Meeting Maverick Gabriel

I had not gone to dentist in the past five months. The semester was a tough one. Well, as an average student, surviving academic struggles became my real deal fight. 

I took a deep breath and finally folded my paper in half. Looking around the four-walled classroom, I was the first one to finish the test. Anyway, decided to pass my test paper and finally left the room.Though I was not sure with the rest my answers; the only part of the test I was sure with was the essay one. 

Child Psychology was the last exam I had to take to end my 4th year first semester. I was happy to be free from academic stress but in pain with another toothache. 

It was already a week since my tooth started aching but I couldn't go to dentist yet for it was finals week. 

Walking by the hallway and down to the lobby, I heard my name twice. 

"Elaine!" Jordan, my classmate in Thesis II, called me. I was about to take the stairs down when I saw him together with his groupmates Yami, Justine, and Kurt. They all were my classmates in Thesis II.

I walked towards them, across the stairs, sitting by the benches along the hallway. Justine and Kurt were busy talking about their paper. While Yami and Jordan were busy fixing their power point presentation. 

"Ey! Ready for your defense?" I gave high five to each of them. They are all wearing formal suits and carrying laptop and papers with them. 

"Not really. I'm nervous." Yami answered. 

"I'm not sure if I'm ready for this." Jordan waved his copy of their manuscript. "Anyway, what subjects are you taking this day?"

I smiled and showed him my exam permit. All done. And its only 9:20am; 8:30-9:30 was my only exam that day. 

"You bitch!" Yami exclaimed, frustrated with her powerpoint and now to me.I was laughing, not literally laughing at her, just mocking her.

"You should have wait for us." She added. Well, Jordan, Yami, Kurt, and Justine were irregular students. They failed some major subjects we took along the run. All of them were still in need to render another two more semester to graduate unless they fail another subject again. 

"I'm done you see." I was proud with myself. Who wouldn't? Though deep inside, my heart can't stop trembling, pray to God that I will pass all my subjects this sem. Anyway, I'm half confident unless with jinx. Luckily, my research group were already finished with our final defense.

"I hate you for that." Said Yami. 

"I love you too." I answered, eyebrows goes up and down, and smiled. I strived hard to maintain my good grades. It did not took so long when I bid goodbye with them. Your ninang Jessa, my college friend from Secondary-Math Major, already know I'm going traight home to my province once I'm done with my exam. Plus we already met last night. 

Those were my last moments at school before spending Chirstmas break. Mom at school, was just like any other ordinary student. Just plain, some classmates would know me, some wouldn't. 

My ride from Baguio down to Villasis, Pangasinan was full of excitement and toothache at the same time. I was not at home for the past 4 months. Your tito Jose fetched me from the junction on time. 

Nanay cooked my favorite chicken adobo, sad I was only able to eat few spoons before pain knocked me off again. 

The next day, I decided to go to the dentist. 

I was sitting by the waiting area, kept myself busy with Spongebob on the TV hanged by the wall across the sofa when a boy about the age of 4 or 5 entered the clinic, happily singing old mcdonald had a farm, and then seated beside me. 

"Hi mama." he said to me. He was smiling from ear to ear. Every child as jolly as him would be fun to be with. But,not every child would likely to call random strangers 'mama'. 

On the other hand, I was stoned and was not able to talk.  Though at the back of my mind, I was thinking if do I look old enough to become a mom?

"Sorry Ms, my grandson does not mean it" said the woman following this little boy. "Mavi she's not you mom. Come here." 

I said nothing but smiled and so does the boy to me before following his grandma to the sliding door heading to where the dentists were working. Meanwhile, it did not took so long when the woman left the clinic alone. 

After some few more minutes, a man came out of the sliding door. Next to him was your ninang Ellie calling my name "Ma. Elaine." 

I went after her as she guided me to the dental chair, where the dentist was waiting. It was your dad. Seeing him drained by blood or maybe filled my face with blood. My heart was pounding hard for some reasons I could not even understand. 

"Hello, how are you?" he asked me as he was fixing his things in his table. 

"I've been in pain with my tooth." I answered plainly. The situation was completely awkward to me, considering all the stories we shared the last time we met. 

Also, a part of me was curious who's Mavi. The boy who's sitting by the chair next to the table filled with piled dental records that your ninang Ellie was sorting.

"Let's see." 

I opened my mouth and he took a look on my tooth. "Oww.. how long has this been broken?" 

"A week ago. I was eating nuts and it got chipped off." 

My tooth had undergone Root Canal Treatment. It took him an hour to find the canal and do the filling. Though a bit painful even with anesthesia. After then, I felt relieved since the tooth was dead.

After paying, I was about to leave when the little boy named Mavi came across the place and wrapped his hands around my waist. "Mama!"

Doc Den, your dad, followed after him with probe on his right hand  and syringe on the other. "Sorry he keeps on calling you mama, Elaine." He told me and turned to Mavi. 

"Mavi, she's not your mama. Now, let go of her." 

Mavi did not payed his attention to your father, instead, lifted his gaze to me, "Can you be my mama?" he asked me. 

Being an Early Childhood Education and Development major, my instinct told me to  calm him and took a seat to meet his level. Wherever his mom is right now, maybe Mavi badly misses her. "Sorry but I'm not your mommy, baby." 

From the inside, I also heard your lolo Henry calling Mavi. You dad was standing just before the sliding doc, "Mavi, don't make me mad. She has to go.... Ellie can you please take Mavi. "

Mavi was about to cry when Eliie took his shoulder. "Can you please stay mama?" he plead, he also wouldn't let go of my hands.

Children are my weakness. I cannot stand seeing a child cry so I stand up and patted his head, "Look Mavi, I'm not your mom but we can be friends. " 

I turned to Doc Den and Said, "Maybe I could play with him for a little while so he won't cry." 

"You sure with that? It wont be long until the anesthesia will worn off, and.... sorry he keeps calling you mama." he sighed. 

I nod and took Mavi from your ninang Ellie. We took our seats and played. 

"What's your name?" I asked him once we're settled. 

"I am Maverick Gabriel Arive and I am 4 years old. " 

I asked him random questions that would bring creativity and imagination out of his mind. "So why do you think the sky rains?" 

"I think the sky's crying and... and... " he took a pause from his cars to think.

"And?"

"And.. and that he's hurt from pollution made by humans. " 

"Oww.. That's harsh. But what did humans do?"

"You know, daddy told me about factories.. and.. and the black smoke coming from them is not good for Mr. Sky."

"So how'd you gonna help Mr. Sky for him to stop crying?" 

" I wanna share with him my candies." he simply answered which on the other hand, made me smile. I love how can child's innocence could be so pure. 

"That's wonderful! "

I felt slightly uneasy because of my RCT but I still played with Mavi until he was picked up by his grandma who left her a while ago. 

By the way, Maya, it was your lola Pat who wad with Mavi that day.