Chapter 1

Karina’s POV

“Eli,” I called Eli while getting some of his stuff.

Agad namang napatingin si Eli na siyang agad nagtataka ang mukha. May hawak-hawak pa ‘tong libro ang it looks like he’s just randomly reading it.

“Don’t you want to play before we go home? I think your classmates are having fun outside,” I said to her. 

“I’m having fun reading though, Mommy…” he said with a little smile on his face. I can’t help but be reminded of his father by his look. Mariin ko na lang na kinagat ang aking labi bago ngumiti sa kaniya. 

“But, Baby… You don’t have to read if it’s because Lolo wants you to,” seryoso kong sambit sa kaniya subalit sunod-sunod ang naging pag-iling niya habang nakatingin sa akin. 

“No, Mommy. I like reading and I like it when Lolo’s giving me a lot of books that I can read!” he said excitedly kaya napanguso na lang ako bago ginulo ang kaniyang buhok. 

This is why even my family are disappointed in me when I got pregnant, they can’t ever hate my son. He was a genius since he was a child. Isa pa ang cute kaya ng batang ‘to. He was a happy pill to all of us. Siya lang ang bata sa amin kaya siya ng pinakapaborito ni Mama. 

“Are they going to come here, Mommy?” tanong niya sa akin nang makasakay na kami sa aming sasakyan.

“We’re the one who will go to them, Baby…” malambing kong sambit sa kaniya kaya agad siyang napalingon sa akin habang may pagtataka sa mukha. 

“Philippines? Why would we, Mommy?” he curiously ask kaya ngumiti ako sa kaniya bago tumango. 

“We’ll start to live there, Baby…” malambing konh saad. When I got pregnant to him, Lolo got so mad that he send me right away here at state. Talagang galit na galit siya noong mga panahong ‘yon but now, he wants me home. Even if I already have a child, hindi naman naging dahilan ‘yon para hindi ko magawa ang tungkulin sa pamilya. I’ll finally take over our company kaya ilang buwan na rin akong kinukulit ni Lolo na umuwi. Si Daddy din kasi’y may sariling business ng pinagkakaabalahan. 

Isa pa, si Adi na raw ang namamahala sa kanilang kompanya and he was really good. Ang sabi ni Lolo’y kayang-kaya ko raw tapatan ‘yon. 

Napatingin ako kay Eli nang maalala ang pangalan ng kaniyang ama. I don’t have any plan to tell Adi that he have a child now. I just know that the two of us will be a mess. Our family are already in chaos kaya paniguradong gugulo pa ang aming pamilya kung sakali. Ngayon pa nga lang ang pamilya ko lang ang nakakaalam, pinagpipilitan nilang huwag nang subukan pang ipaalam kay Adi dahil malaki ang tiyansa na angkinin nila ang bata.

Naiiling na lang din ako roon. Pakiramdam ata nila’y laruan ang anak ko.

I’m just randomly talking with Eli when he stares at me. 

“You said that my dad lives in the Philippines, is it possible to meet with him?” he curiously ask kaya agad akong napatingin sa kaniya. Mariin na rin ang kagat sa aking labi ngayon. He usually randomly ask about his father. Hindi ko rin naman pinagkakait ang mga impormasiyon tungkol sa kaniya subalit kadalasan lang talaga’y iniiwasan ko ang tanong nito dahil hindi ko rin alam kung paano ko sasagutin. 

“It is possible but I don’t think you can meet him yet, Baby,” ani ko kaya nanatili ang tingin niya sa akin bago unti-unting napatango. Bumalik lang ang kaniyang mata sa kalsada at pareho na ulit kaming natahimik na dalawa hanggang sa magsalita siyang muli. 

“Why it isn’t possible?” Hindi niya na napigilan pang itanong muli kaya hindi ko alam kung ang isasagot ko. 

“Are you not good together? Did he do you wrong?” he curiously ask kaya agad akong umiling sa kaniya. 

“No, Baby… That’s not it… Your Dad is just really busy with work and mom too. I just don’t know if we can go meet him,” ani ko. Natahimik muli siya but I know that she have another question kaya patingin-tingin lang ako sa kaniya hanggang sa tinanong niya na ang gustong itanong. 

“Why can’t we meet him even if for a short while when we are going to stay there for good?” tanong niya pa sa akin. Napapikit na lang ako dahil wala talaga akong takas sa mabusisi kong anak. Ngumiti na lang ako sa kaniya bago unti-unting tumango. 

“Alright, Baby… We’ll meet your father,” ani ko na ngumiti sa kaniya kaya agad kong nakita ang ngiti mula sa kaniyang labi. Tila ba satisfied sa naging sagot ko. Mariin ko na lang na kinagat ang aking labi, hindi rin sigurado kung paano ko mapagbibigyan ang kaniyang gusto. 

I never really tell him about his father’s name. I don’t know how too. I mean it’s just an easy task to do but knowing my son? He was the type of person who would search for an answer. He’ll research about his father. He’ll easily know that his father already has a fiancee and he’ll know that our family isn’t good. Ayaw ko nang pag-isipin pa si Eli patungkol doon. 

Nang makarating kami sa bahay, binuhat ko lang ang kaniyang bag bago siya hinayaang pumasok sa loob. Napairap na lang ako nang makita pa ang mga bodyguard na hindi nagpahalata. Akala naman ay hindi ko alam na sinusundan nila kami. 

“Beh!” Napatingin ako kay Glenda nang excited pa siyang tumatakbo patungo sa akin. Glenda is one of the maid that I’ve been close to since we were child. Her Mom is a maid on our mansion kaya naman pinag-aral ni Lolo si Glenda and now she’s working in our company here in Germany. 

“You have an invitation from Cuizon! Baka puwede mo nang sabihin kay Adi na siya ang ama ni—” Bago niya pa matapos ang sasabihin ay pinanlakihan ko na siya ng mata. Para kasing bago sa kaniya ang anak kong laging kuryoso sa lahat.  

Good morning, Ms. Javier, 

You’re invited to Mr. and Mrs. Cuizon's wedding anniversary. We look forward to your presence. 

Wait, did Adi got already married?