Chasing Astrid

Chapter Sixteen

          "I'm bored. Can we play a game?" biglang salita ni Betchay.

          We had taken a cup of coffee into the living room in front of the fireplace. It's a warmth feeling as flames were just comforting. Betchay laid her head on my lap tapos 'yung paa niya ay nakapatong naman sa legs ni Kaegan and where in this position because of her.

          As much as I want to avoid him, I can't as we're living in the same roof. Pero kahit papaano'y gumaan ang mga bagay-bagay matapos ang pag-uusap namin nung nakaraang araw. We're establishing a smooth living arrangement by providing a common ground for us to meet especially on how to treat each other in front of her.

          I slowly held and rose her to a sitting position. "You know what, mabuti pa't matulog kana. Tumayo kana diyan at pupunasan muna kita."

          "Mama naman eh, ang aga pa naman. Sige na po please. Parati nalang kami ni papa chef ang nag peplay." pilit parin nito. "And I'm not sleepy yet. So if we play, mapapagod ako then I'll be feeling a need to rest. So diba, it's also a way para antukin ako."

          "Bukas nalang. Sige na, tumayo ka na diyan."

          Napasimangot 'to saka tumayo. "Fine, I'll sleep na. Pero tabi natin si papa chef matulog."

          "Betchay." I called in a warning tone.

          "I just want you and papa to sleep beside me." she put out her lips. "Saka 'di naman magagalit si papa Jesus na sa isang kwarto kayo ni papa kahit 'di pa kayo kasal kasi sa gitna naman ako. Sige na po please."

           "Okay, go wash up now." Kaegan answered instead.

           "Hooray!!" she clapped happily and immediately went running towards our room.

          "Kaegan." I glared at him while keeping my voice steady. He's unbelievable right now. This is not what we agreed.

          He just chuckled. "Don't worry. I'll transfer to my room when she fall asleep."

          Napabuntong hininga nalang ako. I'm doing this for Betchay. I told myself silently bago tumayo. "Fine. Sumunod ka nalang."

          "Thank you, Astrid. I'll behave." pahabol niyang sabi.

          Dumiretso na ako sa kwarto at naabutan ko si Betchay na nagpupunas ng kanyang sarili. Kinuha ko ang sabon sa kanya at ako na ang nagpatuloy.

          "Kung gusto mong makatabi ang papa mo sa pagtulog. Just tell me alright. You can sleep in his room."

          "Talaga?" her smile widen but turn down soon after. "But you'll be alone in our room. Can we just sleep together in one bed? Like everynight? My friends told me that their parents tucked them to bed, kissed them goodnight and they stay in bed until morning. Can we be the same way too?"

          I breathed then hold her little hand. I don't want her to keep holding onto hope. This living arrangement is a temporary lull.

          "You may not fully understand this now but our situation is different than of your friends. Kapag nahuli na 'yung mga bad guys, uuwi na tayo ng Pilipinas. And it won't be the same as we were right now. He won't stay with us, kasi dito ang work niya. Ganun paman, he'll constantly be part of your life now. This might be hard, so I need you to be more stronger okay. At saka nandito lang naman ako para sayo."

          "I understand, mama and thank you for everything. Labs na labs po kita." tango niya yet I heared sadness in her voice.

          I knew this will be hard for her but I don't want her to keep thinking we could be like any other normal family, living in one household.