princess

all these years i lost your mom... anak, ikaw ang nag-alaga sa mommy mo. ikaw ang nakakita how she went by her life without me

her eyes began to water. she still remembered some nights when she heard her mom crying. there were even several occasions where she had seen her mom hunched on a pillow with her father's picture in her hands.

for charm, it was heartbreaking. and a lot of times she wished she had superpowers to take away her mom's sadness.

so i want you to know that i'm sorry for hurting your mom.