Chasing Wildness (Chase #1)

Chapter 24

"Nay. Is kuya fine up there?"

I looked at my daughter named Mika who is looking up while pointing her small fingers to the blue sky. I smiled. I just can't contain her cuteness. But I got distracted on my focus on my princess when I felt a small hand poking my legs.

"Nanay. Does he know us?"

I move my gaze unto my son named Miko who is giving me an innocent look. Napabuntong hininga ako bago bahagyang lumuhod para maging kapantay sila. "Yes babies. Kuya is fine up there. And yes, he knows his cute little sister and brother."

Nakita kong napasimangot ang bunso ko, then pouted. "Nanay. I'm not cute. I'm pretty. And kuya's handsome. I mean we are all gorgeous."

Natatawa kong ginulo ang buhok nila bago muling tumayo at tinitigan ang munting lapida ng panganay ko. I sighed. How many years has it been? 7 years right? Yeah 7 years, but it felt as if all the pain that I have carried was just tomorrow. Masakit pa rin. Masakit pa ring malaman na mayroon kang kulang. Masakit pa ring malamang, ang isa sa siyam na buwan mong dinala, ay wala na at 'di mo kasama, napalaki kasama ang mga kapatid niya. My baby. My poor baby who should be kicking alive too like his brother and sister.

I looked again at my treasures who seems to be waiting to my next words. I gave them my sweetest smile before speaking softly, "And you should be proud of your kuya. He's special 'cause he is a hero."

My daughter's eyes moved a little bit, showing cuteness, "Kuya's in heaven nanay, so he is like guardian angel hero?"

I looked up in the blue sky, then acted as if I am reaching it. "Yes baby. He is. Your kuya Mirko is our guardian angel."

("Hoy  Te Dan. Kailan ka man lang mapunta rineng Maynila? Ay aba. Gusto ko man lamang masilayan ang mga cute kong pamangkin slash inaanak na rin. Gusto ko agad agad, nandito na 'yang mga 'yan.")

Natawa ako sa bungad ni Anna. Agang-agang pero parang nanghahamon ng away ey. Porket may asawa na, grabeng nang makademand. Parang seven years ago lang, bago ko mapagdesisyunang manatili ritong Pampanga, broken na broken ang hitsura ng tiya mo nang makipagsapalarang Maynila. Not my story to tell pero ang masasabi ko lang, her impulsiveness was caused by her pa-fall at paasang ex-bestfriend. Well, friends pa rin pala sila pero 'yung normal na lang.

Naglakad ako pa-kusina para maghanda ng agahan habang ang cellphone ay nakaipit sa pagitan ng kaliwa kong tenga at balikat.

"Heh. Manahimik ka. Ba't 'di mo na lang pagdiskitahan 'yang mga chikiting mo."

("Ihhh. Nagsasawa na ako sa pagmumukha nila. Kapares na kapares ang buwisit nilang ama.")

I opened our burner at nagsalang ng itlog na hinaluan ko ng malunggay, na siyang hilig ipalaman ng dalawa sa tasty bread.