The Empire Series 1: Vander Lewis Rushed

22: Uweee! Haha!

This has always been the irony of life. You'd only know its worth when it's gone. -jazlykdat

Aubrey

Vander didn't join them for dinner. Sinabi nito sa mga anak na hihintayin na lang muna nitong magising si Dirran para may kasama itong kumain.

Nakaramdam siya ng lungkot sa pagdistansiya nito. Hindi niya tuloy maiwasang isipin na baka pinagsabihan ito ng babaeng kausap kanina na layuan siya.

After dinner, she had a heart-to-heart talk with the kids. She wanted to find out why they are no longer mad at her.

"Bata pa kami, lagi nang sinasabi ni Daddy na huwag kaming magalit sa 'yo." Desiry answered smiling a little.

She was so busy nurturing her anger while Vander's pacifying their children in her favor.

"Kung magagalit daw kami sa 'yo mas dapat daw kaming magalit sa kanya kasi siya ang dahilan kaya ka umalis." Ayder seconded.

Hindi niya mapigilang ma-guilty sa mga naririnig mula sa mga anak.

"That's why when we had those chances to talk to you over skype we never said anything bad to you." Dagdag ng binatilyong anak.

"Masakit lang talaga noong pinakulong mo si Daddy. He was the only parent we got while growing up. I'm sorry mom for saying those things to you. But that's how I felt." Desiry stated.

She can't help but wipe a tear.

"I understand." She whispered while trying hard not to sob.

"Mee said nobody has the right to judge a mother who abandoned her children. Kasi may mabigat daw na dahilan ang lahat ng ina para tiisin ang hindi makita ang kanilang mga anak."

Tuluyan na siyang napaluha sa pahayag ni Desiry. Her mother in-law had always been so nice to her ever since. Lahat naman ng mga Filan ay naging mabait sa kanya.

"And she was right, mom. Dirran needed you more than us."

Hindi niya napigilang yakapin ang anak sa pagiging mabait nito sa kabila ng lahat ng nangyari.

"Don't cry mom. Naiintindihan na namin ngayon." Ayder whispered. Sa halip na kumalma ay mas lalo siyang napaiyak.

"But what I did was unforgivable. I abandoned you." She hugged both of them.

"No, mom! I know that you love us both. You just didn't have the choice. Sabi nga ni Daddy kung hindi mo raw kami mahal, dapat noon pa lang ipina-abort mo na kami." Desiry said chuckling while wiping her tears.

Kumalas ang mga ito sa pagkakayakap at tumingin sa kanya.

"Sabi nga niya sa amin, hindi ka daw handa noong nagbuntis ka kay Ayder but you still carried him in your womb for nine months. Kung ayaw mo daw sa kanya dapat noon pa lang hindi mo na siya binigyan ng pagkakataong mabuhay."

Her shoulders shuddered as tears rolled down her cheek realizing how profound Vander is.

Muling yumakap ang mga anak sa kanya.

Hindi niya akalaing ganoon ang paliwanag ni Vander sa mga anak nila para lang isaisip ng mga ito na mahal niya ang mga ito.

She always think of him as an antagonist eversince their marriage was shaken. Pakiramdam niya noon ay wala na itong gagawing tama.

Lily and her family were right, may mga pagkukulang din siya kaya nagkandaloko-loko ang relasyon nila.

It took them minutes hugging each other.