Stolen Moments

17.

I kept Levi hidden from everyone. The only person who knew about him was my doctor and Yaya Marie- she's been with me since I was a child kaya malaki ang tiwala ko sa kanya.

I was never ready to tell my parents about my son, but I know I can't keep him hidden forever. And I want him to meet his grandparents too. So the next day, I've finally decided to introduce him.

"Anak, are you excited to meet your grandma and grandpa?" I asked softly while putting clothes on him.

"Gwampa?" he stared at me curiously.

"Yes, baby. Grandma and Grandpa, mommy's parents." I explained, though I know he doesn't understand much yet.

"Yayy!" he giggled and clapped his hands. Napangiti naman ako at pinanggigilan ang mga pisngi niya.

"You're the cutest." I giggled. "If they ask you how old you are, what would you say?"

He thought about it for a while, then looked at his fingers. He slowly lifted two fingers and showed me. "Two!"

"Good job!" I cheered. "What's your name?"

"Wevi!" He said excitedly while clapping his hands.

"Yes, baby! You're Levi!" I kissed his cheek soundly.

Buhat ko ang anak nang palabas kami ng kwarto. Naabutan namin si Yaya Marie na pinapakain si Maxie, my dog. I kept him. Nung lumayas ako sa condo ni Zayden, I took him with me. I assumed it was fine with him because he never contacted me naman na.

Nang makita ni Levi ang aso ay kaagad siyang sumubok na kumawala sa buhat ko. I kissed his cheek before letting him go to play with our dog.

"Saan kayo ngayon, anak?" tanong ni Yaya Marie.

"'Kila mommy po, ipapakilala ko si Levi."

"Talaga?" gulat niyang tanong. "Handa ka na ipakilala si Levi?"

"Opo, I want him to meet his grandparents while he's still young. Sama ka po? I'm sure you miss my mom too." pag-aaya ko. They were really close when I was growing up. They were bestfriend. Nawalan nga lang sila ng contact nung pinagbubuntis ko si Levi. Yaya Marie prioritized me and I felt bad about it pero ang sabi niya noon ay ayos lang daw.

She nodded and told me na maliligo lang daw siya saglit. Habang hinihintay siya ay umupo nalang muna ako sa carpet sa salas para samahan si Levi na naglalaro ng Lego, the bigger ones though, safe for two year olds like him.

"What's that?" I asked and hugged his small body.

"Wowbot!" he mumbled.

"A robot?" I asked and kissed his cheek. He nodded and stood up to hug me. Natawa naman ako at pinugpog ng halik ang mukha niya.

"Wabyu, mommy!" he giggled.

"I love you too, my baby." I chuckled and kissed his tiny nose.

Inayos ko ang mga kailangan ni Levi at nilagay sa maliit niyang bag. It had a Lego print, probably why it's his favorite. He loves Legos. Yun palagi ang pinapabili niya kapag nasa mall kami. I think it started when I made him watch The Lego Movie once. Gusto niya ngang panoorin ulit but I'm trying my best to avoid giving him too much screen time because he's still a baby.

"Mommy!" tinuro niya ang favorite niyang plushie sa sofa habang inaayos ko ang pagkakasuot niya ng bag.

"You want to take Goofy with you?"

He nodded and ran away from me to grab it. Yakap yakap niya yon habang naglalakad pabalik sa'kin.

"O-wa-lah!" he showed me his koala stuffed toy.

The one Zayden won for me years ago.

"Yes, baby. Koala. What color is he?"

"Gwey!"

"Good job!" I clapped my hands proudly.

I was both excited and nervous while I was driving on our way to my parents house. Si Levi naman ay nakatulog sa byahe.

He was asleep in my arms habang naglalakad kami ni Yaya Marie papasok ng bahay.

"Biiig house!" a small, sleepy voice said.

"Oh, you're awake?" I kissed Levi's cheek.

"Shleep again." he yawned and rested his head on my neck.

"Yaya Marie!" I heard a loud voice.

"Eleanor!" nawala si Yaya sa tabi ko at nakita ko nalang siyang nakayakap kay mommy.

I glanced at Levi who is now wide awake, nagising sa sigaw ni mommy. Mabuti nga at hindi umiyak eh.

"Celestine?" boses ni Daddy ang narinig ko. He was looking at my son.

"Uh, hi, dad!" I smiled nervously. "We need to talk."

🍰

"You have a son?!" napapikit ako sa sigaw ni mommy.

I took Levi's tiny hand and waved it in the air. "Yeah?" I answered with an awkward smile.

"And you never told us?! Is that why you always go home to your condo and never stay here anymore?"

"Well, I can't sleep when my son's away from me." The first time I slept away from Levi was when me and Zayden slept at the new house, when he helped me get settled. Pero halos hindi ako nakatulog noon dahil hindi ako sanay na hindi yakap ang anak ko.

"Oh my gosh, Celestine! You kept my apo hidden away from me?" my mom looked more offended than mad.

"I'm sorry, okay? I just... I was scared. What if you wouldn't like him?" mahina kong sabi.

"Are you kidding me? That's our grandson! Of course we love him." inirapan ako ni daddy bago lumapit para kunin mula sa'kin si Levi.

"Hi, apo. I'm your lolo." pakilala niya sa anak ko. Dali-dali ding lumapit si mommy.

"Hi, my baby. What's your name?" she asked.

Levi looked at me so I smiled and nodded at him.

"Wevi!" he said happily. My mom almost squealed, she was so excited.

"What's your full name, anak?" I asked him.

"A-sew... Wevi... Castwewano!"

We all laughed when he had a hard time saying his name. We practiced this a lot of times pero nauutal pa'rin talaga siya.

"Acel Levi Castellano." I told my parents.

"Such a beutiful name." mom smiled at me.

"He's two years old." I shared. Levi heard me so he nodded and showed us two of his fingers.

"Two?" my mom's voice trailed. "Is he..."

"No." I smiled a bit. "He's not Zayden's."

She looked taken aback pero tumango nalang at hindi umimik. Si daddy naman ay tahimik lang na nilalaro ang apo niya.

We spent the rest of the day at my parents' house dahil halos ayaw na nilang pakawalan si Levi.

"Anak, the wedding will be moved next month." sabi ni mommy nung hinatid niya kami palabas ng bahay. "Are you going to tell your fiancé about Levi? He should know, para kapag kinasal kayo ay hindi mo na kailangang itago ang apo ko."

"I'm planning to, mom. I'm just scared, what if the Zamoras wouldn't be happy about it?" I sighed and took Levi from her.

Ngumiti naman siya at marahang hinawakan ang braso ko. "Kung hindi nila magugustuhan ang apo ko, then the wedding will be off. As simple as that." she winked.

I looked at Levi who was just watching us curiously. I smiled and kissed his cheek.

Mom's right. It would be easier for me if I don't have to hide Levi anymore. And besides, I can't keep him as a secret forever.