Whispers in the Midst of Chasms

28

As I tucked Kaiden into bed that night, the weight of my earlier conversation with Keous loomed over me like a dark cloud. I could hardly breathe, knowing what I had to tell him. He looked so small and innocent, curled up under his superhero-themed blanket.

"Kaiden," I started softly, settling onto the edge of his bed. "Can we talk for a minute?"

He blinked up at me, his big, bright eyes filled with curiosity. "Is something wrong, Mom?" His voice was small, and I felt my heart clench at the thought of causing him any more pain.

Taking a deep breath, I nodded. "I need to tell you something very important about... about your dad."

His eyes widened, and I could see the flicker of hope in them. "My dad? You mean... superman?  or my real dad?"

My throat is tightening. "Keous is your dad."

A heavy silence fell between us, and I watched as confusion flickered across his face. "What do you mean?" he asked, tilting his head slightly. "I thought you said he didn't know about me."

I swallowed hard, feeling tears prick at the corners of my eyes. "It's complicated, sweetheart. He didn't know at first, but he's been trying to be part of your life. He wants to understand everything."

His little brow furrowed, and I could see the wheels turning in his mind. "So... he is my dad now? But why didn't you tell me before when you knew that I really wanted to meet him1" Heavy tears falling from his little eyes. 

I felt my heart shatter at the sight of his disappointment mixed with sadness. "I wanted to protect you, Kaiden. I was afraid of how this would change everything for us. But you deserve to know the truth."

"Does that mean he wants to see me?" Kaiden's voice was filled with a blend of hope and uncertainty. "i-is he going to come and play w-with me?" nauutal nitong sambit kahit hirap na hirap na mag salita dahil lalong ummagos ang luha nito.

I hesitated, feeling the heaviness of my own fears. "I don't know, baby. He's still figuring things out. But you are so loved, and if he can, he will want to be there for you."

Kaiden's expression brightened slightly, but the confusion lingered in his eyes. "S-so... is he like a superhero? C-can he come and take me flying?" His innocent question made my heart ache even more. "In a way, yes. He's strong, and he cares about you. But it might take time for everything to work out."

He nodded, processing my words. "I really want to meet him, Mom. I want to show him my drawings and tell him about my friends." Tears slipped down my cheeks as I watched him, my brave little boy. "I know, Kaiden. And we'll figure it out together. Just remember, no matter what happens, you're always loved, okay?"

"Okay, Mom," he said, giving me a small smile that broke my heart a little more. "Can I tell him about my new Superman toy? I want him to see it!" Pinunasan niya ang kanyang pisngi gamit ang kanyang maliliit na kamay, namumula ang mukha nito pati ang kanyang ilong.

"Yes, absolutely," I replied, pulling him into a tight embrace. "You can tell him everything you want. Just remember, it's okay to feel excited, but it's also okay to feel a little scared."

As he drifted off to sleep, his soft breathing filled the room, and I felt a mix of hope and fear swirling inside me. I wanted nothing more than for Kaiden to experience the love he craved, but I also knew the path ahead would be complicated.

My heart ached with the knowledge that I had to navigate these waters carefully, for my son's sake.

Pagkatapos kong patulugin si Kaiden ay lumabas na ako ng kwarto para mag pahangin ng bigyang nag text si Paige saakin.

''D, I need you to meet me at the convenience store. It's important.''

I hesitated, glancing back at Kaiden's bedroom door. He was sound asleep, blissfully unaware of the storm brewing around us. I felt a pang of guilt at the thought of leaving him alone, even if just for a moment. But then another message from Paige came through: 

"It'll be quick, I promise. You need to hear this."

Mabigat sa loob kong umalis pero wala akong choice, nag suot ako ng jacket at ng sapatos, malapit lang ang convenience store dito, ilang hakbang lang ang layo sa apartment namin, bawat hakbang ay sobrang bigat para saakin,

When I arrived at the convenience store, I found Paige pacing by the entrance, her face etched with concern. "Dahlia!" she exclaimed as soon as she saw me. 

"What's going on?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "Is it about Kaiden?" Umupo kami sa isang stall doon, walang tao at ang cashier lamang ang nandoon, malayo naman ito ng konti saamin kaya alam kong hindi naman nito maririnig ang usapan namin. 

She nodded, her expression serious. "Lily just told me that Keous is considering filing for custody of Kaiden."

I felt my heart drop. The world around me blurred, and I struggled to process her words. Custody? The word echoed in my mind like a thunderclap, sending waves of anger and anxiety coursing through me. "What?! He can't do that! He just found out—he barely knows him!"

"I know, I know," Paige said, trying to calm me down. "But you have to understand, he's in a position where he feels like he needs to take action. He might think it's the best way to be part of Kaiden's life."

My hands trembled, a mix of fury and fear surging through me. "This isn't right! How can he just enter Kaiden's life and act like a father after all this time? I've been here for Kaiden every single day!"

"Dahlia, I get it," Paige said, her voice steady but gentle. "But if he thinks Kaiden is his son, he might feel like he has a right to fight for him."

The words sank in, filling me with a whirlwind of emotions. My mind raced as I thought of all the potential scenarios, each more devastating than the last. "Ayoko paige! a-ayoko, paano kung manalo siya? p-paano ako? a-ayoko.''

Paige stepped closer, her eyes locking onto mine. "You have to be prepared for this. We need to think about what you're going to do if he goes through with it. We can't let him take Kaiden away from you."

I swallowed hard, the anxiety tightening its grip around my chest. ''Hindi ko kayang mawala si Kaiden sakin, please, Paige. He's my whole world. I won't let anyone take him from me.'' Ipinatong ko ang aking dalawang siko sa mesa at umiyak nang umiyak. wala akong pake kung may mga taong makakarinig. gusto kong ilabas ang nararamdaman ko, hindi ko hahayaang basta-basta nalang niyang kukunin si Kaiden. 

"Then we'll figure this out together," she assured me. "You're not alone in this, okay? We'll fight for Kaiden, no matter what."

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "Thank you, Paige. I just... I never expected this to happen. I thought we were finally finding our footing."

"Life has a way of throwing curveballs," she said softly. "But we'll face it head-on. Just don't lose hope."

As I left the store, the weight of the conversation settled heavily on my shoulders. I couldn't shake the feeling that everything was about to change, and I had to be ready for whatever came next.