Love Me Again, Sweetheart

Chapter 2

“Leave my son alone.” Sigaw ko sa lalaking may hawak na baril na itinutok naman niya sa anak ko. I saw my son trembling in fear. The fear in his eyes was very visible and it hurts looking at him like that.

‘My poor baby.’

He’s too innocent for all of this. I can’t stop crying in silence. How dare they chase us until now! I am also helpless because I don’t have any weapons with me. I thought I’ll be having a peaceful life with my son alone but I was wrong. I have heard that Xandros is back as Mildred’s personal bodyguard. I’ve heard too na tinago nilang mabuti si Mildred. Parte kaya ito ng plano nila?

They were hiding Mildred right after I disappeared so that her kidnappers will chase me instead? Ganoon ba iyon? Akala ba ng kidnapper na ako ang nagtago kay Mildred or that I have something to do with Mildred’s disappearance? Kaya nila ginambala ang buhay naming mag-ina?

“Nasaan ang anak ni Aurelio dela Vega?” Sigaw ng isang naka-bonnet kaya hindi ko makita ang mukha kung sino ito.  Dati pa ay may mga nagtangkang kidnap-pin si Mildred dahil sa kayamanan ng daddy nito pero hindi sila nagtagumpay dahil kay Xandros. He’s always ahead of them. And that’s one of the things that I liked him most.

“Hindi ko alam.” Nararamdaman ko na lang ang pagsuntok nila sa aking tiyan.

“Mommy!” Sigaw ng aking anak. Kung ako lang ang nandito ay baka kanina ko pa sila nilalabanan but my son is here. I can’t take risks.

“Papatayin namin ang anak mo kapag hindi mo sabihin sa amin kung nasaan si Mildred dela Vega.” Fear enveloped my whole system as I heard those words. No!

“Wala nga akong alam. Wala! Wala! Wala! Please leave my son out of this. Please, I’m begging you. Kahit ako na lang ang patayin niyo, huwag lang ang anak ko.” I couldn’t believe I just kneeled in front of them. I swallowed my pride dahil anak ko na ang pinag-uusapan dito. I wasn’t like this before.

I can’t stop my tears from flowing. It’s so sad to be killed especially when I have my son who relies on me but upon hearing them saying they would kill him? I couldn’t take it. I would rather die instead. Dahil alam kong may mag-aalaga sa kanya. Kapag mamamatay man ako, it will spread on social media and on news kaya hindi malayong malaman ni Xandros ang tungkol sa anak namin na aakalain nyang anak ko lang. Siguro hanggang dito na lang ako. I hate myself for being so helpless right now.

If Xandros was here, maybe we could be saved. Maybe all of these won't happen.

Biglang tumunog ang cellphone nong isa kaya umalis muna ito matapos sagutin ang tawag.

“Alam mo miss? Pasalamat ka at may awa ako sa mga babaeng may anak. Pero, hindi mo kailangang maglihim sa amin.” Mahina nitong sabi. “Kaya sabihin mo sa amin, nasaan si Mildred?” Nagulat ako sa biglaang sigaw nito.

Lord, why? I was just dreaming of a peaceful life with my son but why are these people keep messing with my life?

“Wala nga akong ala—aahh.” Sinuntok na naman niya ang tiyan ko. Why do I have to suffer like this?

“Walang alam? Walang ibang makakalapit sa kanya kundi yung personal bodyguard niya na kasintahan mo. Nang mawala ka ay sunod naman na nawala si Mildred kaya posibleng ikaw ang nagtago sa kanya” Pagalit nitong sabi.

“Brad, balik na daw tayo sa mansion kasama si boss. Nalaman na daw nila ang lugar kung saan naroon iyong Mildred.” Sabi noong isa. Agad na umalis ang mga ito.

“Mommy.” Dali-dali kong tinakbo ang anak ko at niyakap siya ng mahigpit.

“Are you okay?” I checked his face and his body.

'Sorry anak for being a helpless mother.' I commented silently.

If only Xandros is here, maybe we're safe. Kasi alam kong hindi niya hahayaan na masaktan ako, kami nang anak ko.

Kahit hindi ako mahal nun, hindi niya hinayaang may masama na mangyari sa akin. Naiiyak ako habang inaalala ang mga ginagawa niya sa akin noon.

Sa maikling panahon, naging masaya ako at hindi niya naman ako pinapabayaan. But, it's all in the past now.

“Are we safe now, mom?” He innocently asked.

“Yes, baby.” I cupped his face and kissed it. “Tara, let's pack your things and go away from here.” Dali-dali akong pumunta sa kwarto para kunin ang lahat ng gamit ng mga ito. Yung mga laruan niya mula pa noong one year old pa siya, mga picture frame at ilan pang importanteng gamit.

Yung necklace na binigay ni Xandros noong third monthsary namin noon ay kinuha ko din at nilagay sa wallet ko. Hindi ko sinuot to pero pinahalagahan ko pa din.

I can't stop smiling while looking at the necklace.

“Mom, your face lightened.”

“This necklace was given to me by your dad, anak.” Sabi ko. Of course, I still valued it.

“Where is he mom? Where is he? Why can't he protect us? We need him mom. We need him to protect us.” Sabi niya habang ang mukha ay puno ng luha. Ang tanging nagawa ko lang ay ang yakapin siya. He dreamt of meeting his father for a long time. At hindi ko alam kung kailan ko iyon matutupad.

“He's just a busy man baby.” I can't help myself but sigh.

“Can't he spend a little of his time for us?” If you only knew what really happened to us, baby.

Hinawakan ko ang kanyang mukha.

“Listen, baby. Your dad is an personal bodyguard and a private detective as well kaya sobrang busy niya. Don't worry because I–I'll try to communicate with him.”

His face brightened and smiled at me.

“I want to be like him soon, mommy. I want to be a Detective too.” Masayang sabi nito. The happiness in my heart was flowing unstop. “But I will look for enough time to spend with my family.” He added as if he's already an adult. I am saddened by what he just said. He badly wanted to see him. He longed for his daddy.

He's turning eight years old in a few months. Imagine how long the years Xandros had missed.

“We really have to go to dad and tell him what the bad guys did to us mom.” Wika ng anak ko.

'I don't know how to approach him, baby. I don't know how to tell him everything about you.' Pepe kong sabi.

“Of course we will tell him baby.” Another lie.  How could I ever tell him the truth?