Every Reason Why

ERW4

ERW4

"Tito!" mabilis na tumakbo ang batang lalaki papunta kay Theo pagkapasok namin sa venue ng party niya.

"Happy birthday, big boy!" malaki ang ngiti ni Theo na sinalubong ang yakap ng pamangkin na tanging binti niya lang ang kayang abutin.

Ngayon ko lang napagmasdan ang pamangkin niya. The boy is handsome, he has some foreign looks at kung titignan ay pagtatakahan mo kung may lahi ba itong Filipino dahil para itong puro amerikano. He's white as milk and a little bit tall for his age. Theo said he just turned 6!

"Who's she?" Natigilan ang bata at napantingin saakin. Nahihiya akong ngumiti sa kanya, he waved his hand and smile. Oh my! This little man will break thousands of hearts when he grew up!

"She's Ate Sey. She brought you our gift."

Our gift? Sakanya lang naman to ah! Binigay ko sa kanya ang hawak kong gift na pinakuha saakin ni Theo kanina.

"Hi, Ate Sey! I'm Caiser Red Del Real! My mother is Rin Del Real and my father is Caiser Red Auxiere! I was named after him! But he's now in heaven..." tila humina ang huli niyang mga salita na parang pinag-isip din sya noon. But then, his smile showed up again. "But you can call me Cai!"

Humigpit ang aking puso dahil sa aaking narinig sa kanya. So young... he's too young to lose a father.

Ganon pa man ay pinilit kong bigyan siya ng ngiti.

"H-happy Birthday!"

The boy beamed and get the gift from me.

"Thanks po!" He hugged the gift and look at his uncle. "Is this Iron Man? Or Captain America?"

Theo laughed whole-heartedly. Ang sarap pakinggan ng tawa niya.

"No, it's Thanos," he said, chuckling.

Cai looked at him horribly like he said a taboo word. Nagtagpo ang dalawang kilay nito at mabilis na sumimangot. I know those Marvel characters from movies. Isn't Thanos the villain? Bakit iyon ang niregalo nya? Who would want that? Lalo na pag bata?

"Tito!" Cai cutely stomped his feet in the ground. "Bad guy 'yon!"

Humalakhak si Theo at mabilis na ginulo ang buhok ng pamangkin.

"Your favorite movie can't be complete without a bad guy!" mas lalo pang asar ni Theo sa kanyang pamangkin.

"I don't want bad guys!" pagtatampo ng bata.

Is Theo seriously going to make him cry on his birthday? Unbelievable!

"Caiser!" napalingon ang bata sa tumawag. Napatingin kami doon. Muntik na akong mapasinghap noong makita ko ang babaeng kasama ni Theo noong una ko siyang nakita. It's his sister!

"Mommy! Tito got me Thanos! I don't want Thanos!" nagsusumbong itong tumakbo sa kayang ina. Ngumiti ito ng matamis sa bata at kinuha ang kamay nito. She held her with her eyes, full of adoration, gentleness, and love for the kid.

"Tito's just bluffing." mahinahong paliwanag nito. "Are you excited for later, Cai?"

Like Theo, she has a very Spanish vibe. Maganda siya at parang girl-version ng katabi ko. She has the same hair color as Cai. I still wonder why does the kid looks very American? Maybe sa tatay?

"Hmm!" tumango ang bata at sumiksik sa tagiliran ng kanyang ina. The woman look at Theo and smiled at him. Mukhang ayos na siya compared noong nakaraan. She look at me and her eyes widen.

"Who do we got here?" nakangiti niyang tanong saamin, nagpabalik balik ang tingin niya saaming dalawa ni Theo. Naglakad siya papalapit saamin habang hawak pa din ang kamay ng kanyang anak.