✓ | REBIRTH OF THE REBEL [Book One]

CHAPTER 23

Note: Late update hehe. I'm having a hard time adjusting on my new schedule and I have to help my Mom pa sa work niya. Wala naman nagbago sa updating schedule (MWF pa rin) pero baka hindi na 7AM, gawin ko na lang 7AM onwards haha. Anyway, enjoy reading and see you on Wednesday!

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[ C H A P T E R 23 ]

LATISHA VALENTINE

I left him after I said what I wanted to say. Hindi ko na kayang manatili sa isang silid na siya lang ang kasama ko. I feel guilty for what I said but he needs to learn from his mistake. Hindi palagian na kinukunsinti siya ng lahat, kaya't simula sa araw na ito ay hindi ko na siya kakausapin—— kapag hindi kailangan.

Roshan is overusing his authority and sometimes he cannot assess which part he is wrong. He tends to avoid things that he is wary about without thinking about the reason behind it. His mind is blocked and he never changes his order unless he will admit he made a mistake.

What I said was the truth. He is letting me stay here because of my violent nature, but before he even knew that he was already opposed to divorcing me. Ayaw niyang iniiwan siya, ayaw niyang siya lang mag-isa, subalit paano ako mananatili kung palagi niya naman akong sinasaktan? He never thinks of my feelings, nor his daughter's feelings. He deserves what I said. Kapag talaga hindi siya nagbago, bahala na siya sa buhay niya!

Kinakalma ko ang aking sistema habang nilalandas ang daan papunta sa silid ni Annika. I wanted to see her and apologize for what I did. Sinabihan ako ni Sir Hasan na bukod sa umiiyak lamang daw si Annika, hindi raw ito nagsasalita. I fear the outcome once I push the door and see her, but I have mastered my confidence.

"Annika...?" mahinang tawag ko sa kanya ng pumasok ako. May narinig akong kalabog sa bandang kanan kaya ako napalingon roon. Agad akong lumuhod para salubungin ang yakap ni Annika ng bigla siyang tumakbo papunta sa akin. Agad lumabas ang kanyang iyak at hinayaan ko itong pumalahaw.

I blame myself for letting her experience that incident at such a young age. Ilang ulit akong nagmura sa utak ko habang humihingi ako ng paumanhin sa kanya. I feel guilty for everything and my apology will never help her to forget what happened. Ang tanging hiling ko na lamang ay hindi siya lumaki na dala-dala ito.

"I am sorry, Annika..." I whispered in her ear as my embrace grew tighter. Hinayaan ko lamang siyang umiyak at pakinggan ang kanyang maliit na boses. I caressed her head to calm her down until she eventually settled.

Kinarga ko siya at nilandas ko ang daan patungo sa kanyang kama. I put her to bed as she immediately wiped her tears away before she looked at me. Confusion enveloped her face as she put her little palms on my cheeks.

"Your eyes are back, Mum!" she blurted out.

Napamaang naman ako sa sinabi niya. With my raised eyebrows, I tried asking her the reason using my eyes because she was pressing my cheeks that made me look like a fool, but I let her be.

"Mummy's eyes have always been blue like this color, right?" Annika let my cheeks go as she pulled a thin handkerchief from her little pockets. It's a personal handkerchief that has her name on it. Binigay ko sa kanya 'yon sa unang araw na nagkita kami.

"My eyes are always blue, Annika." Umiling siya sa sinabi ko at halatang hindi siya sang-ayon kaya umusbong ang pagkalito sa aking sistema. "What other color does mummy's eyes have, child?"

"Your eyes earlier went violet, like that one..." she pointed to the lavender wall across her bed. Napakunot ang aking noo sa sinabi niya pero hindi ako nagsasalita. "Nagulat po ako, Mummy. Kasi asul po ang mga mata niyo palagi, pero kanina noong nakipag-ayaw ka po sa mga bad guys, naging violet po sila. May magic ka po ba, Mummy?"