Emancipating The Love (On-going)

Chapter 33

Surrender

As anticipated, Lea's sudden burst
circulated the media. The night crippled as a reminder of their publicity, swirling her into the joy and pressure of freedom.

Opinions were sharp split between defending or bashing a distraught mother. They have done some damage control, but it is undeniable that hands are faster when it comes to malicious teas, and gossip is so powerful that it dominates minds without counter checking the truth of what really had happened.

Issues after another. Problems came after problems. It was a never-ending existence of stress that co-exists with the blood that flows through Lea's entirety. She could feel it overpowering the patience that has been stretching into a thin strip.

Nevertheless, she'd handle it. She always had. She needs to.

"Elli? Talk to nanay, anak. What's the problem?" Her knuckles clacking on the door called for attention, her mellow pleading a tone hard to resist.

The child had fallen into silence the moment they arrived home that night. Until that sunny morning, Elli remained locked in her room. Reserved and far from her jolly self.

Her radiant smiles and contagious laugh were shushed, creating a gloomy atmosphere in their home.

With a clack of the bolted lock and a slow creaking sound, the closed door exposed the child who has been drowning herself into reflection.

She had been considering what she did and why her mom reacted that way. Of course she felt guilty.

But she also took into consideration her own feeling. She didn't want to be insensitive but she also didn't want to invalidate her own emotions. That's what her mom taught her.

'Be sensible of others without invalidating your own feelings. '

"I want to find her. I want to see her." It was irrevocable. The sureness that vibrated from her voice and determination that sparks in her eyes. Elli had made up her mind.

"Who?" Lea wasn't clueless, she was more in denial. Her heart contracted; muscles tightened which she desperately tried to relax. With the few lines that Elli had spoken, she was badly affected. And frightened.

The picture of Elli being close to another mother figure stabs her heart. She's appearing and sounding so jealous and possessive, but who can blame her? She had only taken a hold of her daughter, she's still figuring out the route of motherhood and she's scared that once she shares, Elli's attention might be divided unequally— spliting more on the woman who she had spent more time with.

"Mimi. The woman who had taken care of me." There came the strong conviction that tugs them further from each other.

Every word that escapes from the little girl's mouth makes Lea feel as if she's slowly gliding away from her, being pulled by the longing Elli has towards the unknown woman.

"W-why? Am I not enough?" It was a pleading question, asked in hope that it will tickle a part of Elli, snapping her back to the joyful bundle of love she is.

It worked. Her eyes softened.

Or so it seemed.

"I—uhm...that's what not I meant po. I just want to talk to her and thank her. Inalagaan niya po ako when you weren't there. She raised me and filled me with love, I can feel it inside me. Her love is different from yours." Each word was sharp, deliberately muttered like it was meant for Lea to feel pity and pain at the same time.

"But nanay's here, Elli. I'm already here." She reminded Elli of her prevailing presence. Her voice was trembling; throat aching in restraint to the tears that were on the verge of falling.