There’s this little boy (probably around three years old) in Yui’s daycare who usually hangs around us whenever I pick Yui up at the end of the day. Surprisingly though, it’s not Yui whom he gives attention to, but me. He would either show me whatever toy he was playing with at the moment or just wave to say hi. Occupied as I am with my reunion with Yui, I have to give him some attention – it’s just so difficult to ignore his sweet attention.

When I picked Yui up earlier, I was quite occupied because aside from hugging and cooing with Yui and listening to the teacher’s account of the day’s highlight while handing me the daycare diary (renraku note), I’m also working up my Nihongo as I chatted with a little girl who kept on lavishing compliments to Yui. With all these vying for my attention, I was caught totally off guard when suddenly someone hugged me from the back. It was the tightest hug a three year old can give. How tight was it? All the tiredness I felt the whole day practically ebbed out because of the hug. I tilted my head to see who it was and sure enough it was the boy. And before I could even say hi to him, he was gone. I’ll make up to you next time little guy. Thank you for that hug, it indeed is a great bonus of some sort in sending Yui to daycare. And my wish is that as you grow, you’ll keep that sweet nature of yours.

And speaking of showing affections, I still am enraptured whenever Yui kisses me. The joy I always feel at those tender moments and the sweetness of it are incomparable. Thank you anak.