Loving The Light [Cosmos Series#4]

Kabanata 12

"You tell him what?" Eksehaderong sambit ni Prestin matapos marinig ang aking mga sinabi. Tila ba hindi malinaw sa kanya ang narinig. I decided to tell him after a week.

I started combing my son's hair using my fingers while he's busy reading his book. Sinulyapan ko si Prestin. "I told him about mom."

He's walking towards the door then after a few steps, he'll go back in front of me. Ilang ulit ko pa siyang sinundan ng tingin dahil sa pagbalik balik na lakad niya. He tightly shut his eyes off as he started massaging his temples. Nang dumilat ay tila ba problemadong sinalubong ang aking mga mata. "Why did you tell him? Ano bang iniisip mo?"

I sighed. "He can help us." He can find Mommy in just an hour. He's just busy these past few days because of Rozelli. I think they have a problem inside the Cosmos. Or I don't know, I'm not sure. But he promised me that he'll find Mom.

Nahihiwagaan niya akong tinignan, like I said something ridiculous. "Help what?" Sarkastikong sambit niya na nakapagpataas ng aking kilay.

"He'll help us, trust me. I know he will," I kept thinking of words to say just to assure Prestin.

"The hell are you talking?" Ngayon ay bahagya ng mahina ang boses niya, ingat na hindi marinig ng aking anak ang kanyang sinabi. "He's a part of Cosmos!" Sambit niya na para bang nakalimutan ko iyon. "Yet you trusted him, so much."

"Just trust him, like how you do when you let him handle my case," sagot ko.

A smirk slowly crept in my face when I saw how his expression relaxed like I've said the right words to convince him.

Kaasabay noon ang pagtunog ng aking telepono. It was lying on the center table. Kaya naman sabay kaming napatingin ni Prestin doon. I heard him sighed as he saw the one calling.

Agad kong sinagot iyon.

"Aurie."

"Arch." From the side of my eyes, I saw my son glanced as me. I placed my forefinger on my lips as I smiled, telling him to stay quiet. Si Prestin naman ay pailing iling sa aking harapan.

"Can I go to your condo?" He asked.

"Huh?" I immediately answered, confirming if I heard it right.

"I need information about mother."

"Oh!" Agad kong nakuha ang ibig sabihin niya. "Alri-" Napahinto ako nang mapatingin sa aking anak. "Y-you can't. I mean, baka makaabala pa sa'yo." I licked my lower lip. "Ako na lang ang... pupunta sa... condo mo. Kung ayos lang?" Nananantyang tanong ko. I rolled my eyes at my brother's overreacted face.

"Of course you're not, hindi ka nakakaabala. But if that's what you want, I'll fetch you," he insisted but I immediately turned his offer down.

"No need. Just send me the location, I'll go there," sambit ko na para bang hindi alam kung nasaan ang condo niya.

"Alright, I'll wait for you. If you saw someone following you, just dial my number, I'll back you up."

I was oblivious that I'm smiling until Prestin lazily handed me a mirror. Wala sa sariling tinanggap ko iyon at nakita ang nakangiti kong repleksyon. Pailing iling si Prestin nang ibalik ko iyon sa kanya.

"Hhmm, thank you."

"Take care, Aurie."

"I will."

Nang matapos ang tawag ay agad kong hinarap si Prestin. "See? He'll help us."

"Yeah, where are you going?" He asked as he nodded, tila hindi naniniwala na iyon lang ang dahilan kung bakit hindi mawala ang ngiti sa aking mga labi.