THAT GANGSTER IS AN INSTANT MOMMY

Chapter 35: A Bittersweet Decision

It's been a week since that 'talk' happened between the twin. They made an agreement and Cheska is now on move. She must. The threats are getting worst at hindi siya makakapayag na madamay ang mga mahal niya especially Sky.

"Baby Sky, wake up." bulong niya. Sky groan as disapproval. "Come on, we are going out. Mamasyal tayo kasama si daddy." she said animatedly and that made Sky awake. Pipikit-pikit pa ito, ngunit dahil sa sinabi ni Cheska ay pinipilit nitong gisingin ang diwa.

"Where are we going mommy?" Cheska looked at him.

"It's a secret baby. So get up now, you don't want your dad waiting baka mag bago isip hindi tayo matuloy." Pananakot niya ditto kaya mabilis na gumayak ang bata at dumiretso ng banyo para maligo.

They went to an amusement park na siyang kinahyper pa lalo ni Sky. Malimit silang mag punta rito ng ama at ngayo'y kasama pa ang mommy niya. Kaya naman labis ang kanyang tuwa na matutupad ang pinakakaasam niyang mangyari na akasama ang mommy at daddy niya.

Samantala mapait namang napangiti si Cheska nang makita ang saya sa mukha ng mag-ama lalo na ni Sky. She can't help but be guilty, this will be the last time na makikita niya ang saya nila and probably the both of them. Siguradong magagalit ang mga ito sa gagawin niya, but it's for their safety. Their absence, them without her is the best thing to happen.

"Mommy! Daddy! Let's try all the things here! Eat the foods and ride all the rides!!" Sigaw ni Sky habang hindi magkamayaw sa pagturo ng gusto nitong gawin.

"We will baby." sagot ni Cheska, tumalon-talon naman si Sky sa tuwa.

At ginawa nga nila. They started on different booths and Arcades,which they enjoyed much because of the prices they get. Medyo nasusungitan lang ni Sky ang mga staff kapag hindi niya nagagawa ang laro buti na lang at mababait ang mga ito at na pag papasensyahan nila. Si Cheska na lamang ang humihingi ng paumanhin dahil isa rin si Tyler sa nag-susungit. Mag-ama nga naman.

Sunod naman silang kumain. They even tried street foods at kung ano-ano pa. Halos sumabog ang tiyan nila Cheska at Sky sa kabusugan habang si Tyler ang tagasuway. Ngunit wala siyang naagawa dahil sa kakulitan ng mga kasama.

"Mommy! Let's go try all the rides!" sigaw ni Chester. Walang kapaguran ito sa paghila sa mommy at daddy niya.

"Let's rest first baby. Masakit na ang paa ko." pagod na saad ni Cheska.

"Later Gab. Magpahinga muna tayo saglit." utos ni Tyler kaya sumunod na rin si Sky.

Umupo lang sila sa isa sa mga benches habang pinapanood ang mga tao sa amusement park. These moments are the best. Iyong uupo ka lang, but the cozyfeeling is there.

:"I'm going to miss this." Cheska uttered out of the blue. Tyler looked at her.

"Don't, I'll make sure we'll do this often." Tyler said.

"Yes mommy, we are going here every weekends, right dad?" tumango naman si Tyler.

Ngumiti na lang si Cheska at ibinaling ang tingin sa Ferris wheel. Silently hoping and hurting. Hoping that she'll spend more time with the two, yet hurting for it may be impossible to happen.

-

Ang balak nilang pagsakay sa mga rides ay hindi na natuloy dahil nakatulog na si Sky habang nakayakap kay Cheska. Hindi na kinaya ang pagod, bagamat gusto pa ni Cheska ng mas mahabang bonding ngunit hanggang doon na lang.

Tahimik lang sila habang bumabyahe pauwi. Alas otso na ng gabi ng makarating sila sa condo ni Tyler. Kinuha ng lalaki ang bata kay Cheska at siyang naglagay rito sa kuwarto nito. Nanatili si Cheska sa sala upang hintayin si Tyler.

"Bakit nandito ka pa? Magpahinga ka na."

"Ahm...I need to tell you something." He looked at her as if waiting for what she's about to say. Huminga ng malalim si Cheska. "I...I'm leaving." Halos pabulong na wika ni Cheska.

"Are you going to your house? I can send you there tomorrow." sagot naman Tyler. Hindi pa niya nakukuha ang gusting iparating ni Cheska.

"No. I'm leaving for good." kumunot ang noo ng binata. "It's for your safety. For Sky's safety."

"Why?...I -I don't get it."

"It's just complicated, I can't explain it to you now... I'll be leaving first thing tomorrow" She ended the conversation and went to Sky's room. She wanted to speak to him more and be honest but she can't.

5:15 am

Dahan-dahan ang pagkilos ni Cheska ilang hindi magising si Sky. She needed to go before he wakes up. Dala ang maleta, she tiptoed as she goes to the main door. When she was about to open it, Sky's sleepy voice stopped her.

"Mommy?" Hindi malaman ni Cheska kung haharapin niya ito o mabilis na lang na aalis. But in the end she chooses to talk to him.

"Take care of your self okay?" Was the first thing that came out to her mouth.

"Where are you going?"

"You don't have to know." Pilit niyang pinatatag ang boses.

"You don't love me right? That's why you're leaving." natigilan siya sa sinabi nito.

"No, I love you Sky." She loves him so much, that's why she has to leave.

"No you don't! You don't want me, because I am not your real son! You hated me!" she wasn't able to answer when Sky ranaway and slam his room's door.

Napaupo at naiyak na lang si Cheska. It hurts that Sky is mad at him. Gusto niyang isiping panandalian lamang ito. Na nagtatampo lang ito sa kaniya at lalambingin rin siya nito mamaya. Ngunit malabong nangyari iyon, she is leaving and she's not sure if she can still come back.

"Why are you crying?" naangat niya ang tingin nang marinig niya ang seryosong tinig ni Tyler.

Wala siyang naisagot kung 'di hikbi.

"Stop crying, don't act like you're hurt 'cause you are not. Pinili mo iyan you choose to leave. Sky is right you don't love us-him. Napipilitan ka lang pakisamahan kami." Tyler said with his cold voice.

"No. That's not true!" Protesta niya ngunit hindi siya pinakinggan ni Tyler.

"I'll give you one more chance to choose. Stay and be with us or leave. Once you leave we will forget about you, like you never become a part of the family." Huling sabi ni Tyler bago siya nito tuluyang tinalikuran.

Tila pinagsakluban ng langit at lupa si Cheska. Dalawang beses siyang tinalikuran ng mga taong important sa kaniya. Ngunit wala siyang magawa kung 'di damhin ang sakit. Gusto man niyang manatili ay hindi maaari.

Titiisin niya ang sakit ng mawalay sa kanila. Titiisin niya ang sakit kahit tuluyan na siyang kalimutan ng mga ito, kung kapalit nama'y kaligtasan nila. Masakit ngunit ito ang tama, it is a bittersweet decision for her. It's painful but she'll endure it. Just for them.