One Shot Stories

41. Father

Father

"Father, m-mano po." automatic na ngumiti ako nang may isang batang lalaking kinuha ang kamay ko at nagmano. Bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko at sinubukang silipin ang mukha niya.

"Kaawaan ka ng Diyos, a-anak. Pwede ko bang matanong kung taga saan ka? Ngayon ko lang kasi kita nakita dito sa parish." ngiti ko. Ngunit ramdam ko pa rin ang lakas at bilis ng tibok ng puso ko. Hindi ko alam kung anong nangyayari.

"I'm from Manila, Father." matigas na ingles na sagot niya. Halatang mayaman ang pamilyang kinabibilangan niya ngunit bakit ayaw niyang tumingala?

"Jeremiah? Oh my gosh! We were looking for you since a while ago!" biglang may babaeng yumakap sa bata at binuhat naman ito ng lalaki. They must be his parents.

"Oh my gosh, thank you Father. I'm sorry, our little Jeremiah disturbed you." she apologized. Ngumiti ako at tumango.

"It's okay. He told me you guys were from Manila. Thanks for visiting our Parish. How old is he, by the way?" tanong ko, referring to the kid.

"He's almost five years old." ngiti ng kanyang ina. I smiled, too.

"Jeremiah, say thank you to Father." sambit ng tatay niya. Nang humarap ang bata sa akin ay halos manghina ang mga tuhod ko nang makita ang mukha niya.

"T-Thank you, Father." napakurap pa ako dahil sa sinabi niya. Nalusaw ang puso ko sa sinabi niya. Teary-eyed, I smiled and ruffled his hair.

"It's okay, son. Mag-iingat kayo sa byahe pabalik ng Maynila." tumango sila at umalis na. Kinagat ko ang ibabang labi ko at lumunok.

His features were like mine and her mother's. It was shocking.

He looked exactly like me. Oh my God. I realized that he was my child that I left in a foster home in Manila after her mother's death and after I chose to pursue Him almost five years ago.

My heart ached when I saw my child walked away happily with his foster parents.