The One That Got Away

Chapter 30: No One Knows

I woke up and an immediate smile formed in my lips. Seeing my child breathing the next day would immediately complete my morning. I would trade all the things Im having right now for more mornings seeing her breathing and smiling in her dreams.

I tucked the hair strands thats covering her beautiful face. A smile formed in an instant the moment I caress her fluffy cheeks and gave it a light kiss afterwards.

"Tit...Tito Ian is.. is my dad, mommy?"

Bigla kong naalala yung nangyari kahapon. How her little eyes filled with tears. How she struggled saying those words between her sobs.

I put her down and knelt infront of her as I wiped away her tears. Some people even looked twice on our side, maybe a little bit curious on our little scene.

"Is he my dad, mom?" She repeated.

I was unable to move or utter another word. This is it. A part of me wants to still deny it, but also a part of me wants to just say it all at once. I can no longer hide this from her. She needs to know the truth. She deserve to know her dad.

I slowly nooded my head as tears were now starting to fall. "Tito Ian... is you---your dad baby,.... Im so sorry mommy hide it from you.... Im so sorry anak."

I gained all my strength to say those words between my sobs. This felt like the walls that I rebuiled were now slowly falling. I hastily wiped my tears away and brought Yzian into a tight hug. "....can you still forgive mommy?" I asked eventhough Iam afraid of what would be her answer.

Her silence scared me. Wala akong reaksyong narinig sa kanya. Kumawala siya sa pagkakayap ko at unti unti siyang tumingin kay Ian. I slowly stood up and she immediately hugged my legs, which a good indication that somehow she understands where Iam coming from. That I hid this thing to her to protect her.

"...why did you left my mommy?"

She suddenly asked which made me and Ian froze. He looked at me first asking for help pero nagmatigas ako at tinitigan lang siya.

Iam asking this same question to myself many times now. And now my child is asking this question for herself.

Right here. Infront of us. He is here. And my child is asking the same thing..

He knelt down into her level and spoke while holding her arms. "Kasi ganun lang ang paraang alam ni daddy... I got really really sick then, and I had to leave your mom and incase na mawala na si daddy sa earth, mas madaling makalimutan ni mommy si daddy. It was the only choice I had to spare your mom from the hurt, because if I stay, I will just ruin her." Tumingin si Ian sa akin at bakas sa mga mata nito ang magkahalong sakit at pagmamakaawa.

"....But why didnt you come back?"

"Daddy lost his memory anak. And I need to continue my life not knowing you and your mom at all, thats when Tita Kat and trixie came to my life... ngayon, nakakaalala na ako, and Iam here. Please stay... babawi pa si daddy sayo eh. Please?" Muling pagmamakaawa ni Ian. Wala ng ibang naging tanong pa si Yzian. She looked down as tears were escaping her little eyes.

"Last call for flight SH476 Manila to London please proceed to gate 3 you're plane is now ready for boarding"