Nilingon ko si Isaiah na nanunuod ng paborito nyang cartoons. Pinunasan ko muna ang kamay ko sa apron na suot at saka sya nilapitan. As usual, the seriousness in his eyes didn't change as he tries to..

"You shouldn't let Cindy protect you, Patrick!!" He shout while frowning, inis na tinignan nya ako saka bumalik sa panunuod ng Spongebob. "Mommy, you know what. I've been thinking about this, Patrick is so dependent to his friends. He don't do much for Spongebob and the others. He keeps bringing troubles to them."

Umupo ako sa tabi nya saka sya niyakap. "Then why are you still watching it, mahal ko?" His pinkish cheeks blew and the frown in his face gets deeper. "If it isn't because of Patrick, Spongebob won't be independent. They depend to each other that's why they are together. They are like brothers that they never had." Pag papaintindi ko sa kanya.

"Kahit na mommy. Nakaka inis sila. Bakit kasi kailangan kasama pa si Patrick. I hate him, dugyot sya!"

"Isaiah Medean, saan mo natutunan ang salitang iyan? Hindi kita tinuturuan ng mga ganyang salita." pagalit ko. His eyes rolled and crossed his arms over his chest. May pinag manahan talaga ang batang ito.

"It was Aunt Beau . She said madugyot si Patrick." Tinaasan ko sya ng kilay at kagaya ng dati tumaas din ang kilay nya sa akin at saka umiwas ng tingin. "Aunt won't tell something that isn't true."

Sinundan ko sya ng tingin nang tumayo sya at umakyat patungo siguro sa kwarto nya. Hindi ko alam kung magagalit ako sa inakto ng anak ko o kay Beau na kung anu-ano ang itinuturo sa kanya. Isaiah won't bother to explain his side no matter how much I ask him or no matter how much I want to know things that is inside him. He's an independent and mature kid at the age of six. I know to myself na wala akong pag kukulang sa pag papalaki sa anak ko, but sometimes, parents don't know if we really knew everything. Kagaya nalang sa anak ko ang patunay. Minsan naiisip ko, ang layo ng loob ng anak ko sa akin. Maybe because there are things I cannot tell him.

Nailing ako at saka tumayo at bumalik sa kusina. After cooking for our lunch, ay nag handa na ako. Paborito nya ang sari-saring gulay at pritong galunggong. Marami syang nakakain pagka ganon ang niluluto ko. I went to Isaiah's room but I didn't found him there kaya bumaba ulit ako at saka nag punta sa isang kwarto malapit sa dulo ng hallway and I'm right. Sinalubong agad ako ng isang malungkot na tugtugin mula sa grand piano na nasa music room. Pag silip ko duon ay tinitigan ko si Isaiah na tahimik na tumutugtog habang nasisinagan ng araw ang parteng kanan ng katawan. Para akong nanunuod ng isang anghel na tumutugtog ng piano, lalo na at nasisinagan ng araw ang itim na itim nyang buhok. Nakaka tulala ang maputi nyang balat at mahahabang pilikmata. Nanatili lamang ako na pinapakinggan sya hanggang sa matapos niya ang isang piyesa. Matapos iyon ay tumingin sya sa maliit nyang relo sa bisig at saka lumingon sa akin. Ngumiti ako sa kanya, pero naka tingin lang sya saka pumikit saglit at lumapit rin sakin.

"Mommy, do you think I played it good? I think I missed some piece while I was playing." ginulo ko ang buhok nya at saka sya nginitian. "I knew it, I forgot something."

"I'll play with you, later. Pero ngayon, kumain na tayo naihanda ko na yung lunch, mahal ko." Tumango sya sa akin kasabay non ay tumalikod na ako pero naramdaman ko ang pag pigil nya. "Ano yon?"

"Nothing."

Sabay kami nag tungo sa kusina at saka kumain. Pinapaunod ko lang sya na maganang kumain habang nag kukwento sya about sa piano lesson nya yesterday. Puro naka kunot lang ang noo nya habang kumakain dahil nahihirapan daw sya mag catch up kahapon. Mas gusto nya daw kasi matulog kesa makinig kahapon which is new. Isaiah was only three when I saw him trying to play our grand piano, nakita ko sa kanya ang passion sa pag tugtog and every time na gagamitin ko iyon ay lagi syang nanunuod kaya napag desisyunan ko na bigyan sya ng lesson.

"Where are the maids?" Tinignan ko si Isaiah na abala sa pag kukudkod ng pan na pinag prituhan ko ng isda. The frown in his face is getting deeper habang naka tungtong sa bangkito at iniis-is nya iyon. Nonstick pan iyon ah?

"Day off mahal ko." sagot ko habang nag pupunas ng mga pinggan na tapos ng banlawan. Bigla syang lumingon sakin.

"All of them?" Singhal nya na nanlalaki ang mga mata. Tumango ako sa tanong nya. "But why, Mommy. You cooked and now we wash the dishes."

"It's already October 31st, kailangan nila mag day off." Paliwanag ko. Tinitignan ko lang sya habang sinasabunan nya na ang pan using the sponge. Akala ko iaabot nya sakin yung pan pero hinugasan nya na rin ito saka nanguha ulit ng panibagong sponge sa cabinet na nasa gilid nya. "What are you doing mahal ko? Kakapalit ko lang sponge kahapon."

"It's oily Mommy. I will wash the pan again-- hand me the soap, Mommy." Inabot ko sa kanya iyon at saka nya hinugasan uli ang pan.

Matapos kami mag hugas ay nag shower muna sya. Ako naman ay inayos ang damit nya saka ako nag punta sa kwarto ko para maligo. Akala ko maabutan ko si Isaiah sa music room pero nasa garden na sya at naka bihis ng pang alis. Hindi naman iyon ang damit na inihanda ko para sa kanya.

"Isaiah?" Tawag ko. "What are you wearing?" Nagtataka kong tanong.

"It's Sunday Mommy, we will go to church." Nginitian ko sya at saka tumango.

Nag hintay kami ng oras and while doing that nag punta kami ng music room to play the piano. Nakikita ko kung gaano nya naeenjoy ang pag tugtog non. Matapos namin ay nag ayos na ako para mag simba. We went together to the church and Isaiah is so attentive to listen to the preach of father. After the mass, we decided to go to mall but before that, he gave money to the street kids and straight ahead to my car.

Isaiah is silent the whole time but I know he's contented in what we are doing. Minsan papasok kami sa isang store, not just a store but store for wristwatches. One thing I noticed to Isaiah is his sense of fashion. He won't be going out in our house without his wristwatch.

Sales ladies are looking at my son while his looking at the Guess silver watch in front of him. He shrug his head a bit and look at the sale's lady. The lady smiled to him but he ignored it and look at me instead.

"Can I have it?" The sparks in his eyes are priceless.

"Ah.. Ma'am, for adult sizes lang po ang meron kami. Wala pa po kaming size ng sa kanya." Pag baling sa akin ng sales lady.

Isaiah arched a brow and look at the sales lady. "Why were you talking to my Mommy? I'm the one who will wear that." Gulat naman na nilingon sya ng babae. I look at Isaiah sternly and mouthed him to stop. He rolled his eyes and tsk before he went to the other stall.

"I'm sorry about that miss. My son is really into wristwatches and a little conservative when it comes to it. Can I have to take a look and see if it can be customized for him?"

"S-sige po ma'am." Ngumiti ako sa kanya at saka sya tumalikod para kunin yung relo.

When I saw the watch, I knew it can be customized. Pero kahit ganon, hindi makukuha ni Isaiah na ganon lang iyon. I pay for it and after non at kumain kami sa isa sa mga food chain sa loob ng mall. While we were eating, Isaiah is looking outside.

"What's wrong." Tanong ko. Nilapag ko ang tinidor na hawak saka nag punas ng napkin sa bibig.

"Weren't you mad at me?" tumingin sya sakin and his silver gray eyes made me feel calm.

"I was. What you did earlier is not right. I was waiting for you to apologize but you didn't." I said trying to compose myself to hide my smile. In his reaction, there is guilt. He just don't know how to show it. "But you're guilty about it so I will let it pass. But only for today."

He nod and started to eat. Matapos iyon, inaya ko pa sya mag gala pero nag aya na sya umuwi kaya naman dumeretso nalang kami ng parking lot. I drove off and when we get to our house, he's already asleep. I tried to wake him up but no use so I have to carry him from the garage up to his room. I changed his clothes and wipe his arms and legs. I kissed him goodnight before I left his room and head to mine. Dumeretso ako sa table ko saka binuksan ang laptop ko and started doing my paper works.

I have to. Kahit na day off ko ngayon, hindi ko pwede hayaan na matambakan ako ng trabaho. Ako din ang mahihirapan at maaaring maapektuhan yung oras ko para sa anak ko.

I'm doing this for my son. He's the reason in every success I have now. Kung nasaan ako ngayon at kung ano ako ngayon. He's the reason and it is all for him. For my one and only Isaiah Medean.

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Yeah yeah  yeah!