To Change (Higuera Series #1)

Kabanata 28

Kabanata 28

Dinner

Nginitian ko ang anak nang mag tama ang aming mata. She stood up from her seat and ran towards me.

"Mommy! Mommy!"

"Why are your clothes wet?" Takang tanong ni Mommy.

"Naubosan ako ng gas Mom. My car broke down on the street and I sought for help."

Binigyan ako ng towel ng kasamabahay. Kinuha ko ito at nilagay sa aking leeg Giselle hugged my legs. Umupo ako upang mag pantay kami. I caress her hair and stared at her eyes. Ngumiti ako

"Let's take a bath, baby?"

Tumango siya. Ngumunguya pa ito ng lollipop.

Kinarga ko siya at hinarap ang kasamabahay.

"Paki ready po ng bathtub ko."

Nilingon ko si Mommy.

"Can your men get my car, Mom?"

Tumango si Mommy. Nilingon niya ang isang kasamabahay.

"Get, Manong Mario."

Mabilis na nagtungo ang kasamabahay patungo sa driver. 

Tahimik kong pinagmasdan ang anak habang nalilibang ito sa kanyang laroan. Huminga ako ng malalim.

Thoughts and realization came into me while staring at her.

A mother's love is incredible, it's the purest love the children can receive. And I'm giving more than that. Hinihigitan ko pa ang binigigay sa anak. But a father's love can never be replaced. It's the kind of love that's protecting, comforting, and securing.

I'm such a selfish mother para ipag damot yun sa anak ko. I wanted her to grow up with that kind of love but I'm having second thoughts, I'm not risking telling his father about her.

It's just, that I'm scared he might reject my daughter. Na baka hindi niya tanggapin ang anak ko. Nabaka itanggi niyang sa kanya si Giselle. And as a mother I don't want my daughter to experience that kind of heart ache. It breaks me more.

Dinala ko si Giselle sa aking dibdib at niyakap ito ng mahigpit.

I'm sorry, baby, Mommy's sorry for giving you the less love you deserve. I'm sorry for being a coward.

Nagbihis rin kami matapos ko siyang sabonan. I keep extra clothes in our mansion. Mommy purchased Giselle a lot of clothes, which I also have in my wardrobe. 

I comb her hair while she was sleeping. 

Nasa aking dibdib ang anak habang natutulog. I stared blankly at the ceiling. Since going back I had hard time sleeping. Myabe from all the thoughts running inside my head it didn't give me enough peace.

Pinikit ko ang mata upang ipahinga ang isip. Kalaunan naka tulog rin ako.

Nagising ako ng gumalaw si Giselle sa aking dibdib.

"My, My!" Tawag niya.

Napadpad ang kanyang palad sa aking ilong. I scrunch my nose and open my eyes. She did the same with her nose and smiled widely at me.

Wala ako gaanong ginawa ng araw na yon. I only called Elio's secretary to set a meeting with him tomorrow. Tapos naligo kami ni Giselle sa pool. Mom joined as she carried my daughter. Nagtutumpisaw ito habang malakas ang halakhak. Her cute salbabida on her arms and her red one-piece swimwear makes her so cute and squishy. Her big smile and disheveled hair makes her Higuera genes came out.

I pouted.

Kinuha ko ang aking poloroid at kinuhaan siya ng litrato.

"Baby, tingin dito." Tawag pansin ko sa kanya.