Afflicted (TLS #3 - COMPLETED)

A R T I C L E 3 - S E C T I O N 38

"PA-PA . . . come'n, baby . . . say it . . . say pa-pa!" dahan-dahan ang bawat bigkas ko para mas madaling makuha ni Serenity.

"Give up, JD. That kid won't call you any sooner," pang-aasar ni EJ kasunod ng pagsubo ng grapes na kinuha niya mula sa handa sa table namin.

Inirapan ko ang kaibigan at muli lang na binalingan si Serenity na nakatitig sa akin na para bang aliw na aliw siya sa mukha ko.

"Why are you staring at me?" I cooed and the 6 months old Serenity giggled before putting one of her fingers inside her mouth.

"Gwapo mo daw kasi." Pagbaling ko sa gilid ko para tingnan ang nagsalita ay isang halik sa pisngi ko ang agad na nagpangiti sa akin.

Inayos ko muna ang pagkakakarga kay Serenity gamit ang isang braso bago ko hinayaan ang isang kamay na pumalibot sa bewang ni Lauren na kagagaling lang sa kusina mula sa pagtulong kay Mama sa paghahanda para sa New Year.

Hindi nakalampas sa paningin ko ang bahagyang panginginig ni Lauren nang unang tumama ang tingin niya sa bata pero mabilis niya rin iyong tinabunan ng isang ngiti bago marahang kinurot ang pisngi ng anak.

I internally sighed seeing that. 6 months after giving birth to Serenity ay hindi pa rin magawa ni Lauren na buhatin ang bata. Though I am glad that she's not looking at her and treating her with contempt and hatred just like what her therapist had thought, but still seeing her suffer everytime her eyes settles on her daughter makes me suffer too.

Serenity is such an angel. Hindi nito pinahirapan ang Mommy niya sa paglabas niya noon at rarely rin kaming mapuyat sa kanya. It was as if she's making up for her father's sins na ayaw na niyang maging pahirap pa sa mommy niya, which is good but a sad thing.

I wanted her to grow normally. With a loving and supporting family. Sa kabila ng dahilan kung bakit siya isinilang sa mundong ito, I wanted her to fall in love with life. That's why I insisted on giving her my name.

Serenity Lopez. My and Lauren's beautiful daughter.

After Lauren received an attempt assassination, mabilis na inasikaso nina Papa ang paglipat namin sa isang safe house habang on-going ang kaso ng mga Quintos. Given the serious injury she got from that incident, we all decided to lay low, kahit si Russianna ay iyon rin ang naging saloobin tungkol sa issue.

A protection order was issued for Lauren and our family against the Quintos. Sinigurado rin namin na filtered ang mga balitang makakarating kay Lauren tungkol sa kaso kaya naman tanging si Russianna at si EJ lang na madalas ang pagbisita rito ang siyang nagsisilbi naming main source sa mga nangyayari sa kaso.

Lauren was in coma for almost seven months after she was shot in the bathroom of our house. She gave birth unconciously and that was our greatest risk throughout the process. I must admit that at one point, I considered getting rid of the baby to make sure Lauren's safe, but then, seeing Serenity for the first time made me feel things I've never felt before.

Seeing her small pretty face that looks so much like her beautiful mother and nothing like that monster softened my heart beyond belief.

This child is a part of my beloved. I don't care who's monster blood was running through her veins but Serenity is my daughter.

"Cute," Lauren uttered in a low voice while staring at Serenity cooing and reaching out her short hands to her, as if asking her to take her from my hold.

Serenity's eyes looked pleading to me, as if wanting to feel her mother's embrace for once. And it was both a beautiful and sad sight to see.

"Jasper . . ." Lauren called out with a breathy voice, her eyes never leaving her daughter's face.

"She's nothing like that monster, Lauren. Serenity is our daughter, remember?" marahan kong paalala sa kanya na siyang nagpabaling ng tingin niya sa akin.

Agad na rumehistro sa akin ang tahimik at nag-aabang na mga tingin nina Mama, Papa, at ni EJ. I am so sure that everyone's tense and anticipating for what's about to come.

Ilang beses nang sinubukan ni Lauren ang ganito. Though she was trying so hard, she always ends up cowering back when she was about to touch or carry Serenity. We even gave up breastfeeding the kid for she can't stand the close proximity and would just pass out which is pretty much dangerous for the both of them if unattended.

"Go on, Lauren. You can do this. Let's put on some badass plot twist to end this year, okay? Give Serenity the one gift she deserves."

Lauren licked her trembling lips, tightly closed her eyes and mentally counted as she tried to stabilize her breathing. When she opened her eyes, I saw the familiar determination and curiosity my Lauren has right before all of these tragedies happened.

"Let me hold her . . ." ani niya sa naginginig na boses.

As if hearing what her mother said bring her joy, Serenity chuckled cutely and even squealed in delight making me smile tenderly.

"But please don't let go of her completely. I might . . . I might . . . hurt her . . ." nag-aalalang pakiusap ni Lauren na tinanguan ko bago bahagyang in-adjust ang pagkarga sa bata para mailipat ko sa kanya.

"Careful . . . slow but careful, Lauren," paalala ko habang dahan-dahang inaalalayan si Serenity papunta sa kanya.

Serenity was too excited though. She was all wriggly as she squirmed her way out of my arms and to her mother who was still trembling a bit.

"We can do this, Lauren. Hold her tight enough but not to the point of giving her pain." Tumango si Lauren at pikit ang matang tinanggap si Serenity.

I heard loud gasps around us before the sound of camera shutters resounded in the silent living room. Mama took a picture of Lauren and Serenity together.

Serenity immediately found a comfortable position on her mother's arms as she placed her soft and little arms on her mother's arms and her head rested on Lauren's shoulder.

"You did it, Lauren," I told her, my voice filled with pride.

Lauren's eyes slowly opened. Her eyes immediately found mine and as soon as I smiled at her approvingly her eyes went down to that tiny bundle of joy in her arms and a tear fell down her eyes.

"I . . . I did it?"

Ngumiti ako bago magaan ang mga daliring pinunasan ang mga luhang tumakas sa mga mata niya. I kissed her forehead closing the gap between use but making sure that Serenity had enough space.

"I'm so proud of you," I whispered.