Second Special Chapter

Meet Elle Lincoln
Where Do Broken Hearts Go?
SUNRISE SERIES #5

"Love, anong oras ka uuwi?"

I flipped the pancake I am cooking while talking to Callan. I don't know when is he going home, or if he had plans. He's busy with the company but I understand since he faces many trouble now.

I just hoped everything will cool down soon. I don't want to see him being stressed out with work.

"I am not sure if I can go home early tonight, I'm sorry." I smiled when I heard him sighed. Sumandal ako sa counter at pinag-krus ang braso sa dibdib habang nakatapat pa rin ang cellphone sa tainga.

"It's fine. I'll just wait for you tonight. Don't stress yourself, baby. I love you." I can already see him smiling because of what I said, which added the excitement in me.

"I love you, too. Where's Elle?"

"Is that Dada?"

Speaking of the little angel. I chuckled and carried Elle, our four-year old kid.

"Yes, this is your Dada. Say hi, baby!"

We adopted her, because that's what Callan wants. I didn't go against with it since I also wanted a family with him. Her braided hair sways everytime she's walking. She is usually with her doll, I don't know where that goes now.

"Hi, Dada! I miss you. You barely go home, I couldn't get to play with you anymore." I pinched our daughter's cheeks because of what she said. Although I explained to her already that her dad's busy, she can't stop missing him.

Kaya naman kapag umuuwi si Callan, binibigyan ko sila ng time para mag-bonding. I felt jealous, because after they play, Callan will already go to sleep, the reason why we can't have time together. But it's okay.

I am happy to see the two having fun. That's already enough for me.

"Aww, our baby is being clingy again. Don't worry, when daddy have time, we'll go to your favorite places, okay?" I can see ghost of smile on our daughter's face because of what Callan said.

"Really? Yehey!" Tumawa ako nang makita kung gaano siya kasaya sa bagay na 'yun. This girl, really. "Dad will come with us, right?"

"Of course. You can't just leave me here."

"No, your daddy had works too." I glared at the phone because of what Callan said.

"I can go!" Elle chuckled because of my expression. Lagi na lang ako pinagt-trip-an ng mag-ama na 'to. "I will come."

"Really? I heard you have a big project the next day?" I can already hear him smirking which made me frown. Pinalobo ko ang pisngi ko, naiinis na.

"Daddy's mad, should we stop na ba, Dada?" Yes, you should stop or else your Dada won't be available for you tonight.

"He is? He can't get mad at us, baby." I am mad now.

"He looks like a frog who's about to explode, Dada!"

Humarap muli ako sa niluluto ko at hinango ito, buhat-buhat pa rin si Elle. Mukhang tuwang-tuwa talaga silang mag-ama sa pang-aasar sa'kin. Tumatawa na lang ako minsan kapag ngumingiti ang anak namin dahil may sinabi si Callan.

Elle requested a pancake from me since she said she got hungry playing outside. Gumawa ako ng palaruan niya sa likod bahay para naman kahit papaano ay hindi lang siya magmukmok sa loob ng kuwarto at lunurin ang sarili sa pag-aaral at pagbabasa.

I don't want her childhood to be like ours. I wanted her to play freely outside the house and interact with other children. She's not a messy kid, maybe because that's what Callan told her.

Between Callan and I, Elle is closer to him. Kahit na ako ang laging kasama ni Elle sa bahay, mas naging close siya sa ama niya. Maybe because she keeps missing him.

"Elle, baby, your pancake's ready!"

I called her to eat. Natigil ang pag-uusap nila ni Callan. Nakita kong bahagya itong tumango bago bumaba ng sofa at tatalon-talong pumunta sa kusina. She handed me the phone so I smiled and tapped her head.

"Hey," I heard Callan's deep voice. "Thank you for taking care of Elle. I'm sorry if I don't have much time. Pero babawi ako."

"No need, love. I am her guardian too so it is my obligation to look after her. I understand that you're busy, so don't be sorry about it." Ngumiti ako sa hangin at tiningnan ang anak naming masayang kumakain. "Mahal kita."

Kinabukasan, kinailangan kong um-attend ng meeting kaya wala akong choice kundi isama siya. We are currently staying at Singapore, and Callan's mom's in the Philippines. Wala akong mapag-iiwanan sa kaniya.

"Where, Daddy?" She asked me while I am combing her hair. Mabuti na lang at may YouTube kaya natuto akong ipitan siya. I am still practicing it, though.

I tried hard to learn the basics of being a dad, and I really enjoyed it.

"To Daddy's work. Behave ka do'n, ha? May meeting lang si Daddy." She happily nodded her head because of what I've said.

Hindi na rin kami nahirapan bago maka-alis dahil cooperative si Elle. I'm just glad that Callan teaches her the right thing and how to behave.

We used my car which I bought last month because the old ones are barely functioning. Elle picked the color so it was kind of, uhm, light. A baby blue car for my daughter.

Elle played with her doll while she was sitting on the seat next to me. Pasimple ko siyang tinitingnan dahil baka may gawin siya pero thankfully, wala naman.

"Hi, sir! Good morning!" One staff greeted me as I stepped my feet inside the building. Bahagya lang akong ngumiti sa kaniya at hinigpitan ang hawak kay Elle para hindi ito mawala. "Mr. Ruford is waiting for you upstairs." He even bowed his head. "Hi, baby Elle!"

"Hello!" My daughter waved her hand cutely earning a giggle from the man.

Sumakay kami ng elevator para makarating sa office ng ka-meeting ko. I doubt the 'emergency' part, though.

"Tito!"

Elle let go of my hand when we entered Kendric's office. Tumawa ang lalaki bago sinalubong ng yakap ang anak ko.

"Wow, you're getting big everytime we met." Tuwang-tuwa naman si Kendric habang binibitbit si Elle. I rolled my eyes.

"There's no meeting, right?" I asked in a bored tone, gaining a laugh from the stupid Kendric.

"Well, yes. I just want to see Elle." Kumamot ako ng noo bago umupo sa sofa para sa mga bisita niya. "Ate Keeley wants to see you, but sadly, she had school."

"I'm going to school next year! I'll play with Ate Keeley."

I checked my phone when it beeped. A smile plastered on my lips when I saw his name.

Callan:
Where are you? Are you with Elle?

I laughed because I can already see him panicking. He's always worried about our daughter. What a dad.

Dillion:
yes, Kendric tricked me

Callan:
That wicked son of a bitch.

Mas lalo akong natawa dahil alam kong kunot na kunot na naman ang noo niya ngayon. Hays. My husband and his anger issues.

Callan:
I'm home. What am I supposed to do here? Talk with roaches?

I smirked as a nasty idea crosses my mind.

Dillion:
well maybe I can go there, let's have alone time. wdyt?

My smirk grew bigger when he stopped responding. I just knew how to tease him very well.

Callan:
Okay.

My eyes widened with his reply. Muntik ko pang mabitawan ang phone ko dahil do'n. I smiled but hid it immediately by putting my fist in my mouth.

Callan:
Basta ba pagkatapos maghanap ka na ng ibang tirahan.

"Your husband texted me. He's mad." Tuwang-tuwa pa si Kendric habang pinapakita sa'kin ang message ni Callan. "Geez, you need to calm him down, really."

Tumawa lang ako bago ko sinabihan si Elle na uuwi na kami sa daddy niya. Her face beamed with the mention of her daddy. Napailing na lang ako bago ako nagpaalam kay Kendric.

"We'll visit you soon! Tell Keeley I have a gift." Kumaway lang ako sa kaniya patalikod habang hawak ang kamay ni Elle.

When we arrived at home, Callan is already cooking. It was rare to see him cook because he really don't like cooking. He's more of office than kitchen.

"Daddy! You're home!"

Elle rushed to her daddy. Kaagad namang humarap si Callan sa kaniya at bahagyang ngumiti. He's wearing nothing on top except apron. I licked my lips before putting Elle's bag on the chair.

"I missed you! Where have you been?" He asked the obvious.

"Oh, we visited Tito Kendric. Sadly, Ate Keeley is not with her." Our daughter made a sad face, which made Callan chuckled and pinched her cheeks.

"It's okay, there are still next time, baby. I cooked!" Elle happily jumped and sat on the chair. Inalalayan siya ni Callan para hindi siya mahulog.

"Love, sorry if I didn't tell you..." Hindi niya ako pinapansin! He keeps talking to Elle which made me do a sad face too. Lumapit ako sa kaniya at niyakap siya patalikod. I felt him stunned because of what I did but still remained calm. "Sorry." I kissed his cheek.

Hindi din naman nagtagal ay pinansin niya na ako. Maybe he doesn't want Elle to think we're fighting. Elle is an observant kid so she'll notice us immediately. We don't want our child to think we're mad at each other so if I have to say sorry multiple times, I will.

"Elle's growing fast."

We're inside our room. Nakahiwalay ang kwarto namin sa kuwarto ni Elle. Nakapatong ang ulo niya sa dibdib ko habang hinahaplos ko naman ang buhok niya.

"We can't stop her from growing. You wouldn't realize, she's already teen." Callan chuckled as he said that words.

"I don't want her to grow fast. I want her to be my baby forever." Her, being a teenager saddened me. She might be distant to us, because she had to build her self too.

"Well, you can treat her as your baby forever." Lumingon siya sa'kin bago ako pinatakan ng halik sa labi. "I wonder what she'll be in the future, though."

"I don't want to think of that thing now. Do you think we should follow her already?" I smirked when I saw how his forehead knotted.

"I wanted to focus on Elle first. She looks fine with being an only child, anyways."

I smiled. Napatingin ako sa picture naming buong pamilya na nakalagay sa side table.

There is me, my husband and my daughter.

We're all smiling.

And that smile is something I should protect.

"I hope she won't grow too fast."

* * * * * *

A/N: Happy Valentines, everyone! Date yourselves, or your friends, if you don't have special someone to celebrate with. Enjoy the day!

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