The Choice He Made (COMPLETED)

Chapter 37

I am applying lotion over my legs when Azrelle went inside my room, giggling to herself. Agad akong napabling dito nang makitang tinakbo niya ang kama ko at saka napalundaglundag dito. 

“Mammy, faster… we have to go. Andy is already there.” Tumatalon talon niyang sabi. Umaalon alon ang itim niyang buhok na effortless ang pagkakakulot sa baba. She has Leo’s eyes but the rest of her feature resembles me. Thick brows, rosy lips and pointed nose. She has her baby chick dahil bata pa naman siya. 

“Alright. Stop doing that, Azrelle.” Suway ko dito. She just ignored me and continued jumping while laughing. She is so naughty. I don’t know where she gets that pero baka nga sa akin. 

“Azrelle, if you keep on jumping baka masira ang kama…. And I thought we’re going? You haven’t changed your clothes, Honey,” tumatawa kong suway dito. She giggled and jumped for the last time before she run out of my room to changed. I heard her calling Ate Lian para bihisan ito. Naka uniform pa siya dahil kakauwi lang namin. Sinundo ko siya after work at naligo ako pagkauwi. 

I continued applying lotion when my phone rang. I let it ring for a while at nang matapos akong mag apply ng lotion ay saka ko lang sinagot. I sighed when I saw its Mama. She’s been calling me this past few days kahit alam naman niyang hindi ako papayag sa gusto niya. 

“Mama,” I greeted. 

She sighed. “Haven’t you  decided yet? I need you to decide asap, Rea.” Medyo iritang sabi nito. 

“Mama, I told you… I don’t want to go back. Why don’t you respect that? Kung si Azrelle lang naman ang idadahilan niyo ay pwede naman kayong lumipad ni Papa papunta dito … para makita siya.” I trailed off as I massaged my temple. “Besides, Lolo Austin is here. He would be lonely if uuwi kami.” 

Mama was constantly giving me stress these past few days. She wanted me to come back in Philippines when I don’t want to. Last month ay andito sila ni Papa pero agad silang umuwi dahil sa hotel na inaasikaso. Lolo Austin also give the SMA Hospital to dad para e manage. Dagdag trabaho pero wala siyang nagawa ng mag inarte si Lolo na hindi na kayang mag manage non. Ngayon ay pa relax relax na lang ito kasama ang mga kaibigang matatanda. Kaya rin naging naughty itong si Azrelle ay dahil spoiled na spoiled siya dito. 

“Rea, tumatanda na kami ng Papa mo. Why are you keeping Azrelle away from us?” 

I rolled my eyes. “Mama, I’m not keeping her away. Ang sakin lang hindi kami pwedeng umuwi. Nag-aaral pa si Azrelle and I’m working. Hindi ko basta basta kayang iwan.”

She sneered. “Isa pa yang trabaho mo. Bakit hindi ka sa hotel natin mag trabaho at kailangan sa ibang company pa? 

I gritted my teeth. I don’t want to confront Mama about the thoughts that keep running in my head pero hindi ko na napigilan dahil sa determindo niya. After sumugod ng mga Silvano noon sa hospital para kunin si Azrelle ay hindi ko na sila nakitang muli. Pagkatapos makuha ni Mama si Azrelle ay agad kaming lumuwas papuntang America. Lolo Austin was here that time, kaya hindi kami nahirapang umalis. We ride his private plane. I could still remember how sad Viya was noong iwan namin siya basta basta sa hospital  pero wala akong nagawa. I was scared Mrs. Silvano would try to get Azrelle again kaya hindi na ako umangal nang sabihin ni Mama na aalis kami pa America. Nakita ni Viya ang pagkuha nila sa anak ko kaya she understands. Ever since that day, I never went back to Philippines again. It's already been five years and I still don’t want to come back. Back then, subrang suportado ni Mama ang hindi ko pagbalik sa pilipinas. Nitong mga nakaraang araw lang ay panay ang kumbinsi niyang umuwi kami. It made me think na may iba pa siyang rason para doon. 

“I don’t want to ask this, Mama pero may dahilan pa ba bakit gusto mo kaming pabalikin ni Azrelle?” seryoso kong tanong. She didn’t speak for a few moment kaya mas lalo kong naisip na tama nga ang hinala ko. May iba siyang rason para bumalik ako. That made me laughed sarcastically.