WARREN GIDEON: In War, I Found Peace [Warren & Astacia]

Kabanata 1

I was stuck in between going down to them and show up or run away and hide. Of all the people, he was the last person I was expecting to see or meet again. And how did it happen? Papaanong napunta roon si Warrion?

What was I going to do now?

Nanginginig ang mga tuhod ko habang bumababa ng escalator. Wala naman akong ibang choice kundi kunin si Warrion doon. And if I was ranting about people and their bad escalator etiquette earlier, wala na akong pakialam pa na ganoon na rin ako ngayon. Nagmamabilis ako sa pagbaba kahit pa nakakabunggo na ako ng mga tao mapuntahan at maalis ko lang doon sa stage ang anak ko.

I pushed through bodies to get to the stage. Agad na may humarang sa akin na mga bodyguards, pinipigilan ako sa pag-akyat sa itaas.

“Miss, kalma ka lang! Hindi sila pupuwedeng lapitan!”

“Sige na, Miss, tumabi ka na!”

I grew more frustrated.

“He is my son! That kid is my son, do you understand?” sabi ko roon sa mga bodyguards habang itinuturo si Warrion na sayang-saya at walang kamuwang-muwang sa nangyayari.

Kumunot ang noo ng bodyguard sa akin. He whispered something at the other bodyguard and I watched nervously as he climbed up the stage and went to the man that was carrying my son on his lap.

Oh, God!

From my view, I could clearly see their similarities. Hindi ako maaaring magkamali. Siya talaga ‘yong lalaking naka-one night stand ko noon. Siya ‘yong daddy ni Warrion!

“Warrion Jeremy!” sigaw ko.

My son looked around and brightly smiled when he saw me. Hinawakan niya ‘yong mukha noong lalaking may hawak sa kaniya at saka pinilit ito na tumingin sa direksyon ko.

“That’s my mommy! Mommy! Mommy!” Warrion called me out, pointing me using the drum stick in his hand.

I wasn’t breathing anymore when the guy turned his face to me. Hawak-hawak ko ang aking paghinga at sandaling biglang ibinalik ako roon sa gabing pinagsaluhan naming dalawa. His eyes. God, his eyes and the way he looked at me did not change a bit. They were still so deep, so expressive.

Please, please, let not him remembered me!

Naglulumikot si Warrion sa kandungan niya. Nakahinga naman ako nang maluwag nang mag-alis ng tingin ang lalaki sa akin. Gesturing his hand, he signalled the host for a quick break.

“Cebu, sorry for the short interruption. The ASSthetics will be back in a bit,” the host announced, gaining collective snorts and protests from the crowd.