Every Step Away

ESA46

Note: ESA underwent a few minor revisions and I was able to write this after (finally lol). This is just a short chapter but I hope you enjoy it! Thank you!

xxx

ESA46

Special Chapter

"Riye..."

Agad huminto ang mga paa ko sa paglalakad noong mapansin ko ang seryosong pagtititigan ng mag-ama sa kusina. Riye, our three-year-old daughter was sitting in the bar stool while pouting. Si Heze naman ay nasa kanyang harapan. Naka-dukwang upang maging kapantay ng anak. Nakapalumbaba pa ito sa bar counter. Both of them looks like they are on a staring contest.

Tumaas ang kilay ko at nagdesisyong hindi magpakita para hindi sila magambala sa titigan nilang dalawa. I don't know why they are acting like that but I found it very entertaining. Kinapa ko ang aking cellphone sa aking bulsa para patago silang i-video.

"Ice bear or daddy?" masuyong tanong ni Heze kay Riye habang hindi pa rin binibitawan ang mga mata nito.

Tinakpan ko ang bibig ko gamit ang libreng kamay ko para pigilan ang sarili kong tumawa ng may tunog. My hand that's holding my phone shook because I'm trying hard to silently laugh.

Akala ko naman ay kung anong seryosong bagay ang pinag-uusapan!

"Ice bear!"

Heze sighed and bow down his head. Umahon siya sa pagkaka-dukwang. Riye's head moved up slowly while following her dad's movements. Mas lalo akong nahirapan sa pagpipigil ng tawa habang pinagmamasdan ang paghihirap ni Hezekiah.

"Baby, you should choose me..."

Mas humaba ang nguso ni Riye. My little daughter hugged the soft white bear in her arms tighter.

"But I like Ice bear..."

"Is Ice bear your daddy?"

"No..."

"Who's your daddy?"

"Daddy..." Riye said, raising her little arms to point at Heze.

I smiled while watching the both of them.

"Then, is it Ice bear or daddy?"

"Ice bear..."

Hindi ko na napigilan pa ang pagtawa ko. Agad kong napansin ang paglingon ni Hezekiah sa direksyon ko. His forehead creased when he saw that I was holding my phone again to record them. Mapang-asar akong ngumisi ako. I always wanna make him see how often he lost to his daughter!

"Mommy!" masiglang bati ng anak ko.

I ended the video and saved it. Nakangiti akong lumapit sa kanilang dalawa.

"Hi, baby! Where did you and Daddy go?" I asked and took the stool next to her.

"Mall, Mommy! Daddy and I saw a lot of Ice bears! Griz and Pan-pan, too! Mommy, I wanna live in the mall!"

I chuckled. Hezekiah sighed. Naramdaman ko ang presensya niya sa tabi ko. He put his hand on my shoulder. I leaned my back on him even if my attention remained to Riye.

"Really? Because Ice bear is there?"

She nodded cutely, getting enthusiastic of the idea that she'll live in the mall.

"Hmm!"

"You'll leave Mommy and Daddy here?" nakangiti ko pa ring tanong. My daughter is so adorable! Minsan na-iiyak na lang ako dahil ang cute cute niya at hindi ko akalaing anak ko siya!

Riye's smile faltered a little. Her head tilted like she's thinking. Agad bumalik ang ngiti niya na tila nakaisip na siya ng magandang sagot para saakin.