Forced to be with you

Forced 24

"Mommy, kailan babalik si daddy?"

I stop typing on my laptop when Stream went to me with a pouting lips. One week na kasi mula nang bumalik muna si River sa Manila. He said, it was an urgent meeting with board.

Humarap ako sa kaniya nang maayos saka hinaplos ang kaniyang mukha. I docked my head towards her to reach for her closely.

"Huwag ka ng mainip huh. Daddy is just busy with work. Diba lagi naman kayong nag vivideo chat?" saad ko sa kaniya.

Tumango siya.

Walang palya ang pagtawag sa amin ni River. I can see in his face every time they are talking online that he badly wants to come home.

Wait, why did I say home? nababaliw na naman ako.

"But, I miss him mommy. I want to see him na" ungot niya sa akin.

Nalulungkot din akong makita siyang malungkot. Ano ba pinakain mo dito River at ganun nalang kaattach yung anak ko sayo! Hay naku!

"But baby, Manila is too far" I insisted.

She pouted her lips more. Niyakap ko siya ng mahigpit dahil nanunubig na ang kaniyang mga mata. Paano ko ba lulusutan ito?

Ilang minuto pa kaming nagyakapan at hinahagod ko ang kaniyang likod nang marinig ko ang pagtunog ng cellphone ko.

"Stream, you play with your doll for the meantime. I am just going to talk to Tita Marley first." sabi ko sa kaniya.

Kahit nalulungkot, tumango parin siya sa akin bilang pagsunod sa utos ko. When Stream left, I answered the phone call.

"What's up?" bungad ko sa tumawag sa akin.

"Busy mo masyado ah, tagal mong pinick up ang call ko" sabi niya.

"Nagdadrama pa kasi ang inaanak mo" I snorted out.

"Why? what happened?" She curiously asked.

"She misses her dad" I told her.

I heard her gasp. Noong nakavideo chat kaming tatlo, naikuwento ko na sa kanila ang tungkol kay River. I heard different kinds views from them. Ang isa inis na inis ang isa naman kalmado lang nagbibigay ng opinyon niya. And you know who is spat the most.

"Ang lakas talaga ng karisma yang ex mong yan" She tsked.

I leaned back then exhaled. She is right, malakas nga karisma niya.

"Anways bakit ka napatawag?"

"Christmas break nyo na ba?"

"Oo"

"Perfect. Let's throw a surprise bachelorette party to Tia. You know how much she wants you here with us" I heard her say.

Napaayos ako ng upo ang nanahimik saglit. Matagal na nga akong sinasabihan ni Tia na lumuwas nang malaman na niyang nagkita na kami ni River. She said, it is finally time to come home, the home where I grew up and to show up to my family. Si Tia lagi ang nagbabalita sa kin tungkol kila mommy and everytime I would hear stories about them from her, I fell dishearten. I am so guilty for leaving without a trace.

"Tia was right Cley. Now that River found you already, maybe this is time that you introduce Stream to your family. Your parents will understand why you did it and I am sure they will still welcomes you with open arms" she advised.

For a long years, I deprived Stream for knowing my own family. Kinamulatan nalang niya ang mga naging pangalawang pamilya ko dito. She doesn't know that she still has her grandparents and an uncle.