MARAHUYO

MSC- 3

Proverbs 2:11
Discretion will protect you and understanding will guide you.

*

DADDY DUTIES

He never knew how hard it was to take care of their 10-month old baby until Lea had to leave them for work today.

He couldn't find any available time to even take a short nap and rest as their baby has been very energetic and she keeps on crying probably looking for her mom.

Never had he imagined that he would be a doting father today. But he is not complaining at all. Seeing how pretty and adorable their daughter is, is enough for him to enjoy a tiring father duty.

"Kaya mo pa ba?" Joy asked him as he carried their baby in his arms, "Baka isang araw mo lang inaalagaan 'yang anak niyo, mangayayat ka na."

He chuckled at the remark and gently placed a kiss on his daughter's forehead, "Hindi, ma. Nakakapagod pero ginaganahan naman po ako sa kanya."

"Did she drink milk already?" she went near her granddaughter to check on her, "Ang cute cute naman ng apo ko!"

"She did already, ma. Mamaya po ipagt-timpla ko siya ulit."

Joy gave him a look and saw how exhausted he was already, "Bakit kasi hindi pa kayo kumuha ng nanny niya?"

"Ayaw ni Lea, ma. She wants to take care of Yanna," he called her by her nickname, "Tsaka sabi po niya, kaya niya naman."

"Kaya niya pero ikaw, kaya mo ba? Lea took care of Koi, too. Ikaw, this is your first time taking care of a baby."

He nodded, "She left me instructions naman, ma. She wrote it on my phone."

"Ang amo nga niya sa'yo, eh, oh. She's calm when she is in your arms than in Lea's. Parang daddy's girl 'tong anak niyo, ha."

"Well, ma... sana."

"Osige, I have to go. Susundan ko si Lea. Will you be fine here?"

"Yes, ma. I got this. Ingat po kayo."

He looked around the room the moment Joy left and saw how messy it was.

"Bakit 'pag ang asawa ko ang nandito, ang linis? What happened now?" he asked himself, seeing baby stuff scattered around the room. He hasn't even eaten a proper meal today.

"Baby," he softly called his daughter, "Maglilinis muna ng kwarto si Daddy, ha. Ang kalat. Baka mapalayas ako ni mommy mo mamaya 'pag dumating siya, eh."

The baby just moved her arms as if giving him permission to put her back on her crib. And he did.

Not too long after, she cried again.

"Anak, wait lang, ha," he uttered in a soft voice, "Daddy's almost finished."

Of course that didn't stop Yanna from crying, instead, she cried louder this time. It made him panic. He immediately put the broom down and the dirty towel as well.

Before carrying her again, he made sure to sanitize his hand with the alcohol– the wife's instruction, of course.

After she has been settled in his arms, she stopped crying, still feeling the warmth of her dad's caress.

"Para kang nanay mo, ha," he chuckled as if his daughter could understand.

"Naku, anak. I haven't taken a bath, yet. Mag-iinit lalo ulo ng mommy mo nito."

The alarm rang and it indicated that Yanna has to drink her milk already. He wanted to become organized and so he set alarms to remind him of the things he has to do. In an hour, Yanna has to change her diaper– which is one of the few things he finds hard to do.