Man and Wife (Wifely Duties 2) - Published by PHR

Chapter Sixteen

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

*Love? It never goes.

It's just there, deep within.

Still sleeping, maybe. *

***

THE MOMENT Reeve cried with her, Agatha felt the connection that she failed to remember before. Hindi niya alam kung anong itatawag doon. Wala pa ring nadagdag sa alaala niya tungkol kay Reeve. Iyong mga pangit at masasakit pa rin ang bumabalik.

But somehow crying with him felt more intimate than making love. Sa wakas, tila naramdaman niya ang koneksyon sa pagitan nila, na dito sila matatawag na tunay na mag-asawa.

Isang linggo pa lang nang makilala niya si Reeve pero sa tingin niya ay ang dami na agad nangyari sa pagitan nila.

"Mommy, ang dami ko nang absent sa school. Can we just go home now?" angal ni Rainiel habang tinutulungan niya itong magbihis ng damit.

"We have two more days left, baby. Tapusin na natin. Our last day will be your sister and Sasa's birthday. Nakausap naman na daw ni Daddy ang teachers niyo sa school ni Riana. They'll help you catch up with some activities and lessons that you missed."

Sumimangot ito. "I won't have a perfect attendance. I won't be the first honor."

"You can still be," she positively said. Hinaplos niya ang buhok nito. "First time mo lang mag-absent sa school according to Riana. That means your teachers will probably give you an exception and another chance to be the first honor in the class."

Yumakap ito sa leeg niya at siniksik ang sarili sa kanya. "Mommy, I just want to go home with you. While we're still here, I think I'm gonna lose you again. I'm gonna lose you to that ugly girl Sasa."

"Rainiel," saway niya rito. Hinarap niya ito. "I'm your mother. Hinding hindi iyon magbabago. You're not losing me to anyone. You're only sharing me to Sasa. And she understands that. She's just little. She's just four. Isipin mo na lang na katulad siya ni Riana, Adam, and Rade. You share me with your siblings but that doesn't mean you're going to lose me, right?"

"It's different with Riana, Adam, and Rade, Mommy. They are my siblings. They came from you and Daddy! Hindi katulad ni Sasa. She's just a kid that's not a part of our family!"

Masuyo niya itong niyakap at hinalikan sa pisngi. "But she's a part of my heart, Rainiel. Nang sobrang miss ko na kayo, siya muna ang inalagaan ko para hindi ko makalimutan kung paano maging mommy," she gently explained.

Tumingala sa kanya si Rainiel. Wala na ang simangot nito. "Do I get a big part in your heart, Mommy?"

Napangiti si Agatha at agad na tumango. "You're our first born. You will always be special to me and to Daddy. Hindi lang malaki ang sakop mo sa puso namin, malaking-malaki."

Sumubsob ito sa dibdib niya. "I love you, Mommy. You have the biggest part in my heart, too. I can't live without you."

Rainiel can be the sweetest, too. Niyakap niya ito nang mahigpit at kinintilan ng halik sa bumbunan. "I love you, too, baby. Huwag ka nang magsusungit kay Sasa, please? Hindi naman niya 'ko gustong agawin. When you're older, I'll explain everything to you."

Hindi ito sumagot bagkus ay mas humigpit lang ang pagkakayakap nito sa kanya. Kumandong pa ito sa mga hita niya.

She gently rocked him inside her arms. Inugoy niya ito na para pa rin itong sanggol.

"And please be kinder to Daddy, too. Nakikita ko kung paano nagsta-strive si Daddy para maalagaan kayong apat kahit nandito na 'ko. Nagluluto siya ng breakfast natin, nag-iisip siya nang maigi kung saan niya tayo dadalhin para mamasyal. He drives us all day. He plays with you and your siblings."