When The Flower Withers (Fleur Series #1)

Chapter 28

"When are we going back to Manhattan?"

I glanced at him, he was watching his favorite series on Netflix. "Why? Don't you want to stay here anymore?" I asked and went back on checking the sales of Canciones De Corazon—my restaurant.

He pouted and went near me. He wrapped his arms around my shoulder and kissed my right cheek. "But I miss my friends and Adam."

"Uncle Adam," I corrected.

"But he told me to just called him 'Adam'," he said, looking at me intently as if he was me making me feel like I was wrong again.

I sighed and pinched his pointy nose. "All right. All right. Mommy can't really win with you."

He giggled—the same way he does. "But we can visit Leandra, right? Please, Mommy." He pouted, he was prodding my nose. "Can we visit them this Christmas?"

"I don't know yet when we can visit them, sweetie. Remember Uncle Rylen's daughter? You can play with her, they'll go here tomorrow." I smiled and tousled his disheveled jet black hair.

"But I don't like her." He frowned.

"Why not?" I asked. I made him sit on my lap and hugged him while kissing his cheeks repeatedly.

"Because... She's masungit," he said while trying to avoid my kisses.

"But you're masungit, too. All the time." I grinned upon seeing his reaction.

"Touche." Ngumuso ulit siya.

Tiningnan ko ang orasan. "Time for your nap." I carried my son and he immediately buried his face on my neck.

Just like what he always does.

"Mom, why do I need to take a nap every afternoon? I'm too lazy to sleep," he asked as we made our way to his room.

After I put him on his bed, I brushed his hair and planted a kiss on his forehead. "Para tumangkad ka."

He furrowed his eyebrows. "What does it mean?"

"No more questions, Niell." Wasn't able to get the answer to his query, he frowned again. "What do you want for merienda? Mom will cook it for you... Or bake?"

His eyes glistened. "Blueberry cheesecake."

"Again? You just had it yesterday." Inayos ko ang comforter sa katawan niya nilagyan ng unan ang magkabilang gilid. Malikot kasi 'to matulog. Minsan, t'wing pupunta ako rito sa kwarto niya sa sahig na siya nakahiga.

"But you asked me," he reasoned out.

"Okay, baby," I teased. When he scowled, I pinched his right cheek and rubbed my nose against his. "Okay, young man. Sleep well." I kissed his forehead once more.

I stared at him and smiled sadly to myself... If things wouldn't have ended up that way before, we're both looking at him right now as he was sleeping carefully.  He never asked me about a father figure. He always appreciates even little things around him, he doesn't ask for more. He did not ask for more.

All the things I've failed to do to his father, I do it now with him. I poured every love, every happiness he deserves... Because I knew, at some point, I failed to give it to him.

It had been five years since I gave birth to Niell and the moment I brought him into this world, I had hope again. I failed with my mission to his father but my mission as a mother to him? It wouldn't. I was sure of that.

Bago pa ako maiyak nang tuluyan habang pinapanood siyang matulog nang payapa, may nag-doorbell. I wasn't expecting any visitors today. Sino kaya 'yon?