Comrades in Action Book 5: Cece Klein

Chapter Sixty nine

"Daddy!!! Mwommy won lemme ride Snowball!"

Napabuga ng hangin si Elle dahil sa sumbong ng anak na si Teagan sa ama nito. Kanina pa kasi ito nagpupumilit na sumakay sa thoroughbred niyang si Snowball, eh hindi nga pwede.. Isa pa, napakalamig ng panahon ngayon sa labas, mamaya baka mapulmunya pa ang anak niya.

"Teagan.. not today alright? It's raining outside can't you see?"

"But mwommy!!!" Maktol nito.

"How about you pet knight instead?" Pang-gogoyo niya dito na ang tinutukoy ay ang alaga nilang lobo.

Bigla itong napasimangot. "But I want Snowball.."

"Shh.. gusto mo bang marinig ka ni Knight? Magtatampo sa iyo iyon, sige ka."

Itinikom nito ang bibig.

"Isa pa.. dapat mas love mo si Knight ngayon. Do you know why?"

"Why?"

She grinned. "Because Knight have found another lady wolf and they are having babies!"

Teagan's eyes widened. "Talaga mwommy?" She gasped.

"Yes! Aren't you excited?"

"I'm excited! I'll name all of the puppies!"

"Yes. You'll name them kaya for now, si Knight muna instead of Snowball, okay?"

"Yes, mwommy!"

Well that went easy.

"Elle?"

Napalingon siya sa pinto ng tawagin ni Cole.

"Yes, hon!"

"You have a visitor!"

Binuhat niya ang anak at saka lumabas ng drawing room. Agad siyang napasimangot ng makita kung sino ang kasama ni Cole doon.

"Uncle Ewick!" Mabilis na bumaba si Teagan mula sa pagkakabuhat niya at saka tumakbo at yumakap sa pinsan.

She crossed her arms over her chest. "What are you doing here?" Hindi maikaka-ilanang pagtatampo sa boses niya.

Napabuntong hininga si Derrick habang buhat buhat ang anak niya. What shocked her the most was the words that came out of his lips next.

"I'm sorry."

Napatuwid siya ng tayo. Tinitigan niya ito ng mataman. Ito ba talaga ang pinsan niyang masungit at hindi ganoon kadaling humingi ng tawad? Maging si Cole ay kunot noong nakatingin lang dito.

"What did you just say..?"

"I know you heard it, Elle. I won't say it twice." Bumalik na naman ang pagiging seryoso nito.

So that was only a one time thing, huh? Tsk. Bummer..

"Alam kong hindi lang yan ang pakay mo. So, what else are you here for aside from feeling sorry for not inviting us to your own wedding and for not telling us the news about my nephew?"

"I did not know about my son's existence too, Elle." Mariin nitong wika na ikinatahimik niya.

"It's true, acushla." Pang-aalo naman sa kanya ng asawa niya. "Cece told me everything. At first, I was angry at her too for not telling me what happened but after all the explanations, I completely understood."

Pero ang mga mata niya'y nanatili kay Derrick.

"Well how about two months ago, when you found out about your son? Why didn't you tell us?"

"Because my relationship with my wife is far from fine at that time, Elle. Have I told you about it then, I'm sure you'd do anything in your power to fix things overnight."