Romancing My Royalty

Chapter 22

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IVORY

I WIPED Ivonne's little fingers with a tissue and smiled at her. She was eating an ice cream and three year old that she was, I understood that she got messy all the time. She loved ice cream, but I only allowed her to eat this twice a month.

"This is your last ice cream for today, anak," I wiped her mouth and opened the bottle of water. Marahan ko siyang pinainom. "Sweets aren't healthy if taken regularly."

"I eat vege--tables af-er this. I eat lettuce, carrots, banana, apple, watermelon yesterday, Ma-ma," she informed me matter of factly but with her cute convincing voice. "It's hea-thy."

"Yes, very good, Ivo. Vegetables are the ones should be eaten regularly."

She slightly nodded, eating the rest of her ice cream with one swallow. Napatawa ako ng konti saka pinainom agad ng tubig ng matapos siya.

"Sweng, Ma..ma!" turo niya sa swing. Immediately, I carried her and properly positioned her on the swing. I pushed the swing slowly and the movements earned chuckles from her.

Nangingiti na rin ako dahil sa bawat pag-angat niya ay humahagikgik siya ng tawa. Ivonne's happiness was my stress reliever. Kaya tuwing weekend, sinisikip ko na makauwi sa Oberon.

Nakilala ko ang parents ni Clarissa dahil sa pagkakaibigan naming dalawa. Tita Karina, like I had said, was an OFW here for how many years. Naging magaan ang loob niya sa akin kaya nagpresenta siya alagaan si Ivonne pagtungtong ng dalawang taon nito. Nagpasalamat na lamang ako kay Tita dahil nakapag-focus ako sa pag-aaral at pagtratrabaho.

Minsan naisip ko na baka lumayo ang loob ng anak ko sa akin dahil sa aming sitwasyon, pero maswerte akong hindi iyon nangyari. She seemed so vibrant with me and always expressed how she missed me everytime I got here. I missed her hugs and kisses. They made my whole world calm and at peace.

Pagkatapos namin sa park ay nagpasya na akong tumuloy na sa naturang plano ko ngayon na bumili ng mga groceries for Ivonne. Her milk, baby foods, vitamins, hygiene things, vegetables, biscuits and many more. Every week, I supplied those things for Ivonne.

Ilang blocks lang naman ang lalakarin papuntang The Queen's Mart kaya nilakad na lang namin ni Ivonne. She was enjoying the walk as people were greeting her and she was waving her cute little hand to them. May isang couple pang huminto para makipag-appear sa kanya, but with my permission also.

They complimented her cuteness in her pink and violet outfit.

Pagliko namin sa isang street ay doon na nagpakarga si Ivonne. She now complained and almost sat down on the sidewalk. Mas minabuting kakargahin ko na lang din siya para madali kaming umabot sa mart. Biglang hindi na ako komportable sa paglalakad sa street na ito, though marami pa ring mga establishments...pakiramdam ko may sumusunod na naman sa akin.

Meter away was a pedestrian lane. Nagmamadali akong naglakad para makatawid sa kabilang bahagi ng kalsada. I never looked back. Medyo kabado na ako, pero lang naman talaga pareho kami ng tinatahak.

Pagkarating ko sa kabilang kalsada. Doon ako lumingon. I saw two men in black uniform. Nandoon pa rin sila sa kabilang kalsada pero mukhang may hinihintay at iyong isa naman ay may tinitipa sa cellphone nito.

They didn't look suspicious. Ako lang yata ang may problema. Nagiging paranoid na ako dahil iniisip ko minsan na may nakasunod sa akin. Based on my past experiences long years ago, nakaukit na sa isip at puso ko na hindi ko hawak ang safety ko. Na kahit anong oras, pwedeng mapahamak ako o iyong anak ko.

Pero sa Aergloria, ligtas at payapa ang pamumuhay ko. Ngayon lang talagang naging paranoid na naman ako. Lalo pang umiiral ito kapag kasama ko ang anak ko. My anxiety, fear, and trauma were colliding at ones when I was with my daughter everytime we would be outside. Minsan kasama naman namin si Clarissa pero ngayon kasi gusto kong masolo ang anak ko.