Chapter 37
Barcelona
"Don't kiss Hopie, Mama," I mumbled.
I kissed his right and left cheek alternately and he giggled. Kumikibot ang labi niya kapag tumatawa. Lumalabas pa ang bubbles sa bibig kapag humahagikhik.
"Mama, don't kiss me too much," I giggled.
Gigil na gigil ako sa pisngi niya. He's so cute! Why am I so blessed to have him in my arms?
I held his little fingers and he clamped on mine. My eyes shone as I watched him responding playfully.
"I love you, Hopie," madamdamin kong sinabi. Humagikhik siya ulit.
Chestnut-shaped lips.. Pinagmasdan kong mabuti ang pagkakapareho ng anak ko sa ama niya. Napahugot ako ng hininga.
Archi and I..we grew up together. We were childhood best friends and I memorized his features very well. Gazing at my son, he is exactly the carbon copy of his father. Walang namana sa'kin. Siyang-siya.
"Do you love mama? Hm?"
He giggled in response. Pilit niyang ginagaya ang sinasabi ko. "Ma-ma."
"Yes, baby, I am your mama."
Napalingon ako sa pintuan dahil sa isang pagtikhim. Nakatayo roon ang barakong lalakeng nag-aalangan kung papasok ba o hindi. Lumapad ang aking ngisi. Enrique Frounier was hesitant to come in.
Naalala ko nang ipanganak ko si Hopie, siya ang napagkamalang ama dahil siya ang kasama ko noon sa delivery room. It was our first time to personally meet each other. At sa panganganak ko pa.
He was so nervous at that time as I was hysterical and terribly grieving for my parents' death.
Malayo ang loob niya sa mommy niya at sa mommy ko pero sa araw na iyon, hindi siya nag-alinlangan na sundin ang utos ng nanay niya. I was amazed how tables turned.. He melted when he saw my son. He stayed with us at the hospital. Hindi niya kami iniwan ng anak ko.
When my parents died, isang linggong mahigit ang mag-ina sa Pilipinas upang damayan ang kapatid ko roon. They helped Hemithea to settle everything. Si Enrique ang pabalik-balik from Spain to New York para lang samahan kami roon. At pati na noong bumalik ang mag-ina kasama si Hemi ay nanatili pa rin siya.
Hopie is still a Cameron. Pamangkin pa rin niya.
"May I come in?" alanganing wika niya.
"Come in, Enrique.." I smiled.
Mistulang ang anak ko ang naging daan upang magbalik-loob ang panganay na anak ni Aunt Esther.
Tumayo ako karga-karga ang aking anak.
"Can I, uhm, carry him?"
"Of course!" Binigay ko sa kan'ya ang baby ko.
"¡Hola, Enrique!"
Tumawa ang anak ko sa tawag ng Tito niya.
"Did you name him after my name?" he curiously asked.
Nakataas pa ang kilay habang itinataas sa ere ang anak kong tuwang-tuwa sa ginagawa ng tiyuhin niya.
Enrique.
Umiling akong nangingiti. That explains why he loves calling my son after his second name 'Enrique'. Hopie was so small in his Tito's arms. Ingat na ingat ito sa pamangkin na animo'y mahuhulog niya ito.
"Play with Tito, little Cameron."
Humagikhik naman ang anak ko at nagpapadyak pa ang mga paa.
"Wanna play cars with Tito? Yes? But you're still a baby. How is that?"
BINABASA MO ANG
Flashed Golden Photographs (Sunset Avenues #1)
RomanceSunset Avenues #1 : Completed "I'll see you in Barcelona.." First love is meant to pave us the way for true ones. Samaria Justine Bautista grew up having a deep crush towards her childhood best friend, the Equestrian looking football player of thei...