Chapter 8
1169 Words
Charle's POV
"Mom, where are we going?"
I asked.
We are in a dark place, but it feels like we are moving.
There were some people earlier with a black cover on their faces. They asked us to go with them.
With my little hands, I'm holding my mom's hand.
"I don't know yet, my baby. But always listen to Mommy, okay?"
"Okay, Mommy."
I smiled as brightly as possible, and then Mom kissed me on my forehead and cheeks.
Napakunot ang noo ko nang makita kong parang malungkot siya.
"Is mommy sad?"
I asked, pointing to her nose.
Mom nodded.
"Why, mommy?"
Nag-aalala kong tanong at hinawakan pa ang magkabilang pisngi niya.
"Because my baby Charles hasn't kissed me yet."
Mom answered.
"Oh."
My legs couldn't reach my mom's face, yet kaya tumingkayad ako.
I was going to kiss Mom on her cheeks and forehead, but I could only reach her nose.
"Muah, mommy."
I chuckled.
Mom smiled at me but with tears in her eyes.
"I love you, mommy."
"I love you more, my Charles."
Mom had me lay on her legs. She then sings me a song until I fall asleep.
Mom feels the warmest and smells the greatest.
A smell that brought me to paradise as I slept when I suddenly woke up from a loud bang.
It seems like we bumped into something pero muli ring umandar yung sinasakyan namin.
Napahigpit ang hawak ko sa laylayan ng damit ni Mom.
I got scared as I thought it was thunder.
"Mommy."
I sobbed, almost about to cry.
"It's nothing, baby. I'm here. Mom's here."
Maya-maya pa ay bumukas na ang pinto ng sinasakyan namin at nagkaron na rin ng ilaw.
It was so dark. I could barely see my mom.
"Baba na, nandito na tayo"
My mom got down first then she carried me.
Nauna nang bumaba si mama at inalalayan akong bumaba
Nakahawak lang ako sa kamay ni mama habang naglalakad at sinusundan namin yung mga lalakeng naka maskara.
"Are they bad guys, mommy?"
Pabulong kong tanong.
Mom did not answer.
We stopped at a wide space.
I don't like how I feel.
I'm scared of everything.
"Kunin mo 'yong bata."
The guy commanded the other guy. I immediately cried when he separated me from Mommy.
I was shouting and kicking, but he was too strong for my little body.
"Mommy! Mommy! Help me. I don't want him. Mommy!"
I shouted as loud as I could, and the guy covered my mouth.
Hawak-hawak ng ibang dalawang lalake si mom.
"I love you, Charles. I'm sorry, baby."
I can see fear and sadness in my mom's beautiful brown eyes.
I bite the guy's hand that's covering my mouth to shout back to Mom.
"Mommy, I love you,"
I shouted.
The guy then slapped me.
Mom tried to run towards me when she saw that, but she failed.
"Ang dami niyong drama. Tapusin na natin ito."
"Wait! Please wait! Wait!"
Mom kneeled as she cried.
I was crying too, seeing my mom like that.
"Please let me talk to my son. Even just for one last time."
Last time?
That's all I can think of.
I got confused by what my mom meant.
Para namang pumayag yung mga lalake dahil nakalapit na sa akin si mommy.
"Mommy."
The guy is still holding me while my mom can only touch my hands and face.
"My baby."
Mom forced herself to smile. She raised her shaking hands and placed them on the right side of my cheeks.
"I love you, always. You're my life, Charles. I hope you forgive mom."
"Mommy, let's go home."
Mom wiped my tears and then kissed my face.
"Mommy needs to go somewhere for a while, baby."
"Where? I'll go with you."
"No, baby. You can't. I need you to stay."
"I want to be with you, Mommy."
Nanlalabo na ang mga mata ko sa dami ng luha tumatabon dito.
"I want it too, but I can't. Could you do Mommy a favor, my love?"
Mom asked.
I didn't answer as I'm not sure what it is.
"Could you close your eyes for me?"
"No, mommy. You'll leave me if I do."
"No, I will always be here for you."
That's the biggest lie she has ever told me.
"Please?"
"Okay."
I closed my eyes.
I felt Mom's lips once more on my hands.
"If you heard a loud sound. Do not open your eyes, okay?"
I nodded.
"When can I open my eyes?"
"When everything is all right, darling."
Mom answered.
Unti-unting bumitaw ang kamay ni mom sa akin.
Moments after that, I heard a loud sound.
Nakakabingi sa lakas na halo mapamulat ako ng mata sa gulat.
I still have my eyes closed nang maramdaman kong ilapag ako ng lalakeng bumubuhat sa akin sa sahig.
"Mommy, can I open my eyes now?"
I asked but did not hear any answers.
"Mommy?"
"Mommy, where are you?"
I still didn't hear my mom's voice, so I started crying again, and then I heard the sound of a car and multiple loud sounds.
"Mommy, I'm scared."
I tried to walk.
I put my hands out para kapain ang paligid ko habang naglalakad nang may bumuhat nanaman sa akin.
I finally opened my eyes and saw Tito Louis.
Nagmamadali niyang isinakay ako sa kotse.
I managed to take a look outside before he closed the door.
All I saw was my dad holding a gun as she walked to my mom, laying on the ground.
"Let's go home, Charles."
"What about mommy?"
"Your dad will take her home."
"No, I want my mom."
I got up from the car seat and tried to open the door to get back to Mom, but it was too heavy for me.
Tito immediately stopped the car and tried to stop me.
"Charles, Charles, Charles."
Nag-papanic niyang sigaw.
Para bang unti-unting nagbabago ang boses ni tito as he calls my name.
I'm unsure what's happening, but the place is slowly getting blurry, so I close my eyes for a moment.
"Hey, wake up. Okay ka lang?"
"Yumi?"
Yumi hurriedly grabbed a towel and wiped my face.
I found myself catching my breath.
It's that day again. The day I wish I didn't remember.
"Yeah. You can go now."
"Pero baka..."
"Please."
Pagputol ko sa sasabihin niya at lumabas na siya ng kwarto.
I feel like I'm still in shock, even if it was years ago.
I was six years old.
Pinadala ako nila Tito sa US kinabukasan na nangyari 'yon.
I was there until I turned fourteen.
My dad was on the bad side of the world before. He changed when he got married to my mom, but his past chased him in the future, and it took my mom away from me.
I was mad at my dad, and I still am.
We barely talk, and it's all good for me. My dad is almost like a stranger to me, anyway.
I wish he never met my mom.
- Writer
