Where We Belong

Chapter One

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"Mom please, I want that!"

I see the kid shake his mother's hand and bounce up and down, "Please! Please please please! Pretty please!"

He wraps his arms around her legs then as my eyes moves up to see the woman pressing the home button to her phone- she has circles under her eyes and looks like she hasn't slept for nights.

I see her sliding her phone in the back pocket of her pant as she focuses on on the boy, who is giving his best puppy face he can muster while batting his big shining eyes up at her,

"What? What do you want? Are you hungry?" Her voice is gentle. As gentle as I have heard anyone speak.

I look back at the kid. That is probably the most cutest pout I have ever seen a five year old pull.

If I was in his mother's place, maybe I would have bought him the whole store of whatever he wanted.

As much as I will like to teach him that you don't get everything in life, I will do all I can so that they don't have to sacrifice their wishes and their passions like I had to.

The kid nods his head, his silky black hair bouncing.

"What do you want to eat?"

When I see the kid's mother comb his silky straight hair out of his eyes, I feel a pang of jealousy punching my heart.

The kid points over to someone, "Whatever that uncle is selling." The kid is cute and he knows it.

And he also knows how to take full advantage of that because of the cutesy tone he spoke in.

Only if I did too... But would have they given in?

From my peripheral vision, I see the mother's gaze shift in the direction where an old man stands near the ticket counter, selling some kind of snacks I can't recall.

I didn't pay much attention to it.

I was taught not to.

But now, I wo-

"Okay but only one piece."

I see her looking down at her son, offering her hand to him,

The little boy jumped with joy as he took his mother's hand. "Thank you na, mae! You're the best!"

I see him smile wide, a tooth missing from set of teeth as he gives a thumbs up as the next beat of my heart is painful.

So painful that my eyes start to sting.

Just how much I wish I can say the same...

I catch the woman's curling lips just before she walks away with her son.

But my eyes follow them.

I see her buying him a packet of chips which he gleefully opens with a burst and ends up spilling them all over the ground, exploding with a cry.

I keep my gaze steady at them,

The jealousy towards the kid slowly envelops my heart as the inner corners of my eyes sting more,