Tears of I Love You (Serendipity series #2)

36

"Congratulations President Tavera!"

I was looking around and saw people who were not familiar to me. Gusto ko nang umuwi. I'd rather spend my time babysitting my sister than being with these unfamiliar faces.

"Ito na ba ang anak mo? Ang laki na, ah! Ang gwapong bata! Ipakilala ko kaya sa anak ko kapag nagdalaga at binata na sila 'no?" A woman looked like the age same as my Dad pinched my cheek. Napangiwi ako at nag-iwas ng tingin.

"We can do that. Kaya lang ang anak ko ay busy sa pag-aaral kahit na limang taon pa lang. Kakaiba ang talino nito, eh!" Proud na sabi ni Daddy.

I sighed, getting bored. Gusto ko nang maglaro noong bagong bili ni mommy na science toy. There are certain laboratory toys in that box. Hindi ko pa 'yon nabubuksan, e. Gusto ko nang laruin kaya lang si Daddy ay sinama ako sa party niya. He won in the latest election in our subdivision. I don't know what a President should do. I just want to go home. Mommy can't come with us because she had to take care of my two-month-old sister.

Dad left me alone in our table while he was talking with some politicians. His bodyguards were standing meter away from me. I sighed and leaned on the chair. I'm so bored!

"Hi, mag-isa ka rin?" Napatingin ako sa tabi ko nang may kumausap sa akin. A boy wearing a jumper, smiling at me. Mahaba ang buhok niya at nakaipit.

"Tingin mo?" masungit na sabi ko. I want to go home! I don't want him! I want my house!

"Sungit mo naman." Tumawa siya. "Ako nga pala si Cedric." Naglahad siya ng kamay sa akin. I looked at his hand and stared at it.

My father usually do that with his so called politician friends. If I accept his hand, are we going to be one of them? I don't want to be like them. They were protecting the law but sometimes, they disobey it too. I don't want a life like that.

"Ayaw ko." Tipid na sabi ko at naglakad na paalis. I told one of Dad's bodyguard if he can accompany me to the car. Doon ko na lang hihintayin si Daddy.

It took hours before we finally got home. Masaya akong yumakap kay Mommy. I am closer to her than my father. Palaging wala si Daddy at busy sa work.

"Can you look at your sister for a while? May gagawin lang ako." Mommy told me when she went to my room. Karga niya ang kapatid ko at dahan-dahang nilapag sa kama ko.

"Work?" I softly asked. She nodded before kissing my forehead. "Mabilis lang ako." And then she left.

Mabilis lang? Mabilis lang ba 'yung kinabukasan na sila uuwi ni Daddy? She texted one of our bodyguard that they can't go home. Akala ko ay si Daddy lang ang busy. Pero habang tumatagal, parehas na sila ni Mommy.

Gwen was crying and I didn't know what to do. I couldn't ask for help because I don't trust anyone except myself. Ayokong iwan sa iba si Gwen.

How could I trust them when all my life I could see how people lie. Daddy's friends were telling him lies but I could hear them saying something different from what they told my Dad. I was just four years old that time but I already learned that I cannot trust people in this world. Only my family.

"It's okay. Nandito lang si kuya." I was swaying while carrying Gwen. Hindi pa rin siya tumitigil sa kaiiyak. I don't know what to do. Malapit na rin akong umiyak pero hindi pwede dahil baka mas umiyak siya. I'm just six. What could a six-year-old boy like me do when her one-year-old sister is crying out of nowhere?

"Yuya..." she said that while crying. Hindi ko mapigilan ang mapangiti. She... called me 'Kuya'. One-year-old lang siya, ah!

I was so happy because of it. Kaya kahit na nahihirapan akong alagaan siya kapag wala sina Mommy, kinaya ko. I left all my toys so I could take care of her. There are times that my Mom was home but I always insisted to take care of Gwen. Nasanay na ako kaya gusto kong ako na ang gumawa lahat. Except for when she really needs a Mom.