Dawn of the Lion

章 25

2 years later *

"Happy 2nd birthday, Helene Larissa!"

I kissed my child's forehead and smiled when I saw her smiled, na para bang may alam na siya sa mundong 'to. We were celebrating her birthday as usual with my friends, sino pa ba ang dapat kong makasama sa araw ng anak ko? Hindi ba? Her Dad is always late, busy with his showbiz career.

"Napakapretty naman ng baby na 'to!" Beatrice carried Helene. "Napakaputi, namumula pa ang pisngi." Sabi ni Beatrice habang pinipindot pindot pa ang pisngi ng baby girl ko.

"Napakagandang lahi," Jane said. "Sigurado ka bang hindi kay ano 'to?" Jane looked at me.

Agad naman akong umiling at ngumiti. "Walang nangyari sa amin, gusto kasi namin non pagkatapos pa ng kasal." Sagot ko kay Jane. 

"Mas maganda lahi non, sis!" Caroline chuckled.

"Mas maganda lahi nong totga niya 'di ba?" Kinikilig na sabi ni Selene. 

Alam ko. I was expecting to have a family with Jackie, 'yong araw na pinangakuan niya 'ko... Umasa ako na siya na ang makakasama ko for the rest of my life. I was expecting to grow old with him, to achieve more with him, to be with him through ups and downs, but I was wrong. Hindi ko siya pwedeng sisihin dahil napagod siya kakaantay sa akin. Assurance. That's what he needs but I couldn't give him because I loved my career too much and that made us separated. That made us teared apart.

Akala ko talaga si Jacques Wei L. Jiraanan na talaga ang para sa akin, pero masiyadong mapait ang tadhana. 

Gabi na nang makarating si Nathan, nakauwi na rin ang mga kaibigan ko. Nakaupo lang ako sa may sala at tinitingnan ko pa si Helene sa may crib niya. 

"Happy birthday to my baby girl, where's my baby girl?" Nathan said while walking inside my house, may bitbit pa siyang maraming lobo at cake, pati may regalo pa siyang hawak. Ang dami namang dala nito. "Happiest birthday, my love." He kissed Helene's forehead, buhat buhat ko si Helene ngayon. "Thank you and sorry dahil late ako." Nathan pat my shoulder.

We're not together, baka isipin niyo kami ang nagkatuluyan dahil may anak kami. But you're wrong. We're in good terms, very matured parenting for our child. Hindi namin ginusto ang isa't isa at nangyari lang lahat ng 'to nung sunod-sunod na araw akong naglasing at may nangyari sa amin. But I didn't regret having a child, I love my child so much. Ayaw naman naming dalawa na lumaki 'yong bata na walang ina o walang ama. That's why we still keep-in-touch with each other.

"It's okay, mukhang masaya naman si Helene." I told him while looking at Helene. "It's her 2nd birthday, ang bilis ng panahon, ang bilis niya ring lumaki!" I chuckled and looked at Nathan.

"Mommy, Daddy..." Helene's voice.

"Yeah, time flies. Lalong gumaganda ang baby..." Nathan touched Helene's nose, nakatitig lang si Helene kay Nathan at nakangiti pa. Tuwang tuwa nang makita ang Daddy niya.