Heart in Disguise (Heart Series #2)

E P I L O G U E

Thank you, Phaebe Bebeloves for letting me use your name. I hope someday you'll meet your own Philip.
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“Mimi!”

I saw the little girl ran towards my Mom. She was wearing a beautiful pink off-shoulder dress. Her hair was in two messy buns.

The first time I laid my eyes on her, my young heart beat fast.

Everything suddenly became colorful around me. She was like a star. She gave color to me. And she’s like a galaxy that I badly want to call my home.

She stilled when she noticed me. Napatingin siya saglit sa akin, so I hugged my Mom’s waist and hid myself.

I’m shy. What if she wouldn’t like me?

She ran towards us and hugged my Mom tight. A huge smile is pasted on her lips.

And I think, that was the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen… aside from my Mom of course.

“Saan ka ba galing, ha? I’ve been roaming the whole place to find you pero wala ka,” Mom asked her.

“At the backyard, Mimi. I was staring at the skies wishing for Mom and Dad to come home,” she answered Mom.

I felt a thud on my heart. Nasaktan ako nang marinig ang sinabi niya. I could feel how she misses her parents yet they’re not around for her birthday.

Mom tried comforting her. She changed the topic for this pretty girl to feel happy.

Kahit ako ang nasa sitwasyon ni Mom, I will gladly do the same.

I know that night during her birthday, everything wasn’t perfect and enough for her.

I can see it in her eyes. The way she smiled, it didn’t reach her eyes. Her eyes weren’t sparkling with joy.

I badly want to take her pain away.

But how? I’m just a boy.

Later that night, I saw her sneaked out of her room. I got curious so I followed her.

I found myself standing at her back. She’s on the swing. I could hear her sniffs and small cries.

It was painful for me. I could feel my heart breaking.

I walked towards her back and started softly pushing the swing.

“W-Why are you crying?” I asked.

No matter how hard I tried, I still stuttered. I almost want to hurt myself for stuttering in front of her. She might laugh at me.

But she doesn’t. Instead, she answered me.

“My Mom and Dad doesn’t love me. They never visited me during my birthdays. They never come home like they didn’t miss me at all.” She cried.

I felt sad for her. If only I wasn’t shy, I would have come here earlier than today, so that I had the chance to comfort her. I should have been insistent.

“W-We’re here for you. Y-You don’t have to be sad. Mom and Dad will never leave you. And… I-I will never leave you,” I stuttered again.

My heart is beating erratically. I wasn’t certain if she would buy that. I am not a good comforter.

“You won’t?” She asked.

I nodded. She couldn’t see me, though.

“I won’t. Ever.”

I stopped the swing. I walked in front of her and stood there.

Kinuha ko ang kwentas sa bulsa ko. I bought this one from Australia, when my Mom told me about her birthday.