This is How We End (Published under Pop Fiction)

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

I patted Tamara's hair, smiling down at her. She beamed at me and lifted her tiny hands, offering the cookie she'd been gnawing for the last ten minutes.

"Mama... cookie..." she yapped.

I chuckled and kissed her cheeks, taking a small bite of what was offered. Just then, her father emerged from my kitchen, frowning at the leftover chicken soup that I ordered last night from a Chinese restaurant.

"Ito lang ang kinain mo kagabi?"

Bahagya akong nagtaas ng kilay sa sinabi niya. Leaning a hip against the back of the sofa, I crossed my arms and lifted my chin defiantly.

"I don't have the time to cook, you know."

"It's supposed to be your vacation but you're still answering calls and checking up on the kids."

"Alam mo namang hindi ako nahihiwalay sa kanila ng matagal na panahon," ani ko. I dragged a hand through my hair and blew a sigh. "I think about them in almost everything I do. Kung kumain na ba si Rika, kung pumasok ba sa klase si Elias o sumisid na naman siya kasama ang mga kapatid, o baka napagbuhatan na naman ng kamay si Yna ng ama niyang lasenggero."

"You're very attached to them..." Malik commented.

I gave him a sad smile. "I would die for them, you know? They are very precious and they're all my kids."

"Hindi ka pa rin talaga nagbabago, Naia..." humalakhak nang bahagya si Malik at inilapag ang lalagyan sa lamesa. "Why don't I treat you outside for a nice dinner? Isang beses lang naman. I can't have you sulking here all day when we've traveled from Sulu just to meet you."

I grinned. "Yeah. That's a good idea."

"And while we're at it, ano yung sinabi mo na ipapakilala mo si Tamara sa idolo niya?"

Mas lalo pang lumaki ang ngisi ko. "We'll get to that..."

15 minutes later, we were driving our way around the city to a Chinese restaurant I mentioned earlier. Tamara settled on my lap. I busied myself fixing the scarf on her head while occasionally giving directions to Malik on where to go. Ilang beses na rin naman akong nakapunta rito sa Maynila kaya medyo nagiging kabisado ko na rin ang lugar. But I'm not as expert as when I am in Zamboanga. I am fearless, even stepping into the remotest of places there just to reach out to young children and offer education they didn't know they deserve.

"When are you going back?"

Isinandal ko ang ulo sa headrest. Tamara leaned her head against my chest and hugged my waist, sighing comfortably. I kissed her temple before turning to her father.

"I don't know. But I assume I wouldn't last a month here. Marami pa akong iniwan at gusto ko nang magtrabaho ulit."

"Shay told me that you went to Singapore last time."

My cheeks flushed. Napanguso ako nang bahagya saka tumango. I attended The Luminaries' concert in Singapore despite the pricey ticket. I only stayed there for two days but it nearly drained on what was left in my bank account. Hindi ko rin naman pinagsisihan iyon. It was one of the best concerts they've had. And I admired how Zeus interacted with their fans after the performance. Dapat ay wala ng meet and greet pero pinayagan niya pa rin. They are tired and sleepless but the smiles they gave to everyone weren't near as trite. It's genuine and it surely made their fans' heart very happy.

"Yeah. I stayed there for two days."

"You could've told me. Padadalhan sana kita ng pera. Nalaman ko nalang na nagpunta ka pala ng Singapore nang pinadalhan mo kami ng mga regalo ni Tamara."