Saving You

Chapter 2

"Why can't you stay here, ma?" I saw the disappointment in my son's freckled face as tears sparkling at each corners of his eyes as I tucked him into his bed.

I felt the sadness in my son's eyes echo in my heart. I hate to think na nadadamay ang anak ko sa nangyayari sa amin ni Rhian. Kung nung una ay wala pang malay ito, ngayon halos maubusan na ako ng irarason sa tuwing magtatanong ito kung bakit hindi nila ako kasama ng Mommy nya sa iisang bahay. Mag lilimang taon na si Caleb sa susunod na buwan, he's old enough para magsimulang magtanong kung bakit hindi ako umuuwi sa kanila ng Mommy nya sa tuwing galing ako sa trabaho at kung bakit tuwing pag gising nito ay hindi nya ako nakikita.

I remember when God gave Rhian and I the most beautiful gift we could ever recieve; our son. I remember feeling stunned when I first held him, cradling him gently against my arms. I felt weak in the knees, yet so incredibly strong.  I had no fear, none. I was full of wonder and amazement and every synapse of my brain felt like it was firing at once, but I wasn't afraid at all. I looked down at this little tiny Rhian lookalike, and I felt the tears well up in my eyes.

"What does he look like?" My wife asked from the bed.

"He's funny looking, like you." I replied with a laugh as I snuffled back my tears. "He's incredible," I added. "He got your eyes. He looks happy. He looks really alert." I carried him over to Rhian, and she beamed when she saw him for the first time. She reached out her arms and nestled him close, and he snuggled in and stared up at her with his deep brown eyes.

"My son." She said as tears streamed down her face while her eyes shining bright. It was the way her smile melted my heart.  I saw my son's tiny hand gripped Rhian's index finger. With a surprising warmth, and in a shocking wash of emotion, I felt everything I knew shift. The scent of cinnamon and baby powder hit me, and as my eyes widened, my heart melted, making room for my wife and our son.

"Don't worry baby. I'll be back tomorrow alright? Sleep now little man." I smiled and leaned in to place a soft kiss on his nose. Tatayo na sana ako ng magsalita pa ulit ito habang mas hinigpitan pa ang pagkakahawak sa akin.

"Stay please?" He said, holding me tightly to him. Sasagot na sana ako ng marinig ko ang mahinang pag-ubo ni Rhian na nanggaling sa pintuan ng kwarto ni Caleb. Agad namang umupo si Caleb sa kama ng marinig nito ang Mommy nya. "Mom, please? Can mama sleep here with us? Please?" Pag mamakaawa nito sa ina. Rhian slowly walked towards us.

"Okay baby. Mama can sleep here with you." She said as she sat with us in Caleb's bed. Rhian looked at me for a second. She cupped his face in her hands and leaned closer to give Caleb a good night kiss. Tatayo na din sana ito ng pigilan sya ni Caleb. "Can you sleep here too mommy?" He said as he scrunched up his nose exactly just like his mom.

"Baby, I ca--"

"Please mom?" Sitting there, I let out a soft chuckle as I thought of Rhian and I sleeping again in the same bed after 2 long years. Rhian widened her eyes at me, her eyebrows furrowed.

"Mommy sige na kasi, sleep here with us." I said, nonchalantly tapping Caleb's bed. His bed is big enough para magkasya kaming tatlo dito. Mas lalo pang lumaki ang mata nito dahil sa sinabi ko. I smiled playfully at her na tinugunan naman nito ng pekeng mga ngiti. Sigurado akong kung hindi lang dahil sa anak namin, kanina pa ako nito sinipa palabas ng bahay nila.

Rhian turned her attention back to our son's pleading eyes. "Okay okay. Now sleep you little rockstar." Hinalikan muli ni Rhian ang anak namin sa noo bago nito pinabalik sa pagkakahiga. Bakas naman sa mukha ni Caleb ang tuwa kahit halatang antok na antok na ito. Rhian did the same thing too, kissing our son once again before closing her brown orbs.