LUCENZO D'ANGELO

Kabanata XLV: Attraction

"Daddy, what does the wind sound like?"

Lucenzo looked puzzled at Delancy's question. Mas lalong lumapit si Delancy sakanya para ipakita ang assignment nito na nakasulat sa kanyang notebook. Kararating ko lang galing trabaho at kaming dalawa ni Lucenzo ang nag sundo kay Delancy sa bahay ni Margeaux.

"What is the sound of the wind?" Lucenzo read the question aloud, a hint of bemusement in his voice. "I don't know, does the wind even make a sound?"

"That's what the teacher asked," Delancy explained, tilting her head. "Mommy doesn't know the answer either."

"Ask your teacher what's the right answer, baby. I'm not quite sure how to answer that question," Lucenzo said with a gentle smile, gathering up Delancy's belongings.

"Before that. . . let's eat first."

"Okay!"

I prepared the food. Since Lucenzo and I were both busy hindi na kami nakapag-luto. Habang tumatagal naiintindihan na ni Delancy kung hindi 'man makakasama samin ang daddy nya sa gabi. It's been a month since ganito ang set-up. Sa una nahihirapan sya at sigurado naman akong hanggang ngayon. Pinipilit nya lang siguro ang sarili na intindihin ang sitwasyon. I didn't want my daughter to suffer, but... I wasn't ready yet.

"Daddy, eat some more, you're getting skinny!" Delancy insisted, piling more rice onto Lucenzo's plate. Nagkatitigan kami ni Lucenzo pero ilang segundo lang ay ibinalik na nito ang tingin kay Delancy. He chuckled.

"Not really, I've been hitting the gym. If anything, I've been bulking up, not losing weight," he defended.

"Are you sure?" Delancy prodded, pointing the spoon at him.

And it was adorable.

She looked so cute scolding her daddy.

"Diba mommy mukhang stress si Daddy? Yung eyes nya oh, lubog na. Get proper sleep Daddy we have a lot of money naman na. Bakit ka pa po ba nag wo-work nang too much?"

I stole a glance at Lucenzo. He seemed taken aback by our daughter's observation.

Actually, he did look a bit stressed. Maybe just tired from work. My eyes drifted over his body; he hadn't lost weight, he just seemed tired and sleep-deprived

"Daddy's just been a bit short on sleep lately, but don't worry, princess, Daddy's health is fine," he reassured her.

But Delancy continued to probe.

"Physically?"

"Yes, Baby, physically," he replied within a second.

"And mentally?"

There was a pause. I watched Lucenzo closely. It took him a moment to respond.

"I'm not quite myself because you're not home," halos pabulong na sabi nito.

I saw tears welling up in Delancy's eyes.

"Then come home to Mommy's house every day! You hardly ever visit! Baka you're going on dates?" I saw her wipe her tears when she turned away from her dad, but from my angle, I could see her doing it.

Pareho kaming dalawa.

I was crying, hurting, but still being stubborn.

"On dates? Absolutely not! You can check my phone to see if there are any girls besides you and your mother," Lucenzo challenged.

"Delancy, your dad's just been really busy lately, that's all," sabat ko.

"He said he's not feeling too great mentally, Mommy, because I'm not home, and he hardly visits. Ano kaya 'yon?"