CharDawn Snippets

emilarco - TWO PEAS IN A POD

Marco is finishing some work at home while waiting for Emily and Daniel come home from preschool. He wasn't feeling well that morning and his wife insisted on staying at home to rest. He tried to protest but Emily won and pointed out that Johanna is there to manage things without them.

Since Daniel was born, they promised to give their youngest as much time as they can - something they didn't do with their first born. One of them would bring him to school and the other would pick him up. But between the two of them, it would always be Emily who would do it all. She would take care of all their son's needs as soon as he wakes up til it's time for him to sleep. It surprised him when she said she wants to step back in handling Guidotti Imports, asking James to handle everything for her, but she said it's just temporary while Daniel is young. She explained that she didn't experience raising a baby or a toddler so he supports her with that request.

Marco hears a car coming in the driveway and placed his laptop away, making sure his wife won't notice because he promised her that he'll rest. He hears little feet running and he smiles. "Papa!", his son comes in view, running to his direction. He opened his arms and immediately, his 5-year old son jumped on his lap, giving him a hug. His wife following behind.

"Hi, anak! Kumusta ang school? Nag-enjoy ka ba?", he asks after kissing his hair. But instead of hearing a happy story about school, his son pouted and looked at the direction of his wife. He looked at Emily, giving her a curious look on why their son is like that.

Emily is just looking at her mag-ama, who are just two peas in a pod. Both having the same set of eyes, nose, and lips. Both are looking at her, one is asking a question, while the other is begging her not to say anything. She sighs and took the space beside them. "Daniel, sabihin natin kay Papa, ha? Hindi kasi nagustuhan ni Mama ang ginawa mo..", she says calmly. Her son pouts and she finds it cute.

"Anong nangyari ba, Mahal?", Marco asks her, obvious that he is getting impatient.

She was about to tell him what happened but her son decided to go for it.

"Niloloko ko lang naman po si Kat-Kat, Papa. Di ko naman po alam na iiyak siya..", their son says. His eyes are starting to get glassy, nervous how his father will react. Katherine, their neighbor's daughter, goes to the same school as Daniel and has been playmates and classmates since they met last Christmas.

"Ano bang ginawa mo, Anak?", Marco asks again. Emily just watch the two sort it out on their own, her way of teaching Daniel on how not to lie to his parents.

"Nilagyan ko po ng toy na ipis yung bag ni Kat-Kat. Natakot po siya kaya umiyak.", their son admits. Emily saw how Marco tried to hide his smile and pinched him discreetely. Her husband looks at her and she gives him the look, hoping that he understood what that pinch meant. She doesn't want Marco to encourage their son on being naughty especially towards other people.

Marco took a deep breath and tilted the face of his son so he can look at him eye to eye. "Anak, diba sabi namin sayo ni Mama laging mabait dapat sa school? You need to be a good friend to everybody."

"Pero Papa! Sungit kasi ni Kat-Kat minsan eh! Ayaw niya mag-share.", his son whines. At a young age, their son knows how to express himself which they like so they can avoid secrets. They had enough of those already.

"Kapag sinungitan ka ni Kat, hindi mo dapat lolokohin pabalik, ha? Bad kasi yun, 'nak. Dapat respectful tayo diba?", he explains again, hoping that Daniel understands.

Daniel sighs in defeat. "Sorry, Papa.", the boy says and Marco ruffles his hair. "It's okay, Anak. Huwag mo na uulitin, ha? Kapag sinungitan ka na Kat-Kat, you can play with your other friends. Marami ka namang classmates. Sino nga ulit yung isa mong friend?"

"Si Cheska po atsaka si Sam atsaka si Mika...", the boy enumerates the names of her classmate that led Emily raising her brow. Why are the names all for girls?

"Anak, parang puro babae yung friends mo..", Marco asks. Maybe wondering the same thing like her.

"Maganda silang lahat, Papa! Crush ko nga sila eh!", Daniel says that widened the eyes of Emily. She heard Marco laugh at their son's answer. Of all the things that their son will get from his father is this... being a certified chick-boy.

"Anak, bata ka pa sa mga crush-crush na yan, ha? Kanino mo natutunan yan?", she asks. Still wondering where he got that idea from since they don't teach him those things.

"Kay Kuya Nathan po!", the boy answers and Emily and Marco looked at each other. Nathan started pursuing his dream and went back to school. They only see him on the weekends and has been a doting big brother to Daniel.

Emily sighs. "Basta, Anak, ang gusto lang namin ni Papa ay maging mabait ka, ha?", she patiently reminds him again.

"Opo, Mama! Sorry po ulit.", Daniel says and this made his parents smile.

"Sige na, puntahan mo na si Yaya Perla para makapagbihis at makakain na tayo, ha?", she says and her son got off his father's lap. Her hand lands on Marco's forehead, checking his temperature, and she's glad that he isn't as warm as she left him this morning.

"Don't worry, Mahal. Okay na ako. Magaling mag-alaga yung misis ko eh.", her husband says and took her hand to give it a kiss. She smiled and remembered again their son's answers a while ago.

"Marco, sa lahat ng mamanahin ng anak mo, yung pagiging babaero mo pa! Sana yung pagiging takot sa ipis na lang ang nakuha niya sayo.", she says and it made Marco chuckle. "Hindi nakakatuwa, ha! Ayokong paglalaruan niya ang mga babae."

"Emily, akong bahala sa anak natin. He's going to be a better version of me. So wag mo ng isipin yun. He's a kid. Relax ka lang.", he says and kisses her temple.

Marco is right and she agrees. This is her first time raising a kid and raising one with Marco at that. Daniel is not going to be a kid forever. So for now, she'll let it slip. She'll let their son be until he learns what's right or wrong. She'll let him explore and hope that they taught him well. Because as long as she and Marco are there for Daniel, everything will be alright.