Falling Irrevocably

24th

24th

Halos patakbo kong tinahak ang loob ng school ni Andra papunta sa principal's office. Hindi nga ako nagkamali at may natarayan nga ang anak ko. Yet I haven't heard the full story. Ang alam ko lang ay mataray ang anak ko pero hinding hindi iyon mananakit ng pisikalan. Irapan pa pwede.

I knocked twice to the principal's office door before I entered. I saw my daughter sitting across another little girl, probably her classmate. Parehas gulong gulo ang buhok ng dalawa na nag away nga ata. Ang hindi ko nagustuhan ay ang gasgas sa pisngi ni Andra na marahil ay galing sa pagkakakalmot.

Oh no! My baby's gorgeous skin have wounds now. Sana hindi iyon magpeklat!

"Mommy!"

Nung nahagip ako ng mga mata niya ay tumayo ito at tumakbo palapit sa akin. She started to sob as I carry her on my arms. Isiniksik nito ang mukha sa leeg ko at ramdam na ramdam ko ang mga luha niya.

I could totally understand Andra's behavior to all of this. Ibang iba siya makisalamuha kaysa sa Italy na sobrang friendly niya sa lahat. Maybe because of the language barrier. She doesn't really like it when she can't understand someone's words, she would assume that she's being bad-mouthed.

Yet she's just four. How can a child think like that?

"Ms. Lexington," The principal acknowledged me as I sat at her right.

Nakakalong at nakayakap pa rin sa akin si Andra kahit nung nakaupo na ako sa upuan. My eyes went to the other kid and I almost drop my jaw as I looked at her.

Magkaiba ang kulay ng mga mata nito. A deep green and a brown. Wow. The kid was really beautiful and she's really familiar to me. With her chinky eyes and snow white skin.

She looked like... Ria?

"Mr. Stafford,"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nung pumasok si Tristan sa opisina. He's wearing a corporate attire, he looked like he came from his work. Ang mga mata nito ay nakatingin sa batang nakaupo sa harapan ko.

"Daddy,"

Natutop ko ang bibig nung marinig iyon mula sa bata. Oh my God! Kahit hindi ako matalino ay parang nahinuha ko na ang lahat. The kid was his daughter? No way! I suddenly had an assumptions to everything yet I don't want to quickly judge.

"Den?"

"K-Kuya Tristan," Nauutal na sambit ko at pinapanood ang mag ama na maupo sa harapan ko.

Halos nagpabalikbalik ang tingin ko sa kanila. Hindi ako makapaniwala. Then why... why aren't they together?

I shook my head mentally. It's not my story to tell.

"What are you doing--- what the!" Kasabay ng pagsasalita niya ang pag angat ni Andra mula sa pagkakasubsob sa leeg ko. Halos lumuwa na ang mga mata ni Kuya Tristan nung makita ang mukha ng anak ko.

Andra immediately rolled her eyes to Kuya Tristan's daughter and the kid responded by stucking her tongue out. They started bickering so we both stop our children.

"Your daughter?" I can sense he really can't believe that he's actually asking me the question.

I shyly smiled as I nod. Hinding hindi ko naman itatanggi na anak ko si Andra kahit malaki ang posibilidad na makarating ito kay Chanler sa nalaman nito.

"Yes, my daughter,"

His mouth dropped as he blinked twice. Tiningnan niya ulit ang anak ko bago tumingin sa akin. I can already see the question he wants to ask through his orbs.