Dad drove us back here in the condo. Dahil sa kalalaro ni Bree ay pauwi pa lang kami ay nakatulog na siya sa sasakyan. Kanina nga ay nahirapan din akong gisingin at pabangunin siya para makakain ng dinner. It seems like she got really tired from playing with her cousin.

I am currently in my room trying to finish my lesson plan for the coming weeks. Natigil ako sa ginagawa ng biglang mag-ring ang phone ko. I took it from the bed side table and answer the call without looking at caller.

“Yes, hello?” I formally said.

Bahagyang nangunot ang noo ko ng wala namang akong natanggap na sagot mula sa kabilang linya.

“Hello?” Sabi ko ulit habang bahagyang nakakunot ang noo.

“Hi baby.” A familiar cold voice said.

Natigilan ako at saka nakagat ang labi. “B-brent?”

“Yeah,” he answered.

Napaayos ako ng upo. My heart started beating erratically again specially when I remembered what happened just this morning.

“Uh...napatawag ka?”

“I told you I'll call, right?” Masungit na sabi niya.

Napanguso ako. “Oo nga. Pero tulog na ngayon si Bree kaya hindi mo na siya makakausap.”

“Ikaw ang gusto kong makausap.”

I bit my lip then sighed. “About what?”

“About...” he trailed off. “nothing.”

Nangunot ang noo ko. Wala naman pala eh bakit gusto niya pa akong makausap.

“Then why do you wanna-”

“I just want to hear your voice,” he said cutting me off. Natigilan ako at hindi agad nakasagot.

“I'm tired from all the work and... I miss hearing your voice. I...miss you.”

Nakagat ko ang labi at saka sumilay ang maliit na ngiti sa labi.

“If you're tired from work...then maybe you should sleep already,” I said.

I heard him sighed on the other line. “I will later. Kinakausap pa kita.”

Napangiti ako pero hindi na nagsalita pa. A comfortable silence was heard in between us.

“May iba pa ba kayong pinuntahan no'ng umalis kayo sa office ko?” He suddenly asked.

“Sa bahay nina Mommy,” I answered then continued writing in my lesson plan. “Gusto daw makabonding ni Dad 'yong apo niya.”

Ilang segundo bago siya nakasagot. “I see.”

Bahagyang nangunot ang noo ko sa tono ng pananalita niya. It seems like he still want to ask something.

“Is he really not your boyfriend?”

Natigilan ako sa pagsusulat at saka nangunot ang noo ng marinig ang tanong niya.

“What?” Nagtatakang sagot ko.

“That Ismael,” he stated. “Are you really not dating him?”

I sighed then roll my eyes. “Sinabi ko na sa 'yo, Ismael and I are just friends.”

“We're good friends,” mariin na sabi ko.

“Sure?” Parang batang tanong niya mula sa kabilang linya.

Maliit akong napangiti. I can imagine him pouting right now.

“I'm sure.”

We continued talking for about a half hour. He just told me all the things that he did this day and so did I. It's quite funny kasi para lang kaming magboyfriend and girlfriend na nagkukumustahan pagkatapos ng mahabang araw.

Weird but...it feels nice.

“By the way,” I said. “Ipagpapaalam ko lang din si Bree...kasi nagyaya ng outing sina Mommy.”

“Oh I see,” he said. “When?”

I bit my lip. “Next weekend.”

“Okay. Enjoy, then.”

I nod my head then bit my lip. I am contemplating if should I invite him or not. Nasabi ko na rin naman sa kaniya. I might as well invite him since it might be rude if I won't.

“If you are free...” I trailed off. “You might wanna join us.”

Natahimik ang kabilang linya pagkatapos kong sabihin 'yon.

I bit my lip.

“Kung free ka lang naman-”

“I'll try,” he said cutting me off. “I'll check my schedule.”

I smiled. “Okay.”

“Mommy! Hurry up, Tito Damon is already here!”

Napatingin ako sa may pinto ng kuwarto ko ng marinig ang sigaw ni Bree sa labas. Mabilis kong isinuot ang t-shirt at isang maiksing maong na shorts.

Today is the day of the outing and Bree is really hype about it. Nagpasundo na lang ako kay Kuya Damon dito sa condo since makikisabay lang kami ni Bree sa kotse nila.

Kinuha ko ang bag ko at saka ako nagmamadaling nagtungo sa pinto ng kuwarto para buksan 'yon at lumabas na.

Agad na sumalubong sa akin si Bree at Kuya Damon.

“Mommy, hurry up, let's go,” nagmamadaling sabi ni Bree ng makita akong lumabas at saka kinuha na sa akin ang dala-dala kong bag.

Natawa ako at saka naiiling na pinanood siya buksan ang pinto ng condo.

“She's very excited,” nakangiting komento naman ni Kuya Damon.

I nod my head. “First time niyang pupunta ng beach.”

“I see,” he said then turn to me. “Let's go.”

I nod my head then smiled. “Let's go.”

Magkakasama kaming tatlo na sumakay ng elevator at bumaba sa looby. Si Kuya Damon na rin ang nagdala ng mga gamit namin ni Bree.

“Where's Kuya Jacob and Joshua?” Tanong ko ng makasakay na kami sa kotse niya.

Nakaupo ako sa shot gun seat samantalang nasa likod naman si Bree. She's holding her favorite doll while eating her favorite chocolate.

“They are the house probably just waiting for us,” he said. “'Yong family van daw kasi ang gagamitin natin papunta sa resort eh.”

I nod my head. “Oh okay.”

“Mommy, marami po bang fish doon?”

Napalingon ako sa may likuran ng marinig ang tanong ni Bree. I smiled then nod my head.

“There are a lot of fish in there.”

“Even mermaids?” She asked again.

Pareho kaming mahinang natawa ni Kuya Damon dahil sa tanong niya.

“Yeah,” I said. “Though mermaids only show their self doon sa mga mababait na bata.”

Namilog ang mata niya at saka sumilay ang isang ngiti sa kaniyang labi.

“Mabait po ako Mommy,” she exclaimed. “Will the mermaids show their self to me?”

I bit my lip then sighed. “We'll see, baby.”

She squealed so happily. “I'm so excited!”

Natatawa akong nagbaling ng tingin sa unahan.

“Kapag wala 'yang nakitang mermaid doon, sigurado akong iiyakan ka niya,” naiiling na sabi ni Kuya Damon.

I smirked. “Patahanin mo na lang siya. Tutal ikaw naman ang favorite tito niyan.”

He chuckled. “Nasaan ba kasi ang tatay niya?” He asked. “Bakit hindi mo isinama?”

I turn to him then sighed. “He's...busy with work,” maiksing sagot ko at saka maliit na ngumiti.

Kasama naman talaga dapat si Brent though yesterday he texted me that something important came up. Parang nagkaroon ng emergency ang kompanya niya at hindi siya puwedeng umalis ng hindi 'yon naaayos.

Nalungkot pa nga si Bree dahil akala niya ay makakasama na ang daddy niya pero hindi naman pala. Though parang mas nangingibabaw ang excitement niya kaya medyo nawala sa isip niya na hindi kasama ang tatay niya ngayon.

I look down on my phone when I heard it beep. It was a message. I opened the phone to check the message.

Brent,

Text me if you're already in the resort. Take care. I miss the both of you already <3

Saglit akong napatitig sa message niya. Tumaas ang kilay ko habang nakatitig sa kiss emoticon na ginamit niya.

So...since when did he learn using that kind of emoticons?

Ang corny niya talaga.

I sighed and didn't bother replying to his message. Mamaya na lang ako magtetext sa kaniya kapag nakarating na kami sa resort since 'yon naman ang sabi niya.

Halos isang oras din ang naging byahe namin papunta sa resort na sinasabi ni Kuya Jacob. He said that the resort is own by an old friend of his.

Upon seeing the sceneries and the layout of the resort even the rooms and it's accomodations, I can really say that it's a good resort. Mukhang sulit naman ang halos isang oras na byahe.

Kumuha kami ng apat na kuwarto since we are going to stay overnight. Magkasama sina Mom and Dad sa kuwarto, si Tito at Tita sa isa. Kami naman ni Bree ang magkasama sa isang kuwarto at sina Kuya Damon, Jacob at si Joshua sa isa.

Upon arriving, I immediately went inside our room. Nakatulog na rin kasi si Bree malamang ay napagod dahil sa malayo-layong byahe namin.

Inayos ko ang pagkakahiga ni Bree pati na ang kumot niyang natanggal dahil sa pagikot niya sa higaan. Masarap ang tulog niya at mukhang mamaya pa magigising.

Napatingin ako sa pinto ng kuwarto namin ng bumukas 'yon at sumilip sa pinto si Kuya Damon.

“Gie? Kain na muna tayo,” he said. “Naghihintay na sina Tita sa inyo sa labas.”

“Tulog na tulog si Bree eh,” nakangiwing sabi ko at saka sinulyapan siya na himbing na himbing na natutulog.

Bahagya namang natawa si Kuya Damon. “Tirahan na lang natin siya ng pagkain.”

I smiled then nod my head. I stood up from the bed.

“Susunod na lang ako,” I said.

He nods his head then close the door afterwards. I went inside the bathroom to fix myself. I applied some face powder and a bit lipstick in my lips since it's a bit pale and dry.

After fixing myself up, I went outside the bathroom. Kinuha ko ang cellphone sa ibabaw ng bed side table at saka tinungo ang pinto. I glance on Bree to check him again before opening the door.

Papalabas na sana ako pero agad din akong natigilan ng tumunog ang phone ko. I stop walking to check the message.

Brent,

      Nakarating na ba kayo? Can I call and talk to Bree?

Maliit akong napangiti ng mabasa ang message niya. He might be really missing his daughter so much right now.

To Brent,

        She's still asleep. Napagod yata sa byahe namin papunta dito. I'll call you when she wakes up.

After sending my reply to him I already went outside my room para puntahan na sina Mommy.

Nakakailang hakbang pa lang ako palabas nang tumunog na naman muli ang cellphone ko. Bahagya pang napataas ang kilay ko ng makitang nag-reply agad siya samantalang kanina niya pa naman naisend 'yong message.

Is he not busy or what?

Brent,

      Okay. Don't skip your meals. I'll wait for your call, Angel.

Pumasok ako sa isang mini resto na hindi naman kalayuan sa kinaroroonan ng mga rooms namin. I looked for Kuya Damon in the crowd and saw him sitting with the others on one of the tables right in the middle part.

Napangiti ako at agad na naglakad papalapit sa gawi nila.

“Hi,” I greeted when I came near them.

“Take a sit, Gie,” Dad said.

I smiled and said my thanks to Kuya Jacob when he pulled a chair for me right beside him.

“Where's Bree?” Mom asked. “Still asleep?”

I nod my head. “Yes, Mom. Ang sarap po ang tulog. Mukhang mamaya pa 'yon magigising.”

“It's okay Tita,” Joshua said making me look at him. “I'll save some food for her.”

Malawak akong napangiti at saka tumango.

“Ang bait naman,” nakangiting papuri ko sa kaniya.

“Mana sa 'kin,” mayabang na sabi ni Kuya Jacob.

“What the hell are you talking about?” Nakangiwing sabi ni Kuya Damon. “Sa 'kin nagmana 'yan.”

“Tumigil nga kayong dalawa,” Tita Denise said. “Let's eat peacefully so we can savour the taste of the food.”

After the fun and very enjoyable lunch, I went back in the room. Sina Mommy naman ay maglalakad lakad daw muna sila sa may dalampasigan para kumuha ng ilang litrato. Niyaya nila ako pero tumanggi ako dahil pupuntahan ko pa si Bree at papakainin kung sakaling gising na siya.

Sakto namang kabubukas ko pa lang ng pinto ng kuwarto namin ay ang pag gising ni Bree. Nakaupo na siya sa kama habang nagkukusot ng mata. Mukhang kagigising pa lang din niya.

“Mommy,” nakangusong pag tawag niya sa akin.

Napangiti ako at saka naglakad papalapit sa gawi niya. Naupo rin ako sa gilid ng kama at saka hinaplos ang mukha niya.

“How's your sleep?” Nakangiting tanong ko.

“It's okay po,” nakangusong sabi niya at saka yumakap sa 'kin.

“I'm hungry, Mommy.”

“Your hungry? What does my baby wants to eat?” I asked.

“I want some...” she trailed off, thinking about the food she wants to eat. “some fish...and chicken nuggets.”

Mahina akong natawa. “Okay, Mommy will get some food for you.”

Tumayo na ako mula sa pagkakaupo sa kama. Nanatili naman siyang nakaupo habang nakataas ang tingin sa akin.

“Kukuha lang ng food si Mommy, okay? Don't go out of this room,” I said.

She nods her head. “Okay.”

I smiled then place a kiss on her forehead before I went out of the room with my wallet. Iniwan ko na ang cellphone ko sa ibabaw ng bed side table para hindi ako mahirapan sa pagdadala ng mga bibilhing pagkain.

I ordered a take out of rice, a fish, and some grilled chicken since they don't serve chicken nuggets in here. Pagkatapos kong bumili ay bumalik ako agad sa kuwarto namin para makakain na si Bree.

Nang buksan ko ang pinto ng kuwarto namin ay naabutan ko si Bree na may kausap sa cellphone ko. She is looking straight into my cellphone's screen while smiling so widely.

“Yes, Daddy.”

Napangiti ako ng mapagtanto na kausap niya si Brent. Hindi ko pa nga pala siya naitetext magmula kanina.

“I miss you too Daddy,” she said. “Mommy also misses you.”

Bahagyang nanlaki ang mata ko ng marinig ang sinabi niya.

“Bree,” I called making her look at me.

“Mommy!” She exclaimed. “You're back,” nakangiting sabi niya at saka bumaling sa cellphone. “Daddy, Mommy's here na po.”

Maliit akong napangiti at saka naglakad papalapit sa gawi niya.

“Kain ka na muna,” sabi ko at saka sinimulang ilabas ang mga binili kong pagkain.

Mahina pa akong natawa ng makitang bahagyang nanlaki ang mata niya ng makita ang mga pagkain na binili ko. She must be really hungry already.

Ibinigay niya na sa akin ang hawak hawak na cellphone at saka nagsimula ng kumain. Ilalagay ko pa sana sa plato since nasa styrofoam lang nakalagay 'yong mga pagkain kaso mukhang hindi na siya makakapaghintay.

“What is she doing?”

Napatingin ako sa cellphone ng marinig ang tanong ni Brent. Bahagya pa akong natigilan ang makita ang mukha niya sa screen.

“She's eating,” I flip the camera to pointed in to Bree. Napangiti ako habang pinapanood siyang maganang kumakain.

“Saglit lang po Daddy,” nakangusong sabi niya habang kinakausap si Brent. “Kakain lang po ako.”

I heard Brent chuckle from the other line. Kitang-kita ko ang tuwa sa mukha niya habang pinapanood si Bree.

“I'll wait for you.”

Bahagya ko pang inalalayan 'yong styrofoam na hawak ni Bree dahil baka matapon ang laman na pagkain nito.

“Baby...”

Muli akong napatingin sa phone ng marinig ko ang sinabi niya.

“Uh y-yeah?” I said hesitantly.

I am not really sure if he is calling me or Bree.

“Flip the camera,” he said. “I want to see your face.”

Natigilan ako at hindi agad nakasagot.

“W-what?” Nagugulat na tanong ko.

“Flip your camera, Angel.” Naroon na naman ang naiinip at nag-uutos na tono ng pananalita niya. “Let me see your face.”

I pursed my lips. “Y-you don't need to see my face, Brent.”

I heard him sighed. “Believe me Angel, if you want to see me sane when you get back then you better let me see your beautiful face.”

Nakagat ko ang labi habang pilit na pinapakalma ang sarili dulot ng mga salita niya.

Gosh, Angiela...

“Come on baby, don't make it too hard for me. I miss you already, you know.”

Hindi ko na napigilan ang pagsilay ng ngiti sa labi ko dahil sa sinabi niya.

“Hindi ko kasalanan na hindi ka sumama ngayon,” nakangusong sabi ko.

I heard him sighed. “I got caught up with work,” he defended.

I smiled. “Ewan, bahala ka diyan.”

“What?” He said. “You're so unfair.”

Nangunot ang noo ko. “Ako? At bakit?”

“'Cause here I am missing you and you're just going to say ewan. Where's the freaking justice in that?”

Maliit akong napangiti ng marinig ang inis sa boses niya.

“Akala ko ba busy ka?” I asked. “Eh bakit nakakatawag ka pa rin?”

“It's our lunch break,” masungit na sabi niya. “Why? You don't want me to call?”

“Hindi naman sa ganoon,” nakangusong sabi ko.

“Then- Sir, the board are already in the conference room.”

Nakagat ko ang labi ng marinig ang sinabi ng secretary niya mula sa kabilang linya.

I heard him sighed. “Susunod ako,” maiksing sabi niya at saka muling bumaling sa cellphone.

“I...have to go,” he murmured.

I nod my head even though he can't still see me. Nakaharap pa rin kasi kay Bree ang camera.

“Okay, say bye to Bree na,” I said.

“Bree...” he called.

Bree stop from eating and look at the phone's camera.

“Yes, Dad?”

“I'll be going. Daddy still need to do some work.”

“Is that so?” Nakangusong tanong naman ni Bree.

“I'll just call you again later, will that be okay for you?”

Agad namang sumilay ang ngiti sa labi ni Bree at saka magkakasunod na tumango.

“Okay, Daddy.”

Brent smiled at her. “Tatawag ulit ako mamaya so don't turn off your phone.” Ako na ang kinakausap niya.

I sighed. “I won't.”

“Okay, good. Bye.”

When the call ended I put my phone back in the bed side table and turn to Bree. Bahagyang nangunot ang noo ko ng makita ang mukha ni Bree habang nakatingin sa akin. She looks like she wants to ask something.

“Do you want to ask something?” I asked.

She took a bite on the grilled chicken she's holding.

“I was just wondering po...” she trailed off.

“Wondering about what?” Kunot ang noo na tanong ko.

“Why did Daddy also call you baby, Mommy?” Puno ng pagtataka ang mukha niya habang nakatingin sa akin.

“I heard him called you baby twice po eh,” nakangusong dagdag niya pa. “Daddy also calls me baby because he said that I am his baby since I am his daughter...”

“You're not his daughter naman po, right? Pero why is he also calling you baby like me?”

Alanganin akong ngumiti sa kaniya at saka naiilang na nakamot ko ang aking pisngi.

My gosh, how am I suppose to answer that?

“Mommy?” Pagtawag niya sa akin ng hindi ako nakasagot agad.

“Maybe you should ask your father regarding that...q-question of yours,” nag-aalangan na sabi ko.

Nakanguso siyang tumango at saka muling nagbaba ng tingin sa kaniyang kinakain.

“I think I know why po,” Bree said making me look at her.

My brows slightly furrowed. “Huh?”

She smiled. “I think Daddy is also calling you baby because he also loves you like me. Daddy said that I am his baby because I am his daughter and he loves me very much.”

“You're not his daughter, so therefore he might also be callling you baby because he loves you, don't you think so too, Mommy?”

Umawang ang labi ko at saka nakaamang na tumingin sa kaniya. Hindi ko alam kung paano ako magrereact sa mga sinasabi niya.

So therefore...?

I can't believe she will have this kind of realization when she's only six years old.

I guess my daughter is really talented and smart though I'm not saying that her realization is...right.

Ipagpapatuloy.....