Between the Spaces

Kabanata 34

Donny

"Baby, don't disturb mama Kiss, she's still sleeping oh." I tell the kid as I take a peek inside Kisses' room. Kanina pa daw to nakaabang dito sabi ni Hannah. Kaya sinubukan ko siyang I distract para umalis sa kwarto ni Kisses. Pinuntahan ako ni Sola at hinila papasok sa loob. I kept the door open para naman alam ng lahat na wala kaming ginagawang masama sa loob.

"Dada..."Solana calls me as she stares at her, "Mama Kiss is so pretty no?" I smiled at what she said.

"You both are pretty. "I tell her, whispering so that we won't wake up Kisses on her sleep.

"When I grow up, I want to become like her. Pretty and smart and kind and adorable. I want to be like her and mom and ate Hannah and ate Ella." She continues speaking as I laugh, maya maya tinitingnan niya ulit si Kisses na tulog parin, her face an inch closer to her, "Can I kiss her?" she asks,

I nod, "Pero wag mong gisingin ha." She then showers a lot of tiny kisses on my girlfriends face. And I am in love with this sight. It makes me feel excited on our future mornings together.

Aliw na aliw si Solana sa ginagawa niya. "Do you want to kiss Mama Kiss too?" she stops to ask me at natigilan ako,

I want to. I tell myself. But not in your sight Sola. Not that you can see.

Mabuti nalang at nagising na si Kisses. Baka naalimpungatan sa ingay naming mag kuya doon sa loob.

Kisses

"Good morning Mama Kiss!" I woke up with a little girl welcoming me with a hug

"Hey you, good morning!" sagot ko sa kanya at niyakap din siya, "Kanina ka pa dito?" tanong ko sa kanya

"Yaaaaaaaaaaaas. With kuya." She answers and looks at Donny which is standing sa harap ko na nakatingin lang sa aming dalawa na magkayakap,

"Buti pa si Sola, may good morning hug." Hirit naman ni Donny, I didn't know what to tell him. Nahihiya pa ako of how I reacted kahapon dun kay Sharmaine kaya I just showed him a puppy face and said nothing. Nakita niya naman siguro na hindi ko alam yung sasabihin kaya he spoke again, "Good morning love. Breakfast is already downstairs. Wala sila Mom and Dad today kase may mga meetings na iaattend kaya tayo na daw muna bahala dito sa bahay." He informs me,

"Hannah?"tanong niya sa akin,

"She's probably with ate Ella, helping her stuffs at the condo." Tumango lang ako

"Do you have any plans for today?" habang tinatanong niya ako, I sat up still hugging Solana, umiling ako kase wala naman talaga akong plano for today. I think I need to rest. And get a clean mind to go on with the next days.

"Can we talk?" tanong ko sa kanya

"Hmm." Tiningnan niya si Solana kaya gets ko

"Hmm. No no. Not as urgent as now. But can we talk anytime of the day?" tanong ko ulit sa kanya

"Sure. Wala din naman akong lakad. Pero sabi nila Inigo, baka pumunta daw sila dito mamayang hapon." He tells me,

"Okay." Tapos tumango tango ako,

"Let's eat breakfast first?" aya niya sa akin at kinuha si Solana sa tabi ko, the young girl was observant with what she sees in us. She doesn't meddle too much but I know there is something going on in her mind that she still can't say yet.

Pagkababa namin, nakita ko si Manang. Nakalipat na din pala sila ni Kuya Gelo dito. So this feels a lot like home now.

"Ikaw nagluto manang?" tanong ko sa kanya sa dami ng pagkain na nasa lamesa