She Conceived A Morgan's Child

Chapter XXXVIII: Saudade

Chapter 38

You deserve to seek a cure for the pain that you never deserved and that's ok.

Omniscient

"You're buying your staffs a gift Uncle?" Benj asked Fabio while they were in a super market and Fabio nodded.

"They deserve to receive one before Christmas break. A small thanks giving for them. Samahan mo rin ako bilhan ng gift si Kuya Aldie mo, he's turning eleven na this Christmas," he said. It's officially five days before Christmas. At namamalalengke na sila for Noches Buena.

"How I wish Mum can come with us, but she has a lot of things to finish," he commented.

"Don't worry, Uncle Fabio is here naman-"

"But we never missed buying food for Christmas. It's a tradition me and mum made," he said. Fabio couldn't say anything else.

"How do you spent Christmas before?" He suddenly got curious.

"Mummy buys me a gift... She always tell me every Christmas she's s blessed to have me and Uncle, you know I feel the same for Mum. She's the best mummy in the whole wide world," he said while helping him grab some pasta. The spent a whole hour na nagiikot ikot ng mga bibilhin nilang binilin ni Raki, because she's going to cook.
Every year she's in charge of their celebration.

While at the grocery, they accidentally bumped into someone.

"Mum?" Benjamin said. He hugged Rowena. He's actually missing her a lot lately because he usually stays with Fabio now.

"I happen to buy something before going home and I saw you, are you having fun?" Rowena asked him. Benjamin nodded. Lumingon si Rowena kay Fabio na ni hindi man lamang s'ya pinansin.

"I just... I just personally came here, gusto ko sanang ipagpaalam si Benjamin. We're planning to celebrate Christmas in the province..."

"No," he firmly said. She told Benj na mamili muna ng snacks sa may snack section, few steps away from them.

"I... I miss..." Rowena stopped mid sentence.

"Ok," she just said.

"You can leave... Iwan mo si Benjamin, ihahatid ko nalang sya mamaya," he coldly said. He didn't even glance at her. She can't do anything but to bid her son goodbye at mag dahilan na may gagawin pa s'ya. Rowena cried soon as she entered the taxi. Slowly, she feels Benj is getting more distant from her. Paguwi ni Benjamin he's always talking about Fabio. It's all about their day together. How carefree Benj has become around him...

Pakiramdam ni Rowena she's the only hidrance to their happiness. She felt she's no longer needed in his life, their lives.

"Teka sumosobra naman ata si Fabio? Technically you're the only legal parent here at ikaw lang ang nakapirma how could he refuse that?" Pat commented when she told them what he said.

"Let's just let him be. I'll just stay here, you two should go. Maghihintay yung mga pamangkin mo since you promised doon kayo magpapasko," Rowena informed them. Nalamukos ang mukha ni Patricio at nilapitan ang matalik na kaibigan.

"Still... Sumosobra na si Fabio, Rowena. Benjamin is still your child. But it feels like he's slowly taking away your parental authority. I know bumabawi kalang, but this is too much. Benjamin is rarely home and he wouldn't even tell you na susunduin nya from treatment anymore at bigla nalang susulpot," Patricio complained. He feels it was so unfair for Rowena to be treated this badly. Fabio did it many times. Araw araw itong bumibisita. Kada treatment ay sumusunod and he's taking advantage of it para matulog ulit si Benjamin sakanila.