One Summer Night

Chapter Two

My eyebrow automatically lifted up when Francisco showed himself at the living area. I rolled my eyes when I saw his wet hair. Hindi ba marunong gumamit ng blower ang lalaking ito?

I immediately glanced to my wrist watch to see if he met the right time I gave to him.

"Where's my son?" He asked, fixing his messy hair.

"Aba, mabuti naman at tinanong mo kung nasaan ang anak mo. Saan ka na naman ba nanggaling kagabi, Francisco?" Seryoso kong tanong sa kanya.

"Stop acting like a nagging wife, Camila. You are not part of my family." He replied with a crumpled face. Kung may itataas pa ata ang pagtaas ng kilay ko, malamang ay umabot na iyon sa kisame ng bahay niya.

Ang kapal talaga ng lalaking 'to na ipamukha sa akin na hindi ako parte ng pamilya niya. Alam ko naman kung saan ako lulugar, ayoko lang talaga na pinapabayaan niya ang anak niya. Theodore is still a kid, he should be guided. He's only five years old and he should teach his son about the things he has to learn at his age. Hindi iyong uuwi siya na lasing, gigising ng tanghali na akala mo wala siyang trabaho. He should act like a father, hindi iyong buhay-binata pa siya.

"Kung bigwasan kaya kita ng malaman mo ang hinahanap mo?" Pinanlakihan ko siya ng mga mata.

"Tata!" Napalingon ako sa maliit na boses na tumawag sa akin. It's Theodore, running towards my direction. He ran past Francisco and went directly to me. He hugged me immediately and buried his face to my neck. Nakapagpalit na rin siya ng damit.

"Aba, aba, saan mo na naman dadalhin ang anak ko?" He's frowning while staring to us.

"I will take him to a bookstore and we will eat foods he wants to eat, right baby?" I looked back to Theodore with a sweet smile.

"Ayt! I will eat so I can grow bigger and bigger like Daddy!" He was jumping and motioning his father's height with his right arm.

"Sasama ako." Napatingin ako kay Francisco at tinitigan siya nang matagal.

"Hindi pwede." Mariin kong sabi sa kanya.

"Aba, ako ang ama ng bata kaya ako ang masusunod! Kaya sasama ako!" Sabi niya sa akin. Kahit naman anong hindi ko sa lalaking ito, wala akong magagawa kung sumama siya.

"Fine, Francisco. Para matigil lang iyang bibig mo sa kakasalita. Minsan kasi, walang kwenta ang mga sinasabi mo." Sabi ko sa kanya dahilan para sumimangot siya.

"Magpapalit lang ako ng damit." Sabi naman niya bago muling umakyat sa itaas para magpalit. Sando at shorts lang kasi ang suot niya.

"Marami bang nakain ang baby ko?" Nakangiti kong tanong kay Theodore.

"I ate a lot of foods Nanay Jo gave to me! Look to my muscles, Tata!" He enthusiastically told me and showed his arms, pretending to have biceps like Francisco.

"Wow! You really ate a lot! You should eat more so you can be bigger than Daddy, okay?" I kissed his cheeks.

"I will be like Daddy someday! Hector told me that my Daddy is like a tree because he is so tall!" He was pertaining to his best friend. Theodore always talks everything in detailed. Wala atang pangyayari sa buhay ng batang ito ang hindi niya naikwento sa akin.

"You will be taller than your Daddy someday if you eat a lot. What do you want to be in the future, baby?" I asked him.

"A robot! I want to be like Iron Man! But Daddy said he's not a real hero and he is fake. Iron Man is not existing in the real world." He pouted his pinkish cute lips. Kahit kailan talaga, siraulo ang lalaking iyon! Tama bang sirain ang pangarap ng bata? Hindi kaya nabagok ang lalaking iyon noong bata? I should better ask his mother about that.