Freed Heartaches (Demetriou Legacy #1)

Chapter 45

Freed Heartaches
Kabanata 45: Husband

Tapik ni Luna ang nakapagpa-balik sa akin sa wisyo. I bit my lower lip and shifted my gaze on my daughter. Nagpababa siya mula sa pagpapabuhat kay Archaelus at agad lumapit sa akin.

"Mama, daddy surprised me!" She held my hand and put it in her waist, nagpapakarga siya para maupo sa kandungan ko. Binuhat ko siya at iyon ang ginawa.

Tumikhim ako ng makita si Archaelus na hinila ang upuan sa harap ko. Nilingon ko ang mga kapatid ko na nagsisiupo sa kabilang mesa. My cousin, Artemis and Gaia are nowhere to be found.

Kung noong una kong nakita sila Gaia at Artemis, kung noong narinig yung mga sinabi, I can recognize what I was feeling, ngayon ni hindi ko na alam. I was nervous, shocked, hurt, regretful... I am in between running away with my daughter or I'll just run towards him and hug him and say how sorry I am.

I am feeling it all at the same time.

Humigpit ang hawak ko sa anak ko at unti-unting nilingon si Archaelus. He's intently looking at me, his arms are crossed around his chest, nakasandal siya sa upuan. Mula siya mukha niya ang bumaba ang tingin ko sa katawan niya. Yung braso niya'y parang puputok na. His shoulders are broad. He's a bit bigger than the last time I saw him.

I pursed my lip and looked at his eyes again, tinaasan niya ako ng kilay, he tilted his head.

"Uh.." nag-iwas ako ng tingin.

"Mama, daddy said..."

I couldn't even hear the words my daughter is saying. Ang narinig ko lang ay yung 'daddy' why is my daughter calling him daddy? Ano bang pinagsasabi ni Archaelus dito?

"Anak.." iniharap ko siya sa akin, "Are you hungry?"

Tumango siya sa akin at ngumiti. Before I could even call for a waiter, naunahan na ako ni Archaelus.

I looked at him as he ordered Parang nagtatayuan yung mga balahibo ko sa batok habang pinapakinggan ang boses niya. For five years, his voice kept on playing in my head. All his I love you's.

"What else do you want?" He asked as he looked at me.

"Uh.. O-Okay na yun.." mahina kong tugon. I really hope I look calm on the outside because internally, I am not. I am not!!

What the fuck is happening? Why is this man here? Oh, Lord.

Tinanguan niya ang waiter at muling ibinalik ang tingin sa akin. Kung yelo lang ako... Hindi naman siya nagsasalita wala naman tinatanong. Panay lang ang titig sa akin at sa kay Dorothy so I don't really know what to say. Hell, I couldn't even compose the things I wanted to say to him all these years in my head.

This man and his affect on me.

Hanggang sa dumating ang order niya, si Dorothy lang ang nagsasalita. Well, obviously because I am still shocked. Kanina ko pa sinasabing gulat ako kasi hindi talaga ako maka-get over na nandito siya sa harap ko. My daughter is talking to Archaelus. Mamaya at kakausapin ko ang anak ko kung bakit panay ang 'daddy' niya. I doubt she remembers him!

"Daddy, when we go back home.. in Australia? Are you going back with us? Because..." she looked at me before looking at Archaelus again, "I wanna introduce you to my Papa Calvin.."

Archaelus looked at me instantly, he tilted his head and raised his brow again.. like he wants me to explain that to him, so I did.

"H-He's our friend, he's b-based in Melbourne, pero m-madalas siyang bumisita kay Dorothy," mahina kong sabi.

"I know who Calvin is. He's your ex-boyfriend."

Of course I know you know him. I'm just explaining. Why am I explaining, anyway?