Concealed Truth

06

It was 9 pm and it's time for Liam to go to bed. Kanina after naming maglaro ng XBox niya ay nagpaturo siya sakin sa homework niya sa school. it's just about the animal kingdom kaya madali naming natapos yun. After niya gawin yung homework niya ay pinainom ko na siya ng gatas like what Tita Donna told me and asked him to take a half bath saka na siya sinamahan sa kwarto niya. His room was Maddie's old room. Dati puro pink ang laman ng kwartong ito. From the carpet to the ceiling. Kaya nga di kami pinapapasok ni Maddie dito eh. Kasi masiado daw pambabae. The only time I entered this room was during my last day here in the Philippines 7 years ago. Ngayon, the room is filled with superheroes. Liam's wall is covered with the Justice League wallpaper, his bed is a customized Bat Mobile, he has a life-sized The Flash action figure, and he has a display cabinet that's full of different superhero action figures.

" Nice room." kumento ko as I let him lay on the bed.

" Do you like superheroes ninong?" he asked

" Oo naman. I like superman and The Flash. Your ninong Rex likes Iron Man and Tito Tri like Batman."

" Me too. I like all of them. But I love the flash more. When I grow up , I want to run as fast as he can then I'll save the world."

" You're gonna be an awesome hero." sabi ko. He yawned as he nodded at natawa naman ako.

" Oh. Inaantok kana. You should sleep na. Maaga ka pa sa school bukas."

" Okay, good night ninong..." aniya sabay yakap sa akin. I hugged him back and even kissed the top of his head. It may seem like we just met yesterday but there's that instant connection between us that felt like i knew him for the past 7 years. Maybe because I'm bestfriends with his mom and the fact that I instantly fall in love with kids.

" Sleep tight, little dude." sabi ko saka na siya inayos sa pagkakahiga. He closed his eyes and I turned off the lamp beside his bed. Leaving the night light on inside his room. I decided to walk out already para makatulog na siya ng maayos at para na rin makauwi na ako.

Paglabas ko sa kwarto niya ay nagulat ako nang makita si Maddie na dahan-dahang naglalakad papasok sa kabilang kwarto. She stopped midtrack saka tumingin sa akin.

" You're here?" she asked

" Uh... I promised Liam that I'll play with him all day. Bakit bawal ba?" umayos naman siya ng tayo saka umiling.

" Hindi naman."aniya

" San ka pala galing?" tanong ko. Well alam ko naman san siya galing at kung sino kasama niya pero gusto ko lang na sa kanya ko mismo marinig yung sagot

" Kasama ko si Zolo. We spent the night in Tagaytay." aniya

" Birthday ni Liam kahapon tas umalis ka?"

" Eh tapos naman na yung party niya when I left. Saka nakabook na kami dun last month pa no." sagot niya

" Hinanap ka niya kanina. Di mo man lang tinawagan yung bata."

" Nakalimutan ko kasi. Sorry na. Ito naman kababalik lang para na naman kitang tatay." natatawang sagot niya pero natahimik siya nang makitang seryoso pa rin ako.

" Ewan ko sayo, Mads." sabi ko.

" Uwi na nga ako. Baka pwede mo namang ihatid sa school yung anak mo bukas oh? Kawawa naman yung bata eh."

" I'll try. Zolo and I are planning to--"

" Zolo na naman? Wala ka pang isang oras na nahihiwalay dun siya na naman iniisip mo? Saka kakauwi mo lang galing sa lakad niyo tas bukas yun ulit kasama mo? Baka pwedeng anak mo muna tas saka na siya?" sabi ko.