ELITES SERIES: RETURNED

chapter three

"Mahal ko, where is your lunch box?" Tanong ko kay Isaiah from the kitchen. I'm preparing his double decker ham and cheese sandwich. Tinignan ko kung sino ang pumasok sa kitchen, isa iyon sa mga katulong dito sa bahay. "Tina, where is Isaiah? Nakita mo ba yung isang lunch box nya, yung red?"

"Ay Ati, nasa myusek rom. Yun nga are nabasag po ni Isaiah ang baunan niya kahapon ba." Sagot nya agad sa akin. Kumunot naman ang noo ko, na napansin nito at agad na sumagot. "Nag lalaro po sila Jose duon sa kabila nibato nya ba yung baunan nabasag."

Nailing nalang ako sa sinabi ni Tina. Nahihirapan parin ako initindihin ang salita nya dahil sa provincial dialect nya. She's a great helper Although I want to be the one preparing the foods for my son. I put the sandwich on a container at saka kinuha yung isang lunch box ni Isaiah, kahit papano nag kasya naman yung container at saka ko kinuha yung water tumbler sa ref at choco drink and put it all inside his bag.

Pinuntahan ko si Isaiah sa music room, naka upo sya sa isa

ng French couch habang may hawak na music book. Nag angat sya ng tingin at tumayo ng makita ako, may kunot sa noo nya na pinag taka ko pero tahimik lang ito at saka humawak sa kamay ko at nag lakad kami palabas.

"What's wrong?" I ask he put his seatbelt on and look at me.

"Mommy, my teacher wants me to play piano but I told her I don't play in front of other people. She told me she wanted to talk to you."

I start the engine on and drove off to gate. Sinulyapan ko sya saglit habang nag mamaneho. "You told her you don't want to? Why, mahal ko. Magaling ka naman tumugtog." Nakita ko ang pag simangot nya.

Hindi na nag salita si Isaiah the whole drive. After almost fifteen minutes of driving, I pulled off to the parking lot of his school and carry his bag that I took from the back sit as he hop out from the car. Private ang school na pinapasukan ng anak ko, malaki ito at kilala pero hindi iyon ang dahilan kung bakit ko sya dito pinasok. I want the best for him and he deserves this school. After few rooms ay narating namin ang classroom nya. My baby is already in first grade of elementary and I'm proud to say nasa star section ang anak ko.

"Hello, Miss Alvarez. Its good to see you again." Its Mrs. Lopez, Isaiah's homeroom teacher. I smile to her and look at Isaiah for a second who took a sit at the back. "I have something to tell you if its okay."

"Yes, Mrs. Lopez, nasabi na ho sa akin ni Isaiah na gusto nyo raw ho ako makausap." lumabas kami ng classroom, nakikita ko pa si Isaiah naka tingin sa amin kaya nginitian ko ito at saka binalik ang atensyon sa harapan ko.

"Miss Alvarez, ipag papaalam ko sana ang anak nyo na magkaroon ng number para sa gaganaping foundation day ng school this coming third week of the month. Ang kaso the moment I told Isaiah about this, he already insist not to play."

"Pag pasensyahan nyo na po. Pero kakausapin ko nalang siya. Baka kasi kung pipilitin ko siya ay mas lalo syang humindi." Ngumiti naman ito sa akin saka tumango.

"I just hope he will consider. He's a good kid, and I love seeing him being active in all the activities we had. Sana lang ay mas maging malapit sya sa mga kaklase nya." There's is a genuine concern in her voice and I know what she's saying.

Nag usap pa kami ng kaunti at saka ako nag paalam na aalis na. Tingnan ko pa sa huling beses ang anak ko, naka titig din ito sa akin. Kumaway ako sa kanya na tinango nya lang at saka ako bumalik sa parking lot. Dumeretso na ako papasok sa trabaho ko, another fifteen minutes ay nasa boutique na ako. Ako pa lamang ang naroon, as I open the shop, dumeretso agad ako sa office at saka tinignan ang mga dapat pa na aayusin. Napangiti ako, knowing everything is well kept in my office. i remember leaving this room with mess for emergency yesterday.