Ludic Selcouth #1: Cracked Beat

Hit #41

“Mama, Daddy!” my head turned to the handsome little boy running towards our table. Tumayo si Faye at sinalubong ang batang lalaki.

“My baby is here! Hindi ka ba nagpasaway kay yaya?” anito at pinanggigilan ang pisngi ng bata. The little boy smirked and shook his head. Maya-maya pa ay may humahangos na babaeng pumunta rin sa may table namin.

“Iʼm sorry, Maʼam Faye! Bigla na lang tumakbo si Farett.” she must be the yaya.

Iniupo ni Faye si Farett sa kandungan ni Kuya Trey na agad naman nakipag fist bump sa anak. Nagsimula nilang laruin at kausapin ang bata. I was just staring at them. They looks so happy... Maya-maya pa ay napabaling na ang tingin ng bata sa amin. He looked at Tase and grinned. “Tito Tase!” bumaba siya sa kandungan ni Kuya Trey at lumapit sa katabi ko.

Agad namang binuhat ni Tase si Farett at pina-upo sa kandungan niya. “Howʼs my favorite nephew?” aniya pero sumimangot ang bata.

“But Iʼm your only nephew.” he laughed and pinched the boyʼs cheek.

Itʼs nice seeing him with a child. He looks so fond of his nephew. I wonder what heʼll be like when he becomes a father... Napakurap-kurap ako at uminom ng tubig.

“Whoʼs this pretty lady po, Tito Tase?” tanong ni Farett habang nakatingin sa 'kin. I smiled at him.

“Sheʼs your Tita Zemira, greet her,” pagpapakilala ni Tase sa akin. Ngumiti ang bata at naglahad ng kamay. I was stunned for a moment but I also extended my hand. What he did next stunned me even more.

He kissed the back of my palm like a grown prince.

Napa-awang ang labi ko at tumawa naman si Tito Sedi at Kuya Trey. “I donʼt like to call her Tita. Iʼm going to marry her someday!” nanlaki ang mata ko sa sinabi niya at natawa. Oh... this little boy. Heʼs so cute!

“You canʼt. Sheʼs mine,” pagpatol ni Tase sa bata. Pinanlakihan ko siya ng mata pero nakasimangot lang ang gago. Ngumuso si Farett at tinitigan ako. “Is that true? But I like you...” hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko at marahang kinurot ang pisngi niya.

“If Iʼm not yet married when you grew up, Iʼll marry you,” sagot ko at napahagalpak naman ng tawa si Taharra. Mas lalong nalukot ang mukha ni Tase.

“Too bad. Sheʼs going to marry me very soon,” sabi na naman niya kaya sinamaan ko na siya ng tingin. Mas lalong humaba ang nguso ni Farett at mukhang paiyak na. Pasimple kong hinampas si Tase pero sinamaan niya lang ako ng tingin.

“Donʼt cry, baby. Iʼm sure youʼll meet a woman someday that youʼll be marrying,” I said. I heard Tase scoff.

Unti-unti namang ngumiti si Farett. “But I still like you, Tita Zemi!” aniya kaya natawa ulit ako. I thought he doesnʼt like to call me Tita?

Naaliw kami kay Farett at halos sa kaniya nakatuon ang atensyon ng lahat. What a handsome and adorable kid. Walang duda, Mortell ang dugo. Hindi ko pinapansin si Tase at patuloy lang na nakipagkulitan kay Farett. Heʼs so bubbly and he talks a lot. How does it feel to have a child? Pakiramdam ko ay sobrang overwhelming at ang saya.

I suddenly want to have a child now.

Ilang minuto pa ang lumipas bago tumayo sina Tito Sedi, Tita Hada at Kuya Trey. They started to mingle with their co-businessmen and other socialites. Si Taharra ay umalis din at hindi ko alam kung saan pumunta. Nag-aya naman si Farett na pumunta sa may chocolate fountain kaya sinamahan ni Faye. Naiwan kami ni Tase sa table.

I looked at him. Seryoso din siyang nakatingin sa 'kin kaya tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. “You shouldnʼt have said that to your family. Pinapaasa mo sila,” tukoy ko sa sinabi niyang magpapakasal kami very soon.