When You Ran Away (When Series #4)

Forty- Seven

Chapter 47.

Pagsalubong.

"I still can't believe nakayanan mong mag-isa, anak..." my Mom said out of the blue as we watched the stars up above the sky. "You are so brave to carry this sweet little child and faced your first time motherhood all alone." bahagya niyang hinaplos ang pisngi ni Praise na natutulog na sa kandungan ko.

"I wished we could turn back the time to stop you from leaving that night," saad ni Dad.

Sinandal ko ang ulo ko sa kaniyang balikat. "It's alright, Daddy... Ang importante ay nandito na kayo para sundoin kami ng apo ninyo."

My father is so emotional. Ang bilis niyang mapaiyak. He secured me while putting his hand on my shoulder. "I missed you so much, hija..." nanginginig ang boses na aniya. "Sana mas maaga ka naming nahanap..."

"Shhh... I am okay now, Dad. Don't cry now. Mas iyakin ka na ngayon kaysa kay Mommy, ah?" I joked.

He chuckled and wiped his tears. "I just missed you, Valentina..."

"I missed you too. Kayong lahat, na-miss ko kayo." nakangiting sabi ko.

Nag-usap pa kami tungkol sa ibang bagay. Nagtataka ako kung bakit hindi nila tinatanong kung sino ang ama ni Praise. Sa pagkakaalala ko ay nagsinungaling ako sa kanila noon sa pagbubuntis ko kay Praise kaya nakakapagtaka na wala man lang nagtanong.

They booked a hotel for us but I am afraid Praise will be shock to wake up in an unfamiliar room. Minabuti kong umuwi at hinatid nila kami.

Malapit lang naman ang hotel na tinutuluyan nila sa apartment namin ni Praise. Bukas na bukas ay lalakad kami sa magagandang lugar dito sa Italy. Praise will be their tour guide.

Tinitigan ko ang anak kong mahimbing ang pagkakatulog. Napagod siya sa mahabang usapan kasama ang dalawang matanda. When Dad mentioned that she has a baby cousin in the Philippines, it excites and gave her a reason to go there.

'Di na rin ako makapaghintay sa pag-uwi ko.

Sa mga sumunod na araw ay naglakwatsa pa rin kaming apat. Praise's papers is still on the process. Baka sa susunod na linggo ay makakalipad na kami pauwi ng Pilipinas.

"What would Gabriella react if she finds out that she has a granddughter to you?" naibulong ni Mommy habang pinapanood namin ang anak ko na nakikipaglaro kay Dad.

Alam na talaga nila kung sino ang ama ni Praise?

"I can't believe she hurt you alot of times, Leria. You don't deserve those. Physical man o emotional." naiiritang dugtong ni Mom.

"Mom..." saway ko. "Nagawa lang iyon ni Tita para maprotektahan si Gabriel--"

"Kahit na! She has no rights to hurt my own daughter. I understand that she is just protecting her son but she can do it without hurting you! Hay! Akala ko pa naman magkaibigan talaga kami," nagtatampong aniya. "She don't deserve to meet Praise."

"Below the belt ka na, Mommy." seryuso ko nang saway. "Kahit nagawa man akong saktan ni Tita noon, may karapatan pa rin siyang makilala ang anak ko. Lalo na ang anak niya."

Napabuntong-hininga ang ina ko. "I know Julien will be happy to know this news but there's a possibility he will get mad."

"Then I'll accept his anger towards me as long as he will give love to our daughter."

"Oh Leria... Why are you so kind and selfless?"

"You made me this way, Mom. Kayo ni Dad at Lola ang naging dahilan ko para maging mabait sa lahat lalo na sa mga taong mahal natin," ngiting tugon ko. "I'll try my best for Praise to have a complete and healthy family like me but if Gabriel will refuse..." I shouldn't think about those kind of things thoroughly.