LITTLE DREAMS

Rule Number One - Short Story 01

"Need help?" asks a guy in his early thirties.

"Thank you. I mean , sorry ah, naistorbo kita."

"Hehe, Richard nga pala," he lended his hands to the lady in red dress.

"Oh! Maine.. Just call me maine."

They shaked their hands and felt that thin spark walking through their veins.

It was just a plain conversation but it felt like they've known each other for years.

The guy's face was so beautiful that she can't even take her eyes off him.

His eyes were stuck at her angelic smile and can't help but stare.

He called for a taxi and offered it to her.

"Hindi ka sasakay? Sabay na tayo." Maine asked.

"Sige okay lang, magkaiba kasi tayo ng way."

"Sure ka?"

"Yes. Sure na sure."

"Baka pwede naman to umikot, pabalik, tara na."

"Hindi, wag na nakakahiya. Okay lang. Salamat. Ingat ka ha."

"Ah okay sige salamat. Bye."

"Sige, ingat."

They parted ways, like how the moon separated itself from the clouds, for he knew that they could meet one day, yet won't be able to touch.

"Papa, bekit ka nika-shmile?" A three-year old daughter of Richard started asking her unending whys.

"Wala naman po, nikita kasi kitah," he answered with his babytalking.

"Bekit natita mo lang happy na agud?"

"Ompo. Happy si daddy kasi good girl ka."

His daughter was holding his slippers as he removed his shoes.

She kissed her Papa right after putting his slippers down.

"Sarap naman ng kiss, nakakawala ng pagod," he said, "pwede pa po ba isa pa, baby?"

"Yeth po, Papa," the little girl without two front teeth said, as she curls her short hair with her left index finger.

She repeated her kiss on his Daddy's cheek.

"Itsah paaa," as he offered the other side of his cheek.

The daughter seemed liking their little giggly greetings, until Mamita, Richard's grandmother, came.

"Gabing gabi ka na ah," Mamita said.

"Oh, mano po pala, La,"Ric reached for her hand then lifted it to his forehead.

"Kaawaan ka."

Baby Chichi was just silently watching the scene and looked worried if Mamita would ever say how brat she was that day.

"Makulit po ba?" Richard checked.

"Ah hindi naman, nasunod naman sa mga sinabi ko," Mamita covered her granddaughter's faults from her Daddy.

"Naku, very good pala. Hayaan mo, nak, bibilhan kita pasalubong sa sweldo ko."

"Telage po, Pa-pah?"

"Opo, basta promise hindi mo papahirapan si Mamita ha?"

His grandma laughed after hearing his consequences.

The three ate dinner. It was pleasant night and only the sound of their utensils were being heard.

He loved how his daughter grew up like a little doll.