"Looks like we made it, or I thought so till today. Until you were there everywhere, and all I could taste was love the way we made it." - Barry Manilow
"Do I know you?" Gulat niyang tanong. Mukhang ako yata ang nagulat kasi bakit hindi niya ko nakilala. Or baka etsos lang niya kasi umalis akong hindi nagpapaalam man lang sa kanya.
"Of course!" Pansamantala kong sagot 'to test the waters' sabi nga nila.
"I told you, you're my daddy," singit ni Nuelle.
"Stop that Nuelle! What did mommy say?" Pinandilatan ko siya ng mata bilang babala.
"Sorry kung hindi kayo makilala kasi naaksidente ako five years ago kaya nawalan ako ng memorya, temporary lang daw sabi ng doctor," paliwanag ni Wilber.
"Sorry, sir kung na-confuse kayo ng anak ko," ang tangi kong nasabi dahil na-guilty ako sa sinabi niya. Parang may kurot akong naramdaman sa puso ko na ang dahilan ng aksidente ay ang pag-alis ko noon. "Come, kiddo, it's time to go back to our seats," ang yaya ko.
Ngunit may pahabol si Wlber, "paano tayo nagkakilala, miss?"
"Naging professor ko kayo sa PolSci noong college, sir? Sorry po uli," patuloy ko siyang sinagot. Hindi ko kayang tignan ang kanyang mukha baka hindi ko mapigilan ang yakapin at halikan siya.
"Bakit pinipilit ni Nuelle na daddy niya ako? I can hear the conviction in her voice," patuloy niyang pagtatanong.
"Lahat po na magustuhan niyang father figure ay tinatawag niyang daddy. Sir, babalik na po kami sa upuan namin. Pasensiya na po uli." Bago pa siya uling makasagot ay nagmadali na kong akayin si Nuelle papuntang upuan namin.
Habang sa flight, panay ang sulyapan at ngitian ng mag-ama ko. Lalo tuloy akong nagiguilty. But now is not the right time. May amnesia siya at ayokong maconfuse kong isip niya.
Ang guwapo pa din ang Ex ko. Nakakahiya hindi man lang ako presentable. Shirts and denim lang ako every time na nagtatravel ako, ika nga, I travel light.
Nang magtouch down ang plane, hindi ko napigilan si Nuelle. Pumunta siya kay Wilber. "Daddy, here's my mommy's phone number, if you want to talk to me or meet me. May I also have yours?"
"Nuelle, I told you not to disturb people, didn't I?" ang saway ko. "Pasensiya na uli kayo, sir. Medyo makulit ang anak ko. You know how five year olds are."
"No, I don't know. I have no children yet," sarkastiko niyang sagot. Pagdating kay Nuelle, "here little girl is my business card. You can call me anytime," then kinuha niya ang inabot ng anak ko. At nang walang kaabug-abog, hinalikan ni Nuelle si Wilber. Nabigla man ay nag thank you pa din siya sa bata. Habang ako ay namumutla. Hindi pa doon nagtatapos may pahabol na salita si Nuelle. "See you soon, daddy!"
Tipid ang ngiti ni Wilber. Loss for words ang lolo niyo kaya napatingin na lang siya sa akin. Napakunot noo na lang ako. There's no telling talaga sa innocence ng mga bata.
Sa wakas, nakarating na kami sa bahay. A wave of nostalgia washed over me. How I missed this house! "So this is it, my baby. We're finally home. Pag naayos ko na lahat dito. I will report for work na and ieenroll na rin kita sa prep school." Excited kaming mag-ina kasi in-offeran ako ng deanship job sa isa sa mga malaking universities. The compensation package is great plus may prep school din sila kaya hindi ako mahihirapan kay Nuelle. May meeting ako sa university President the following week so sabay enroll na kay Nuelle.
Our first night, pareho kaming namahay ng anak ko kaya hinayaan ko siyang matulog sa tabi ko. Ang dating room ko pinarenovate ng mga magulang ko, before sila umalis, to fit Nuelle's personality. She loves pastel colors and Disney princesses haha yun ang theme ng room niya. Ang room ko naman ay ang dating room nina tatay at nanay. At ang dating room ni ate ang lalabas na guest room. Yes, naghiwalay din kami ng room ni Ate because na-realize namin na kailangan may privacy pa din kami.
Nagsimula ng dumaldal si Nuelle. Alam kong hindi niya palalampasin ang gabi hanggang hindi niya nasasabi ang saloobin niya.
"My daddy is handsomely serious. I am already in love with him. And I know, you are controlling yourself from hugging him." Eto na pa kami.
"Of course, he is handsome. That is why you are beautiful. He's also intelligent like you."
"But why did he not recognize you"
"Hindi mo ba narinig, he met an accident five years ago. So nagka amnesia siya."
"What is amnesia, mom?"
"It's a memory loss because of an accident."
"Oh no! How are we going to tell him about me?"
"Don't worry, kiddo! Temporary lang yun and he will be cured."
"I hope he gets well very soon, mom! Already, I am missing him."
"Ouch! I'm still here baby. I am becoming jealous now," pabiro kong sagot sa kanya.
Bigla niya akong niyakap ng mahigpit sabay sabi, "You're the most important person for me. And I love you so much more than I love daddy." She giggled. "For now."
"Ay may ganoon! You flattered me but killl me at the same time. Naughty girl! Bedtime... but let's pray first."
"Good night, mom! I love you so much!"
"I love you more, baby!" Sabay patay sa mga bedside lamps namin. Then we cuddled.
The week passed quickly sa pag aayos ng mga gamit namin at pag-aattend ng mga invites mula sa mga close friends and former co-workers ko.
Day of the meeting with the University President and Nuelle's enrolment.Excited kami pareho.
YOU ARE READING
I Love You, My Handsome Prof!
Romance"I Love You, My Handsome Prof" is the second series in My "I Love You Series" collections. And it will be my first time to write in the first person and in Taglish. It is a simple story of love that started in the campus and off. Boy meets girl. Boy...
