All I ask

AIA. 08 - If this is my last night with you

Five words

Kairos Gregor Rouvin Vejar's

"What else do you like?"

The supposed to be two day visit in Seattle became a whole month. Pauwi-uwi naman ako sa Pilipinas pero tuwing Biyernes ay bumabalik ako at umuuwi ulit kapag Lunes ng gabi. Isang buwan nang ganoon ang sitwasyon ko. I didn't know that time flies so fast. I am enjoying my time with the twins even though we're always inside the four walls of Rom's hospital suite. Si Catherine Fe, hindi niya nakakalimutang ipakita sa akin na hindi niya ako gusto but I guess, she's just letting me dahil nahihiya siya kay Alejandros. Tang ina, bandang huli naging utang na loob ko pa kay Alele na nakakalapit ako sa mga anak ko.

"C'mon, tell me what else do you like?" Nakangiti ako habang nakatingin kay Rom at Rem. Ako ang sumundo kay Rem kanina sa school, buti nga tinawagan ako ni Alejandros para sabihin na sunduin ko si Rem sa school, naririnig ko sa background na umaalma si Cachi pero wala siyang magagawa dahil may event siya ngayon at kailangang naroon sila ni Elisha. Elisha and Alejandros were together, kasama rin nila ang mga anak nila.

"We want to leawn to wide a bike, Mr. Kaiwos." Rom answered me. Ngumiti ako.

"You don't know how to? Why?" Rem was on my lap while looking over his brother.

"It's because Mommy thinks that its dangewous." Sagot sa akin ni Rem. "We don't have a house in the subuwbs. In the subuwbs, there's lawn and sidewalks and biking cownews. Hewe in the city, it's full of caws and othew twucks. So, she pwomised that when she gets wich, she will buy us a house and we will live thewe with Mama Lisha and Ate Alba and Ewos."

Hinaplos ko ang noo ni Rem. I sighed and kissed his forehead.

"Mr. Kaiwos." Rom called me. "What does uncle mean?" He asked me.

"Why do you ask?"

"It's 'cause Mommy said that Mr. Alejandwos is our Uncle. How is that? What does that mean?"

Hindi ako kaagad nakasagot. Hindi ko rin alam kung bakit tuwing kasama ko itong mga batang ito ay nanginginig ang mga tuhod ko.

"An uncle means... an older man." Sabi ko sa kanila. "But sometimes, it also means the brother of your father." Malumanay na sabi ko.

"Awe you saying that Mr. Alejandwos is the bwothew of our Alien Daddy?" Tanong sa akin ni Rem. Nakatingin siya sa akin habang nanlalaki ang mga mata. Hinalikan ko ulit siya sa noon. Namumula ang pisngi niya, si Rom naman ay ganoon na rin, kaunti na lang ay makakalabas na siya sa ospital na ito. I've already settled his bills. Kung madaragdagan naman iyon, wala namang kaso sa akin.

"Maybe... maybe you should ask Mr. Alejandros."

"When he gets hewe, I am going to ask him." Rem said.

"He's been twying to ask Mommy about Alien Daddy but Mommy just said that Alien Daddy loves us, but he cannot be with us because his ciwy needs him."

Hindi ako nakasagot. Magtatanong pa sana ulit ako nang magbukas ang pinto at iniluwa niyon si Cachi. Nagulat ako. She looks different. She was wearing a black dress and a pair of boots. Naka-lipstick rin siya.

"Ohhhh! Mommy looks like an actwess!" Rom said.

"Yes! She looks like Tawlow Swift!" Rem commented.

"No! She looks like Tawlow Swift's fwend! Gigi Hadid!"

Cachi laughed. "Oh I missed you boys!" Nakangiting lumapit siya sa mga bata at hinalikan ang bawat isa. I had to look away. I had to, I don't know why, but I had to. Tumayo na rin ako at nagpaalam na. Cachi and Rem will sleep over here. Hindi katulad noong ibang mga gabi na, patutulugin niya si Rom tapos uuwi siya kay Rem na binabantayan ni Elisha sa bahay.