SALVATORE #1: Loving the Prostitute

CHAPTER 50

"Mum!"

My son ran to me and hugged me tightly. Binuhat ko siya.

"Mommy, why did you leave? I woke up and I couldn't find you anywhere," may pagtatampo sa boses ng anak ko. I rubbed his back to hush him.

"May ginawa lang saglit si mommy."

"Mommy, who's that chick?"

I was shocked. What the heck? Saan niya iyon natutunan? That Ezekiel! Kung ano-anong tinuturo sa anak ko.

I turned around to face Honeylette. Titig na titig siya sa anak ko. Compared earlier, she's more than shock. Hindi makapaniwala ang mga mata niya at halatang hindi maniniwala kapag hindi niya nakita.

She seriously turned to me. "You have a son?" mahinang tanong niya.

I nodded. She's too serious. Hindi katulad kanina. Nakatitig lang din sa kanya ang anak ko. Doesn't know what to say.

"Mom, who is she?" my son whispered. Iniwas ko ang tingin kay Honeylette at tumingin sa anak ko.

I smiled sweetly. "She's your lola," mahina kong bulong sapat na para siya lang ang makarinig.

Nagtaka ang anak ko. "Lola, mama? But she's not that old."

"What? I'm your tita," sabi ni Honeylette na parang bumalik na sa dati.

I chuckled. Who wouldn't know that one day I would be introducing my son to her.

"What the hell, Denise?"

Pinapanood ko ang anak kong naglalaro sa gilid ng dagat. I'm keeping my eyes on him. Nagpumilit si Honeylette na maligo at nakiligo na rin ang anak ko. I have no choice but join them para na rin bantayan ang anak ko.

"Keep your mouth shut as what I told you earlier. Whatever you saw in here, stays here," I said while still looking at my son.

"Mom! It's a c'ab!" he shouted while showing me what he's pointing. I waved my hand.

"That's why you suddenly disappeared and I just knew you have a son. He didn't know, huh. I see," she said. Alam kong naiintindihan niya. Base sa tinig ng boses niya. I don't know her that much but I feel it. "He's like a mess you know. He always drinks and almost forgot that he still has a life to live."

Hindi ako nagsalita. It's not that I'm asking. Hindi ko naman tinatanong. Hindi sa ayaw kong makarinig ng kahit na ano sa kanya. I just don't want to talk and think about him.

Kahit gano'n ang nangyari ay siya pa rin ang dahilan kung bakit may buhay ako ngayon. Siya pa rin ang dahilan kung bakit nandito si Lucas sa piling ko. But how about him, Denise? Doesn't he have the rights to know your son?

I know. I know. Hinahanda ko ang sarili ko kung paano ko ipapakilala ang anak ko. But then I remembered, I promised not to show my face to them anymore. If I did, she'll expose me.

But who cares? I've moved on already. Haharapin ko na kung ano man ang takot sa loob ko. Haharapin ko iyon kasama ang anak ko sa tabi ko. But that doesn't mean I let him get hurt. Poprotektahan ko pa rin siya.

There, I've decided. Ipapakilala ko siya sa ama niya. Whatever the consequences, I'll face it.

"So what? Kasalanan ko?" mataray kong tanong. She's talking as if it was my fault.

She rolled her eyes. "No. I'm just telling."

Bigla kaming nanahimik. Pinagmamasdan lang namin si Lucas na tuwang-tuwang nakikipaglaro sa crab.

"How are you?" I asked suddenly. It's been years. "How's Adeline?"

"Really? Kinamusta mo kami pero si Luca, hindi?"