From Mavis, With Hate

Family Time

"DAD, how do you know if you already like someone?"

Umiinom ng kape si Rush nang marinig niya ang tanong na iyon ng panganay niyang si Ryker. He choked on his coffee. Pagkuwa'y kunot-noo niyang hinarap ang anak.

"Why are you asking something like that now? You're only nine, Ryker. Focus on your studies first," seryosong sabi niya rito. Then, he flipped the pancakes he's making.

Sila ang nakatoka ngayon sa paggawa ng breakfast dahil kahapon ay sina Mavis, Rocco at Martina ang gumawa ng breakfast nila. Rotation kasi ang ginawa nilang schedule ng breakfast. It's a bonding time for them. And also, for them to be able to teach their children how to do chores and how to hold a responsibility starting at a young age.

Tuwing weekends lang naman. Para makapagpahinga din ang mga kasama nila sa bahay dahil every day naman ay ang mga ito ang nag-aasikaso ng lahat.

By the way, "Martina" na ang tinatawag nila sa bunso nilang anak dahil hindi ito namamansin kapag "Marose" ang tinatawag dito. It seems that she took a liking to the name Martina. Or she just didn't like being called "Marose".

Why are they growing up so fast?

Hindi pa yata kaya ni Rush na lumaki pa ng lumaki ang kanyang mga anak. He wanted them to stay as babies. His and Mavis' babies. Hindi niya kakayanin kung pati si Martina ay magtanong na rin sa kanya ng ganoon. Siguro naman ay hindi pa magagawa iyon sa kanya ng bunso niyang anak. Considering that Martina's only three years old.

Naputol ang pagmumuni-muni niya nang marinig niyang bumuntong-hininga si Ryker. Nakita ni Rush na tapos na itong mag-set ng table. Was he too hard on him?

"Hey, baby," bungad ni Mavis sa kanila. And suddenly, the room felt so bright. Rush was knocked off on his feet again. It was the same feeling every day. Kahit simpleng cut-off shorts at white t-shirt lang ang suot ni Mavis.

Lumapit ito kay Ryker at hinalikan ang kanilang panganay sa tuktok ng ulo. "Can you get your little sister for me? Alam mo namang ikaw ang paborito ni Martina na manggising sa kanya. Daanan mo na rin sina Rocco at Lola Vicky, okay? Thanks, kuya," malambing at nakangiting sabi ni Mavis kay Ryker.

"Okay, mom," agad namang sabi ni Ryker at saka ito tumakbo pataas para tawaging kumain ang kanilang pamilya.

Then, hell ensued.

Mavis scowled hard at him.

"It was only a simple question, Rush. And yet, lumabas na kasalanan pa ni Ryker na magtanong sa'yo ng gano'n. Hindi mo pinapadali na lumapit siya sa'yo. You would give him issues if you continue to be like that. I already told you to tone it down with the kids. Did you know na mas lumalapit pa sila kina Law kaysa sa'yo?" sunud-sunod na saad ni Mavis.

Rush was taken aback by that. Hindi niya alam iyon. "What do you want me to do? Encourage him to have a crush on someone? At that age?" ganti naman niya rito. When he was at that age, he's being groomed as the next CEO of DV Corp. He didn't have the leisure to like someone.

"No. But you could have answered him. Not reprimand him," giit ni Mavis. Pagkuwa'y katulad ni Ryker ay bumuntong-hininga din ito sa harapan niya. "Did you remember what Martina's first word was?"

"'No'." Like he could forget. Mavis gave him hell for that.

Literally, 'no' ang unang sinabi ni Martina noong one year old pa lang ito. At sinasabi ni Mavis na dahil iyon sa kanya. Madalas kasi ay sinasama niya si Martina sa opisina. At madalas siyang magsabi ng 'no' sa opisina. Kaya natutunan ni Martina na 'no' ang unang sabihin.

"Exactly! 'No'. Out of all the words in the dictionary, negative word agad ang nasabi niya," exasperated na sabi ni Mavis sa kanya.

"Okay. One, that's unfair. Hindi ko naman intensyong iyon ang unang masabi ni Martina. Two, correct me if I'm wrong but, you want me to raise our children without a goal? To coddle them, spoon-fed everything to them and make them grow up dependent to us?" kunot-noong tanong niya kay Mavis.