“Wait, Babe.” Saad ni Liam. Napatigil siya at napatingin rito, dumukwang ang kamay ni Liam upang punasin ang icecream sa gilid ng kaniyang mga labi. After wiping it with his thumb, he sucked the cream off of it.
Venus just shrugged it off, at patuloy na kumain nito. She didn't know how much she badly needed ice cream up until Liam invited her and Theo to eat some.
Nangunot ang noo ni Theo. He didn't like what he just witnessed. Umikot ang mga turnilyo sa utak ng bata, iniisip kung paano makakaganti ng hindi magagalit ang Ina. “Uncle, you have some on your face too.”
Theo looked serious when he said this, kaya naniwala si Liam. When he moved his face where Theo can reach, imbes na 'tanggalin' nito ang dumi, ay mas lalong inilahid ni Theo ang icecream sa kaniyang mukha.
Liam was silent for a few seconds when he felt the cold treat slide across his cheek. Theo smiled triumphantly, habang si Venus ay hindi mapigil ang malakas na tawa.
“Oh God!” Venus giggles. Nangasim ang mukha ni Liam, ngunit hindi nito maiwasang mapangiti.
“You rascal!” Akmang kililitiin ni Liam si Theo ng magtago ito sa tabi ng Ina.
“Eh, Uncle you look less ugly now!” Pagbibiro ni Theo habang yapos ang bewang ni Venus.
“Ah talaga ba?” Pinanlakihan nito ng mata si Theo. “Uncle will give you a make over too!”
Theo up and went, running fast para hindi mahabol ni Liam na dala dala ang Icecream cone. Naghabulan ang dalwang bata sa may Buhangin, rinig ni Venus ang masayang hagikhik ni Theo at ang Halakhak ni Liam, na konti na lang ay hindi na mahabol ang hininga.
Venus was smiling softly while watching them play. Sure enough, Theo needed.. A father figure. Theo could never play as wild as he does now, Masyadong hyper aware si Theo when it comes to her. Hindi niya alam kung anong Values ang tinuturo sa School, but Theo somehow knew which games he could and couldn't play with her.
Hindi naman sa hindi niya kayang makipaghabulan, mas nililimitahan lamang ni Theo ang sarili kapag sila lamang dalwa ang naglalaro. Men tend to play rough, and even though he is a kid, his strenght wasn't so little anymore. Kapag nakasipa si Theo, at kung sinomang kawawang natamaan ay siguradong magkakaroon ng pasa.
Kung sa ngayon ay mga laro lamang, sa kinabukasan ay parami ng parami ang responsibiladad niyang kailangan punan para kay Theo, bilang Ina at Ama. Venus doesn't know if she can fully fill in the other position for she has big shoes to fit in.
Naalala niya bigla ang school conference na naganap kuma-kailan lamang. Sa Family Day ay hindi nanaman sila nakapag-participate because the Event required both Mother and Father's attendance. They had to sit this one out, yet again.
The very next day, Theo got into a fight with one of his Classmates. Napasugod siya sa School ni Theo, alalang alala sa anak. The Principal said that neither of the Children involved were speaking, parehong ayaw magconfess kung anong totoong dahilan at ba't sila nagaway.
Ng makita niya si Theo, na may iilang sugat ay parang pinipiga ang puso niya. Theo looked tough at first, but he bursted into tears when he saw her.
“Mommy i'm sorry.” He uttered an apology first, before hugging her. Venus tries to soothe him, rubbing his small back. Halos manginig ang anak sa pagiyak, Theo has never cried like that before for a few years now.
“What happened, baby?” Venus asked him patiently.
“Please don't be mad at me Mommy. I just.. I-i couldn't control myself. He was saying bad things about you.. His m-mama said that you were a bad woman, b-because i don't have a daddy. He said daddy left us because he d-doesnt like me and you..” Theo tried to say in the middle of his sobs.
“Shh.. Baby. You know those words are untrue— you have a daddy. He is just working so you and i could live comfortably. Both Mommy and Daddy love you to the moon and back, my baby Theo.” She tried to placate him.
“Mommy.. I wish daddy would come home so he could protect us.” after a while, Theo said quietly.
Venus felt a pang of pain hit her on the chest.
