Reminders of You

Prologue

Prologue

I looked at the scattered legos on the carpet. I sighed as I began to pick them up. I roamed my eyes around the room and smiled instantly as I saw a picture frame on top of the study table.

I went close so that I could examine it. The picture was a selfie taken last year. It was a picture of us, wearing matching headbands at Disneyland. I was kissing Chiel's cheek was he was smiling at the camera.

"Alchiel Nicholas, where are you?"

"Secret, mama!" rinig kong sigaw niya habang nakatago sa likod ng painting.. ng papa niya. It was a painting of us, wearing our biggest smiles on our 5th anniversary. We could've celebrated our 10th year anniversary last week. but we don't always get the things that we want, right?

I sighed. "Love, you need to get ready for your Tita Vielle's birthday party."

Chiel got out of his favorite hiding spot with a pout on his face. I laughed silently. "Come here, baby."

He raised his arms up and I bent down a little so that I could carry him. My baby is already 5 years old pero nagpapakarga parin. He wrapped his small arms around me and kissed my temple.

"Labyu mama," he cutely said. I giggled and pinched his cheek.

Naglakad na ako papunta sa kwarto para bihisan na siya. Nakahanda na ang kanyang mga damit na siya mismo ang pumili kagabi. Napangiti ako pagkatapos ko siyang bihisan.

"Ba't ka po nakasmile?" takang tanong ni Chiel.

"You look so pogi, baby," I answered him.

"Do I look.." he stated hesitantly. I urged him to go on. "Like.. papa."

I smiled. "Of course anak. You look so much like your papa."

Lahat nakuha mo sa papa mo, anak. Carbon copy ka niya. There is no use denying it. Kahit sino siguro na kilala ang papa mo, masasabi nila kaagad na anak ka niya. Anak naman kasi, ba't ba lahat namana mo sa papa mo? Mula sa mukha hanggang sa ugali, lahat nakuha mo na.

My heart dropped with the thought of him. He's.. the love of my life.... and I want it to remain that way. Hindi ko ipinagkait kay Chiel kung sino ang ama niya. I kept telling him stories about his father. How he became my light.

Alchiel Nicholas is my reminder of Saint Apollo. Just like his father, he also became my light in my darkest days.