Edward froze. Kung bomba ang pinasabog ni Cassie sa harap niya'y baka nakaya pa niyang pakitunguhan. He was rendered immobile for a long moment. Kahit ang matinding kirot sa ulo at tadyang niya'y hindi makuhang makapangibabaw sa nararamdaman niya sa mga sandaling iyon.
Dark eyes met dark eyes.
Ianne eyed him with curiosity.
"Are you really....my dad?"
"I---I...", he groaned. Sa kauna unahang pagkakataon sa buhay niya'y wala siyang maisip na sasabihin.
Ano ang isasagot niya sa bata?
Humakbang ang batang babae patungo sa kanya. His chest hammered violently that he expected it to burst anytime and he'd probably welcome death right this very moment.
He held his breath painfully as his eyes focused on her face. She had dimples in the corners of her mouth. Her hair tied in ponytail though unruly curls were around her pretty face.
Huminto ang bata sa mismong harap niya. Tulad niya'y tinititigan din siya nito. Her hands on her back. Naka overalls ito, with Disney character on her bib.
" I wish you really are my dad. Wala akong daddy, eh. Si Lolo lang ang kasama ko palagi..."
"Lolo?", his throat went dry.
" Lolo Fernando. He's Mom's daddy. He always takes me fishing in his farm every weekend. And sometimes we went swimming, too. But the swimming pools in his house were not as big as yours. I saw a very big pool outside. Can we go on swimming with Mom later?"
Tumango siya. The pain in his chest was almost unbearable. "Your name's Ianne ...? What is it again?"
"Ianne Louise...Mom said she got my name from yours. And Lola Benita said you're handsome and I'm pretty", tila ipinagmamalaki pa nitong ikuwento ang natanggap na papuri mula sa lola.
" Yes",Edward choked on the word.
Samantalang nawala ang ngiti sa mga labi ng bata. Nagsalubong ang mumunting kilay nito at humakbang palapit sa kanya. Pagkuwa'y itinaas ang maliit na kamay at banayad na pinahid ng forefinger ang daluyan ng luha niya.
"You're crying...", tinitigan nito ang nabasang daliri. Pagkuwa'y muli siyang tiningala. " Are you in pain? Tita Yelena said you're not feeling well."
Oh, Lord! He swallowed the lump in his throat painfully.
"Mommy ease my pain with a kiss. Do you want me to kiss you?"
"Y---yes please... Lots of them", he whispered. " And a bear hug, too."
Pumanhik ang bata sa kandungan niya. And Edward trembled uncontrollably. He wanted so much to hug her so tight that he was so afraid he might crush her.
Then soft, tender lips touched his stubble-rough cheek. The child giggled.
"You have hair in your face and it's tickling me!"
His body shook as he laughed and cried at the same time. Niyakap niya ang anak. Kissed and inhaled her powdery scent. And for the first time in more than five years , he had a taste of heaven.
Nang mag angat siya ng paningin ay nakatayo sa may pinto si Donya Benita. Her eyes bright from unshed tears but she was smiling.
"Nasaan si Cassie, Mama?"
"She drove her car. Hindi ko alam kung saan pumunta."
Edward winced. Hindi nakaligtas sa kanya ang akusasyon sa tinig ng ina.
"Mommy's gone?", Ianne asked worriedly. Tila iiyak itong tumingala sa kanya.
He stared down at his daughter with concern. Nangingilid ang luha sa mga mata nito. And he couldn't blame her. She was in a strange place and she'd met her bastard of a father for the first time in her young life.
Itinaas niya ang mukha ng bata sa kanya. Unti-unti nang dumadaloy ang luha nito sa mga pisngi. " Hindi umalis si Mommy, sweetheart. I'll promise to bring her back here. Okay?"
Tinitigan siya nito. Nasa mga mata nito ang pag aalangan kung maniniwala sa pangako niya o hindi.
"Daddy keeps his promise always", pangako niya sa bata. Parang may kamaong sumuntok sa sikmura niya dahil sa sinabi niyang iyon. Alam niya...minsan ay may pangako siyang binitawan na hindi niya natupad.
" Promise, Dad?", naninigurado pang pahabol na tanong ni Ianne sa ama.
"Promise!", he answered. Itinaas niya pa ang kamay at binigyan ng promise-sign ang bata.
" Okay."
Kinuha na ni Donya Benita ang apo mula sa ama nito. Si Edward ay may kinuha sa drawer at nagmamadaling lumabas ng kwarto.
"Edward, baka kung mapaano ka. Magpa drive ka na lang sa driver", pahabol na bilin ng donya.
Subalit tuluy-tuloy nang tumakbo pababa ang binata.
BINABASA MO ANG
True Love Waits
RomansaCassandra Alvarez - a successful famous tv personality....she fall inlove once...but it shattered her heart into pieces. Ian Edward Garcia - a successful businessman at his prime and a governor of his province PuntaVerde.when the woman he loves,left...
