All Clear, Attorney

QW

HER EYES WERE FIXED at the gold band around her wedding finger. It has been days since he proposed, and they signed the papers but. . . her mind always takes her back to the moment he kneeled in front of her.

Hindi niya alam, pero gustong-gusto iyong balikan ng kanyang utak. Para pa ring bago sa kanya ang lahat, at hindi siya masanay-sanay.

"Mom, you're looking at your wedding ring again."

Her attention snapped to Guinevere who was sitting in front of her and eating her pancakes. Maaga itong nagising, kaya sila pa dalawa ang nasa dining table.

Napangiti na lang siya. So, her baby noticed her behavior. Paano hindi niya titigan iyon nang paulit-ulit?

Si Attorney Cadence na iyon!

Gusto niya si Cadence! Gustong-gusto!

Muntik na siyang masamid nang pumasok sa dining room ang taong laman ng kanyang isip. Ginulo-gulo pa nito ang buhok habang papasok, and that gesture brought a lump to her throat.

Fuck. Bakit papogi ito nang papogi?

"Good morning, Daddy!"

Napakurap ito nang marinig si Guinevere. With his cold eyes, he stared at them, back and forth. Kalauna'y gumuhit ang tipid na ngiti sa mga labi nito at naglakad papalapit sa bata.

"You're early, baby. What are you eating for breakfast, hmm? Si mommy ba nagluto n'yan?" Saglit siya nitong tinapunan ng tingin at muling bumaling kay Guinevere, hinaplos-haplos ang ulo nito.

Although it was just a quick glance, it made her heart leap, squeezing the air out of her lungs.

Sunod-sunod na tumango si Guinevere at may malawak na ngiti pa sa mga labi. "Yes, Daddy! I requested for pancakes!" masiglang ani nito at muling kumain ng pancake.

Guinevere sliced a tiny bit of the pancake, forked it, at saka iyon inilagay sa tapat ng bibig ni Cadence.

"Say 'ah', Daddy!"

And Cadence accepted the pancake. 'Di niya maipaliwanag ang init na bumalot sa puso niya. Seeing them like this just makes her heart burst. . .

Damn. She missed her mother.

Her mom was a single mom, at bago ito tuluyang pumanaw, sinigurado niyang nakabawi siya nang todo rito. She had been so good to her and raised her with all her might.

'Di niya alam kung sino ang tatay niya. Her mother just told her that she's a product of a one night stand at kahit ito, 'di kilala ang tatay niya.

"Masarap, Daddy, right?"

"Yep. Your mom surely cooks well."

Nabalik siya sa kasalukuyan dahil sa pinag-usapan ng mga ito. When she looked up, Cadence's eyes were the first thing that she found.

They were staring straight at her as if reading her soul, causing her to gulp.

Fuck. Did he notice her silence? Ano kaya ang mga emosyon na nakaukit sa mga mata niya?

Kaagad siyang nag-iwas ng tingin at itinuon ang atensyon kay Guinevere. Ayaw na ayaw niya talagang salubungin ang titig nito!

"That's true, Daddy! Mommy is so good at cooking!" Guinevere's high-pitched voice echoed in her ears.

"I think your mommy is hungry already." Tumayo si Cadence mula sa kinauupuan nito, pero ang kanyang titig ay nanatili kay Guinevere.

Hindi pa naman siya gutom. But she should eat already, lalo na't maaga silang nagising ni Guinevere. Tinamad pa kasi siyang magluto ng heavy breakfast kanina kaya 'di siya nakaluto ng para sa kanya.