FPS 1: His Illicit Affair

Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Seeing Elara and Lyxhel get along, Traios was so happy. He knew that Lyxhel is a good person with a good heart. Unang kita pa lang niya sa nobya noon, naramdaman na niya agad ang koneksiyon dito. Iyong spark na tinatawag noong ibang nahuhulog sa patibong ni kupido. Hindi naman niya talaga kailangan si kupido pero kung si Lyxhel ang ibinigay nito sa kaniya. Sino ba siya para tumanggi, ‘di ba?

“Dad! Look po, oh. Mommy got this for me,” Elara said happily as she showed the little bear stuffed toy. She jumps giddily.

“Wow! Ang galing naman pala ni Mommy, eh.”

“Siyempre po. Baka Mommy ko iyan!” Mas lalo pang puri ni Elara. Kumapit ito sa braso ng dalaga at nagsumiksik doon.

They went to Tom’s World because Elara wanted to play and the moment she saw the claw machine, she wanted to play it and took the little bear she was holding. Hindi naman siya marunong noon kaya noong unang try niya ay hindi siya nagtagumpay hanggang sa pangatlong subok niya.

Nang mag-volunteer naman si Lyxhel, inaasahan na niyang hindi rin iyon makukuha ng nobya, pero siguro nga ay nasa tabi nito ang swerte dahil sa pangalawang subok ay nakuha na nito ang stuffed toy.

“So, anak, saan mo pa gusto? Do you want to play there or that one?” Tanong ni Lyxhel sa bata habang itinuturo ang mga nakikitang pwede nilang paglaruan sa lugar na iyon. Inikot naman ni Elara ang kaniyang mga mata hanggang sa makita niya ang photobooth.

She pointed to the photobooth. “I want there po, Mommy. I want to have a family picture so that I can keep it beside my pillow. Is that okay po, Mommy?”

Lyxhel look at him, as if asking for permission. He doesn’t have any violent reaction with that, he’s actually happy with that thought. He came closer to the two. “Okay, baby. We’ll have a family picture in the photobooth. We’ll take a lot. Want that, hmm?”

“Yes, Dad! A lot po, please. Like a lot.”

“Let’s go then!”

He held the hand of Lyxhel. He felt that she had a cold hand. “Don’t worry, love. Everything’s fine. I promise.”

“We have to talk, Traios. Like seriously, a serious talk. Really serious.”

Traios knows that there’s a lot of questions going on in her mind. That’s why he said that they’ll really talk after their sudden family day. He squeezed her hand while holding it and smiled at her. He just hoped that it would make her calm.

Ginawa nga nila ang gusto ni Elara. Tatlong piraso ng picture ang kinuha nila, iyon kasi ang gusto ni Elara para na rin daw may copy siya at si Lyxhel. Ilalagay niya sana sa wallet niya iyon pero hindi nagkasiya kaya naman hinawakan na lang niya muna. Balak niyang bumili na lang ng frame at doon iyon ilalagay.

Natapos ang bonding nilang tatlo sa restaurant. Nagutom kasi Elara matapos ang tatlong oras na pananatili nila sa Tom’s World. Lahat ng laro roon ay sinubukan ng bata sa tulong na rin nilang dalawa ni Lyxhel.

“Mommy, kailan po ulit tayo magkikita? Can I see you tomorrow po? Or are you going to visit me in the mansion where we live?” Elara asked after she sipped her juice on the glass. She carefully put the glass back to where she took it.

He saw that Lyxhel was taken aback by what Elara said based on her reaction. She looked at him and he already knew what to do.

“Baby,” he said. He was sitting in front of her while Lyxhel was beside her. “‘Di ba, napag-usapan na natin ito? Daddy's still fixing something so Mommy can’t still visit you. Sasabihin ko naman sa ‘yo, anak kung kailan pwede. Basta hindi pa ngayon. Masiyado pang magulo ang lahat. Do you understand, baby?”

Tumingin ang bata kay Lyxhel bago bumalik ng tingin sa kaniya. Isang malungkot na ngiti ang isinukli nito sa kaniya. Lumapit ito ng kaunti kay Lyxhel bago inilapat ang ulo sa may braso ng dalaga.

Nasasaktan ang puso niya para sa bata, mas lalong bumigat ang puso niya dahil sa ginawa nito. Kitang-kita niya ang pangungulila rito. Kung pwede niya lang sanang ulitin ang history ng buhay. Mas pipiliin niyang si Lyxhel na lang talaga ang maging ina ng bata.

Why is life really so hard? Why do some need to feel pain? Why do some need to experience a bad childhood just like Elara?

“Mommy, kapag okay na po ang lahat, makakasama na po ba kita ng matagal? Tatanggapin niyo po ba akong maging anak niyo?” Malungkot nitong tanong.

Ipinaloob na muna ni Lyxhel ang bata sa kaniyang bisig bago sumagot. “There’s no reason I wouldn't love you, baby. If I were given a chance, I would definitely agree to be your mother. You deserve to be loved and taken care of, anak.”

“I felt better po. Thank you, Mommy. Akala ko po ay hindi niyo rin ako matatanggap. Lalo na, hindi naman po ako nanggaling sa inyo. How I really wished po that you’re my true mother. I know in my heart, Mommy, that you’ll be the best mother. Your children will be so lucky to have you.”

Elara was just seven but she had a broad mind because she loves to read. She also loves talking to him. Every night, they will always have a deep talk. He doesn’t want to keep anything to her, yes, he knows that she’s still a child but she deserves to know the truth.

He also knows that it would be more hurtful to her if she’ll know the truth if she’s older enough. It is better to say it early than late. Pareho lang naman din kasi ang mangyayari, masasaktan at masasaktan ang bata sa katotohanan.

“While I’m lucky to have Daddy Traios with me. He showers me with so much love po, Mommy.”

“I will love you forever, baby. Nothing will change, whatever happens. Always remember that, okay?”

“Thanks, Dad! You’re really the best.”

They all had the best day. Traios and Elara make sure that Lyxhel is safe as she gets in her car. Hinintay na muna nilang makaalis si Lyxhel bago sila magkahawak kamay na lumakad patungo sa dala nilang sasakyan.

Traios tucked in, first Elara in the backseat. He put the seatbelt on her. He made sure she’ll be safe. Hindi naman binitawan ng bata ang stuffed toy nito. Kinausap nito iyon at binigyan din ng pangalan. Lala ang ibinigay nitong pangalan dahil kinuha raw niya ito sa pangalan niya at ni Lyxhel.

“Dad, I’m really so happy po. Thank you po for this day. This is really the most memorable day of my life.”

“You’re welcome, baby. I’ll do anything to make you happy. I love you, baby!”

Hinalikan na muna ni Traios ang sentido ng bata bago siya lumabas ng backseat. Isinarado ang pinto at pumunta na sa driver’s seat. Binuhay niya muna ang makina bago iyon minaniobra paalis ng parking lot.

Sa buong biyahe nila pauwi, nakatulog na si Elara. Halatang pagod ang bata ang ginawang paglalaro kanina. Nang nasa mansion na sila, nakasalubong niya paakyat si Jenevy. Madilim ang ipinukol nitong tingin sa kaniya at kay Elara na karga-karga niya.

“Saan kayo nanggaling? Hindi niyo man lang binalak na isama ako.”
“Are you blind? Can’t you see the stuffed toy I’m holding?”

He was tired arguing with her almost everyday. Hindi niya nga alam paano siya nakakatagal na makasama ito. Minsan gusto na lang niya palayasin ang babae pero sa tuwing naiisip niyang wala naman siyang karapatan na gawin iyon, hindi na lang niya ginagawa.

Ipinakita nito ang suot sa singsing sa kaniya. “Baka nakakalimutan mo, asawa mo ako at ina ako ng batang iyan. Kaya dapat ay alam ko rin kung saan kayo nagpupunta.”

“Oh, shut up!”

Wala siya sa mood na makipag-argumento dito kaya naman nilampasan na niya ito. Mabilis na siyang lumakad paakyat at nang makarating na sa kuwarto ng bata. Ibinaba niya ng dahan-dahan ang bata pagkatapos ay kumuha siya ng damit na pamalit.

Sinuotan niya ng pajamas si Elara, nang masiguro niyang magiging komportable na ito, kinumutan na niya ito. Inilagay niya sa tabi nito ang stuffed toy. Isinuksok naman niya sa ilalim ng unan nito ang picture.

“Sleep tight, my little angel!” He whispered before kissing her forehead. After that, he closed the lights and left the room. He went to his own room and took a cold shower. He got tired, too, so the moment he laid his back on his bed, he fell asleep fast.