EPHEMERAL LOVE

11

"Nay si Cybelle po?" i ask nay baby pagkauwi ko sa amin. "Nandon nanunuod ng tv kasama ang Tay Edo mo," pumasok na kami at naabutan ngang nanunuod sila ng tv sa sala.

"Mommy," tumakbo agad sakin si Cybelle nong nakita niya ako at inabot naman ni nay baby sa akin ang bag niya. "Oh siya magpahinga na kayong mag ina bukas na lang ulit."

Nang makapasok kami sa bahay Cybelle gets her bag in my arms and opens it on the table and gets her notebook. "Mommy look I already did my homework you just have to check it if mali or right." she was so proud of herself now I can see.

"Wow ang galing naman miss Perez your a smart kid talaga mana ka kay mommy," I said. She giggled. "So, may reward ka dahil dyan," lumuhod ako patalikod sakanya at hinintay siyang bumakay sa akin.

I raise my left hand and "To infinity and beyond wushhh." I run around the house while I piggybank her. Tawa lang siya ng tawa habang nagtatakbo kami sa loob ng bahay.

I always play with her because as a mother you should understand that you are not only a mother, you should also be a friend and a guide of your child for them to develop themself.

"Mommy the unicorns are coming let's catch them," she was pointing her pink sword to the window and acting like she was getting the unicorn.

"I was a girl in the village doing alright and I became a princess overnight," now we are singing in front of the Tv and we are watching her favorite cartoons.

"Up in the castle with my new family mommy wait," napatigil ako sa pagkanta dahil sa kanya. Tinignan ko siya at hinintay ang sasabihin niya. "Mommy, how long will my daddy go home from Canada?" she asks.

Napalunok naman ako doon, kahit si mommy baby hindi alam kung kailan but i know, "Someday baby we just have to wait for him understand," maganda ng bata pa lang siya alam niya na ang about sa daddy niya.

Ayaw kong lumaki siya na nangungulila sa ama kaya i make sure na kahit wala si Cj sa tabi niya nasa puso't isip niya naman ito lagi.

"Ok, let's wait for him," nakangiting sabi niya at bumalik ulit ang atensyon sa tv. We enjoy our bonding after that we eat and take a rest dahil may pasok ulit bukas.

***

"Cybelle, wag kang malikot dyan ah," I ordered her. Nandito kami ngayon sa restaurant dahil friday ngayon at holiday sinama ko si Cybelle dito para magpahinga muna si nay baby sa kakulitan nito.

Ok lang naman kila Miss jo na dinadala ko siya dito dahil hindi naman siya nakakaabala andon lang siya lagi sa counter at naglalaro ng mga laruan niya. "Yes mommy" she answered, I walk to the customers table to get their orders.

"What's you order ma'am?"tanong ko sa costumer namin ngayon.

"Isang Fish fillet ala barbara and a pinapple shake," tumango naman ako sa kanya at pumunta sa kitchen window.

"Marj Fish fillet ala, bars," I said, and not looking at her, I'm watching Cybelle help Miss Jo give the money to the customer. "Napakacute mong bata and beautiful," puri sakanya ng matandang costumer, cybelle juat giggled at her and hide at miss jo arms, she's shy now.

"Paglaki mo kung gusto mo mag model lumapit ka lang sa akin ahhh, I'll be waiting for you bye now," she said and leave the restau. Madalas pinupuri ng mga costumers si cybelle pagdinadala ko siya dito , marami rin ang natutuwa sakanya.

Well, sa tingin ko na mana niya iyon kay Cj, he was so light and jolly back then and i can see that in Cybelle too. Napaka daya mo Cj 90% ang na mana galing sayo pero sakin 10% lang tss napakadaya mo.

"Gurl ito na oh serve mo na," agad akong napalingon kay Marj ng iabot niya sa akin ang order ng costumer. Agad ko naman kinuha yon at mabilis na sinerve sa costumer.

Natapos ang araw ng mataas ang kita ng restaurant dahil may nagfield trip kasi kanina sa Intramuros at karamihan ng mga students ay dito kumain. "Tangina sakit ng braso ko," reklamo ni Marj habanag hiniilot niya ang braso niya.

Napagod siguro siya magluto at na ngalay ang braso. "Ninang I'll kiss it na para the pain will go away," Cybelle kissed her arm and simle at her.

Ang kaninang mukhang nagrereklamo ni marj bigalang naging masaya. "Ang sweet naman ni Cybelle namin ako din kiss mo," si Joed. Tumakbo naman sakanya si Cybelle and kiss him hanggang sa lahat na kami dito ay kiniss niya. "Oh tara na baby uwi na tayo," I grab her hands and wave at them for goodbye.

We walked out of the restaurant and went home. Habang nakahiga sa kama and Cybelle is in my arms, I was reading her a midnight story.

"The princess kiss the frog and the frog turns out to be a handsome prince, the princess was shocked but she also admires the handsome prince." 

"Mommy is daddy handsome?" biglang tanong ni Cybelle sa akin. "Yes baby why you want to see his picture?" tumango naman agad siya sa sinabi ko at ako'y umupo para abutin ang wallet ko sa bag. I open it and hand her the wallet with Cj and I picture. Mga ilang sigundo niya rin ito tinitigan at tumingin sakin.

"Mommy, do you miss him?" she asked. "Sobra baby miss na miss na siya ni Mommy," I said. "Mommy will i met my prince in the future too?" nakita ko ang pagalala sa mukha niya ng itanong niya iyon.

"Baby masyado ka pang bata for a prince charming isa pa hindi pa ready si mommy para dyan kaya wag mona muna isipin yan ok," I don't want her to grow fast.

Tumango siya kaya pinagpatuloy kona ang kwento hanggang sa nakatulog na siya at binalik kona sa maliit na book shelf dito sa kwarto ang libro at umupo sa tabi ng anak ko. I was staring at her face when I remember the last time I was staring at her dad's face it was 5 years ago but still clear in my mind every details in his face.

I still feel his touch and soft kisses, maybe because I never wanted to forget it kaya nandito pa rin.

He was my most enormous sacrifice but I know that it's worth it someday. Hinawakan ko ang kamay ni Cybelle habang natutulog siya and smile.

"Mommy will always make you happy and I will love you forever baby," I whisper before I lay on the bed and sleep beside her.