Limerence (Dauntless Series #2)

Chapter 37

"You're tulala again, Nana. Do you have a problem?"

Nilingon ko si Eli na tumigil sa paglalaro ng kaniyang owl stuffed toy na si Lazi. I am amazed that she stopped what she's doing just to ask me what's going on. Tumawa ako at umiling.

"Nothing. Nana's just thinking about something. Don't mind me."

"Okay!" Then she continued playing with her toys using her high pitched girly voice. Sinandal ko ang aking ulo sa bintana.

It's been 13 hours yet I didn't receive any news from him. Sana umuwi si Papa mamaya. Baka may balita siya sa mga nangyayari sa ospital. I hate to say this but I need to use his power to get what I want. Kahit ngayon lang.

Now that I'm thinking about it, tomorrow is my follow-up. I have a high chance on seeing him since he is my doctor. But then I felt a hollow on my stomach for some reason. He's not gonna break-up with me when we see each other, right? This is just me overthinking.

Pagkauwi namin ay pinameryenda ko muna si Eli habang naghahagilap ng balita sa ospital. Hindi naman nagrereply sa akin si Mama at Sinead kaya sinubukan kong magtext kay Yohan. Nag-iwan lang ako ng greetings para wala siyang ideya sa pakay ko. I have a feeling that my great boyfriend told him not to entertain my questions because he will get worried or distracted if I knew something. Nang matapos si Eli sa pagkain ay tumayo ako para ilagay ang silya sa tapat ng lababo na siyang tungtungan ni Eli para maghugas ng kamay. Kayang-kaya niya nang umakyat sa silya nang walang tulong ng kahit ninuman kaya hindi na ako nahirapan sa pagbubuhat. Siya na rin ang nagbukas ng faucet at naglagay ng handsoap sa kamay niya. She knows everything and it sucks that I look like props here! Kung hindi lang ako nakatayo rito para alalayan ang pamangkin ko, baka kanina ko pa siya hinayaang mag-isa rito.

Siya na rin ang naghugas ng pinagkainan niya. Every morning when Mama doesn't have work, Eli is always with her so it's expected for her to learn some household chores from my mother. Hindi pwedeng wala kaming alam sa mga gawaing bahay dahil hindi habambuhay na nakadepende kami sa ibang tao. Napangiti ako nang pilit na inaabot ni Eli ang sponge. Tinulungan ko siya roon. She continued soaking it with a dishwashing liquid and after that, she proceeded on cleaning her plate and water bottle.

"Okay, you're wasting the water. Get down here, Eliana." Sabi ko nang matapos siya sa paghuhugas.

"Wait lang."

"What is it?" Sinundan ko ang direksyon ng mga mata niya. Nakatingin siya sa sabon na nasa lalagyanan ng sponge. Anong ginagawa nito rito?

Agad ko iyong nilayo kay Eli dahil alam kong gagana na naman ang kuryusidad niya at hindi ito titigil sa pangungulit hangga't hindi niya nakukuha ang gusto niya. At hindi nga ako nagkamali. Gusto niyang makita ang nakasulat sa sabon. Bumuntong hininga ako at sa huli ay sumuko. Wala naman akong magagawa kundi pagbigyan ang gusto ng pamangkin kong ubod ng kulit.

"There,"

She tilted her head to try and read the letters but she can't. She can count up to 30, but her reading skills doesn't seem to improve yet. She can draw and write some letters, only that reading is keeping her from becoming an almost school-ready 2 year-old kid. With the cleverness that Eli has, there's no doubt that she can beat her classmates without even lifting a finger.

I am a proud Aunt there.

"What does it say, Nana?"

"It says Lifebouy. It's the brand name of the soap." Binalik ko na ang sabon sa lalagyanan at binaba na ang pamangkin ko. However, her silence is disturbing me. I wonder what's running on her mind right now.

"Say the soap is a girl, does that mean her name will be Lifegirl?"

Napanganga ako. Oh, God! Her serious face is making me laugh even more. She is clearly not joking! Her innocence is killing me!