Under the same sky

Chapter 26

Chapter 26: Break

Five years later...

I spent my life exploring
the tunnel roaring
that cost too much to be free
Hey lady, I've been to paradise
but I've never been to me...

As my favorite song keep playing at the background, I was sipping my wine at my bedroom's terrace. Nakatitig lang ako sa kalangitang puno ng bituin habang hinahayaan ang malamig na simoy ng hangin na pumasok sa aking kwarto.

It's been five years since I passed the greatest storm in my life. Amanda received a lifetime imprisonment while Mikaela was also imprisoned for six years. After everything I've been, I could say that I've really been to paradise, I survived the great war.

The storms, the maze, the chaos, I survived them all. I passed the roughest road my life could ever offer. I've been through a lot, I've win thousands of silent battles already and pulled up the heaviest sword stuck from the stone but whatever I do, no one could even notice how much I've been to end this way.

I want someone to be with me when I celebrate even just the smallest achievements I have, I want someone beside me to celebrate how much I've grown, someone who could notice even the slightest changes happened in me. There's only one man could do that, unluckily, he's far, enough for me to stop hoping.

Damn. I never thought this is how powerful life could be. Aside from offering you a never ending life problems, they wouldn't be also tired providing you confusing riddles and puzzles.

Narinig kong bumukas ang pintuan kaya napalingon ako, I saw a little boy smiling. Tumakbo ito papunta sa akin at niyakap ako.

"I thought you were asleep mommy," he said.

Ngumiti lang ako at inilagay ang wine sa gilid bago siya binuhat. Bumukas ulit ang pintuan kaya napatingin ako, si manang Flora iyon.

"Ma'am sorry, nagpupumilit kasing pumasok si Austin—"

"It's okay manang, wala naman akong ginagawa. Pahinga ka muna manang, tawagin nalang kita mamaya."

Tumango ito bago umalis. Agad na naagaw ang atensyon ko sa batang binubuhat, napakalapad ng ngiti nito habang tinititigan ako.

"What's with that smile baby?" I pinched his little nose.

"I have something to give you mommy"

"What was it?"

He gave a tulip, tinanggap ko iyon.

Napangiti ako bago siya hinalikan sa pisnge, "thank you baby."

He kissed me back, "welcome mommy."

Just like his dad, Austin loves tulips too. He loves picking fresh tulips and gave it to me right away, halos hindi ko na nga mabilang kung ilang beses na akong binigyan ni Austin ng tulip, marami kasi ito sa may hardin sa likod ng bahay.

"Want something to eat baby?" I asked.

Umiling siya.

"What do you want then?"

"I want to sleep with you mommy."

Tumawa ako, "yun lang? Sure baby."

Dinala ko siya sa kama at inihiga doon. "Sleep na baby, may class kapa tomorrow."

He smiled, "goodnight mommy."

I smiled back, "goodnight little boy."

When Austin came to my life, I learned the greatest lesson in my life. If there's one thing life follows effortlessly, it's just that it gives and it takes. In order for us to receive new things, we must lose things we use to have.