“When will Tita Wina come to take me to school?” tanong ni Kat habang nagmamaneho ako papunta sa ballet class niya. Every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday kasi yung class niya but Karina has been busy these past few days dahil inaasikaso nila yung papers nila Tita tapos yung trabaho niya pa. Hindi naman na kabigat yung work niya but still, she still has meetings to attend to kaya gustuhin man niya, hindi niya nahahatid si Kat.

Besides, she’s like a celebrity now like Ate Krystal. Even though she hates the limelight, she knows she’s getting popular. 

“Soon, baby. Tita Wina’s busy lang but you can still see her sa house, right? You guys always play kaya,” I replied saka tumingin sa rear view mirror kung saan nakaupo ang pamangkin ko. She pouted at napatingin sa labas ng kotse.

“I miss Tita Wina.”

I sighed.

“I know she misses you just as much, my love. How’s your ballet class pala?”

“I’m loving it,” tipid na sagot niya. Halatang malungkot pa rin na hindi niya nakakasama si Karina sa paghatid. “Can you stay and watch me dance, Tita Win?”

Nabigla naman ako sa nirequest ng pamangkin ko. She never really requested Ate Taeyeon na mag stay sa school noong first day niya but now, I’ve no idea kung bakit niya akong gusto mag stay sa class nila. 

“Baby, I don’t know if it’s possible. Bawal ata kaming mag watch sainy—”

“Teacher Zuha said it's fine if you watch our class. Some of my classmates' parents watch our performances as well, so why can't you?”

Napatingin ulit ako sakanya sa rear view mirror. Malungkot na ang mukha niya. Ayoko namang dagdagan pa yung disappointment niya ngayong araw. Wala rin naman akong masyadong gagawin today sa restaurant. I could just inform them na hindi ako papasok. Pwede naman siguro. Kasi baka pagalitan pa ako ni Ate kapag nagsumbong si Kat.

I sighed defeatedly, “Okay. I’ll stay.”

Habang hawak-hawak ko ang tiny hands ni Kat, sumilip muna ako sa glass door ng studio kung saan sila nagtatake ng lesson and saw some of her classmates pati na rin si Teacher Kazuha who seemed to be helping one of the students to tie her ballet flats.

I knocked three times before opening the door, earning a curious look from everyone inside the room. 

“Good Morning po…” I shyly greeted everyone at sabay rin namang tumayo si Teacher Kazuha saka lumapit sa amin.

“Hi, Summer, Hi, Miss Kim,” she greeted and flashed us a charming smile. Nauna nang pinapasok ni Teacher Kazuha si Kat as we both watch her mingle with her classmates. I cleared my throat para makuha ko ulit yung attention ni Kazuha.

“Uhm, I was wondering po if pwede ako mag stay dito sa loob? My niece is requesting me to stay kasi. If hindi naman pwede, I can just stay outs—”

She chuckled kaya napahinto ako. Okay…? Anong nakakatawa?

“You can stay inside po. We let parents watch their kids since they’re practically preschoolers pa. Some students doesn’t want to attend the class kasi kapag hindi nila nakikita yung parents or guardians nila,” she replied. 

“Ah…”

She laughed again and motioned for me to enter the studio, which I did. She shut the door behind me and led me to a long black sofa.

“You can sit here and watch. Are you sure you’re gonna be okay here?” tanong niya. Tumango lang ako and gave her a smile. Excited din ako na mapapanood si Kat. I’m pretty sure she would do well.

“Well then, if you excuse me…” Naglakad na papalayo si Kazuha sa akin saka pumunta sa gitna para simulan ang pagtuturo. Hinayaan ko na muna sila dahil nag dynamic and static stretching muna sila.

Kinuha ko ang ang phone ko, nagbabakasakali na nag text na si Karina and to my delight, she sent me a message ten minutes ago. 

[9:07 AM] Kal ❤️: Hey cutie. Did you drop off Summer na? 

[9:07 AM] Kal ❤️: I miss you na :( I saw a dog earlier. Diba you said dati na you want a Maltese? Should we buy one? 

Napangiti agad ako nang matapos mabasa ang text message niya.

[9:18 AM] You: Hey, babe. I’m actually in her class right now haha she requested na mag stay ako eh. 

[9:18 AM] You: Hmm… do you want one? Okay lang naman for me. We’ll have our own baby pero I thought mas gusto mo cats?

I could still remember yung napag-usapan namin when we experience a black out sa bahay for the very first time. Doon din kasi kami naging comfortable sa isa’t-isa. Doon niya rin inamin sa akin na she’s into girls and ayaw niya magkaanak. 

Pwede pa naman namin siguro pag-usapan yung about family in the future kasi ako, personally, gusto ko magkaroon ng pamilya but if the time comes na dadating yung point na kailangan namin mag desisyon, doon ako kung saan siya masaya. After all, she’s my family.

Teka, bakit pamilya na agad yung iniisip ko? Halos two months pa nga lang kami… jusko.

[9:22 AM] Kal ❤️: I’m jealous, I want to watch her too ☹️ How about I pick you guys up? What time will you finish?

[9:23 AM] Kal ❤️: Let’s talk about it later, Kali!

Napatingin naman ako kay Kat who was attentively paying attention on her teacher. I’m sure matutuwa si Kat kapag nakita niyang sinundo siya ni Karina after this class. Usually, three hours ang class nila kaya tatlong oras din ako tatambay dito. 

Nagreply naman ako agad kay Karina.

[9:25 AM] You: Around lunch matatapos class ni Kat, babe. Hindi ka na ba busy nun?

Tinignan ko ulit ang pamangkin ko at ang mga kaklase niya. They’re doing the bending and pointing na habang tinuturuan sila ni Kazuha kung papaano. I instantly chuckled when I saw Kat cutely jump, in an attempt na gayahin si Kazuha.

“Beautiful! Okay, we’re doing it again,” saad ni Kazuha habang nakangiti na pinapanood ang mga students niya. 

“Again, let’s bring our feet to first position again…” ginaya naman siya ng mga students niya. “Now, we can bend again and we’re going to jump up and point our toes and land very lightly.”

She demonstrated how to do it again, and the students quickly followed suit. Nang gawin ito ni Kat, hindi ko maiwasang mapahagikgik dahil sa cuteness ng pamangkin ko. Ang cute! Karina would love this class!

Naramdaman ko naman ang pag vibrate ng phone ko— nagreply na ulit si Karina.

[9:29 AM] Kal ❤️: We’re almost done naman na baby. Puntahan ko kayo around lunch. I’m gonna take a grab na lang ha since you brought your car naman. See you later, I love you!

Ih… pereng tenga nemen eh. I love you daw oh. Feeling ko mukha na akong tanga sa pagpigil ng kilig dito sa kinauupuan ko buti nalang walang nakatingin sa akin.

[9:31 AM] You: Okayy. See you later. I love you, too!

“Okay, take your twenty minutes break, everyone!” Kazuha announced kaya naman nagsitakbuhan ang mga students sa kanya-kanya nilang parents and guardians na nasa labas ng studio na pinapanood sila. Bakit hindi sila pumapasok? Diba pwede naman daw?

Nawala na ang iniisip ko nang nakita kong tumatakbo si Kat sa akin kaya naman napangiti agad ako.

“Careful, baby. Don’t run,” saway ko sakanya. She happily hop on my legs, making me grunt. Ang bigat na ng pamangkin ko! She angled her hea