South Boys #3: Serial Charmer

Chapter 36

Five years later...

They couldn't take their eyes off me while I was doing different bubble tricks in the water. Everyone was amazed, especially the child viewers.

Even though I was already tired, I was energized by just seeing the happiness on their innocent faces. Manghang-mangha ang mga ekspresyon ng mga bata, iba-ibang lahi, lahat mga nakangiti. Ang isang batang babae na blonde ang buhok, na karga ng mommy nito ay nagpalapit pa para mas makita ako.

I removed the oxygen from my mouth, smiled, and gave them bubble kisses. Then I swam again, showing them my graceful full-body wave motion under the water.

I swam with both arms, moving symmetrically, accompanied by my legs inside the dazzling, colorful fluke, that was doing butterfly kicks. I was like a mystical underwater fairy; my fluke was my beautiful wings.

After my last lap, I blew bubble hearts to the viewers as my farewell. A sign that my solo underwater show as a mermaid had come to an end. Nagpalakpakan ang mga nasa labas ng malaking aquarium na aking kinaroroonan.

Pag-ahon ko ay sinalubong agad ako ng tuwalya ng isang staff. Pero sa pag-aalis ng aking suot na mermaid tail ay ako lang mag-isa. Halo-halo ang pakiramdam ko, ginaw, pagod, gutom, at antok.

After getting dressed, I immediately took my phone from the locker. I sat on the bench and played the video I received this morning. Ang pagod ko ay agad na nawala nang makita ang isang batang lalaki na naglalaro ang edad sa limang taong gulang. 

Although the boy had plump cheeks, his face was small and cute. His eyes were deep black like the night sky, his eyelashes were thick and long, and his nose was high bridged; the tip was pointed, and his lips were thin and cherry red. He was a very handsome kid.

His name was Vien. Magsi-six years old ngayong taon. Pumapasok na sa school. His clothes in the video were his uniform. A white shirt with his school's logo on it. His hair was a bit messy and his cheeks were stained with chocolate.

[ "Elow, Mommy!" ] unang bungad ng maliit nitong boses. Ang mga mata ay kumikislap sa kapilyuhan... katulad ng...

Ipinilig ko ang aking ulo at pinagpatuloy ang panonood sa video.

Itinaas ng bata ang isang kamay. Ipinakita niya sa akin ang marka ng star doon. Proud na ngumiti pa ang bata. [ "So, ayon nga, Mommy! Kita mu ba 'tong star ku, ha? Sabi pow ni Teacher, good boy aku!" ] Ang maliliit at bungi-bungi nitong mga ngipin ay nakita sa camera. Naghimas pa ito ng baba.

Vien walked around while taking a video of himself. Sa background ay maririnig ang sigaw ng lola nito, hinahanap ang cellphone. Ang bata naman ay parang walang naririnig, panay pa rin ang pa-cute sa camera. 

May pagkakataon pa na napatid yata ito, nasubsob ang pisngi sa screen. Ngumiwi ang mapula nitong mga labi, pero nakabawi naman agad. Nagpa-cute na ulit. Nakakagigil. Kung kaya ko lang siyang hilahin mula sa screen, ay ginawa ko na kanina pa.