Between the Lines

PANIMULA

Abandon

verb

aban·don \ə-ˈban-dən\

a : to give up to the control or influence of another person or agent

b : to give up with the intent of never again claiming a right or interest in

"Uwaah! Uwaaah!"

"Congratulations, it's a bouncing baby girl" Lea smiled as soon as she heard what her doctor said before she dooze of to sleep after a fourteen hours of labor.

Lea woke up with a heavy feeling while she saw the white ceiling as her eyes start to wander around the hospital room.

"Lea" her Kuya Anton call her name.

"Aya"

"Dahan - dahan lang Lei baka mabinat ka" sambit ni Anton at tinulungan ang kapatid niya na makaupo ng maayos.

"Thanks" Lea said as she gave her Aya a small smile.

"I saw your daughter, Lei, she's just beautiful as you"

"She's not my daughter, aya"

"Carmen" bakas sa boses ng Aya Anton ni Lea ang pag-alala "You know I could always talk to Dad, right?"

"And we all know that kahit ikaw impossibleng magbago ang pag-iisip niya" Lea said and sighed "At least Dad is being considerate of her and I know she's in good hands because she has you" Lea said and look at her older brother "Please take care of her for me, will you, Aya?"

"Of course, Lei, she's my favorite baby sister's daughter how could I not take care of that little muffin?"

Lea chuckled "Ginawa mo pa talagang pagkain ang anak ko"

Anton chuckled too "I couldn't help it, if you could see her, you'll be amaze too, that little muffin is very cute since she really got your feautures halatang Salonga"

"Kuya did you tell the nurse that - -"

Someone knocked the door and Anton looks at her sister "Wait, I'll open it, it must be Alexis or mom and dad"

Lea just nod in response.

But Anton's guess were all wrong, it wasn't his wife Alexis nor their Mom and Dad, it was a nurse carrying a baby.

"Mommy, here's your little angel"

Lea was frozen when she saw the baby on the nurse's arms.

"Please take that baby away from me" Lea said.

"Pero po - -" bago pa matapos na magsalita ang nurse ay umiyak na ang bata.

The nurse was trying to stop the baby from crying.

"Will you please go out of my room, Miss, and stop that baby from crying, it's really annoying"

"Maria Lea Carmen!" Anton said to warn Lea and just as if the kid understand what Lea said it cried harder "Akin na po ang bata, ako na po ang bahala sa kanya"

Lea just rolled her eyes and lied back down to bed.

"Tahan na" Anton said as Lea turned her back away from her Aya Anton and the child as she closes her eyes.

Lea woke up when she heard a baby crying and when her sight adjusted her eyes wander around but she couldn't see her Aya Anton.

"Aya?"

No response.

Lea looks at the baby who was crying, she bit the bottom of her lips because she don't know what to do and she was afraid to pick her up since she knew how fragile newborn babies are but as soon as the cry became louder she doesn't have a choice but to muster her courage up and pick-up the baby.

A little bit the baby seemed to calm down but it cried again "Ano bang nangyayari sa'yo? Bakit ka umiiyak?" tanong niya sa bata habang sinasayaw niya ito para tumahan.

She stop from dancing when she realize something. She sit down and start feeding the baby. The baby became quiet as she enjoy and savor the milk "You must really be hungry, huh?" Lea said as she smile as she watch how her daughter become a milk monster.

"Now you're smiling"

Lea look at the the person who was standing right in front of her "Aya, where have you been?"

"I went down to bought her a milk"

"Why didn't you wake me up instead?"

"You didn't want to see her right?"

Lea's smile faded when she heard what her Aya Anton said.

"It's not like that Kuya, it's just - -"

"You don't have to explain to me Carmen" Anton said "I'm just glad you don't hate her"

Lea smiled as she looks at her daughter who was busy savoring the milk she's feeding her.

"Can you do me a favor?"

Lea raised her head to look at her brother.

"Name her for me"

"What? But I thought Alexis and you are going to name her"

"Kahit pangalan lang Lea, kahit yun lang ang ibigay mo sa kanya"

Lea sighed as she look at her daughter.

"Alexandra Lianne. That would be her name"

"And I hope she would go beautiful, strong and wise just like how my favorite ruler in history, Alexander the great became one" she said as smile bitterly as she looks at the baby.

"I hope you could survive this harsh world without me guiding you, anak" she said as she smile but you could see the sadness on her ehes while she looking at her beautiful bundle of joy.

To Be Continued...