MOMMY TEACHER

(How accidental fatherhood brings love to his life.)

Written & Published by fakekrisaquino.com

(This was first published online for the ‘from Internet with Love’ column of
fakekrisaquino.com.)
Nagmamadaling lumabas si Eric sa opisina nya. It was already 4pm, dapat sana by 4pm nasa
school na sya ni Baby Gwen. Baby Gwen is a 4-year old girl pero hindi ito anak ni Eric. Anak
ito ng sister nya na nasa Germany ngayon, but she cannot bring Gwen with her yet. While ang
ama ni Baby Gwen ay hindi na makita. Kaya kahit hindi ready si Eric, wala syang choice kundi
angkinin si Baby Gwen.

Medyo traffic kaya natagalan itong dumating, nag ring ang kanyang phone ng magpark sya ng
kanyang kotse.

"Hi, Mr. Eric Locsin. This is Teacher Ella. Sino pong kukuha ni Gwen?" Ang sabi sa pikas linya
ng celphone.
"Hi, Teacher Ella. I'm here na in the vicinity. Sorry again." Patawad ni Eric. Nang makita siya ni
Baby Gwen, tumakbo ito patungo sa kanya at nag-hug.

Nakita ni Eric si Baby Gwen at ang teacher niya nito sa hallway ng school, kaya kinayawan nya
ang dalawa. Nang makita sya ni Gwen, tumakbo ito patungo sa kanya.

"Daddy, ang tagal nyo dumating." Daddy ang tawag sa kanya ni Gwen.
"Sorry, baby. Busy eh." Sabi ni Eric kay Gwen.
"Busy busy busy busy. Punta tayo McDo." Patampo na sabi ni Gwen.
Natawa na lang si Eric at kinarga nya ito.

"Hi, Teacher Ella. Thank you for watching over Gwen. Umuwi na kasi ang yaya ni Gwen kasi
she got married na. So naghanap pa ako ng kapalit." Explain ni Eric kay Ella.
"It's okay. She's such a sweet girl kaya no problem." Sabi ni Ella.
"By the way, teach', about sa costume ni Ella sa ballet presentation, do you know where I can
get those?" tanong ni Eric.
"You can find them naman sa SM or any department stores." Sagot ni Ella. "Bukas na pala yung
presentation nila."
"Oh, shoot. Bukas na ba? Teach, may gagawin ka pa ba? Is it okay na magpa-sama sana
kaming bumili? Sorry, I really have no idea paano iyan hanapin." Eric begged Ella.
Natawa na lang si Ella. "Okay. Papunta din ako sa SM to get some supplies. Please wait lang
muna kayo sa akin dito. Ligpitin ko lang mga stuff ko."

Eric breathe a sigh of relief. Hindi talaga nya maintindihan ang mga nakalista na costume ni
Gwen like tutu, ballet tights, shoes at iba pa.
They were on the way to the mall, when Ella asked, "I hope you don't mind, Sir, nasaan pala
ang mommy ni Gwen.It's either you or Yaya Jean that I always see in school."
"Call me Eric na lang, Teach. Her mom is in Germany kasi." Sabi ni Eric.
Gwen butt-in in their conversation, "Teacher Ella, can you be my mommy na lang please.Hindi
kasi marunong si Daddy mag story ng princess."
"Ssshhhh, Gwen." Eric tries to silence Gwen.
Natawa na lang si Ella sa sinabi ni Gwen. "Is she your only daughter, Sir, I mean Eric?"
"No. Yes." Nalito si Eric kung paano explain kay Ella na hindi nya anak si Gwen. "I mean Gwen
is my sister's daughter. She is now in Germany, and she cannot bring Gwen with her. Kaya she
left her with me."
"Ah, okay. Sorry if I cross a line." Ella said. And, she cannot help but get awed at how Eric
handles well everything. She feels an instant admiration towards Eric. She hopes walang
girlfriend si Eric.
"It's okay." Sabi ni Eric.

When they arrived sa mall, Gwen asked Eric, "Daddy, McDo muna tayo. Gutom na ako."
"Baby, can we go get your ballet costume stuff first? Kasi may iba pang lakad si Teacher Ella
mo." Eric tries to persuade Ella.
"Mommy, can we please go to McDo first." Gwen called Ella Mommy.
Hindi alam ni Ella paano mag react kaya tumawa na lang ito at umo-oo.

Pagdating nila sa McDo, out of habit, binigyan ni Eric si Ella ng pera at sinabing, "Kahit ano lang
sa akin." At umupo na ito in a corner. Si yaya Jean lang kasi before bumili ng order nila.

Na-shock si Ella but she does not want to make a fuss of it. She thought, parang Eric is too
comfortable with her. She bought 3 happy meals for the 3 of them so Ella can have 3 toys.

Nang umupo na sila Ella sa table, that's just when Eric realized na parang nagpasilbi ito kay
Ella.
"Oh shoot, sorry, Ella. Ikaw pinabili ko. I was used to Yaya Jean kasi." Explain ni Eric sa kanya.
"No biggie." Ella replied.

"Teacher Ella, di ba wala kang boyfriend. Si Daddy din wala syang girlfriend. You can go home
with us, then you live in our house na." Gwen narrates to the two of them.
"Gwen, where did you get those idea ba?" Eric was embarrased sa sinabi ni Gwen.
"Sabi ni Yaya Jean na pwede ko daw maging mommy si Teacher Ella kasi Yaya Jean does
not like me to call her Mommy. Yaya Jean told me na sabihan ko ikaw na gawing girlfriend
si Teacher Ella. Kasi may boyfriend na kasi si yaya Jean kaya hindi na sya pwede for you,
daddy."Gwen explained while eating her spaghetti. "Sabi ni yaya Jean, pag maging mommy ko
na raw si Teacher Ella, I will have baby brothers and sisters. Pero gusto ko sisters lang ha, Dad.
Ayoko ng boys."

Trying not to feel awkward about the situation, tumawa na lang sina Eric at Ella.
"Ang hilig talaga ni Yaya Jean ng mga boyfriend and girlfriend. Siya yung taga matchmaker ng
mga yaya at driver sa school." Sabi ni Ella.
After McDo, they went to the kids department ng mall para bumili ng kailangan ni Gwen.
Nagpakarga na
si Gwen kay Eric dahil napagod na ito. After sa pag-iikot nila sa paghahanap, hindi namalayan
ni Eric na nakatulog na pala si Gwen. Kaya after gathering all the Gwen's stuff and also Ella's
needed supplies, si Ella na ang naglinya sa cashier kasi nagkarga na lang si Eric kay Gwen.
Medyo mataas ang linya kasi may Sale at that time sa mall.

Pagkatapos magbayad ni Ella, "Ihatid ko na lang kayo sa parking lot kasi hindi mo ata madala
lahat ito."
"Ella, thanks a lot. I'm really sorry to bother you. I owe you one." Eric told Ella.
"It's okay, Eric. No biggie." Sabi ni Ella.
"Saan ka pala uuwi? I'll drive you home na lang." Eric told Ella.
"Sure? Hindi ako hihindi talaga." Ella agreed right away. Parang she wanted to take advantage
to be close to Eric.

While on the road...

"Bilib naman ako sa iyo that you take Gwen under your wings. Hindi ka ba nahihirapan?" Ella
asked Eric.
"Okay na rin. Training. Kidding. Hindi naman mahirap, but parang stress and pressured kasi
hindi ko alam ang gagawin. I'm scared baka you know, what if I'd cause something bad kay
Gwen. I don't think i can forgive myself. But at the end of the day, it feels good to have someone
waiting for you at home. That's why I'm thankful and happy na rin to have Gwen around. I can't
imagine life without her na rin." Eric, for the first time, talks about her feeling about being an
instant father.
"Gwen is lucky to have you." Ella replied.
"I really hope so." sabi ni Eric.
"Plans of getting wife, I mean married?" Ella probed Eric.
"I really haven't think of that. Work, then Gwen, I have no time to work on that part." Napatawa
na lang si Eric. "Thanks for reminding me. Okay lang ba sa mga girls ang may anak na lalake?"
"Well, it's pretty much fine with me. It makes them more appealing for me." Ella tries to flirt in a
very subtle manner. Ayaw nyang ma turn-off or matakot si Eric sa kanya.
"So you think you're fine with me and Gwen?" Eric asked Ella, trying to match her little
flirtation. "If you say yes, i-uuwi na kita sa bahay."
Kinilig si Ella pero tinigilan nya ang kanyang sarili kasi baka nag-joke lang si Eric.Nag-smile na
lang ito to hide ang kangyang pagkakilig.

Hindi na nangulit si Ella kay Eric at baka saan pa pupunta naman ang conversation nila. Ella
stole glances at Eric secretly, and how she wish she can touch his tired face, and give him a
hug for doing a great job on Gwen.

"Di ba mag left turn ka na sa may unahan? Dito na lang ako. I'll take a cab from here. Huwag
mo na akong ihatid pa. Medyo malayo pa ang lugar ko." Ella told Eric.
"It's okay. Let's drop Gwen na lang first sa bahay, then ihatid kita sa inyo. Mahirap sumakay
dito." Eric told Ella.
"I'll be fine. Drop me here na lang. Thanks ha." Ella does not want to bother na Eric kasi he has
to take care pa of Gwen.

But hindi nakinig si Eric sa kanya. Kaya dumerecho sila sa bahay ni Eric.

"Baba ka muna. I'll put Gwen to bed lang, then we will leave. Andito naman si Manang Susan to
look after her." Saysay ni Eric.
Sumunod naman si Ella bitbit ang mga napamili nila sa SM. Umupo sya sa sofa to wait for Eric.

Bumaba si Eric, at hinahanap si Manang Susan pero wala na ito kasi umuwi na dahil may sakit
ang anak nito. Stay-out na kasama na bahay nila si Manang Susan kasi may pamilya na ito.

Tumabi na lang si Eric kay Ella sa sofa, at napahinga ng malalim. He realized na pagod na rin
sya after 2 years of looking after Gwen alone. Looking at Ella, she seems nice, someone he
would love to be around, and most of all Gwen likes her, kaya linakasan nya ang loob to ask her
now, "Ella, you think you will like it here, to have this as your home too?"

Ella was taken aback with the question, but she can feel Eric's sincerity. She moves her body
forward to Eric, and kissed him. It means yes to Eric's question.

Hindi na nagpaliko-liko si Eric, he kissed back Ella hungrily, and make out with her on the sofa.
At nang hindi na nila mapigilan ang kanilang sarili, kinarga na niya si Ella sa kanyang kwarto na
maging master bedroom na nila Ella.

Gwen was so happy to see Ella in Eric's bedroom the following morning. Both of them hurriedly
cover their naked bodies when they heard Gwen is approaching their bed.

"I hope you don't mind to be bugged by this little booger." Eric cuddled Gwen, and tickled her.
Ella just smiled lovingly at her blessings. When it rain, it pours. She feels so lucky to be part of
such a loving family.

The End.

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