Tricked (COMPLETED)

Article 1 - Section 17

“Mama, it’s so hot!” agad na reklamo ni Eliza pagkalabas namin ng eroplano.

“Welcome to the Philippines, babe!” natatawa kong saad sa kanya habang tinutulungan siyang hubarin ang pink sweater na suot.

Naawa naman ako ng makitang pawis na pawis na ang bata at parang iiyak na.

“Hang on there, baby! The bus is coming.” pang-aalo ko na lang at kinarga na siya habang pinupunusan ang pawis niya.

Malamang ay nanibago talaga siya sa klima dito sa Pilipinas.

Gusto kong humalakhak ng literal kong marinig ang ginhawa sa boses niya ng makasakay kami ng mini bus.

“Was it that bad?” tanong ko sa kanya ng tuluyan na kaming maka-upo.

Agad naman siyang tumnago ng sunod-sunod, napangiti na lang ako sa naging reaksiyon.

“Is it her first time coming here?” tanong ng isang matandang foreigner na naka-upo sa tabi namin.

Nakangiti kong inilingan ang ginang.

“No, but it’s been awhile since we went home.” nakangiti kong sagot habang tinatabing ang buhok ni Eliza na bahagyang dumikit na sa mukha niya dahil sa pawis.

“Poor little thing!” naaawang saad ng babae bago nginitian ang bata.

“Don’t worry dear you’ll like it here.” nakangiting ani nito sa bata na nginitian ni Eliza.

“Thank you, ma’am.” magalang na saad niya pagkatapos.

Nang tuluyan kaming makapasok sa airport ay mas pinili ko munang dumiretso ng comfort room imbes na i-retrieved agad ang luggage namin para mabihisan si Eliza at mainform narin ang susundo samin na nakababa na kami ng eroplano.

“I told you to wear some thinner clothes.” I teased as I was changing her shirt into a backless top, which I brought in case this would happen.

Buti nalang at mas pinili niyang magsuot ng maong shorts at strap sandals.

Humaba ang nguso niya dahil sa pang-aasar ko. Malambing kong kinurot ang kaliwang pisngi niya bago ko siya ibinaba ng lavatory at inayos rin ang sarili.

“Tito! “ nakangiting sigaw ni Eliza ng makia si Kuya Forbes na nag-aantay sa arriving area. Dahil nga bahagya kaming natagalan sa comfort room ay hindi na masyadong marami ang mga tao roon.

Agad naman kaming nakita ni Kuya at nakangiti kaming sinalubong.

I immediately kissed his cheeks, lumapit naman siya kay Eliza na nakasakay sa pushcart na nag lalaman ng mga luggage namin. Hinalikan niya rin ang noo ng pamangkin bago ito binuhat paalis sa pushcart.

Kuya Forbes visits us once a month in Florida or every time na maluwag ang schedule niya.

And I was really thankful for that, alam ko namang abala siya sa trabaho but he always make time to check on me, on us, from time to time.

“You’re so heavy Princess.” kunwari ay reklamo niya habang karga si Eliza.

Nakasunod lang ako sa kanila habang tulak tulak ang cart palabas ng airport.

“Really? But Lola said, I wasn’t! That only means you’ve gone weak, Tito!” natawa naman ako ng natahimik si Kuya sa sinabi ng bata.

He shifted and looked at me as if asking for help, but I just snorted at him and walk past them.

“Wow! Mama your house is so big!” Amazed na saad ni Eliza ng maka-uwi na kami sa bahay.

I took her from my brother and nagpaalam na mag-papahinga muna.

I can already feel tiredness creeping on my body. Napapansin ko rin ang maya’t mayang hikab ni Eliza kahit nung kumakain kami kanina sa isang restaurant pagkagaling sa airport.

Nag half-bath muna kami sandali bago ko tuluyang pinatulog si Eliza na parang mahuhulog na ang mga talukap ng mata.

When I realized that she was already in a deep slumber, tumayo muna ako para ayusin ang mga gamit namin.

I opened my walk-in closet and smiled when I realized that it still looks the same. My old clothes, shoes and bags that I left was all there. It looks untouched but it’s clean.

Napailing na lang ako ng ilang imahe ang pumasok sa isipan ko.

Don’t go there, Febe.

Umayos na lang ako ng tayo at nag-umpisa ng ilipat ang mga gamit namin ni Eliza mula sa maleta.

When I was done, I looked at my masterpiece in satisfaction and nodded before leaving and closing the closet.

Pumunta muna ako ng banyo upang mag-hugas ng kamay. I opened my stock cabinet to get some hand soap when an item caught my attention.

“Ouch! Baby, you’re gonna leave lots of wound if you keep doing that.”

Agad kong iniling ang ulong i;ang ulit na parang bang matataboy noon ang ala-ala.

I silently pick up the razor, stared at it for a moment before tossing it in the trash can just below the lavatory.

I don’t need things that can remind me of him now.

I must focus on what’s in front of me, Eliza, and my career. After Gail’s birthday, we're going back to Florida and go back to our usual routine.

Yep, that’s right.

I was still busy convincing myself when I heard my phone rang.

Afraid that it would wake Eliza up, I immediately went out of the comfort room to answer it.

After successfully retrieving my phone and answering Gail’s call, I checked at Eliza for any signs of disturbance but she was sleeping peacefully while hugging her doll.

I swiftly place a kiss on her forehead before heading to my room’s balcony to avoid disturbing her sleep.

“I’m sorry, Gail. Ano nga ulit?”

“Gosh, did I disturb you? Sorry!”

“No, I haven’t gone to sleep, yet. Why?”

“Oh, I just want to check if you’ve arrived safely and I would like to remind you that we’re going out tomorrow with the girls!”

“Yes, sorry I wasn’t able to inform you, it slipped my mind,”

“No worries. Okay! Welcome back nga pala!” natawa naman ako dahil sa pagbati niya.

“Yeah, well, thank you, I guess.”

“Alright, you take a rest na. I’m sure you’re tired. Kiss Eliza for me!” and Gail ended the call.

Sandali muna akong nanatili sa balcony to get some air before I went back inside my room.

I placed my phone on the bedside table and readied myself for bed.

Natawa ako ng makita kong nakadapa na naman na parang pagong si Eliza sa kama.

Her favorite position. How cute.

Inayos ko muna ang posisyon niya, bago ako tuluyang humiga sa tabi niya.

Pagkahiga ko ay agad siyang gumalaw at yumakap sakin.

Inayos ko ang kumot naming dalawa, at pinatay ang lamp sa gilid bago ko siya niyakap pabalik.

I closed my eyes to sleep.

Tomorrow is another day.