Flying Without Wings (Del Gallego Series #1)

Chapter 23

Chapter 23: Blood

I can see how Amore's eyes widen in an instant.

"Holy crap!" she gasped, making some of her luxurious bags drop down.

Sa grabeng pagka-gulat ay hindi ko rin alam kung ano ang unang gagawin. My brain stuttered for a moment and my eyes took in more light than I expected. It felt like every part of me goes on pause while my thoughts catch up. I'm even sweating and my heart... It was pounding, loud and fast.

Maximo is staring at my son for goodness' sake!

And Amore was so freakin' astounded too!

"Mama?"

I blinked when I felt someone clutching my pants.

Natauhan ako bigla nang makita na ang anak ko iyon. His innocent eyes fixed on the man in front of us. Kabadong napatingin ako kay Maximo at napalunok. I couldn't see anything in his face but blankness kaya pinagpawisan ako ng malamig.

"A-Apollo!" my friend stuttered and hurriedly grabbed my son's wrist.

Napatingin doon ang anak ko. "Bakit po, Tita?"

Humahangos kami pareho ni Amore. She looked at me apologetically and I swear to God, kung hindi nakikita ng lalaki sa harapan namin, panigurado na bubugahan ko ng apoy ang kaibigan ko!

"Hey, baby! Look at me!" She cupped his cheeks and my son pouted at his nitwit Tita!

"Po?"

Ngumiwi si Amore nang makita ang matalim at nagbabanta kong titig. I couldn't help but murder her inside my head. Hindi ko mapigilan ang mangamba pa lalo at kabahan dahil sa hindi inaasahang pangyayari.

She then awkwardly smiled at my son and laughed as if something was humorous but it was visibly strained and pathetic. Hanggang sa huminto siya sa pagtawa. She straightened her face as if nothing happened.

Napakunot noo ang anak ko.

Hanggang sa bigla na lang tumayo si Amore at kinarga si Apollo saka tumakbo ng mabilis palayo. Napaawang ang labi ko at halos lumabas ang usok sa aking mga tenga, dahil sa ginawa ng walang hiya kong kaibigan sa harapan namin ni Maximo!

I swear to God, papatayin talaga kita, Amore!

I gritted my teeth and coldly glanced at Corina and Rouge na parehong nabigla rin sa pangyayari. I exerted all my effort to be composed before I shifted my gaze to Maximo.

He seemed lost for words. He was quiet. He was just staring back at me with... questions. Napalunok ako bigla at tinatagan ang sarili.

"I'm glad you're fine as I can see now, Maximo." I fisted my shaking hands.

Nanatili siyang nakatayo at tila wala sa sarili. I can feel my heart getting wrecked the longer I stay here. I clenched my jaw and looked again into his eyes.

"Kaya sana... ito na ang huling pagkikita natin," matapang kong sinabi bago siya iniwan doon.

I walk away as fast as I could. Patuloy sa pagkalabog ang dibdib ko lalo pa nang marinig ko siya kalaunan.

"Athena!" he called me. "Athena, sandali! Athena!"

Pero alam kong hindi siya hinayaan ni Rouge na makalapit pa. Corina followed me with her panicking footsteps. Sobrang higpit ng pagkakayukom ng mga palad ko. Hindi ako mapakali. My breathing was far from controlled. Pakiramdam ko rin nanghihina ako.

Hanggang sa mabuksan ko ang suit. Bumungad sa akin si Amore at ang anak ko na mahaba ang nguso dahil hindi pinapakawalan ng Tita niya sa yakap. Amore looked sorry, but I was unable to feel any rage, because I already feel the usual aches just by seeing my son's face.