Jack Of All Trades | COMPLETED

Chapter 32

Trigger warning: Molestation

I badly wanted to disappear without a trace.

The atmosphere was awkward yet intense. Gulantang na nakatitig si Loki sa mukha ni Jeime habang bahagyang nakaawang ang bibig niya.

Gusto ko magsalita pero parang nakabara na lahat ng salita sa lalamunan ko. Ali didn't utter anything as we felt the intensity of Jeime and Loki's stare-off.

Napakagat ako sa ibabang labi ko, pilit na pinapakalma ang sistema ko. I know I should say something but I felt so guilty when I looked at Loki.

There's no use denying it. Kahit na si Ali, kitang-kita ko ang pagkunot ng noo niya kanina habang tinitingnan niya si Jeime at Loki. Napaawang na lamang ang bibig niya nang mapagtanto kung ano ang relasyon nilang dalawa.

It's obvious that Jeime is Loki's son. There was no use lying to him.

"Ali, can you go inside first?" mahinang bulong ko sa kaniya.

Mukhang nahimasmasan na siya. He's still a bit drunk but at least he's slowly coming back to his senses. He seems so out of it when he stared at me, at Jeime, then at Loki. I swear I saw the fear in his eyes intensify when his eyes lingered for a while at Loki.

Dahan-dahan naman siya na tumango. Napalunok siya ng isang beses bago humakbang papalayo. Jeime followed Ali's retreating figure until he closed the door of the house behind him.

Mukhang naguguluhan si Jeime kaya tiningalaan niya ako. Marahan lang ako na tumango para sabihin na wala siyang dapat ikabahala.

He's just going to meet his father. Really no biggie.

But to be honest, I wanted to faint.

"Why did Daddy Ali go inside? Should we go in already, mommy? I'm cold," he pouted before holding his hands out at me to cup my cheeks.

Naramdaman ko ang lamig ng mga kamay niya. I sighed. "Later, angel."

He sighed, feeling defeated. "Okay..."

When I glanced up, I saw Loki staring at us. Mukhang natatakot siya na ewan. He wanted to take a step forward but he was waiting for Jeime's body language to see if it's okay.

"Loki," I called. "...He... uhm, Jeime's..."

Hindi siya sumagot. He continued staring at Jeime and I could tell my son was getting a bit uncomfortable when he subtly hid behind my leg.

Nagpakawala ako ng buntong hininga bago hinawakan ang kamay ni Jeime at iginiya siya na magpakita kay Loki. Nakatungo siya ngayon, mukhang nahihiya pa.

I bit my inner cheeks before speaking.

"Lo—"

I was cut off when he took a step forward. Nagtititigan pa rin sila ni Jeime. I held on to Jeime's shoulder to keep him in place as Loki slowly crouched to Jeime's level so he wouldn't intimidate him.

Naka-squat na siya ngayon sa harapan ng anak ko habang nararamdaman ko na ang lasa ng dugo ko dahil sa diin ng pagkakakagat ko sa aking labi. Fuck, I don't  know how I'm ever going to explain this.

"Hi," Loki's voice broke as his eyes glazed with tears. "What... what's your name?"

Jeime looked at him innocently. Tumingala pa siya sa'kin para magtanong kung pwede siyang sumagot. I taught him never to talk to strangers. But Loki's not a stranger which is why I just subtly nodded my head.

"Archer Jeime..." mahinang bulong ni Jeime, mukhang nahihiya pa.

Loki smiled which caused his tears to cascade down his cheeks.