Wish Upon A Fading Star

Chapter 7

Irene POV:

"I'll go ahead na Small, Lia's already waiting for me outside. Happy birthday to Allison again, just send our regards to her" I said to small at sa mga iba kong mga kaibigan.

"Oh sure Irene. Mag-ingat kayo" she said at nagtungo na ako sa labas.

Pagkalabas ko ay naabutan kong it's look like Lia's lost in her own thoughts at mukhang may hahabulin pa sana ito pero hindi na natuloy nang nagsalita ako.

"Hey honey, are you okay?"

"Mukhang nabigla ka, did something happened ba?" dagdag kong tanong at magsasalita pa sana si manong guard nang bigla na ako nitong inaya na pumasok na ng sasakyan.

"W-wala po, let's go na mommy. Mauna na po kami manong guard" sambit nito.

While we're heading home, I notice she's been quieter than usual.  I'll ask her about it kapag nasa bahay na kami.

Minutes passed by at nakarating na nga kami and mukhang iniiwasan ako nito. May nagawa pa ako na ikatatampo nito?

I stopped her as she was ready to walk up to her room.

"Hey honey, can we talk?" sabi ko at nagpatuloy pa rin ito sa pag-akyat at para bang walang may narinig ng hindi ko sinasadyang taasan ang boses ko.

"Malia Victoria, can we talk?" pag-uulit ko at mukhang nagulat ito dahil sa kanyang naging reaksyon.

"S-sure mom" at ito'y bumaba ulit.

Hinwakan ko ang kamay nito at ang lamig.

"Anak what happened earlier na parang nabigla ka? at ang lamig ng mga kamay mo" I said.

"N-nothing mommy" sabay pag-iwas ng tingin nito sa akin.

"Hey look at me"

"Please tell mommy what's wrong with you, honey. You've been acting strangely the last few days. I'm starting to worry about you" dagdag ko.

"I-i'm fine mommy" then her hands start trembling.

"Anak?" I said and she's starting to cry and hyperventilating. She's having a panic attack.

"Mommy I-I don't know what's happening" sambit nito habang umiiyak at kaagad ko munang pinaupo at pinakalma.

"Hey honey, look at mommy" giit ko habang nangingig ang mga kamay nito at mabuti na lang ay sumunod ito.

"Shhhh you're safe with me. Can you take a deep breathe for mommy?" napatango naman ito at sinunod ako.

"It's okay honey, mommy's here" banggit ko habang magkahawak ang aming mga kamay.

"Everything's going to be fine, just continue ta take a deep breathe"

Just a second, and thank God Lia's breathing has returned to normal. But I refused to let her leave my side and was told to wait for a few minutes muna.

"I'll go to the kitchen muna mommy, just to drink water lang" she said and I insist na ako na ang kukuha.

"Here" sambit ko sa kanya pagbalik ko at inabot ang tubig.

"You're fine now?" I asked her while caressing her back.

"Yes, thank you mom"

"Don't be, I'm your mom and it's my responsibility to keep you safe" dagdag ko then my phone rangs and it was Greggy.

"Hey hon" sabi ko sa kabilang linya.

"Hello hon, so sorry baka gabihin ako mamaya for we have a lot to change sa ibang profit" giit nito.

"Oh, it's fine honey, as long as you're cautious when driving later on."

"I will, where's Lia nga pala?" he asked at sasabihin ko sana ang nangyare awhile ago but Lia signaled me na huwag na raw kaya hindi kona lang ito pinilit at binigay ang phone sa kanya for Greggy's wants to talk her.

"Hi dad" Lia said.

"Hello our princess, so sorry daddy will be late to get home mamaya"

"I-it's okay lang po, pero mag-ingat po kayo sa pagmamaneho" sambit ni Lia.

"Of course I will anak. Pareho talaga kayo ng sinabi ni mommy mo. Teka, why does your voice sounds differently, may nangyare ba anak?" pagtatanong ni daddy niya sa kanya.

"Uhhm wala po daddy, we went to tita Small kanina for it's her daughter's birthday kaya medjo naparami ang inom ko ng iced tea. Kaya nagkaganito ako pag-uwi namin ni mommy. Pero makukuha rin po naman ito kaagad"

"Pagaling ka anak, how I wish I can talk to you and your mom longer pa. But I need to go na for marami pa kaming pag-uusapan dito sa companya, including you kuya Luis and Alfonso" banggit ni Greggy.

"Sure daddy, just send my regards kila kuya. I love you" Lia said at nagpaalam na rin ako.

"Thanks for not telling dad mom" Lia said pagkababa ko ng telepono.

"Of course anak, but next time need nang dad mo malaman what's happening na ha. We need to know what's happening on our princess for we're your parents" daig ko.

"Sure mom"

"May I ask as why after I exited earlier and went to our car, you appear astonished and what happened ba?" tanong ko.

Then she look like she's uncomfortable with my question.

"Uhm wala po yun mommy I just saw some details on twitter saying na alam mo na" then I get what she said.

"Honey, don't listen to other people's points of view, okay? We are our only opponents, and we will let them come to their senses in the end. It's not our fault, because we know the truth better than they do" I said.

"Yeah, I know mom. Kasalanan ko rin why I opened my twitter after a long time that I deactivate it. Pero don't worry dinelete kona" sagot naman nito.

"Are you sure that's the only problem anak?"

"Yes mom" she muttered.

"Aakyat na po ako at magpapahinga na" dagdag nito.

"Can I sleep with you later on?" I asked her, baka kasi aatakihin na naman ito.

"Sure mom, just knocked on my room lang" banggit nito at umakyat na.

I just took a shower and left a note sa nightstand namin ni Greggy saying that I'll be sleeping with Lia ngayon at susunod na lang ito.

I knocked on her door muna at binuksan naman niya kaagad ito.

"Matulog ka na anak, it's look like na pagod ka" sambit ko sa kanya at nanalangin muna ito.

"Night mom, I love you" she uttered at hinalikan ko sa noo ito.

"Night too sweetheart. I love you too"

Humiga na ito na hindi ito nakaharap sa akin at hinayaan ko lang ito at nagbasa-basa muna ako ng pocket book kadahilanan na hindi pa ako inaantok.

Minutes passed by at biglang humarap sa akin si Lia. She hadn't gotten any sleep and was staring at the ceiling.

"I thought you're already asleep anak, di ka makatulog?" I asked her.

She just shook her head and smiled at me.

It's already 12am kaya nakaramdam na ako ng antok kaya tinigil ko na ang pagbabasa at binigay ang atensyon ko kay Lia.

"What is it about you're thinking anak?" I said while caressing her hair baka sakali ay mapatulog ko ito.

"Nothing mom, hindi lang po talaga ako makatulog"

"Mommy?" dagdag nito.

"Yes anak?"

"Can I ask you a question?" she said.

"Of course honey, anytime"

"What if I'll die?"