His Maltreated Wife

Chapter 7 "Science Fair"

Airen's POV

It's been two days since all those distressful things happened. Ni anino ni Cluan ay hindi ko man lang napansin sa bahay na ito. It's okay dahil hindi ko kayang makita ang lalaking iyon. "Son, how is it?" I asked and knocked on his door. "I bring some meryenda's to you. Can you open the door for mommy. Please." I added.

He opened the door and giving me a bright smiled. "Is anything good? Tell me. May maitutulong ba si mommy?" Imbes na sumagot ito he kissed me on my left cheek. My baby boy.

He come back on his chair. Nilagay ko naman sa mini table ang dala kong meryenda. I baked donuts with matching joice for his meryenda. I really loved baking pero hindi lang masyadong nakakapag bake dahil busy masyado. "Mom. Can you please cut those colored paper po?" He pleased.

"Of course, honey." I replied at dali-daling kinuha ang colored paper at gunting. While cutting those colored papers I can't handle myself to stared at my son. Kita ko sa pisngi nito ang pasa. Hindi ko mapigilang manlumo dahil rito.

My son. He didn't deserve those bruised. Pero dahil sa'kin he experienced it. Bagama't masyado pa ito bata para maranasan ay hindi ko man lang ito maipagtanggol. Ano bang klaseng ina ako? Sarili kong anak ay hindi ko maipagtanggol o protektahan.

He is busy doing his science fair project. Cloud is a smart kid. Masasabi kong namana niya sa kanyang ama. For me. He is the smartest child I'll know.

Exactly eleven thirty when we already finished. Bagama't inaantok I saw that my son how devoted he is para lang matapos ang project niya. Me as his mother shocked when he finished it with bright smile and full of determination.

Dito na rin kami sa kuwarto niya kumain dahil ayaw ko namang maabala ang anak ko sa project na kailangan n'yang tapusin.

Alam ko namang matatapos niya ito pero I really amazed how he gained extra effort to finished it. Full of passion and determination. The way he speak, his knowledge, even the way he speak and act. Still nahihiwagaan pa rin ako sa katalinuhang taglay ng anak ko. "Mommy, look it's work." He said ay pinakita sa'kin ang science fair project niya.

"Wow. Good job son. You did very well. I'm so proud of you, honey." Puri ko sa kanya sabay yakap kanya. "Ahmm... For sure mommy daddy will amazed on it, right mommy?" He asked and faced me with his sympathy look.

"A-ah. Of course, honey. I'm really sure that daddy will be proud of you. At para kay mommy your my champion. And you always be." I replied and hugged him again.

Alam kong mali pero I lied. Wala akong lakas ng loob para sabihin sa anak ko ang lahat. Takot akong magsabi ng totoo dahil alam kong lalayo ang loob sa'kin ng anak ko. Takot akong umamin dahil kapag ginawa ko iyon pati ito ay mawala sa'kin. Ayaw ko. Hindi ko kaya. "Let's sleep na. Maaga pa tayo bukas, right?" Tumango naman at pumasok ng banyo.

Tumayo naman ko para i-prepare ang pantulog na susuotin nito. "Mom, pupunta po ba si daddy bukas?" Tanong niya habang nasa loob ng banyo. I bite my lower lip dahil hindi ko alam ang isasagot ko.

I tried to call him pero parating out of range ang phone nito. "Mom." Tinawagan ko na rin ang kaibigan nito pero kahit sila ayaw sabihin kung nasaan ng asawa ko.

I try to reach him kahit naman ayaw ko s'yang makita ay may concern pa din naman ako sa kanya. Tumawag na din ako sa secretary nito pero dahilan nito ay nasa meeting daw ang asawa ko. Asawa ko pa rin siya at ama pa rin siya ni Cloud. Pero walang balak ang isang iyon na umuwi. Paano niya nagagawang magpaka-busy sa trabaho o ibang bagay habang kami ng anak niya ay binabalewala niya?

"Mom, are you okay?" He asked me with a worried emotion. "A-ah. Of c-course medyo inaantok lang si mommy." Maang-maangan kong sagot.

"Magbihis ka na okay? Mommy will go downstairs para ipagtimpla ka ng gatas." Tumango ito kaya kaagad akong lumabas ng kwarto nito. Habang pababa ako ng hagdan ay hindi ko mapigilang hindi mapa-iyak.

I really feel how longing my son to his father. Na kahit pa saktan siya ng ama ay patuloy lang nitong hinahanap ng present, care and love ng ama. Mga bagay na kahit anong gawin ko ay hindi ko kayang punan. My son need his father pero dahil sa'kin ay hindi niya makuha ang lahat ng pagmamahal, pag-aaruga, at atensyon ng ama.

Naaawa ako sa anak ko. Nang dahil sa pagiging makasarili ko ang anak ko naman ang nagdurusa. Kaya kong punan ang pagiging ina pero hindi ko kayang punan ang pagiging ama kay Cloud. Si Cluan pa rin ang kailangan ng anak ko.

Pagkatapos kong ipagtimpla ito ng gatas ay muli akong bumalik sa kuwarto niya. I saw my son holding a picture frame. It's our family picture. Again those tears falling down on my cheeks. He's longing for this father. He's longing to a family.

It's all because of me. I ruined my son's dream. I already ruined his future. Ngayon ko mas nakikita na wala akong kuwentang ina dahil hinayaan ko lang nalugmok sa ganitong ang anak ko.

I wiped those tears and slowly opened the door. "Honey." I whispered. I slowly walked in him. "Here's your milk. Finish it and sleep, honey." I added kaya kinuha naman niya ang gatas hawak ko. "Thank you mommy." He said at dahan-dahang ininom ang gatas. After he finished to drink it he kiss me on my lips.

"Good night mom. I love you." He whispered in my right ear and lying down on his bed. "I love you too, my son." I replied and fix his blanket.

Kinabukasan. "Honey, are you ready?" I yelled. Nasa taas kasi ito marahil ay nagbibihis pa andito kasi ako sa kusina para i-prepare ng maayos lahat ng pagkaing dadalhin namin. Syempre nagluto ng madami dahil in case lang na umuwi si Cluan.

After preparing foods ay nagwalis naman ako. Total tapos na din naman akong maligo at mag-ayos ng sarili ko. "Mom. Can you fix this?" He asked pagkababa nito ng hagdan.

"Of course my son. Come here closely mommy will fix it." When I'm finished to fixed his uniform. I looked at him with a bright smile. "Your handsome my champion." Mas lumaki ang ngiti ko ng mag-blush ito.

"Go inside the car. Wait mommy there okay? After this mommy will bring your project inside the car ." Tumango lang ito at tumakbo palabas ng bahay.

I called manong Leonard para ihatid kami sa school. Family driver ng pamilya Andrews. Sakto namang wala itong ganap ngayon dahil nasa business trip ang parehong parents ni Cluan.

I checking those windows just to make sure na nakasara ang mga ito ng maayos. After checking ay kinuha ko sa kuwarto ng anak ko ang project nito at kaagad na bumaba. I lock the main door at dali-daling ipinasok sa likod ng kotse ang hawak kong project ng anak ko.

Pumasok ako sa kotse. "Manong, can we make fast. We're going to be late na po." Excited na sabi ng anak ko. Pareho kaming natawa ni manong Leonard. "Sige na po manong. Tara na po." Nakangiting tumango naman ito at nagsimulang mag-drive.

Habang nasa biyahe ay patuloy ko pa ring kino-contact si Cluan. I tried to call him every minute ni hindi ko nga mabilang kong ilang missed calls na ba ang ginawa ko.

I already texted him na din pero ni isang reply wala. I tried to not disappointed my son pero wala e. Bigo na namang akong maging responsableng ina sa kanya.

"Mom, are you okay?" My son's asked in worried voice kahit si manong Leonard ay napatingin sa'kin. I smiled bitterly. "I'm o-okay s-son." Pagsisinungaling kong sagot.

Pagdating sa school ay dali-daling lumabas ng kotse ang anak ko. "Honey, don't run too fast baka madapa ka." Saway ko sa kanya. "Mom, let's hurry malapit na pong mag-simula." He excitedly said and pulled my right hand papunta class room nito. "Manong."

"Ako na po ang magdadala." Sagot naman ni manong Leonard kaya hinayaan ko na lang ang anak ko na hilahin ako. Pagdating sa class room ay nags-start na pala.

"Good morning, Mrs Andrews. Have a sit po." Sabi sa'kin ng teacher ni Cloud kaya naglakad ako sa likod dahil lahat ng parents ng mga students ay sa likod Naka-upo. Saktong pagka-upo ay lumingon sa gawi ko ang anak ko kaya kumaway ako sa kanya.

Habang isa-isang nagpre-present ang mga students ng kani-kanilang projects ay patuloy pa rin ako sa pag-contact kay Cluan. I felt so nervous right now. Maybe I'm afraid to disappoint my son.

And when my son going in front to present his project. He slowly walked in front. "Go honey." I yelled to cheer him up.

Before he speak tila ba may tinatanaw o hinahanap ito sa likuran. Napatingin ako sa likod at kaagad na nanlumo. He is expecting for his father to come.

I heard those gossiping around pero hindi na mahalaga ang mga ito sa ngayon. I need to cheer up my son. Kahit masakit kailangan.

"Go honey!" I yelled again. He looked at me and smiled. Habang nagpre-present ang anak ay hindi ko mapigilang hindi mamangha at sa same time ay malungkot. I'm so proud at my son pero nasasaktan ako sa mga nakikita ko ngayon.

All those classmates and parents are amazed to my son. The way he speak para bang hindi ito bata. Detailed and professional. After he speak panandaliang natahimik ang buong paligid. Tila na-shock sila sa anak ko.

Hindi na hintay ng anak ko ang palakpakan ng madla dahil kaagad na itong umupo. Habang hinihintay na matapos ang lahat ng mag-present ay nakatitig lang ako sa anak ko. Nakayuko ito at tahimik.

Nang matapos na ang lahat sa pagpre-present. The teacher announce those runner ups at winner. Wala na kayong maintindihan pa sa sinasabi ng teacher. I focused to my son. Alam kong nalulungkot at nasasaktan ito ngayon.

Alam ko na kahit hindi ko ito sinagot sa tanong niya ay he expected that his father to come pero masyadong matigas ng puso ng ama niya.

"And the winner is... Cloud Andrews." Nagpalakpakan ang lahat. Tumayo ang anak ko at humarap sa audience. "Mrs. Andrews can you please join us here in front?" Tanong ng teacher nito pero sa anak ko lang ako naka-focus.

"Mrs. Andrews." Napabalik ako sa aking ulirat at dali-daling naglakad sa harap. Nagkaroon ng picture taking at ina-announce ng teacher na all of those projects will be an place into a children exhibit sa isang hotel.

Nagkaroon ng kaunting kainan sa loob ng classroom. After kumain ay nagpaalam na din kaming umuwi ni Cloud. Habang naglalakad papuntang kotse. "Mom, I'm the champion." Sabi niya sabay tingin sa trophy na hawak nito.

"Congratulations son, I'm so proud of you son." I congratulate him and hugged him. "Mom. Do you think daddy will proud of me too?" Suddenly his voice change into sadness.

"Of course honey. Maybe daddy still busy right now but keep this in your mind. Daddy will always proud of you." I sincerely replied and hugging him tight.

"Relly?" Paniguradong tanong niya. I tapped his shoulder. "Of course." I said. "I love you mommy."

"I love you too my sweetheart." I'm so blessed na kahit merong circumstances ay my son growing up a understandable child. "Let's go?" I'll asked him and offered my right hand. He grabbed it at sabay kaming naglakad.

Habang naglalakad suddenly a baby girl fell down. Sakto pa sa harap namin ng anak ko kaya dali-dali ko itong tinayo. "Are you okay baby girl?" I worriedly asked her. She didn't answer me kaya inayos ko lang ang uniform nito.

I think she same age to my son. She's beautiful mixed up with foreign blood. "Ainesia, baby." A manly voice said.

"Ainesia." Sabi ng lalaki sabay lapit sa direksyon namin. "Baby, are you okay?" He worried ask.

"I'm sorry. Pasensya na miss if naabala kita." He apologize on me. "It's okay. Did she have a bruise?" I asked him kaya he check his child if there's any bruise. "I'm glad it's nothing." Kahit ako ay nakahinga din ng maluwag.

"Thank you so much for helping my child. I'm Aither and this my daughter Ainesia." He said and offered his right hand while carrying his daughter on his left hand. "I'm Airen and this my son, Cloud." Pakilala ko at sa anak ko. "I'm Cloud. Nice to meet you sir." My son politely said. "Nice to meet you too, young man."

"Aither." A woman shouted. We looked at her she's in the same age as mine lang ata. That's why I think of her. "And that's my lovely wife, Finnessia." The way he introduced his wife. It's full of love. "There you go. Saan ba kayo nagpuntang mag-ama, aber?" Finnessia asked her husband.

"Ainesia run so fast that's why I'll follow her. Sorry honey for keeping you worried." He apologize and kiss his wife on her cheeks.

"Btw, hon. This Airen and her son Cloud." Pakilala naman ni Aither samin. I bow down at smile at her. "Nice to meet. I'm Cloud." Pakilala naman ng anak ko.

"Awwhhhh... He's so handsome and adorable." Puri ni Finnssia sa anak ko.

"Ahmm... Btw. We have to go." Aither said. "Thank you for helping my daughter." Dagdag pa nito at sabay-sabay silang umalis.

Pagkalayo nila ay muli kong hinawakan ang kamay ng anak ko at naglakad kami papuntang kotse. But suddenly we stop dahil I saw Cluan standing while crossing his arms and giving me a ruthless emotion. "Daddy!" My son's yelled and run towards his father.

But Cluan ignored my son at walk in front of me. He grabbed my hand and pulled me. "L-let me go. Nasasaktan a-ako." I said but he didn't listen on me "Cloud, give me your hand." Sabi ko sa anak po.

Ano na naman bang ginawa ko?