Prologue:
508 Words
CHAPTER ONE:
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Maaga pa pero mainit na ang sikat ng araw nang huminto ang itim na SUV sa harap ng maliit pero maaliwalas na community center sa Zambales. May event para sa kids that day at doon nagsimula ang hindi inaasahang pagkikita.
Isabelle stood near the entrance, holding her little boy’s hand. Si Liam, limang taong gulang, maputi, may malalalim na mata… at oo, hawig na hawig kay Henry.
Habang inaayos niya ang damit ng bata, may narinig siyang pamilyar na tunog. mabigat na yabag, pamilyar na paghinga, at ang boses na minsan ay naging tahanan niya.
“Excuse me… Miss?”
Natigilan siya. Tumigil ang mundo.
Isabelle slowly turned- there he was.
Henry. sigaw ng utak niya
Mas matured na ang itsura, mas defined ang panga, may bahid ng pagod pero mas malalim na karisma. For a moment, Henry’s expression froze. Napatingin siya agad kay Liam. Then to her. Then back to the child.
Parang may kumalabit sa puso niya na matagal nang natulog.
Henry: “Isabelle…”
Mahina, halos pabulong.
Parang hindi makapaniwala.
Isabelle swallowed hard, her chest tightening.
“Henry… long time.”
Hindi nakagalaw si Henry sa pagkakatayo. Yung mga mata niya,naghalo ang gulat, sakit, at isang uri ng pagmamahal na hindi nawala.
Lumapit si Liam kay Isabelle, tugging her shirt.
“Mommy, who’s that?”
Halos mapatid ang hinga ni Henry nang marinig ang Mommy.
Mas lalo nang gumuhit ang pagkakahawig nila.“Liam?”
Hindi niya sinadya. Lumabas lang bigla. Parang may instinct sa loob niya na nagdikta ng pangalan.
Isabelle stiffened.
“How… how did you know his name?”
Henry’s eyes softened.
“Because… he looks exactly like me.”
Tahimik. Mabigat. Pero hindi galit.
Parang dalawang puso ang natagpuang muli ang t***k ng isa’t isa.
Liam blinked innocently.
“Mommy… is he my daddy?”
Isabelle knelt down fast, her hand gently cupping Liam’s cheek.
“Baby, later, okay?” she whispered.
Pero Henry slowly knelt too.
Para lang makita ang mukha ng batang ilang taon na palang hindi niya nakilala.
At doon, unti-unting tumulo ang luha niya.
Hindi niya napigilan.
“Hi… Liam.”
Mahina pero puno ng pagmamahal na naipon sa limang taon.
Liam tilted his head.
“Do I… know you, sir?”
Henry smiled, trembling.
“Not yet. But… I hope someday… you’ll let me.”
Isabelle’s eyes shone with something fragile, guilt, longing, fear, and relief all at once.
“Henry… I didn’t know if you’d want to be part of our lives,”
“I would have given everything, Isabelle. Everything. For both of you.”
He just said it softly. but it hit her harder than any shout.
Isabelle looked away, voice cracking.
“I was scared.”
Henry stood slowly, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand, trying to stay composed.
“Let me try now. Let me know him. Let me… try again with you, if you’ll let me.”
Isabelle met his eyes.
And for the first time in five long years…
She let herself hope.
- Writer
