Whispers in the Midst of Chasms

32

The day before the big event was supposed to be exciting, but my mind was a mess of nerves. I spent hours in my art studio, making last-minute adjustments to the piece I was presenting. The canvas stood tall in the middle of the room, unfinished but nearly complete—just like how everything else in my life felt right now. Hapon na nang makarinig ako ng katok sa pinto, napatigil ako sa pag pipinta at bumaling sa pintong bumukas na.

"Mommy!" Kaiden's voice rang out as the door swung open. He rushed in, with his eyes sparkling in that pure way only kids can manage. And right behind him was Keous, holding a bouquet of flowers.

My heart skipped a beat. Not from excitement, but from the overwhelming flood of feelings I was still trying to navigate.

"Hey," Keous greeted with that low, slightly teasing voice. Iniabot nito saakin ang hawak niyang bulaklak habang nakatingin padin saaking mata, though there was still tension there—buried under layers of unresolved pain and anger. "I thought you might need something bright in here."

Napakurap ako, pinipilit na hindi maapektuhan sa kilos niya, kinuha ko ang mga bulaklak at ngumiti, kahit na medyo nanginginig. "Thanks," I mumbled, placing them on the side table. Kaiden had already run off to explore the studio, fascinated by the paints and brushes.

"Wow, mom! This looks amazing!" Kaiden exclaimed, pointing at my almost-finished artwork. "You're so cool!" He spun around, grinning from ear to ear, and I couldn't help but feel a soft warmth bloom in my chest.

Keous came closer, glancing at the canvas and then back at me. "It's impressive, Dahlia. Tomorrow's a big deal, huh?" His tone was lighter, but I could still feel the weight behind his words—like there was more he wanted to say but couldn't.

I nodded, my throat a bit tight. "Yeah, it is." Kinuha ni Kaiden ang isa sa mga brush at bago ko pa ito mapigilan ay nag pipintura na sa paligid. "Dad, look! I'm going to be like mom!" he giggled, splashing a bit of paint in Keous's direction.

Keous dodged, chuckling under his breath. "Whoa, easy there, buddy. You don't want to mess up your mom's masterpiece."

But he was laughing now; the sound was warm and genuine, something I hadn't heard in a long time. And for a moment, the tension between us seemed to ease.

"Kaiden, wag ka nang magulo," I called out, trying to sound stern but failing because I couldn't stop smiling. Seeing the two of them bond like that—it did something to my heart, even if I was still afraid of what this all meant for us.

Keous turned back to me, a small smirk forming on his lips. "Told you I'd come to pick him up. But he wanted to see your studio first," he said, almost teasingly.

"Yeah, yeah," I replied, rolling my eyes, but there was something lighter in my chest now. Kaiden's laughter echoed through the room as he continued to swirl around in his own little world.

"And by the way," Keous added, leaning in slightly as if to share a secret, "You've got some paint... right there." He pointed to my cheek, and I wiped it absentmindedly, only to realize he was messing with me.

I shot him a mock glare. "Seriously, Keous?"

He raised his hands in defense, laughing. "Just trying to help."

Kaiden joined in on the teasing, pointing to both of us. "Mom and Dad are funny!" He giggled, completely unaware of the complicated history between us. But his joy was infectious, and for a second, the studio felt like a safe space, where all the messiness of the past could be forgotten, even if just for a few minutes.

As we all stood there, the air was thick with emotions left unsaid, but beneath it all, there was something else—something softer, like the beginning of hope.