Justice

15

Trevor's Point of View

My brother keeps on telling me to go on our family dinner. But that is the thing I hate the most. Para saan ba ang dinner na yon? Matagal na nila akong hindi itinuring na pamilya, that is for sure.

But Travis said something that really caught my attention.

'I will tell Malia's secret if you will go for me.'

It's not that I am too interested, but something is really pulling me towards her. I didn't bother to wear a formal suit. Eating is just about the food and not about how I look.

I stopped in front of a grand fountain at the center of the property. But I didn't bother to get out from my car. I am still hesitating. It's as if I am going to gain too much from this.

I was about to drive away when I saw Gab get off from his car and opened the door for... Malia.

She looks amazed by the view of the mansion. My heart gives me this same thing whenever I see her.

Hindi na ako sumunod sa kanila. I sighed before I drove away. Ayokong ipahiya ag sarili ko sa harap niya.

I went back to the station. I made myself busy on the paper works I left for tomorrow. I didn't mind the people around me. Malia is still in my head and she really appears in my sight.

"Excuse me?"

I stopped staring at my computer when I heard a little voice coming from the door. Kumunot ang noo ko ng makita ang isang pamilyar na bata.

"Hi! Gabi na, bata. Bakit ka nandito?" one of the police asked.

The little kid is blank as I am. What is wrong with him? He does not look like a scared little boy when he is obviously lost. Nasa kabilang daan ang school kung saan ko siya nakita. It is pretty far from here for a kid like him.

"Naligaw po ako. At ang lakas ng ulan. Pwede po ba akong makitawag sa inyo?" he coldly asked.

"Ganon ba? Gusto mo bang ihatid ka namin? Anong pangalan mo?"

"Felix Constancia. Ihatid niyo ako kung gusto niyo basta tawagan niyo muna ang mama ko. Siguradong nag-aalala na siya sa akin." he said before he walks towards the nearest table to him. He took a pen and a paper then write something on it. He gave the paper to the nearest police before he sat on the long chair.

Wow, he is a unique kid.

I smirked before I looked back at my computer. Surely, this kid is a genius.

We all waited for the mother of the kid. But when she came in here... No way.

My heart beats fast again when I saw her. All soaked, messy, crying baby, and helplessly poor woman.

This can't be happening. Is it really the woman I know? Why does it have to be her?

Lia's Point of View

Malapit lang ang station kaya tumakbo na lang ako. Pumasok kaagad ako sa station na pamilyar sa akin. Hindi ko na pinansin ang mga titig ng tao sa loob.

I wandered my sight and sighed in relief when I saw my son. I run towards him and hugged him tightly.

"Basang-basa ka, mama." he worriedly said. Humiwalay ako sa kanya at pinagmasdan ang katawan niya.

"Okay ka lang ba? May masakit ba sayo? Ano ba ang nangyari? Sobrang nag-alala ako sayo. Paano ka napunta dito--"

"Umuwi na po tayo, mama. Inaantok na ako."

I closed my eyes before I smiled. I nodded as I looked at him.

"Iiwan muna kita dito, bibili lang ako ng payong. Mabilis lang ako, okay? Dito ka lang." I said while fixing his hair.

"Wag mo akong iwan dito, mama." he begs before he held my arm tightly. I bit my lower lip when I saw him started crying.

"Anak, mabilis lang naman ako. Babalik din kaagad ako, promise! Huh?" I tried to convince him.

I cannot let him get wet by the heavy rain outside. But I know how scared he is. What should I do?

"Use the umbrella behind the door."

Natigilan ako ng marinig ang malamig na boses ni Trevor. Lumingon ako sa kanya at nakitang seryoso siyang nakatitig sa computer niya.

Napatingin din ako sa mga kasama niya biglang bumaling sa mga computer sa harapan nila pagkatapos manood ng drama. I felt a little anger in me. Huminga ako ng malalim bago tumayo habang mahigpit na hawak ang kamay ng anak ko.

"Ibabalik ko rin ito--"

"No need." he coldy cut me off.

Hindi na ako nagsalita. Kinuha ko ang payong bago kami lumabas ni Felix.

Sanay na ako.

Sobra...

Sanay na ako na biglang nagbabago ang mga tao sa paligid ko kapag nalaman na nila na may anak ako. Sanay na ako na pinaparamdam nila sa akin na napakababa kong tao. Ginawa na rin ito sa akin ng pamilya ko.

Gina is the only one who never left me. She is the only one who stayed with me ever since that lowest point in my life.

Hindi na ako magtataka kung isang araw, pati ang trabaho ko ay mawala rin sa akin dahil sa anak ko.

Pero kahit na anong mangyari, wala akong pinagsisisihan. Hinding hindi ko pagsisisihan na tinanggap ko ang anak ko at sinakripisyo ang lahat ng meron ako.

Sumakay kami sa taxi na tumigil sa harap ng station. Ginamit ko ang cellphone ko para tawagan si Gina. Ipinaalam ko kaagad sa kanya na kasama ko na si Felix. I heard her cry in happiness. She even apologized for what happened but I am not in the right mind to blame her. Nagsisimula nang uminit ang katawan ko. I can feel the tiredness all over my body.

Pinilit kong huwag makatulog sa taxi hanggang sa makauwi kami ni Felix. I told him to take a quick bath dahil nabasa rin siya ng ulan. Mabuti na lang dahil hindi siya sakitin kagaya ko.

Uminom kaagad ako ng gamot at nagluto ng pagkain para kay Felix. Sinamahan ko siya sa dinner kahit na inaantok na talaga ako. I almost slept on the table.

We waited for more than an hour before we prepared to sleep.

He asked me to sleep beside him and I granted his request. I am really thankful that he was on the police station. Hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin ko kung sakali man na nawawala pa rin siya hanggang ngayon. Hindi ko mapapatwad ang sarili ko kung nawala na siya sa akin.

Iniisip ko pa lang na hindi ko na siya makikita, nadudurog na ang puso ko. Kahit gaano pa siya kakulit, o matigas ang ulo, o pasaway, o mahirap alagaan, hinding-hindi ko kaya na mawala ang anak ko.

Nakatulog kaagad ako na hindi na nakapagbasa ng bedtime story. Hindi na talaga kaya ng katawan ko.

Hindi ko alam kung gaano ako katagal na nakatulog, pero nagising ako dahil sa isang bangungot.

Bumangon ako at pumunta sa kusina. Uminom ako ng tubig bago maupo sa harap ng mesa.

Napanaginipan ko ang papa ni Felix. Napanaginipan ko na kinuha na niya sa akin ang anak ko at hindi na sila bumalik.

I silently cried bacause of the fact that I do not own my son. Hindi ko siya pwedeng angkinin dahil may sarili siyang buhay. At kahit masakit, kung ganoon man ang mangyari sa future, kailangan ko yong tanggapin.

I cannot give him the life he does not wanted to have. He is free to choose and I am here to guide him. Yon ang papel ko sa buhay ng anak ko. I just hope that I can raise him to be a better person, way better than I am.

***
resacoya

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Happy reading!