Chapter 6
1785 Words
~Mall with Ellieh~
Elizabeth's POV
Habang nanonood sa living room, biglang ngsalita si Ellieh, "Mom, let's go to the mall." My son's request. I smiled at him then said, "Uhm, sure. Get a dress!" I happily announce. So he ran towards his room and I think he's getting dress. I always wanted to see happiness in my son's eyes so, I am willing to do everything just to make him happy.
Binalingan ko naman ang mga kaibigan at nakita ko naman silang papalabas ng kusina. "Hoy, mga bruha! Gumayak na kayo aalis tayo," I said and leave them there while wearing their shock face.
Umakyat na din ako sa kwarto ko para makapag-bihis na din.
"Let's go!~" Farra shouts and went to her car so we did the same. Tapos na kaming gumayak kaya ngayon, aalis na kami. And, we decide na magkanya-kanya nalang ng sasakyan, well, except for my Elliah.
Namayani ang katahimikan sa pagitan namin ng anak ko, pero binasag nya iyon, "Mom?"
I glance at him then back to the road, "yes?"
"Where is my dad?" He ask curiously. Bakit nya naman natanong? Ayokong sagutin ang tanong nya, kase kahit ako ay di ko alam. Kung kailangan kong maging sinungaling para lang di mawala ang kislap ng kasiyahang nakahalo sa malamig na mga mata ng anak ko ay gagawin ko.
"Ahm. Your father? He's in abroad, working?" I lied. I'm really sorry, Ellieh. Nadadamay ka pa sa pagiging maka-sarili ko.
"Is he coming back?" He asks again. I'm really sorry, my son. Pero, kailangan mo munang paniwalaan ang mga kasinungalingan ko. "Ye-yes, o- of cou- course," I nervously said while stammering.
Nakita ko nang bahagya ang pagkunot ng noo nya, "Are you okay mom?" He concerned to ask.
Ngumiti nalang ako para itago ang kabang nagsisimulang tumaas na lalamon sa sistema ko, "yes, I'm fine," I answered. What should I do? My son starting to ask about his dad. I really need to find some solution, before he finds out. And besides, I don't want to tell this to his dad, why? Because I want to. And they don't have the right to dictate what I'm going to do. I am the mother and I'm the only one who knows the best for my son.
"Mom!" Nang marinig ko ang sigaw ng anak ko, para akong bigla biglang nagising sa katotohanan. "Yes?"
"You're spacing out," he coldly said while looking at me emotionless. Naghihinala na sya. I know, I can feel it. "What's wrong?" He added. I told you, nanghihinala na talaga sya. Bakit ba naman kasi may anak akong matalino?
Sana di ka magalit kay mama. Forgive me, son, please... Sorry for lying to you
I just love you and I don't want you to be mad at your father.
I'm really sorry, honey.
Ellieh's POV (Elizabeth's son)
My instinct never fails, I'm sure of that.
Did mommy just lie to me? I can feel it, but why? Is there something wrong? Is it wrong to ask about my dad? Why did mom lie to me? Is it true? That my father is in abroad? I'm confused right now. I know that I'm too you to cuss but I can't help it. I wish I can find out some more information.
When mom and I reached the mall's parking lot, Ninang Farra and Whinneth are waiting for us, "Oh? Bakit ngayon lang kayo?" Ninang Farra asks.
"Isn't it obvious? Look I'm with my son. So do you think I will drive fast as you expect?" My mom asks with a sarcastic tone with her.
"Sorry naman," she apologizes.
"We better get inside," I coldly complain. Nothing will happen if they just keep on arguing some nonsense things.
"Yeah, tama ang poging kong inaanak." Ninang Farra proudly said. Tsk! My handsomeness is the topic now, e? I'm used to it. They can't even resist my handsomeness.
"Maka 'kong' ka kanina ah, parang ikaw lang ang Ninang ah." Her right eyebrow arched while saying those words. And then, they ended up, arguing with nonsense things as usual.
"Enough fighting you two, baka nakita pa kayo ng anak ko na may sira sirang damit pagkatapos nyo magaway." Mom said then pull me. We--- Mom and I--- started to walk towards the mall's door.
I suddenly stop walking when I felt that someone is following us.
My mom's eyebrows wrinkled as she faced me, "honey, what's wrong?" My mom worriedly asks.
I gently shook my head, "nothing, mom," I said calmly. Who the heck is that?!
We continue walking then I feel that presence again. Their presence is strange and I know they are not ordinary people. Their strange presence symbolizes danger. But, why did they're following us? And I can feel that they are not planning to hurt us.
And besides, if they planned to hurt my mom they will lively saw an angry little satan from hell.
They can hurt me but they can't hurt my mom.
"Hey baby, where do you want to go first?" My mom asked with a big smile on her face. She looks like an angel, my mom is too innocent. I'm not innocent like the other people think, I'm a dangerous little guy.
"Let's eat first mom, I'm hungry," I said with a pleading voice. My mom smiled, "okay. Where do you want to eat?" Mom asked while chuckling.
"Anywhere," I said coldly.
"Ay bes! Sa Inasal nalang tayo." Ninang Farra's request. Is that restaurant have delicious food? "Mom? Is their food is delicious?"
"Yes, honey," she smiling said. I just nod and while we're walking my mom stop so I did the same. "Come, honey, I will carry you." I just go near her so she carries me as she said.
"Mom?"
"Yes?"
"I love you. Don't leave me." I don't know, why did I say those sweet words and besides I'm not sweet as you expected. Sweetness is actually not in my vocabulary. It's for gays only! And I'm not one of them.
My mom smiles at me as she said, "Aw, ang sweet naman ng anak ko. Of course, I won't leave you, okay. I love you, too,"
"Ouch! Mom, it's hurt!" I hissed while removing her hands on my nose. It's freaking hurts for christ's sake! "Oh, haha sorry," my Mom chuckling while apologizing to me. She doesn't seem sorry.
"Hoy! Kayong mag- ina kayo, bilisan nyo naman gutom na kaya ako!"
Elizabeth's POV
After Whinneth said those words we followed them quickly. Mahirap na, baka mag-alburuto na yan and in any minute will explode. Ang sungit-sungit kaya ng babaeng yan, kala mo.
"Good morning, ma'am." Bati ng guwardya nang makapaok kami sa inasal. I smiled, "Good morning" I greet back.
"Ako nalang ang o- order." Presinta ni Farra, so we just nod at her.
"CR lang ako. Whinneth, keep an eye to my son." I command. Baka kase pabayaan nya lang tapos kung saan saan pa pumunta yang batang yun ehh. He also loves adventure. Although, I trust Whinneth pero, knowing my son, malikot yan, minsan.
"Geh."
I kiss his forehead. "Behave okay?" I remind and he just nods at me.
"Wag mo hahayaang umalis ng table yan, hangga't wala pa ako." I remind Whinneth, before went to the CR. Umihi lang ako tapos naghugas na din ako ng kamay ko.
Lalabas na dapat ako but I saw paper or should I say red envelope. Who owns this envelope?
Third Person's POV
Wala ng nagawa si Elizabeth kundi kunin ang envelope na nasa sahig dahil di nya alam kung sino ang mayari ng envelope na yun. At sa isang sulok na madilim na walang nakakapansin na may tao ng nakatayo roon at tahimik na nakamasid kay Elizabeth--- Ang babaeng kanyang iniibig.
"I'm glad that you get it"
Kitang kita ng lalaki mula sa pwesto nya ang pag-alis ni Elizabeth at pagbalik nito sa table na ino-okupahan nila.
"Oh bakit may dala kang envelope? Pula pa? Saan galing yan?" Sunod sunod na tanong ng madaldal na kaibigang si farra na katatapos lang um-order ng kanilang kakainin.
"Ah, it's just nothing, don't mind this, let's just eat." Pag-iiba nya ng usapan. Ayaw ng pagusapan pa ang tungkol sa envelope na napulot dahil, maging sya ay hindi rin alam ang isasagot sa mga kaibigang matanong.
Namayani ang katahimikan sa kanilang lamesa at tanging kubyertos lang ang naririnig, nang basagin ito ni Farra, "ay! Elizabeth, may invitation ka na ba?" Tanong ni Rahlyn.
"Para saan?"
Agad tumaas ang kilay ni Whinneth dahil sa tanong ng kaibigan, "syempre para sa reunion natin." Mataray na sagot ni Whinneth. Wala ng bago sa pagtataray ng kaibigan dahil sanay na ang mga ito sa ugali nito.
"Ah, wala pa e."
"Oh, ito. Dalawa naman yung akin e." Sabi ni Rahlyn sa kaibigan sabay abot ng maliit na lilang sobre na naglalaman ng imbitasyon. Imbitasyon ito para sa muling paghaharap ng dati nilang mga kaklase.
Ngumiti si Elizabeth bago ipinasok sa bag nito ang sobre, "bilisan nyo kumain. Shopping tayo." Paanyaya ni Elizabeth sa mga kaibigan. nagkatinginan naman si farra at Whinneth kaya, alam na alam na ni Elizabeth ang ibig sabihin ng tinginan ng dalawa.
"Don't worry, my treat" Dagdag pa ni Elizabeth dahil kung hindi niya ito sasabihin, hindi sasama ang dalawa sa kadahilanang, wala silang dalang cash. In short, nagpapalibre.
Halos matawa si Elizabeth habang pinagmamasdan ang mga kaibigang ang bilis kung sumubo.
"Grabe kayo pag libre ang bilis nyo. Hampasin ko kayo e." Sabi ni Elizabeth sa mga kaibigang kakatapos lang kumain. Ngunit hindi sya pinansin ng dalawa dahil nagsimula na silang mag-retouch.
Agad binalingan ni Elizabeth ng tingin ang anak na katatapos lang din kumaian, "honey, do you want something?" Tanong niya sa anak.
"Nothing Mom." Sabi ng bata at tumayo na para ayusin ang nagusot na damit at ayusin ang sumalang salamin. Nakangiti naman si Elizabeth habang pinagmamasdan ang anak na ina-ayos ang sarili. Ang gwapo gwapo ng anak nya kaya di na nakapagtataka kung gwapo rin ang tatay niya.
"Come here, honey." Tawag nya sa anak. Inayos nya ang buhok ng batang lalaki nang ito ay lumapit sa kanya nang tawagin nya ito. "Ayan, smile ka naman dyan, honey. Sayang ang kagwapuhan e." Biro nya sa anak pagkatapos ayusin ang buhok nito.
"I'll try," sagot ng bata sabay ngiti ng tipid. Sanay na si Elizabeth sa pag-ngiti nito ng tipid dahil noon pa man ay tipid na talaga ito kung ngumiti kaya, naghihintay na lamang sya ng panahon para lumapad ang mga ngiti ng anak.
"Tara na." Anyaya nya at binuhat muli ang anak niya. Lumakad na sya palabas habang buhat ang anak at sinundan nalang din sya ng mga kaibigan.
"I'll see you"
- Writer
