EPHEMERAL LOVE

10

12 months passed by, "Happy birthday Cybelle happy birthday Cybelle happy birthday happy birthday Cybelle," everyone was singing for my baby Cybelle.

It was her first Birthday also her Binyag, simpleng handaan lang ang hinanda ko kasama sila Marj. Dahil sila sila lang din ang bisita ko ngayon dito sa bahay. Si Marj,Nay baby,Tatay Edo, Miss jo, Loree, Joed, Jake, Doc Gab and Doc Eunice at sila sila lang rin ang ninang at ninong ni Cybelle.

My baby was growing to fast but I make sure to be a hands on mom to her, kahit na babalik na ako sa trabaho his month sisiguraduhin ko parin na hindi ako magkukulang sakanya.

Nanay baby and Tatay Edo volunteered that they will take care of her while I'm off to work and that was a big help for me. "So babalik ka na sa trabaho mo?" Doc Gab asks me and gets Cybelle in my arms. I give him Cybelle and let him carry her.

Cybelle was playing with his polo collar and he let her be. "Oo eh kailangan ko na rin talaga bumalik, lumalaki na ang pangangailangan ni Cybelle kailangan kong maging ready para doon para mabigay ko lahat ng kailangan niya," I answered him.

"Well, that's a good mind set if you need help nandito lang ako lagi just call me," I smiled at him and nodded.

The party ended fun and everyone go home safely now I'm cleaning the house while Cybelle is sleeping at her crib. Happy birthday, my Love.

***

It's been months since I started working and earning money for Cybelle she's growing up so fast and I remember her first word unluckily it was not "Mommy."

"Cybelle say mommy mo-mmy," I was teaching Cybelle while holding her at her armpit and making her stand in my lap. We are at the living room right now. "Mommy baby, say mo-mmy," I make sure my mouth is spreading too big for her to understand. She open's her mouth ready to say the word

"Go on baby mommy," I cheer her. "Daddy," automatic na bumagsak at balikat ko at bibig sa sinabi niya. "Baby, sabi ko mommy eh bakit daddy?" I frustratedly said to her. She just giggled at me.

I shook my head and just let her be. Luckly Cj kahit wala ka dito ikaw ang unang sinabi ni Cybelle tss. I hate you!

***

Also her first steps. "Nay babay look  hold Cybelle," pinabuhat ko si Cybelle kay nay baby at lumuho da harap niya ng may layo ng tatlong hakbang.

Itinaas ko ang mga kamay ko para ipakita sakanya na gusto ko siyang buhat.

She's smiling at me and starts to move her feet. "Sige nay hayaan mo siya," I said to nay baby. Unti-unti niyang binitawan si Cybelle pero nakaalalay parin siya dito. Cybelle looked straight into my eyes while wearing her sweetest smile.

She started her first step and continue it until she comes to my hands and hug me.

"Ma," I hear her say and played hair. "Yehey ang galing ng Cybelle ko," I laugh with nay baby at my side. I was so happy seeing her achieving things like this.

***

Cybelle is already 5 years old now and she wanted to go to school already. I was so fast, last time I just see her taking her first step then now she's walking out of the school room.

She's in kindergarten now. Pinilit niya kasi akong ipasok na siya sa school kahit next year pa talaga siya dapat papasok, she was so excited to meet friend and have her own bag.

Alam kong yon talaga ang major dream niya kaya pinilit niya ako ipasok siya dahil gusto niya magkaroon ng bag at school supplies.

"Mommy ko," I hear her shouting while running towards me. Agad naman akong lumuhod at binuhat siya, Cybelle' s wearing a cute school uniform now its sa pink skirt and white cute polo shirt underneath her pink ribbon tie.

"How's school miss Perez?" I formally ask making her giggle a little.

"It was totally fun," umacting pa siyang parang royal princess nong sinabi niya iyon. I laugh at her and started to walk sa sakayan ng tricycle.

Ganito ang routine namin araw araw 9 am ng umaga i will bring her to school kahit na 10 pa ang start ng klase siya dahil 9 am ang pasok ko sa restaurant buti nalang mabait yong teacher niya at pinayagan na maaga pumapasok si Cybelle.

Pagdating ng 12 habang break time ko sa trabaho lalabas ako para sunduin siya at iuwi kila nay baby. "Nandito na po tayo Miss Perez," I said to her. "Mommy may assignment po ako mamaya help mo ako ah paguwi mo po," she said as we enter Nay Baby's gate.

"Opo naman miss Perez gagawin po natin yan pagbalik ni mommy mamaya ah ok" i open the door for her and let her enter nanay baby's house. "Nay baby andito na po ako," matining na sigaw niya mula sa pinto.

Agad namang lumabas si nay baby mula sa kusina at dinaluhan si Cybelle at tinadtad ng halik yong bata. "Nay maiwan ko muna sainyo si Cybelle ah babalik na ho ako sa restau. Bellarice wag makulit ah," tumakbo siya pabalik sakin at lumuhod ako para tanggapin ang yakap niya.

"Opo mommy I love you 3000x bye bye," she gives me a sweet kiss and runs to the kitchen.

"Nay kayo na ho ang bahala ah" tumango naman si nay baby at saka umalis na ako. Habang nasa tricycle ako tumunog ang phone ko. Nay baby was calling. I answered it quickly.

"Nay baby bakit po kayo tumawag?"

"Mommy," it's Cybelle. "Baby why?" I asked.

"I just wanna ask ano po ang nauna manok or itlog kasi i ask nay baby she said manok but tay Edo said its egg? Im confused?" halata sa boses niyang nalulungkot siya. I laugh but still control it para hindi siya maiyak lalo. "Baby where do you get that question?"

"Kay Ninong Joed, Mommy," she said. Sira ulo talaga ang lalaking yon kung ano anong tinuturo sa anak ko.

I was about to answer Cybelle when a memory pop up in my mind. "Babe ano nauna sa itlog at manok?" tanong ni Cj sakin habang nakaupo kami dito sa tabing dagat habang hinihintay mag lunch at sasabay kami kila Cherry.

"Itlog," I answered. He laughs at my answer. "Mali babe,"  "Oh ano pala," tinignan ko siya ng maigi at hinintay ang sagot niya.

"Sympre yong tandang kasi mas mabilis yon eh." Ano? "Alam mo walang kwenta yang sinasabi mo," I just roll my eyes on him and just look at the beach.

"Atleast wala mang kwenta ang sinasabi ko basta nakukuha ko ang atensyon mo nagkakaroon bigla ng kwenta ang mga yon pag dating sayo." I look at him and now his serioucly staring at me.

I feel like my face burns so fast kaya iniwan ko ang tingin ko sa kanya, I hear him chuckle at my act so I face him with a pissed face. "Anong nakakatawa gago!" I said.

"Ang nakakatuwa ay yong sa dami isda sa mundo bangus pa ang nakuha ko gaya mo MATINIK," he teasingly wink at me. "Oh shut up wala kang kwenta," I stand up and started to walk.

Agad naman siyang sumunod, "wala man akong kwenta mahal mo naman," isa pang hirit ng gago.

"He ewan ko sayo," I control my smile but that did not escape his sight. "Aruy kinilig ang baby ko," he tease. Nakakatuwa lang maalala siya sa impleng bagay, Oh Cj you truly did not let go of my mind i love you kahit nasaan ka pa.

"Baby doesn't bother yourself na sa question na yan, ang importante they are both made from god kung sino man ang nauna sa kanila only god knows ok," I said to Cybelle I hear her sniff in the other line.

"Ok mommy take care, ah I'll wait for you later love you 3000x," she said before turning off the call. Pagdating ko sa restau. "Aray naman Blace," agad kong binatukan si Joed at ngayon nagrereklamo.

"Ikaw sira ulo ka talaga ano anong tinuturo mo kay Cybelle ah!" Agad naman nagbago ang expression niya mula sa nasaktan biglang tuwang tuwa sa kalokohan. "So ano nga ang nauna manok o iltog?" I raise my middle finger at him.