What if her gaze no longer holds the same warmth?
Governor Alice Leal,(Pei /huapei) the woman who once held Senator Anna Theresia Hontiveros/Risa Hontiveros' heart, has unexpectedly re-entered her life.
Two days into my stay at my parents' home, Risa found us. She had a knack for these things, always knowing where to look. I'd thought I’d found a safe haven, a quiet corner where I could nurse Sevi in peace, but apparently not.
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Sevi, nestled at my breast, his tiny hand clutching my finger, hi eyes half-closed in contented slumber, was the only solace I had in this world. The feeling of her small body against mine, the rhythmic suckling… it was a symphony of motherly love, a perfect moment that felt worlds away from the escalating drama unfolding outside the window.
Then, the chilling sight. Two uniformed officers, flanking Risa, emerged from behind the mango tree at the edge of the yard. My heart plummeted. The idyllic scene was shattered; the fragile peace was broken.
My instincts took over. I snatched up Sevi, my movements swift and silent as a shadow, and raced upstairs, the frantic thump of my heart echoing in my ears. My parents were already downstairs, their faces etched with worry, as they faced Risa’s accusations.
"Anak, stay here,ha" I urged my son, tucking him closer, the scent of his milk and skin a comfort against the rising tide of fear.
I tiptoed downstairs; the wood of the old staircase creaked ominously underfoot. Risa was waiting, a steely glint in her eyes, the epitome of cold determination.
“You will never see your child again,” she spat, her words laced with venom.
“Please, she needs me, parang awa mo naman" I begged, my voice trembling.
The officers moved in, their hands like cold steel on my arms. I struggled, instinctively protecting Sevi, but it was no use. Risa skillfully pulled sevi from my grasp, her grip ferocious.
"This child is my child , legally and irrevocably mine," she sneered, pressing Sevi’s face against her own, a perverse show of possession.
Then, the devastating blow. The police officer offered me Sevi's birth certificate. his middle name... just Risa's surname. No mention of me. No trace of my existence
How she could do this to me
All this time pinaniwala niya ako
Linoko niya ako
My father rushed to my side, his face filled with utter despair, muttering words of comfort that didn't reach me, the crushing weight of defeat silencing my sobs.
"Papa kunin mo sevi " hagulgol ko habang umaalis si risa dala ang anak ko
The world dissolved into a blur of handcuffs, angry shouts, and the echoing emptiness that only a mother knows when her child is stolen from her. I was left with nothing but the searing ache of loss and the bitter taste of betrayal. The scent of mango blossoms carried on the breeze offered no consolation; only a cruel reminder of the paradise stolen from me.
