6.

It was already late at night, but sleep still hadn’t visited Lorain. She stood in her room, watching the glowing lights outside their home. The night looked beautiful, especially if Winson was here. That used to be their habit before, back when they didn’t have a child yet. But ever since she gave birth to their beloved child, he suddenly changed.

She didn’t know why he had become so cold toward her.

Suddenly, Lorain remembered the call she received earlier.

“What was that person on the other end trying to say? I couldn’t understand.”

Lost in thought, she didn’t even notice that she had fallen asleep in the middle of worrying.

In the depth of her sleep, she suddenly heard a scream, followed by Shane’s crying — which alarmed her.

She quickly got up from bed to go to her crying child.

Lorain immediately embraced Shane, who was clearly distressed. She calmed him down first before asking why he was crying.

Shane: “Mommy! I saw you and Daddy in my dream. You were fighting!”

He continued sharing with his mother.

Lorain: “It was just a dream, sweetie. Daddy and I aren’t fighting, right?”

Shane: “Then in my dream, I saw two women. They were looking at you, Mommy, and they were hurting you together.”

Lorain: “That’s enough, sweetie. It was just a dream. That’s not going to happen. Do you understand?”

Shane: “But Mommy, my dream was so clear. Daddy pushed you away. He didn’t even look at me. Huhuhu... It hurts so much, Mommy. My dream felt so real.”

Shane explained as tears continued to fall.

Lorain: “That’s enough, sweetie. It was just a dream, okay?”

Shane hugged her and said:

Shane: “I don’t want you and Daddy to fight. I wouldn’t be able to handle it if you separated.”

Lorain just smiled and said:

Lorain: “Why would Daddy and I fight, sweetie? Have you ever seen us argue? Not yet, right?”

Shane nodded and asked:

Shane: “Has Daddy come home yet?”

Lorain: “Daddy called earlier, sweetie. He said he was going to work overtime tonight.”

Shane: “Daddy’s always like that. He doesn’t have time for us, Mommy,”

he said sulkily.

Lorain: “Don’t say that, sweetie. Daddy’s just busy. He’ll make time for us in the coming days.”

She said to comfort him.

Lorain: “Go back to sleep, sweetie. Mommy will stay here beside you until you fall asleep.”

(A few moments passed…)

“What time is it?”

It was already 4 AM.

“Why isn’t Winson home yet? Did he really stay at the office all night?”

Shane had been waiting to see his father for several days, but the situation only seemed to be getting worse.

Lorain: “Tomorrow, we’ll go to his office. I’ll take Shane because he misses his daddy so much.”

Lorain finally decided.

The next day, a little past 8 in the morning…

The mother and child woke up. They must’ve slept deeply while lying next to each other.

Lorain: “Winson?”

she called as she walked downstairs.

But there was no answer from Winson.

Lorain: “He didn’t come home… not even this morning? Hmm…”

The mother and child immediately got ready to head to CD Inc.

Shane was so excited to see his dad that he forgot he had school that day. But he chose to see his father instead.

(ON THE STREET, EXITING THE SUBDIVISION)

Aling Corazon: “Oh my, Aling Corazon, have you heard? They say there’s a snake living in our subdivision. Can you believe it? Oh dear, she better not let me catch her if she’s having an affair with my husband!”

She said with a sideways glance as the mother and child walked by.

Lorain quickly covered Shane’s ears so he wouldn’t hear the gossip.

Another Woman: “Wait, Aling Corazon. They say that woman is her son’s mistress!”

She whispered, but Lorain clearly heard it.

Lorain (to herself): “Ugh… maybe I’m just hearing things. They’ve been here a long time, but we’re only finding out now that she’s supposedly a mistress? How shameful, especially for her child.”

Lorain let it go because she knew it wasn’t true.

“My husband wouldn’t do that. How could I be a mistress when Winson and I are married!”

Shane: “Mommy! Are you okay? I’ve been calling you but you seem distracted.”

Lorain: “It’s nothing, sweetie. Let’s go — let’s get in the taxi.”

she told her .