Souls in November (Holiday Series #1)

34

"You're joking right? Hindi ka dito nakatira di ba?"

I couldn't help but feel guilty as I looked at him and smiled hesitantly. He wouldn't stop asking me to send me home, so I had no choice but to inform him. Pwepwede naman akong maglakad kasi! Kaya sinabi ko na sa kaniya ang bahay namin para matigil na ito kakapilit na ihatid ako!

"Therefore, you do not need to send me home because I can walk. It is only six blocks from here." I even pointed at our house so that he would know.

"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked seriously.

"Kakasabi ko lang, Drazen." Hindi ba niya maalala?! "Sige na! Aalis na ako! Bye! 'Wag kang susunod!"

Mag-aalas otso na e, sigurado nagtatanong na 'yon sa akin ngayon! Tinext ko naman kanina si Mama, maiintindihan naman niya pero si Ashra ay hindi!

Habang naglalakad pa ako ay tinitignan ko ito. Mahirap na at baka sumunod na agad. Nakatayo lang ito sa may labas ng gate at pinagmamasdan akong mariin. I had the opportunity to tell him today about our daughter and her twin, but once again, my mind went blank! l'll just let him know tomorrow, I promise!

Kinawayan ko pa ito bago na pumasok sa loob ng bahay namin. Nahanap ko agad si Ashra na nakapantulog na at nakasimangot na nanonood ng TV sa sala namin. Hawak-hawak niya pa ang bear niya. I can't help but give her a quick peck on the cheek and a tight embrace. 'Yung outift niya pa sa pagtulog ay napa-cute! Unicorn ba naman ang design! Ang comfty!

"Bango mo naman!" sabi ko habang patuloy na hinahalikan ang pisngi niya.

She's super cute!

Nakanguso itong humarap sa akin. "Mommy, where have you been? It's already late!"

"I went to," your dad's house! "Vigan. May inayos lang si Mommy."

"Don't come home late next time Mommy." malungkot ang boses nito.

Oh, my clingy baby. Hinalik-halikan ko ito at mas lalong pinanggigilan ang pisngi niya kaya lumayo ito sa akin at hinawakan ang mapupula na niyang pisngi.

"I have a surprise for you tomorrow!" I told her.

Lumiwanag ang mata niya. "What is it Mommy?"

"Secret. l'll tell you tomorrow." Hinaplos ko ito sa buhok.

I only hope that nothing bad will happen tomorrow and that things will go well between Drazen and Ashra. I hope that they will learn to accept each other and they'll get along well. Kahit medyo malabo umaasa ako na madali lang silang makapag-adjust sa isa't-isa. Lalo na si Ashra, alam kong may hinanakit ito sa kaniyang ama at kasalanan ko 'yon.

Namulat siya ng walang alam at iniisip na siguro ay pinabayaan siya ng kaniyang ama kahit hindi naman talaga. That's why maybe she doesn't want to see her father anymore because she thought that Drazen didn't want her.

Pero kung alam mo lang anak. Mahal na mahal ka niya. Mahal na mahal niya kayong dalawa ng kapatid mo.

Sasabihin ko na talaga bukas. Bahala na.

"Let's go sleep na?" pagyayaya ko dito.

She politely nodded before closing the television and placing the TV remote on the table. Magkahawak kamay kaming nagtungo sa sa aming kwarto. Papatulugin ko muna siya bago hanapin si Mama para magkausap kaming dalawa tungkol sa nangyari. I will let her know that the annulment papers have been settled and that they have been signed, as the Attorney explained to us over the phone.

I assist her in climbing onto the bed, and then, wrap a blanket around her. I also gave him a tender kiss on the cheek before turning on the lamp. After then, I went to the bathroom in order to have a bath, and when I came back out, Ashra was already fast asleep while clinging to her favorite teddy bear.