You Were Beautiful (DAY6' YOUNGK)

nineteen

"Tito Brian!" Tala immediately jumped out of joy. Sinundo namin si Brian sa airport ngayon. Tapos na ang tour nila at may pahinga ulit siya. I felt so bad kasi imbis na magpahinga siya ay bumyahe pa talaga siya ulit pabalik naman dito. Sinabihan ko naman siya na 'wag muna at talagang ilaan niya na lamang ang rest days para talagang magpahinga.

"Tala," he carried Tala as soon as she got near him. He gave me a peck on my lips and I hurriedly averted my gaze towards his luggage. You know, it's the little things that gave you so much feelings. Kinikilig na naman ako!

"You got heavy, little girl," puna ni Brian.

"Mommy is a good cook, Tito. I can't help but to eat a lot whenever she's the one cooking. You know that too, Tito Brian," and she gave Brian a playful wink. Itong batang 'to, nambola pa!

"Yeah, of course, I know that and now, I feel so hungry," she told the kid and looked at me with so much longing. Ano ba 'yan! Parang pamilya kami dito at sinundo ko ang asawa kong OFW!

"Baegopa?" Are you hungry? Tanong sa kaniya ni Tala. Bahagya akong nagulat dahil sa paggamit ni Tala sa wika ni Brian.

"Ne, baegopa," Yes, I'm hungry. Sagot ni Brian sa bata. I don't know when Tala started learning Korean. Sino ang nagturo sa kaniya nito?

Nakasakay na sa backseat si Tala habang katabi ko naman si Brian. Sa bahay ko na siya pinapatuloy upang hindi na siya magbook pa ng hotel.

"You can take a nap first," I told him as we're stucked in a traffic. "I know you're still tired," I finished. Kagagaling lang niya sa ibang lugar at ngayon nasa ibang bansa na naman siya. Nagi-guilty tuloy ako.

He stared at me for God knows how long. I just gave him glances since I'm driving. Nang huminto kami dahil sa stop light ay napatingin ako sa kaniya nang medyo matagal.

Out of the blue, he held my hand, kissed the back of my palm and whispered only enough for me to hear, "I love you, so much."

"I hope you know that I love you too, so much more," I said then continued driving.

Nakatulog nga siya habang nasa byahe kami. Malapit na kami sa bahay nang magising siya. Sinilip ko si Tala sa rear view mirror at nakitang natutulog na din ang bata habang yakap ang teddy bear niya na palaging nasa sasakyan ko. Pinasok ko ang sasakyan sa bahay.

"I'll take care of Tala, you can now go inside the house. My mom's home," I informed him.

He refused. "No, you can go first, let me carry Tala. I missed her, too." He gave me a smile and another kiss.

Wow! Miss na miss?

Sabay kaming lumabas ng sasakyan at nauna siyang buksan ang pintuan ng backseat kaya hinayaan ko na siya kay Tala. Dumiretso na lang ako sa likod ng sasakyan at kinuha ang bagahe niya. Sabay na kaming pumasok sa bahay.

"Ma, nandito na po kami," I shouted, not loud enough to wake up my niece. She's still sleeping.
Lumabas si mama mula sa kusina. Nang makalapit siya ay nagmano naman kaagad si Brian sa kaniya. Brian learned some Filipino manners and these are one of it. My mom was amazed but she didn't show it. I smiled at both of them.

"Ininit ko na ang ulam na niluto mo at siguradong gutom na kayo," saad ni mama at lumingon kay Brian. "Are you hungry?" Nakangiti niyang tanong kay Brian. He just smiled and nodded slightly.

"Ako na sa bata, I'll take the kid to her room," sabi ni mama kay Brian. I appreciates my mom speaking in English to communicate with Brian. Kinuha niya si Tala mula kay Brian.

"Sige po," sagot ni Brian na bahagyang nagpagulat kay mama. I told you, he's learning not just Filipino norms, but also, our language. Although he said it with thick accent, I still felt proud of my man.