SELENE [BOOK 2]

CHAPTER 31

“Wow! Mommy! Look! I have a lot of money!” Lucas happily exclaimed and looked at me.

Napakurap-kurap ako.

Wait...

Kinuha ko sa kamay ni Lucas ang sulat para basahin. Hindi ma proseso ng utak ko.

Happy 8th birthday, little boy. Here's my birthday gift to you since you've been a good boy to your mommy. Eight million bills for your eighth birthday.

I know it's from Nico. Galing ito sa ama ni Lucas. And Lucas didn't know that his own dad gave that to him.

Nalukot ang papel na hawak ko.

“Sinong nagbigay nito, Lucas?” I asked in a low voice.

Lucas looked at me and pouted. Sandali itong nag-isip bago nagsalita.

“Diba po nakapunta na ho siya sa bahay natin noon, mommy? Siya iyong ninong ni Hailey? Lagi po siyang nandoon sa school! And he personally gave that to me! Sayang nga lang po... Umalis siya ng makita ang sasakyan mo po.” My son explained. “Mr. Nico is very kind to give me a lot of money!”

Bakit hindi siya nagpakita at umalis ng dumating ako? I blinked my eyes a lot of times and straightened my back.

“Kailan lang iyan nagsimula? Iyong pagpunta niya sa school mo?” I asked my son.

“Last week po! Kakauwi lang niya raw po galing ibang bansa! He said he missed me so much!” Lucas said.

Naalala ko tuloy ulit ang huling sinabi niya.

“Siguro, ito lang iyong tamang ginawa ko sa paningin mo, Selene. Ang tuloyan kayong pakawalan ng anak ko. I was hoping that we could fix us, but it was a fool of me to try it in the first place when I already know it's impossible.”

Hanggang sa makauwi kami ng bahay ay wala ako sa sarili at malalim ang iniisip. Hindi matigil sa pagmamalaki si Lucas sa mga tao sa bahay dahil milyonaryo na daw siya.

We just had a simple birthday dinner for Lucas's birthday since he requested it. He doesn't want big parties because he doesn't like big crowds. 

“Sinong nagbigay, Lucas?” Napatingin ako kay Daddy ng marinig itong tanongin si Lucas tungkol sa kanina pa nitong sinasabi.

Natahimik ang lahat at napatingin kay Lucas na inaantay ang sagot nito.

Lucas smile widely. “Mr. Nico!” he replied.

Daddy glanced at me. Napahinto naman si mommy sa pagnguya. My brothers looked at me seriously and to Steve beside me who's just silently listening.

“Nagulat rin ako,” I uttered. Umiwas ako ng tingin kay Steve ng magtama ang mga mata namin.

Natahimik silang lahat.

“That's... That's good to know, Lucas.” Mommy awkwardly said when she saw Lucas look at us confusedly.

“Is there something wrong, mommy?” Napatingin ako kay Solene ng kalabitin ako nito.

She looked at me and my plate. Hindi ko halos nagalaw ang pagkain ko.

I nodded and smiled at her. “I-I'm fine...” I answered.

Matapos ng dinner ay nauna akong magpaalam na magpapahinga na ako. Binigay ko muna kay Lucas ang gift ko at hinalikan ito sa noo bago umakyat.

I know Steve's following me behind as I walked inside my room.

“Nagkita kayo?” Steve asked in a low voice.