I was so shocked I couldn't utter a word. It was like I could hear my heart drumming. Hindi agad ako nakagalaw. Heck, at this moment, I don't know what to do."Aira..." He uttered again. It's really him. It’s his voice.How could this happen? How did he get my number?"I just... I just want to talk to you,” he said softly. Parang may pag-iingat sa boses niya. I know he’s trying to be careful with his words. That’s good, but it’s still not enough.I don't know what to say. Pakiramdam ko parang nawala ang dila ko. My mind just stopped functioning."Aira, alam kong ang laki ng galit mo sa akin," he murmured. There was something in his voice I can't point out. It's like he's really sorry. But I thought about how he had already deceived me before. There's no way I'll let him get into me again. "That's why I want to talk to you."He was almost pleading. Dapat lang. Dapat lang na magmakaawa siya. But still, I won't give him the satisfaction of being able to explain himself. For what? What co
I didn't know they were planning on going home from the US. Wala silang nabanggit na bibisita sila kaya ganoon na lang ang gulat ko nang malamang nasa bahay na sila.After lunch pa sana kami uuwi ni Daisy pero after breakfast kami umalis. Masyado akong excited na makita ulit sila. Ilang buwan na rin 'nong huli kami nagkita nang personal."Ai, chocolates ha," sabi ni Daisy when we were just a few minutes away from home. Sa bahay kami dumiretso kasi makikisalubong din daw siya."Para ka namang hindi galing sa states," I said, chuckling."Biglaan 'yong uwi ko, Ai. Kaya hindi ako nakabili nang marami. Ubos na ngayon kaya bigyan mo 'ko," she murmured. I just shook my head smilingly at her.Nang matanaw ko na ang bahay namin ay parang gusto ko nang bumaba. But of course, I didn't. I can't afford to hurt myself right now.I almost ran inside our house, leaving my things in the car. Maging si Daisy ay narinig ko ring mabilis na nakasunod sa akin.When I entered the house, there were luggage a
When I reached home from work the next day, I saw Andrei sitting outside the house. Nakayuko lang siya while sitting there but when he heard me, he hurriedly stood up. Napangiti na lang ako. My son is very adorable."You're home! Let's go, Mommy! Let's go to Andres!" He excitedly said. Mas lalo akong napangiti sa sinabi niya. I know he still hasn’t understand fully the concept of death, but I love how he always seem so excited when we’re about to visit his brother. Pero minsan hindi ko rin maiwasang malungkot. For sure, sobrang magkakasundo ang dalawa kung nabuhay lang si Andres.I can’t help but think about the what ifs."Where's lolo and lala?" I asked. Kailangan kong ibahin iyong nasa isip ko bago pa ako mapahagulhol sa harap ng anak ko."They're inside!""Okay. I'll just change my clothes then we'll go," I said and he nodded. I hurriedly went inside the house and saw Mom and Dad sitting on the sofa."Kanina pa naghihintay ang anak mo sa labas," Dad murmured."Oo nga po eh. Masyado
Ilang minuto kaming nakaupo lang sa loob ng sasakyan niya. Nakahawak lang siya sa manibela at nakatingin sa harap. He's been asking me for a chance to hear him explain, but now that we're here, he can't seem to find that courage to give answers to my questions."My dad was abusive," I heard him say. Mabilis akong napatingin sa kanya. He was just looking ahead still. "I made myself believe that we're fine. Because in the eyes of other people, we're the perfect family. Kasi doctor siya at may anak siyang magdo-doctor din. No one wants to let the world know how he would hurt me and my mom everytime he would lose his temper because we think no one would even listen."I didn't know this part of his life. Well, I didn't know much about him before. We never got to that part where we got to know each other more because before we could even do that, he ran away."When my stepmom and I finally got the chance to leave him, we took it," he murmured. "I wanted to say goodbye but I wasn't able to,"
Chapter 23When Saturday came, Daisy asked if she could borrow Andrei for the day. Ang sabi niya ay ipapasyal niya lang sa mall kaya pinayagan ko na. I know she'll take care of my son. And it made her really happy when I said yes. Lately kasi nakikita kong malungkot siya.Daisy told me last week about her 'one night stand' that happened weeks ago. I didn't say anything because that's her life. She's an adult now. But still, nag-aalala pa rin ako sa kanya.She keeps on saying na gusto niya nang magkaanak at di bale nang walang ama. I wanted to tell her how difficult it is but I couldn't bring myself to say so.I was on my way home from the shop and it's almost 6 in the evening. I decided to call Daisy to ask where are they now. Pero nakakailang tawag na ako ay hindi niya pa rin sinasagot. I called home and asked if Andrei's there already pero ang sabi ni Mommy ay wala pa naman daw. Biglang sumikip ang dibdib ko when a thought came into my mind.God.I dialed Daisy's number again pero d
"Where's my daddy, Mommy?" Paulit-ulit na nag-eecho sa isip ko ang tanong ni Andrei. The time I'm scared to come is here. He's asking who his father is and I don't know what and how to answer him.Seconds have passed and I still can't come up for an answer and Andrei is looking at me expectantly. Ramdam ko ang nginig sa buong katawan ko."Andrei-"I was cut off when I heard somebody knock on the door. I looked at Andrei and I want to say how sorry I am pero nanatili akong tahimik as I opened the door. It revealed Mommy Miranda who's smiling at us."Dinner's ready," she announced. I gazed at Andrei, who's also gazing at me at the moment."Let's go?" Pag-aaya ko kay Andrei and he just nodded. I sighed again. Maybe it's really not the time just yet to tell him.I took his hand at sabay na kaming bumaba papunta sa dining. If it wasn't for Mommy Miranda calling us for dinner, I probably have broken down in front of my son. And I don't want that to happen. I know he still won't understand e
"Who is he, Mom?" Andrei inquired. His gaze shifted from me to Zandrey."B-baby.." I uttered. I knelt in front of him and held his face with both my hands. He looked at me and I could see the worry on his face when he saw my tears."Why are you crying?" He asked, his voice also shaking now.Hindi ko alam kung pinaglalaruan ba ako ng tadhana. The past days, I've been thinking about Zandrey and telling him about Andrei. I was preparing myself for that. But things didn't go my way.And now, on the most random day that we thought of visiting Andres, he's here... and I don't know how to tell the two of them about their existence in each other's life.I never thought this day would come this soon. I was preparing myself for meeting Zandrey. I thought of telling him first then I'll bring him to Andrei. I'll give us time to cry and sink everything in first before I let them meet. Not like this. Not a surprise for all of us like this."You're asking who's your daddy, right? This time, I will a
"Hi," Zandrey greeted. We decided to meet at a cafe near Andrei's school. Tinanguan ko lang siya as I took my seat in front of him. Agad kong kinuha ang menu na nasa table namin and scanned it. I was busy doing just that when I realized that Zandrey is just sitting there. His intertwined fingers were under his chin and he was looking intently at me. Mas lalo kong itinaas iyong menu sa mukha ko so he can't see me. I feel so conscious with the way he looks at me. Parang wala lang sa kanya iyong sinumbat ko sa kanya kahapon. I was hurt by my own words. But how come he doesn't seem as hurt as I thought him to be? I ordered first kasi nagugutom ako. I had quite a day at work. Sumakit ang ulo ko sa dami ng reports na kailangan kong i-check. May mga site visit pa ako this week kaya mukhang mas magiging busy ako. "What?" I asked when I saw Zandrey just staring. Nakatingin lang. There's not even a smile on his face. "You went through so much..." he mumbled. I stared back, not backing dow