Promise To A Stardust (Published Under Flutter Fic)
Kabanata 6
Kabanata 6
I was stunned. Did he cry?
Nakaupo na sila sa gilid ng kalsada pero tulala pa rin siya. Riu was just staring at him, too, his innocent eyes observing his movements.
"Cas?" tawag ko at dumukwang.
"R-Reev," he called and stared at my nephew again.
"Bakit mo iniiyakan ang pamangkin ko?" I asked, confused.
He stopped.
"N-nephew?" Bumaling siya sa 'kin.
"Oo?" My forehead creased. "Saka anong anak? That's Sirius, my nephew."
Parang tumigil ang mundo ni Caspian sa nangyari, gulong napatingin siya pabalik sa bata na nakamasid lang sa kanya, nanliliit ang mata.
"Ma'am! Sorry, hindi ko napansin ang paglabas ni Riu!" Humahangos na lumapit si Amy pero nanatili 'kong nakatitig kay Caspian.
Nagkatinginan muli ang dalawa at sa gulat ko ay hindi ako nakapagsalita nang tampalin ni Sirius ang mukha ni Caspian at nagsalita.
"Pangit!" Sirius hissed.
Nabulunan ako ng laway at naubo, natawa si Amy sa tabi ko.
"Riu!" I called.
"Pangit siya iyak! Pangit!" He hissed cutely.
"D-damn," Caspian hissed under his breath.
Mabilis kong binuhat ang pamangkin ko paalis sa hita ng tulirong si Caspian bago siya muling tinawag. "Cas?"
He blinked. Inabot ko ang bata kay Amy na pinasok niya kaagad sa bahay.
Pinantayan ko si Caspian na nag-iwas na't hinahawi ang kanyang mga luha. It broke my heart seeing him this way so I reached him and helped him in drying his tears. Sinuklay ko rin ang buhok niya bago ngumiti at inilahad ang kamay para alalayan siya.
He went with me silently to my house. I made him sit on the couch before I lowered my body to level my gaze with him.
"Cas," I called. He looked at me, his gaze still bloodshot. "Hey, are you okay?"
His expression softened. He looked ashamed of something.
"I-I'm sorry, Reev. I didn't mean to be emotional."
"It's alright," I consoled. Naupo ako sa tabi niya.
"H-he has green eyes," he muttered.
"His father has green eyes like yours. It reminded me of you when I saw him, actually." I smiled at him. "Sadly, he died in a car accident. Tapos 'yong Mama niya namatay sa panganganak sa kanya."
Malalim ang iniisip niya, mukhang 'di mapakali. Tinapik ko ang hita niya.
"I told you, if you are sad just look at the stars para mawala 'yong bigat sa puso mo. You want us to go upstairs so you can see it?"
"No need," he muttered, his starry eyes on me. "I'm looking at my stars right now."
He noticed my shock. He just smiled sadly.
"You probably think I'm a weirdo," he mumbled. "I'm sorry, Reev."
"For what?"
Pero umiling lang siya at idinantay ang ulo sa balikat ko.
"Hindi ko na rin alam, mababaliw na ata ako."
"Don't say that," I scoffed. "If something is bothering you, you can freely tell me. Makikinig ako."
I saw the light and hope in his eyes when he heard it. He wanted to share something.
"I won't ask you why you cried... or what really happened. If you want to open up, tell me."
Tumango siya at humugot ng hininga. "I'm sorry about your nephew earlier. I was in shock."
"No, thank you. Kung wala ka siguro kanina ay may nangyari ng masama kay Sirius." I sighed and shook my head.
"Sirius..." The way he said the kid's name sent shivers all over my spine. "Why was he named like that?"
"My Dad named him, wala kasing nagpangalan sa bata, no'ng oras na 'yon ay nasa coma ako. He said he missed me so much so he named him Sirius, after my favorite star," kwento ko.
"That's what she told me to name our future kid," he said, smiling sadly.
It tugged my heart but it wasn't hurt somehow I felt a distant longing for something I couldn't name.
"I remembered her writing down names for our children. It's all based on constellations and stars."
"You must have loved her so much," I muttered lowly.
"Sobra," he breathed.
Napalunok ako.
What am I even doing here? With him? Baka kagaya niya, nababaliw na rin ako?
The man obviously hadn't gotten over his past and yet here I was... accommodating him.
What for, Lars? Why can't you let this go?
Masokista ka bang naghahanap ng sakit para sa sarili mo?
"Mimi! Mimi! Cook na food!" Napaayos ako ng upo at nagpasalamat nang lumabas si Riu sa kusina at nagtatatakbo sa akin.
"Careful, baby!" I caught him.
"Mimi, eat na! Cook!" He informed. Sumulyap ako kay Cas.
"Luto na ako, Cas," I informed and stood with Riu but Cas stood beside me.
"A-ako na lang magbabantay sa kanya," he offered and glanced at the kid.
"Sure." I agreed and called Riu's attention. "Baby, Tito Caspian will take care of you while Mimi cooks, is that alright?"
Riu's curious eyes remained on the hopeful man in front of him.
"Cas? Dog?" He asked. I chuckled. Mas natigilan si Cas.
"D-dog?" Cas looked around, looking for something. "He's... still alive?"
"Huh? Of course, my dog is still alive!" I rolled my eyes.
"Karga! Karga, pangit!" Iniangat ni Riu ang kanyang kamay, nagpapabuhat at nang makuha siya ni Caspian ay lumingon ako.
Saan na 'yon? Baka nakulong na naman sa kuwarto?
"Caspian, baby!" I exclaimed.
"Yes, Reev?" ani Caspian kaya hinarap ko siya at kinunutan ng noo.
"I'm referring to my dog." Ngumuso ako. "Saka, baby ba kita?"
His mouth parted dramatically, napapangisi nang marinig ang tahol at takbo ng aso ko pababa ng hagdan.
I was smiling widely, opening my arms to welcome my dog but was startled when he ran past me and went to Caspian instead, the real person.
Nagulantang ako. Umikot siya sa paa ni Caspian at masayang tumahol. He even lifted his paws to his leg, nagpapabuhat!
What is happening?
"Hey, boy!" Caspian laughed and lowered his body. Hindi ako makapaniwalang nakatingin sa kanya habang komportableng hinahawakan niya ang ulo ng aso ko at si Sirius naman ay tumatawa at nakikigaya sa paghawak.
"Cas, dog!" Sirius said and patted the dog's head. "And Cas, pangit!" He pointed to Caspian whose smile had faded.
I sputtered a laugh.
"D'yan na nga kayo," Umiling ako at natatawang pumasok sa kusina para magluto.
Amy apologized for her mistake, nagbanyo lang raw siya at iniwan ang makulit na bata sa sala habang nanunuod at pagbalik niya ay wala na ito. Unfortunately ay naiwang bukas ang gate ng bahay at nakalabas ito.
Pinagsabihan ko siya. Grabe ang takot ko kanina. Paano pala kung wala ako? Kung hindi siya nakuha ni Caspian? Baka may nangyaring masama na roon?
Habang inaantay na maluto ang sinigang ay sumilip ako sa sala at naabutan ang tatlo habang bukas ang TV.
My dog was sitting on the sofa beside Caspian, si Sirius naman ay nasa hita nito at nag-uusap pa silang dalawa sa mahinang boses, mukhang may pinagtatalunang kung ano.
Caspian is fond of ny nephew, kita ko ang haplos nito sa pisngi ng pamangkin ko at kapag may sasabihin si Sirius sa kanya ay matatawa siya at pupugpogin ng halik ang mukha nito. Maiinis ang bata at papaluin ang mukha niya.
"Ma'am, mukha silang mag-ama, 'no?" ani Amy ng mapansin ang dalawa.
"Oo nga, e." Natawa ako at sumulyap sa labas. "If only hindi ko alam ang tungkol sa Papa ni Riu, madaling isiping si Caspian."
"Opo, saka 'yong mga mata nila. Ngayon nga lang rin ako nakakita ng ganyang kulay."
"It's quite rare actually, two percent lang ang taong may ganyang mata," I shared.
Her lips parted. "Gandang coincidence!"
*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚
PAGKATAPOS namin maghain ay lumabas ako para tawagin sila.
"Caspian," I called.
"Yes?" I stopped when Caspian, my dog, and Caspian, the actual person both looked in my direction.
My lips pursed.
"I mean, my dog." I cleared my throat. "Tara, baby, eat tayo outside," tawag ko at nakita ko ang dismaya sa pagmumukha no'ng Caspian na tao sa sinabi ko.
I fed the dog before calling the two. Napatigil pa ko't tila may init na humaplos sa puso nang marinig ang hagikhikan ng dalawa nang mag-make face si Caspian.
"Tama na 'yan, boys. Let's eat na," I called.
They paused. Caspian carried Riu in his one arm without hassle and looked at me. I laughed when I noticed his childish pout and glare.
"What?" Lumapit ako sa kanya at sinimangutan niya lang akong lalo. "Ano nga, Cas?" I asked and chuckled.
"Hanggang ngayon mas love mo pa rin 'yong kapangalan ko," inarte niya at tinalikuran ako para magkuwaring nagdabog papuntang kwarto.
Sumunod ako sa kanila. Ipinaupo ni Cas ang bulilit sa tabi niya at ako'y doon sa harapan katabi si Amy.
I watched them whispering to each other like they had known each other for so long. They're comfortable with each other.
Inabot ko ang kanin para lagyan ng pagkain ang plato sana ni Riu pero inabot ni Cas ang kamay ko't pinigilan.
"Let me," he offered. I let him be. I watched him put food on Riu's plate who was watching him excitedly, his green eyes twinkling. It stunned me when he did the same for me after.
"Thank you," I mumbled.
He just smiled.
Hindi mawala ang tingin ko sa kanila habang kumakain. It looked satisfying and very natural for Caspian to be this nurturing. He's attentive, nakaabang na agad ang kutsara pagkaubos ni Riu sa kinakain. I don't think he was even eating!
He did all that while wearing his formal dress shirt, the sleeves rolled up his elbow. Nakakalas na tatlong butones no'n. He looked so good and hot in it.
Nagkatinginan kami ni Cas. Habang nakikipagtitigan sa 'kin ay uminom siya.
"You looked hot in your clothes," I commended. Sa gulat ko'y nabilaukan siya nang pumasok sa ilong ang tubig.
"OMG! Sorry!" I exclaimed, panicking. Riu laughed loudly and clapped his hand, like it was pure entertainment.
Hindi ni Cas mabitawan ang bulilit. Dinala pa niya ulit sa sala para ituloy ang harutan nila.
When I got out of the kitchen, I caught them playing.
Magkahawak ang kamay nila at naghuhulihan ng daliri. Thumb wrestling I guess?
"Nanalo ako!" Caspian laughed when he caught Riu's thumb. Sirius' forehead creased, nagpigil ako ng tawa nang biglang hinampas ni Riu ang mukha ng huli at ngumuso.
"Bad! Caspian, pangit!" he exclaimed, not accepting the fact that he failed.
Doon na ako lumapit para maupo sa gilid nila. Their green eyes gazed up on me. My heart jumped.
"Baby, don't say pangit, hmm?" I reminded Riu.
He pouted as he crawled off Cas' lap towards my direction. Binuhat ko siya. He embraced my nape.
"Mimi, away niya 'ko." Sumbong niya sabay talim ng tingin sa naaaliw na si Caspian, pinapanuod kami, malambing ang mga mata.
"He's not, baby." I chuckled, pinaupo ko siya sa hita ko at hinalikan ang pisngi. "And you can call him Tito Caspian."
"Like dog?" He asked innocently. I bursted out laughing when Caspian's smile faded.
"Mas gwapo ako sa aso, Riu," ani Caspian at umiling si Riu sa kanya.
"No! Riu is more handsome than the dog and you!"
Tumaas ang sulok ng labi ni Cas, sumusuko na. He nodded and messed with Riu's hair.
"Alright, you won, big boy," Cas surrendered.
"Yehey!" Riu grinned happily and clapped his hands. "Balik ka bukas po?"
Caspian looked at me with query. I shrugged.
"If 'di ka busy?"
"I am not," walang pagdadalawang-isip niyang sagot sabay baling sa bata. "Yes, big boy, Tito will be back tomorrow," he promised.
Riu beamed but then when he looked at me, his eyes were sleepy.
"Mimi, Riu is sleepy," he murmured softly, kinusot niya ang mata at kumalabog ang puso ko nang mamungay ang mga mata niya.
"Are you?" Tumango siya at ngumuso, ngumiti naman ako at humalik sa pisngi niya bago bumaling kay Caspian na nakatitig sa amin.
He looked at us, his eyes gentle and filled with sadness and longing. It reminded me of his story.
I bit my lip.
"Cas, iakyat ko muna si Riu saglit. Bigay ko muna kay Amy para maihatid kita."
"Let me accompany you upstairs,"
Nang inilahad niya ang braso kay Riu at sumama ang bata ay wala na akong nagawa. We walked together, something resembling fulfillment touching the empty gaps of my heart.
They were whispering to each other in hush voices and tickling.
"It tickles!" Riu exclaimed. I heard Caspian's deep laughs.
Binuksan ko ang kwarto ko at tinuro kay Caspian ang kama ko.
"Can you bring him there?" Tumalima siya at inihiga ro'n si Riu. I watched him fix his blankets and brush his hair.
"Tito will go home for now, hmm? Sleep tight and always pray, okay?" marahang paalala niya.
"Yes po! Thanks po sa play, Tito!" My heart swelled when Riu touched his cheek. Humugot ng malalim na hininga si Caspian at masuyong humalik sa noo nito.
Tumayo siya't binalingan ako.
"Salamat,"
"Una na muna ako sa baba," paalam niya.
Inasikaso ko muna si Riu at binilinan si Amy bago bumaba.
I heard my dog barking excitedly. When I took a peek, I saw Caspian carrying my dog, also named Caspian and it's licking his face!
Cas was trying to move away but he ended up laughing.
"Ang bigat-bigat mo na!" he muttered.
My head stung. Maybe out of my imagination, an imagery formed in my head.
Of a man with his naked familiar back on me, wearing only jeans with a golden retriever in his arm–a puppy.
It was familiar. The sound of laughter, of barks...
"Come on, boy, mas mahal ka pa rin ng Mommy mo kaysa sa akin." He laughed.
My eyelids fell when my head stung a bit. Napakapit ako sa hawakan ng hagdan at suminghap.
When I opened my eyes, they're already looking at me. Caspian was alarmed. Ibinaba niya ang aso at malalaki ang hakbang na nagtungo sa 'kin.
"Reev..." Mabilis siyang lumapit at humawak sa kamay ko. "What happened?"
"Nothing..." I smiled and shook my head. May naramdaman ako sa paahan at ang aso ko'y idinidikit ang katawan sa 'kin, halatang nag-aalala.
"Hey, baby." I brushed his fur.
"Are you sure?" Caspian softly held my waist to assist me on my way down.
"Hmm, ayos lang," I reassured.
Tumitig siya, 'di nagsasalita kaagad. He observed me and when he was satisfied, he nodded.
"Alright. Sleep early, okay? Maybe you're overworking again..."
Natawa ako. "Yes, Sir,"
"And I talked to your head, mag-off ka raw muna bukas," aniya.
Tumango ako. "Sinabi na rin sa akin,"
"Do you have plans tomorrow? Or dito ka lang? Ako na ang magluluto ng lunch–"
"No need," I chuckled. "May trabaho ka pa, 'di ba? Ayos lang kami, baka bukas pupunta rin akong mall bukas around ten, mamimili."
Napatango siya, binasa ang labi at nag-isip.
"P'wede sumama?" He asked hesitantly it's adorable.
"Sure," Tawa ko at pinisil ang pisngi niya sa panggigigil. "Sige na, umuwi ka na. It's getting darker outside, drive safely."
Naglakad kami patungong gate habang nakasunod ang aso ko sa aming dalawa.
"Sunduin kita bukas?"
"No need, I'm going to the mall by around eight. Kita na lang tayo do'n."
Sumulyap siya sa second floor ng bahay pabalik sa akin.
"Is Sirius asleep?" He asked.
"Yup,"
I couldn't help but admire his beautiful green eyes again as the light post reflected on it, making it look like it had golden tints in the irises.
"Good night, Reev." Napahawak siya sa batok.
"Good night, too," I beamed with a wide smile. "Thank you for today."
Napatulala siya sa mukha ko, nagtagal ang tingin bago namula ang mukha at nag-iwas.
"Uhm, bye?"
"Bye," Natawa ako.
Muli siyang sumulyap sa mukha ko, mas namula at napatikhim. Binasa niya ang labi, mabilis na kumaway at tumalikod.
My dog barked. Caspian looked back and caught my gaze. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay.
"Fuck, stop yourself," he scoffed and looked away.
Natawa ako at tinawag siya.
"Caspian!" He froze pero hindi siya kaagad lumingon, napangisi ako at nagsalitang muli. "Yes you, the driver."
Mabilis siyang lumingon.
"Tara dito," isang utos ko lang ay parang trumpo siya sa bilis na nakabalik at maamong tumayo sa harapan ko. I smirked.
"Take care," I murmured and tiptoed to kiss his cheek.
His cheeks flushed, miski ang tainga ay namula. Nag-init rin ang pisngi ko sa nagawa kaya napatikhim at nilamon ng hiya.
Oh my God! What have you done, Polaris?! Why did you kiss him?!
"T-tara na, Cas," I called my dog na tinatahulan pa ang kapangalan. Sa pagsulyap kong mabilis kay Caspian ay hawak niya ang pisngi at nakaawang ang labi.
"Tang ina, kinikilig ako," he said under his breath. Nanlaki ang mata ko at mabilis na tumakbo papasok sa gate ng bahay.
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