Broken Man's Missing Piece

Chapter 11

DARNELL

I can't seem to focus since this morning. I miss my Sunshine so much. Kahapon ko pa siya hindi nakikita dahil naging abala ako sa trabaho. Hillary heard what happened at the party and she was furious. She was really worried what Penelope might think about me but I don't think she minds what I did that night. She just laughed it off.

Napakamot ako sa ulo ko at pinagmasdan ang batang nasa loob ng opisina ko. Kairro just barged in my office like what he usually do. Maagang natapos ang eskwela niya ngayon at heto siya't tumatambay sa opisina ko. Seryoso itong nagbabasa ng libro at paminsan-minsan ay nagsusulat.

Nagulat ako nang ibaba nito ang librong binabasa at tumingin sakin sabay sabing, "I'm bored."

I sighed, "Then go play somewhere."

He shook his head and walked towards me. Walang sabi-sabing naupo ito sa kandungan ko at tumingin sa harap ng computer ko.

"What's this?" turo nito sa graph na nasa harap niya

"That's the stock market graph." tipid na sagot ko

Tumango lang ito at lumingon muli sa akin. Ano nanaman kayang trip ng batang 'to?

"Punta tayo kay Tita Penelope." aya nito sa akin

"May trabaho pa akong kailangan tapusin." malungkot na sabi ko

"Choose. Trabaho o Tita Penelope?" seryosong tanong nito

Napaubo ako sa tanong niya at napaiwas ng tingin. I'm sure I can finish my work at home. Hindi naman na ganoon karami ang natirang trabaho ko. My secretary will help me anyway and I have so many employee who's free, might as well use my executive directors to do some work.

"Tara na." yakag ko sa kanya

Marahas akong bumuga ng hangin nang nginisian ako nito na parang may nadiskubre. What a brat!

"Hindi ka ba bibili ng bulaklak?" biglang tanong ni Kairro nang may madaanan kaming flower shop

What again brat? Ang dami-dami mong alam sa buhay.

"What for?" takang tanong ko

He sighed, "Tatay, are you going there empty handed?"

Napaisip ako sa sinabi niya, nakalimutan ko ngang bumili ng dadalhin sa kanila.

"Penelope doesn't like flowers." I murmured to myself while choosing some fruits and snacks

"Sabi ni daddy kahit hindi mahilig sa bulaklak ang isang babae, she will still like it if it's from someone she likes." he shrugged his shoulders like an old man

I just silently nodded. Will she really like it? Wait, does she even like me? Napakamot ako sa ulo ko at nagpasyang bumili ng bulaklak. I bought a plush toy as well for my daughter, she's really fond of plush toys. But she doesn't like dolls or teddy bears according to Kairro, I don't really know what's different from plush toys and teddy bears though. They look the same to me.

Bumalik kami agad sa kotse pagkatapos naming mamili, sumulyap ako kay Kairro na nakaharap sa cellphone niya na hindi naman niya laging ginagamit.

"Ka-text ko si mommy." sabi nito nang mapansin niyang pasulyap-sulyap ako sa kanya

MY forehead knotted when I saw an unfamiliar car outside their house. I'm sure it wasn't his cousin's car nor Tito Arthur's car. Kinuha ko ang mga pinamili namin ni Kairro at pumasok sa bahay nila Penelope. Kairro ran inside, he's probably excited to see Sunshine. Narinig ko ang mga halakhak nang makapasok ako.