One of the Boys 1 & 2 (Published by Pop Fiction)

Chapter Thirty Three

Six out of six updates. Yay! Dapat 8 'yan dahil December 8 ngayon , pero hindi ko kinaya. Sorry! Enjoy, though. Happy birthday to meeee. Hahahaha!

Chapter Thirty Three

Present

Puissant

I finally found time to visit the church. I missed everyone especially Doms and I bet the feeling was mutual. She hugged me tightly as soon as she saw me. "Ang tagal mong 'di nag pakita." I didn't tell her I'd come. I wanted to surprise them, mainly because I was excited to see their epic expression.

My excitement turned to fear when Doms told me she needed to talk to me about something. I expected it to be about Kyrel, Marcus' son, and I was right. "Ags, kilala ka niya." Kinilabutan ako. "Lagi niyang hawak picture niyo ni Marcus." Picture namin ni Marcus?! I couldn't even remember the last time we had a picture together.

Kahit 7 pa lang ng umaga, pinuntahan ko si Kyrel sa kwarto nila. Lahat ng mga bata, tulog pa. He really resembled his father. Nakakaawa dahil wala naman siyang ginawang masama. Nasaan na ba ang nanay niya?

Doms didn't leave my side as we waited for him to wake up. When he did, he blinked thrice, staring at me like he couldn't believe I was there sitting on a chair beside his bed.

"Hi," I greeted him with a smile. He was 5 when he went missing. 7 years old na siya ngayon. "Kamusta ka?" Nakatitig lang siya sa'kin.

Doms whispered, "Nakalimutan ko palang sabihin. He's mute."

Nagulat ako sa sinabi ni Doms, pero hindi ko pinahalata. Agad agad niyang tinaas unan niya at kinuha yung picture. Pabalik-balik ang tingin niya sa picture at sa akin.

He opened his mouth. Parang may gusto siyang sabihin. My eyes widened when he mouthed, "Mommy."

Sinubukan ko siyang hawakan, pero umatras siya hanggang sa nakasandal na siya sa pader. Umiling-iling siya at tumakbo palabas ng kwarto. I was about to run after him, but Doms stopped me, shaking her head.

"He thought I was his mom?!"

She smiled sadly. "Sorry, Ags. Nakalimutan kong sabihin."

I nodded then ran after Kyrel. Umiling-iling siya. Kaya ba niya ako nilapitan dati dahil akala niya ako ang nanay niya? And he ran away, because he thought I didn't accept him? What the fck? I was so mad at Marcus, but what could he do? He was mentally-ill. It wasn't his fault that he had schizophrenia.

"Kyrel? Sorry," I said. He was hiding under the slide. Obvious naman na ayaw niya magpakita kaya umupo ako sa dulo ng slide. Paano ko sasabihin na hindi ako ang nanay niya? "I'm sorry." I sighed. I really didn't know what to say. I didn't even know why I was apologizing.

"Love?"

I lifted my chin, meeting Apa's eyes. He was standing right in front of me, holding a cup of coffee. "He thought I was his mom?" I whispered.

He nodded, smiling sadly. He gave me the cup. "You're still sleepy, aren't you?" I nodded, took a sip of my coffee, then he kissed the top of my head and walked toward Kyrel. He went down on one knee. Sinilip ko sila. My heart melted when Kyrel hugged Apa tightly.

"Soccer?" Apa smiled.

Kyrel nodded too excitingly. Dati pa lang, bilib na bilib na ako kay Apa, pero ngayon? Ewan. He was too cool and amazing. Coolmazing. Akala ko iiwan na nila ako, pero huminto si Apa sa harap ko at inabot yung kamay sa'kin. I accepted his hand and walked with them.

Apa guided Kyrel throughout the game, pero pag nadadapa, hindi niya ito tinutulungan. He never stopped cheering, though. He kept saying it was okay to fall. He was teaching Kyrel how to stand up by himself, because nobody could help him, but himself.