Chapter Six

Godfather

Sa aming tatlo kaming dalawa ni Kuya Caleb ang nagdesisyon na maging Engineer din kagaya ni daddy. At para na rin sana sa business namin noon bago pa man ito nalugi. While Ate Cianna was also already decided na magiging doctor siya gaya naman ng hindi natuloy ni mommy.

Our family was good. Noong nabubuhay pa si daddy at hindi pa naghihirap ang pamilya namin parang wala akong problema noon bukod lang siguro sa pagkakagusto ko kay Ezion. Bukod doon ay maayos ang pamilya namin at masaya. Our family's still happy right now especially that we have Chelca. Pero iba pa rin kung nandito sana si daddy. I really miss him.

Nag-angat ako ng tingin nang makabalik na si Declan. He smiled at me when he saw me looking. Halos wala naman akong naging reaction. He just talked to Engineer Ezion Go. I think nakadagdag din siguro iyon noon na nag-aaral ng Engineering si Ezion kaya iyon na rin ang kinuha ko sa sumunod na taon noong nag-college na rin ako. But when daddy died inisip kong kaya ako nag Engineer ay dahil kay daddy. Para lang kay daddy at sa pamilya ko. For Chelca and for myself. Wala nang kinalaman si Ezion.

Gusto ko nalang siyang kalimutan o burahin sa isip at sa buhay ko. Although we have Chelca... Pero ayaw ko na talaga sanang madikit pa kay Ezion o makita man lang siya. Although I know, too, that it's just impossible...

"Sorry for that." Umupo muli si Declan sa chair niya. Hindi rin naman siya gaanong nagtagal. Nakuha niya agad ang attention ng mga katrabaho namin when he returned. Bumaling din sa kaniya si Kuya Caleb.

"Ano 'yon, Engineer, nanghihingi ba ng tulong? I heard palugi na ang company nina Engineer Go, ah. They're facing a crisis right now." anang isang babaeng architect. She also seemed close to Declan. I don't remember if I've seen her before. Noong nandito pa kami sa Pilipinas o sa school noon. I'm not sure if she's a friend or what. Pero napansin ko na na mukhang comfortable siya kay Declan.

Wala namang sinabi si Declan. And he just shrugged his shoulders. And then we resumed the discussions for this meeting.

Habang napaisip naman ako sa nabanggit ni Architect. Nalulugi na ang company nina Ezion? I thought that was impossible since malaki rin ang company nila na may kinalaman din sa construction and real estate. At hindi ito basta bastang babagsak.

We also ate our lunch at the office. Nagpabili ng pagkain si Declan para sa amin. I noticed that he's also generous. After the meetings we can already go home. Magsasabay na kami ni kuya pauwi at wala na naman daw siyang lakad ngayon. Nauna na akong lumabas sa meeting room at naiwan pa muna si kuya at nag-usap sila ni Declan. While I went to the comfort room.

When I came back dere-deretso ako sa meeting room. Bahagyang bukas ang pintuan kaya kahit hindi man ako pumasok ay naririnig ko na sina kuya. "Ezion's also asking if he can talk to you, at least. Probably for Ciri... or Chelca." I heard Declan said.

Natigilan ako. And then I heard Kuya Caleb sighing. "I'll talk to my sister first. But I doubt it. Ciri doesn't even want to see Ezion anymore... Although she also knows that it's inevitable."

Hindi na nagsalita si Declan. Umatras ako at pinalabas ko pang kakabalik ko lang doon. I smiled at my brother and Declan when they saw me. Ngumiti rin si Declan. Although I don't really remember him this friendly towards me before. Parang medyo nakakapanibago pa rin kahit mga bata pa naman kami noon.

"Sasama sa 'tin si Declan sa bahay. He'll visit Chelca." salubong sa akin ni kuya.

I looked at Declan. "Oh, okay."

Noong nasa US pa kami Declan first visited us at the time when I just gave birth to Chelca. Kakauwi lang din namin noon galing sa hospital. Mommy and my siblings needed to work. May trabaho din sina tita at ang husband niya and their kids goes to school. Mommy didn't want to go to work to take care of me and my newborn baby but she have to. Nag-hire nalang sina tita ng babysitter para may makasama ako sa bahay kapag wala sila. Pero dumalas din ang pagbisita ni Declan noon sa amin ni Chelca from his first visit.

"Ciri, you remember Declan for sure."

I nodded at my brother. May pinunta raw si Declan doon na business kaya naisipan na rin niyang puntahan si kuya. I was carrying Chelca in my arms when from me Declan's eyes moved to the baby I was holding.

"Hi..." Nanatili ang tingin niya sa baby ko. Nang mag-angat muli siya ng tingin sa akin ay parang may nakita akong emosyon sa mga mata niya na hindi ko rin gaanong naintindihan. "What's her name?"

"Chelca." I answered in a weak voice. I just gave birth and came home from the hospital and I still feel exhausted. But I wanted to take care of my daughter.

"Chelca..." he echoed. And then Declan smiled as he gazed again at my baby.

I don't know how long Declan should stay abroad for business but he came to visit us several times while he was there. Kahit wala si kuya sa bahay.

I heard the doorbell and I already expected that it's him. Binigay ko muna si Chelca sa babysitter para pagbuksan si Declan. We smiled as we greeted each other. "Come in."

"Is Chelca awake?" he asked.

I nodded. "Yes. Kakagising niya lang. Gusto mo siyang makita? She's in the nursery." Napatingin din ako sa mga dala niya. Mukhang may dala siyang milk and diapers for Chelca since he asked last time.

"Ah. I bought her clothes and toys..." Declan smiled hesitantly when he saw me looking at the shopping bags.

Tumango nalang ako at tinanggap iyon. "Thank you."

And then we went to see Chelca who was a couple months old at that time. My daughter was also a smaller baby when she was born. Epekto pa rin siguro ng stress ko noong pinagbubuntis ko siya. Kinuha ko ang anak ko sa nanny. Hinarap ko siya kay Declan. "You want to hold her?" I asked him.

Parang nagulat pa si Declan at natakot nang binibigay ko na sa kaniya si Chelca. Pero tinanggap pa rin naman niya ang baby. I just chuckled. "Hold her this way." I guided his arms. Lalong lumiit tingnan ang baby sa malaki at muscled na pangangatawan ni Declan. I smiled.

"She's so small." he said as he looked at Chelca in his arms now. "She looked frail..."

Pagkatapos ng ilang sandali ay inantok din ang baby at nakatulog muli. Kinuha ko siya kay Declan at binalik sa nanny.

"Have you eaten? May pagkain pa kami sa kitchen." I asked Declan.

Umiling naman siya. "I'm all right. How have you been, Ciri...?"

Bahagya pa akong natigilan. But then I smiled. "Okay lang ako. Uh, medyo nakakapagod lang at kailangan pa talagang tutukan si Chelca. But I'm fine."

Declan nodded. "If you need anything you can tell me. I have to go back to the Philippines now but I'll come visit you again. Uh, I mean Chelca. I'll visit Chelca again."

I just smiled and nodded my head.

Few months after nasa US muli si Declan. When Chelca turned 1 year old, every year or every after how many months he came to visit us. At palagi pa siyang may dala for Chelca. He became Chelca's godfather and my daughter grew close to him.

"Chelca also asked about her ninong just last night." I told Declan.

He smiled happily and then we went to our place. Nakasunod lang si Declan sa sasakyan namin ni kuya pauwi sa condo. Wala pa si ate sa bahay and probably nasa duty niya pa sa hospital. Mommy's not working anymore dahil kaya naman naming magkakapatid iyon and she just stays at home to take care of her grandchild with the maid we hired para may katulong din si mommy sa bahay.

Nang dumating sa building ay sabay na rin kaming sumakay sa elevator at paakyat sa condo na tinutuluyan namin. And when the door to our unit opened, agad na naming narinig si Chelca na nagtatakbo para salubungin ang pagdating namin ni kuya. She's wearing her blue disney character print dress. But she halted for awhile and her eyes widened adorably when she saw the person we're with. Napangiti nalang ako sa reaction ng anak ko.

"Ninong!" She shouted and ran straight to Declan.

Yumuko naman si Declan para saluhin ang anak ko na agad yumakap sa kaniya. "Hello, sweetheart. Did you miss Ninong?" Declan gently talked to my daughter.

"Um-hum!" Chelca eagerly nodded her head that made Declan chuckled.

"Ciri, Caleb... Oh! Declan." si mommy na nakasunod sa apo niya.

"Tita." Declan also greeted my mom.

"Tamang tama naghahanda na kami ng dinner sa kitchen. Dito ka na kumain, hijo."

Declan nodded. "Okay, po. Thank you, tita."

Nakangiting tumango si mommy. Nagpaalam na rin siyang babalik sa kitchen para sa naiwan niyang niluluto at sumunod si kuya sa kaniya. Naiwan kaming tatlo ni Declan at Chelca sa living room. "Sabi sa 'kin ni kuya ikaw daw ang nag-offer sa kaniya nitong condo. Thank you, Declan. Marami ka na rin naitulong sa amin." I thanked him sincerely.

He turned to me. "It's nothing. Ah. Ninong wasn't able to bring you anything." he talked to my daughter again. Parang biglaan lang din kasi ang pagpunta niya rito sa amin ngayon.

Nakaupo kaming tatlo sa mahabang sofa ng living room. Chelca sat on  Declan's lap. I guided my daughter's back. Hinawakan din ni Declan ang likod niya so our hands touched for awhile. Nagkatinginan kami. Binawi ko rin ang kamay ko. "It's okay. Right, baby?" I turned to my daughter. Tumango naman si Chelca.

"It's okay!" she told her ninong, too. Napangiti kami pareho ni Declan.

"Well, babawi pa rin ako. Can I invite you two out? Uh, ipasyal lang natin si Chelca sa labas. Hindi pa raw kayo nakakapamasyal since dumating kayo sabi ni Caleb."

Tumango ako kay Declan. "Ah, oo. Nasa bahay nga lang si Chelca kasama si mommy."

Declan nodded and then I agreed na ilabas namin si Chelca kapag hindi busy day. And my daughter instantly became happy and excited about it. I smiled upon my daughter's happiness.