Thorns And Roses

Kabanata 21

Kabanata 21

"DADA?" she mumbled.

I gulped. Kaagad akong napaharap kay Thorn at nakita kong nakatitig siya sa anak ko.

He was staring at her deeply and I saw how my daughter smiled cheekily when she met his black eyes.

"He's not Dada, Clyte..." I whispered.

"No?" I saw how her lips protruded at that.

"Hmm," I nodded. She blinked, nakita ko ang lungkot sa mata ng anak ko kaya napahugot ako ng hininga at humalik sa pisngi niya.

I'm sorry, Clyte...

"Okay..." she smiled a little but still staring at Thorn who's still looking at her intently.

"Hi, little girl..." Thorn suddenly spoke, his eyes screaming adoration with a bit of sadness.

"Hi! I'm Clyte!" she exclaimed.

"I'm Uncle Thorn," aniya. I saw my daughter closing her eyes, nagpapa-cute kumbaga sa lalaki.

"Candies?" she suddenly asked him. I heard Thorn chuckled and nodded.

"Yes, Clyte... I have candies," aniya sa malambing na tono.

"She can't eat candies..." I stopped him, nakita kong nag-angat ng tingin sa akin si Clyte at napatingin naman si Thorn.

"W-why?" Clyte pouted. I sighed, mas inayos ko ang pagkakakarga sa anak ko at nagsalita.

"Your teeth will hurt, baby ko..." lambing ko. She put her hands on her cheek and stared at me softly.

"Tooth fairy?" she asked. Napatawa ako bigla roon, I nodded, chuckling and kissed her cheek.

"Yes, baby. Tooth fairy will go get your teeth if you eat sweets," paliwanag ko sa kanya.

I suddenly became aware of Thorn's stares kaya napabaling ako sa kanya. I saw him staring intently at me and my smile faded.

"We got to go..." I cleared my throat bago tumalikod sa kanya.

I carried my daughter on my arms as I felt her pointing at somewhere.

"T-Tito!" she exclaimed.

I stilled, nang humarap ako sa anak ko ay nakita kong nakatitig pa rin siya kay Thorn at inaabot ang kamay niya rito.

"P-play!" she exclaimed.

"Clyte, baby..." tawag ko sa atensyon niya. "We gotta go, tayo na lang maglaro sa bahay..."

"No! No! Play!" pagpupumilit niya.

"Baby..." I sighed.

"Play! No!" she wiggled from my arms and tried reaching Thorn. "I want play!"

My forehead creased, kinagat ko ang labi ko at mahinahong nagsalita.

"Baby, we can play with Tito Zeijan and—"

"No! Tito! Play!" maktol niya at nang makitang naluluha na siya habang pinipilit ako ay napasulyap ako kay Thorn.

I saw him smiling a little when he met my eyes, kaagad akong tumikhim at nagsalita.

"She wants to..."

"Let's go?" aniya at mabilis na nakalapit sa akin. I was startled at that, nagulat na lang ako nang humagikhik ang anak ko at inabot ang kamay niya kay Thorn na inaayos ang salamin habang nakatingin sa kanya.

"Karga! Karga!" she exclaimed at kumalabog ang dibdib ko roon.

"Can I?" Thorn looked at me with his hopeful eyes at nang sumulyap ako kay Clyte na mukhang excited ay tumango ako.