Visual of Elysian (Abstract Series #2)

Chapter 40

"Mommy, the waves are chasing me!"

I burst out laughing as I watched Tati rush to the sand to avoid getting her toes wet by the sea water.

Kaunti na lang kaming naiwan sa resort. Bumiyahe na si Achi at Kuya papuntang France para sa honeymoon nila. Naunang umuwi si mommy dahil mas komportable raw siyang matulog sa kwarto niya sa mansyon. Our friends headed in their own path as well because we are already grown ups with responsibilities.

Babalik na rin sana kaming dalawa ni Tati sa Quezon pero naisipan kong sulitin pa ang oras na kasama ang anak ko. I became so preoccupied with the business that I didn't have much time to spend with Tati.

Dumako ang tingin ko kay Aid na papalapit kay Tati. Hindi niya yata napansin na nasa cottage lang ako. Naunang umuwi ang team nila pero nagpaiwan siya dahil gusto niya kasamang umuwi si Tati.

"Daddy!" our daughter screamed as he carried her and brought her to the water.

Parang maiiyak na si Tati pero tumatawa lang Aid, mas lalong nagugustuhan na asarin ang anak namin.

I sipped from the fresh buko I had bought earlier before approaching them. Tati quickly screamed out my name when she spotted me, kaya napatingin din sa akin si Aid.

His jaw dropped when he saw me in a yellow two-piece that complimented my tanned skin. He swallowed hard and averted his eyes.

Nahiya tuloy ako. Hindi ba bagay sa akin? Bakit siya umiwas ng tingin?

Umupo lang ako sa buhangin at pinanood silang dalawa na nagkukulitan. Hindi na nagrereklamo si Tati at mas nasisiyahan pa yata habang buhat ni Aid. I used my phone to take a picture of them.

Hindi ko napigilan ang pagiging emosyonal habang tinitingnan ang litrato nilang dalawa. Years ago, I thought that giving up was my only alternative because life was so challenging. Akala ko hindi ko kaya, pero heto ako nakaupo sa tahimik na dagat habang pinapanood ang mag-ama ko na nakangiti at nagtatawanan.

"Mommy! Join us!"

Parang bumalik ako sa reyalidad nang tinawag ako ni Tati, inaaya akong magtampisaw din sa tubig. I shook my head and smiled lightly. Tumaas ang kilay ko nang nagkatinginan sila ni Aid na parang may binabalak.

Before I could even run, they dragged me in the water. Tawa lang sila nang tawa habang hinilamos ko ang mukha para mawala ang mga butil ng tubig sa mukha ko.

"Kayo talaga!" singhal ko, sinusuklay ang basang buhok gamit ang mga daliri.

Aid was staring at me attentively, his eyes scrutinizing my features. I raised an eyebrow at him, and he reciprocated with a sly grin before coaching Tati to swim.

Nang mapagod kami sa paglangoy, bumalik na kami sa hotel para magbihis. Natigil lang kami nang biglang may babae na humarang sa harap namin.

"You are Kaiden Uriel Peralta, right?"

She's not someone I've met before. Her face was petite, which contrasted nicely with the rest of her features. Her body is also modest. A large buttocks and a toned body. Palihim akong napatingin sa tiyan ko. Flat din naman pero may mga stretch marks dahil sa pagbubuntis ko noon kay Tati.

"Yes, Miss. Bakit?" sagot ni Aid.

Bago pa man makasagot ang babae, hinila ko na si Tati palayo roon. I don't want her to hear the girl, who is most likely asking her father out.

"How about daddy?" she asked, while we were making our way inside the elevator.

Bago pa man sumara ang elevator, napigilan iyon ni Aid na humihingal pa. He flashed me an apologetic glance before turning his attention to Tati.