"Daddy, what are we eating?" Humawak si Antoinette sa kamay ni Kanoa. "Oh! Steak. I love steak!"
Natawa si Kanoa dahil tumalon pa ang anak niya. Nasa tapat sila ng isang steakhouse sa New York para sa weekly date nilang mag-ama. Madalas naman silang sa fast-food, café, o kahit sa simpleng restaurant, pero sa pagkakataong ito . . . naisipan niyang kakain sila ng steak.
Yes, Antoinette was so in love with steaks. Lumaki kasi ito kay Sam na madalas ipinagluluto si Ara kaya nakasanayan na rin.
Kanoa and Ara talked about taking Antoinette on a date every week. Gumawa sila ng schedule na minsan, sina Ara at Antoinette lang... minsan silang mag-ama naman. Mas madalas nga lang na silang tatlo, pero they wanted to bond with Antoinette alone.
Wala si Ara dahil pumasok ito sa office kaya naman siya ang nakatoka sa pag-ayos sa anak nila. Madalas namang si Antoinette na ang namimili ng isusuot nito kaya hindi iyon naging mahirap sa kaniya.
Habang nakatingin sa menu, itinuturo naman ni Antoinette ang gusto nitong kainin. Hindi na siya nagulat na steak, buttered aspargus, mashed potato, at lava cake ang pinili nito. It was always Ara's order, too!
While staring at his daughter, Kanoa realized that Antoinette was really getting bigger. Umiinom na ito ng tubig gamit ang wine glass na nakalagay sa lamesa. Ito na rin ang naglagay ng napkin sa sariling damit para gawin bib. Ikinagulat niya pa na pinunasan nito ang sariling utensils na nakikitang ginagawa niya kahit fine dining pa ang kakainan nila.
Antoinette also started talking about her friends in school. The teachers were nice, and she got herself a bunch of chocolates and a crush at the birthday party last week. Dito na mas nagulat si Kanoa.
"He's playing football, Daddy," sabi ni Antoinette. "He has blue eyes and brown curly hair!"
Kanoa pressed his lips together and smiled. "And do you like him because?"
Tumaas ang dalawang balikat ni Antoinette sa tanong niya at basta na lang iniba ang usapan. Natatawa siya, pero na-realize rin niya na darating talaga ang araw na hindi na niya mapipigilan ang ganito. Babae ang anak niya at paulit-ulit niyang iniisip na sana ay huwag maranasan nito ang pinadanas niya kay Ara.
If he could, he would beg to get all the karma instead of letting his daughter suffer. Iyon lang ang hinihiling niya.
Losing Antheia was already too much for him. He wasn't there and protecting their late daughter from anything would be impossible. And if karma would come after him because of everything he did when he was younger, he would gladly accept them—basta huwag sa mga anak nila ni Ara.
"Daddy, is the baby coming soon? I want to kiss her," ani Antoinette na nakatingin sa kaniya. "Mommy said I'm having a little sister. Can we share a room? Can I braid her hair?"
"Oo naman, basta 'pag malaki na siya. After she's born, we need to be careful kasi she's still a baby. She's gonna be this small." Ipinakita niya ang posibleng size ng baby. "Then we'll walk in the park everyday for sunlight."
Antoinette's face soften. "Aww, I love sunlight. Then I'll teach her how to feed ducks!"
Kanoa nodded and before he could say anything, their order came.
"Daddy, can you slice my steak thinly?" Antoinette pouted. "Daddy, thinly, okay?"
"Okay," he smiled.
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T H E X W H H Y S
www.thexwhys.com
