"Mommy, when are you coming back again?"
I saw that my daughter was in the verge of tears, and I knew how hard she tried to control not to cry. Alam niya kasing ayaw ko na nakikita siyang umiiyak.
Lumuhod ako para magkapantay kami.
"I'll be back just in time for your 5th birthday, sweetheart. I promise that I will be here on your birthday."
"How long is my birthday from now?" She innocently asked.
I smiled and lifted her chin. "It's about 4 weeks and 6 days from now. So while I'm away, think how you would like to celebrate your birthday, okay? Mommy will make it happen for you. Anything that you want."
I saw her face brightened up and she looked so excited.
"Okay! Thank you, mommy! You're really the best! I will call you when I have decided," she said and hugged me.
"I love you so much," I said wholeheartedly to her while hugging her so tight. I would miss her very much. I felt like crying knowing that I would be away from her again for a long time. Pero this was not the right time to cry. I didn't want her to see me crying. I was her role model, so I should look strong in front of her.
"I love you too, mommy."
I kissed her cheeks and got up from my knees. It was hard to say good bye to her. Kung pwede lang sana na isama ko nalang siya pabalik sa Philippines eh.
"Manang, kayo na po ang bahala sa anak ko ha? Tawagan niyo po ako agad pag may problema. Kahit ano basta ipaalam niyo po sa akin agad," bilin ko.
"Sige. Mag-ingat ka, Gwen."
"Salamat. Kayo din po." I hugged manang and I smiled at Rosetta. She was smiling at me. Thank God my baby is strong.
Nagpaalam na ako sa kanila. I walked straight as I held my luggages to the entrance of the airport. Hindi na ako lumingon pa baka magbago pa ang isip ko at hindi na balakin umalis.
Mabigat ang mga paa ko at pati narin ang puso ko sa pag alis ko. Daig ko pa ang mangingibang bansa at ang OFW sa situation ko ngayon.
Sinulit ko ang tatlong araw at dalawang gabi na kasama ko ang anak ko. Tumabi ako sa kanya sa pagtulog at pinasyal siya sa kung saan niya gustong pumunta. Masaya ako na kahit papano ay nakasama ko siya kahit sa konting panahon lang.
Habang nasa plane ako ay hindi ko maiwasan mapaisip. Mom was excited to have a grandchild with Ate Genie. Excited din ba siya magkaroon ng apo from me? How about if she found out na sakin pala manggagaling ang kauna-unahang apo niya at hindi kay ate at mga kuya ko?
Would she thank me or get angry at me? Napalunok ako realizing the latter.
It was Sunday night when I arrived in Manila. Pinasundo ako ni mommy sa driver namin. I fell asleep when I got home dahil sa sobrang pagod. Pero maaga din akong nagising because I had to go to work.
"Congratulations!!"
Nagulat ako nung pagpasok ko ng office ko ay may nagpasabog ng confetti at sabay-sabay nila akong binati.
BINABASA MO ANG
Behind Her Innocence (Hughes Series)
RomanceGwen Hughes' story. Behind her so called innocent-looking and angelic face is the woman who has many secrets. Her family sees her as a good and innocent young woman who isn't capable of doing horrible things, but they are all wrong. All to herself...
