The Last Light of Firefly

CHAPTER 17

NASA park ako ngayon, kailangan ko munang mag-palamig ng ulo bago bumalik sa Mansion ni Mr. Mondreel.

Nagagalit pa din ako Kay Xavier. I thought we were friends so I'm always telling him my secrets back then. Sobrang pinagkakatiwalaan ko siya kaya nagke-kwento ako ng mga nangyayari sa amin ni Tyler. I know that I've hurt him...pero hindi ko naman kasalanan na nagkagusto siya sa akin, ‘di ba?

Where should I go? I need fresh air!

I miss my little one...yes! That's it! I will go see him before going to the Mansion. Bukas na siguro ako babalik sa mansion, nagpaalam naman ako at sinabi ko na may sakit ang kamag anak ko so I need to take care of my relative.

Bumili muna ako ng mga pagkain at pangluto bago pumara ng taxi at sinabi ko na ang location.

Wait for me, baby.

Malapit na ako sa bahay kaya pinahinto ko na ang taxi. Bawal ko siyang dalahin sa mismong pupuntahan ko, malay ko ba kung may connection siya sa  mga sindikato o kaya sa mafia?

Sarili ko lang ang mapagkakatiwalaan ko.

Lumabas ako tsaka mabagal na nag-lakad papunta sa bahay na kung saan nakatira ang tao na pinaka importante sa akin.

Tama, siya ang pinaka importanteng tao para sa akin. Mas importante pa kay Tyler o kahit kanino pa.

He is my strength and my hope... he is  my beloved son.

I'm here, Infront of our house. Huminga muna ako ng malalim at naglagay ng isang malaking ngiti sa aking labi bago kumatok. Hindi nagtagal ay bumukas ang pintuan at bumungad sa akin si Valerian na pawis na pawis.

Agad gumuhit ang ngiti sa mga labi niya nang makita ako. "Mommy!"

Tumakbo siya papalapit sa akin at agad yumakap kaya naman naupo ako para mapantayan ang laki niya.

"Hi, baby." Hinawakan ko ang ulo niya at bahagyang ginulo ang kaniyang buhok.

"I mished you, mommy!" Mas lalo niyang hinigpitan ang yakap na para bang ayaw niya na akong pakawalan.

"Mommy missed you too, baby."

"Let's go, baby. Mommy will cook your favorite dish." Inaya ko na papasok si Valerian tsaka ko isinara ang pintuan.

"Mommy, Let me help you!" Ngiting ani ng aking anak habang kinukuha sa kamay ko ang plastic na puno ng chocolates.

Pfft, he's so cute...just like his father.

"Okay, baby. It's heavy. Careful, okay?"

"Yes, mommy!" Valerian said with his cheerful voice while smiling.

My child's smile is the only solace that makes me forget my problems.  He's my stress reliever... my everything.
He can brighten even my toughest days.

"MOMMY, where did you go po?" Valerian caught my attention. He's playing Lego right now at the dining table, right near me while I'm busy sorting through my groceries and putting my child's snacks and ingredients for cooking in the fridge.

"Sa work po, baby." I look at him and a smile spread across my lips.

He's sitting on dining chair with his head resting on the table, using his arm as a pillow. His other hand is moving his toy as if it's alive. Pfft, my little angel looks so bored.

"What's your work po, mommy? Can I come with you? Because I'm always alone here po, eh. Tita Isel, only come to me when it's time to eat or bathe." Valerian pouted.

You really looks like your father, baby.
I treasure both of  you...

Oh. Yes. Iniiwan ko lang dito si Valerian at halos hindi na kami magkita. I'm afraid that the headmasters might have him taken away or even killed kaya hindi ko sinasabi sa kahit kanino na may anak ako. Kahit kila Jayel... I'm somehow lucky dahil mabait ang kapitbahay namin dito, siya ang nagbabantay sa anak ko.

Mabuti nalang at may mission ako na ginawa sa ibang bansa noong buntis ako at through letter and email lang ako nagrereport sa headquarter kaya hindi nila nalaman na nabuntis ako at may anak na ngayon.

Hindi ko pwedeng sabihin sa kanila na may anak ako...hindi ko hahayaan na mapahamak ang anak ko. Namatay na si Vallery, hindi ako makakapayag na pati si Valerian ay mawala.

Tapos na akong mag-ayus ng mga pinamili ko kaya naman nilapitan ko si Valerian. "Don't worry, mahal. Your Uncle Travis, Xenon and Deian will be living here soon, so you will have someone to live with." Ngiting ani ko sa aking anak.

"How about you, mom? I want to live with you. Can you always stay here?" May pagmamakaawa sa mga mata niya.

Anak naman, wag mong pahirapan si mama...

"Soon, baby."

Yumuko si Valerian. I'm sorry, baby. Hahanap ng paraan si mommy...I promised.

Seconds had passed then I heard Valerian sobbing.

"Hey, baby. Why are you crying po?" I hugged him.

"C-cuz...yo..u... D-djon't wa-wanna live w-wigh V-Val-rian...m-mommy. Y-you don't louv...m-me! (Cuz you don't wanna live with Valerian, mommy. You don't love me!)" Lumakas ang hagulgol niya at hindi na din siya makapag salita nang maayus dahil sa pag iyak.

I'm sorry, baby. Mommy needs to protect you.

"Shhh, baby. Mommy wants to live with you, but mommy needs to work really hard to gain enough money for you and to give you a beautiful life. Don't you want that, mahal?  You'll get to eat three meals a day and have everything you want when mommy is working." Mahabang paliwanag ko sa humahagulgol kong anak habang hinahaplos halos ang buhok niya.

I can feel my clothes getting wet from his tears... I feel sorry for him...

"I w-won't eat po, mommy. I don't need money or a good life po... I need you po, mommy. For me, life is good and I'm happy as long as we're t-tgether. So p-please, don't leave m-me po." My tears is about to fall but I immediately wiped it off.

He can't see me weak... I must stay strong for him.

"Mommy will live with you soon, baby. Can you wait for it?" Hinawakan ko ang muka niya at iniharap ito sa akin.

Namumula na siya kaiiyak at tumutulo na din ang sipon niya.

"When, mommy?"

"I don't know yet, baby. Basta, I promised that I will live with you. Not now, but soon. I promise, baby. Mommy is always here for you even though we're not together, okay? Stop crying, my little prince. Be strong for mommy." Pinunasan ko ang luha na tumutulo sa pisngi niya at nakita ko ang pagkagat niya sa ibabang labi niya para mapatigil ang sarili sa paghikbi na ikinangiti ko.

"That's right, don't cry. Mommy is always here for you."

I'm always here for you, my little prince. Hindi man tayo laging magkasama, mommy is always thinking about you. You are my strength, hope and weakness... You're my treasure, baby...

••••••••••••••••

Ayan na, may nalaman nanaman ang meztisians! Ty for reading, babies!

Share niyo naman mga pips kung sino si Valerian sa akala niyo nung una 乁⁠|⁠ ⁠･⁠ ⁠〰⁠ ⁠･⁠ ⁠|⁠ㄏ

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