Chapter Fourteen
Son
"What time will you be back, Mommy?" Toffie asked. Natigilan ako sa tuluyang paglabas ng pinto ng unit namin at bumaling kay Toffie. Lumuhod ako sa harap niya para magpantay ang tingin namin. Hinawakan ko ang maliliit na braso niya. "Sorry, baby. Mommy's so busy lately. Promise sa weekend, lalabas tayo, okay?" Umangat ang isang kamay ko para ayusin ang bahagya niyang nagulong buhok. His hair was longer kaya magpapagupit din siya sa Sabado.
He nodded. "And we'll go to the mall to buy me more toys?" He grinned.
I sighed. "Fine."
"Yay!" Niyakap niya ako sa leeg.
Napangiti na rin ako. I hugged my five-year-old son. Hinalikan ko siya at muli na akong nagpaalam na aalis para sa trabaho. "Be a good boy to yaya, okay?" bilin ko.
Toffie nodded and assured me. Bumaling ako sa yaya niya at nagbilin muli bago tuluyang umalis.
I drove myself to work. I got promoted again. Pagdating ko sa firm ay sinalubong ako ni Atty. Castillano. Bago lang siya sa Alcantara-Ledesma and Associates Law Firm. Tingin ko ay kulang lang siya sa confidence but he was really good. He was hardworking and passionate. Over the years, I learned about passion with what I was doing.
"Good morning, Attorney," he greeted politely.
"Good morning, Attorney Castillano. Nandito na ba si Attorney Valencia?" I asked.
"Nandito na, Attorney."
I nodded.
I started my usual day at the firm.
When weekend came, ipinasyal ko nga si Toffie. We got him a haircut first and then we ate at his favorite fast-food restaurant. Kuwento siya nang kuwento sa akin tungkol sa lagi niyang pinapanood at paboritong cartoon habang kumakain kami. Nakangiti lang naman akong nakikinig sa kanya.
Kumuha ako ng tissue at pinunasan ang gilid ng mga labi niya na nalagyan ng kaunting sauce galing sa spaghetti. "Do you want more?" I asked.
He shook his head. "No, Mommy. I'm full," he said, even touching his stomach.
Nangingiti na lang ako.
Pagkatapos ay nagpunta kami sa game station ng mall. Toffie tried everything. I helped him with the ball shooting. He liked basketball. Marami rin kaming na-shoot and in return, we got nice amount of tickets from the machine. Dinala namin ang naipon na tickets sa counter and we received a cute cartoon character pillow. And Toffie liked it. We thanked the staff at the counter and left nang mukhang napagod o nagsawa na rin si Toffie kakalaro doon.
I also bought him new clothes. Ang bilis niyang lumaki. At nakikita kong maayos naman siyang lumalaki. Hindi rin siya sakitin. I always made sure na nadadala ko siya sa pedia. Kumpleto siya sa vitamins at pinapakain ko rin talaga ng gulay. Sanay rin naman siyang kumain ng healthy.
Parang kailan lang, nasa tiyan ko pa siya. Naging maayos naman ang pagbubuntis ko noon and I gave birth well, too. Natakot pa ako noon. I had doubts of being a mother. Hindi ko pa alam noon kung kakayanin ko ba. Lalo at mag-isa lang ako. Pero siguro maternal instinct. It just came out naturally. Because of Toffie, lalo akong naging matapang na harapin ang buhay na ito. Lalo at hindi na lang sarili ko ang iisipin ko dahil may bata na ring involved. At walang ibang aasahan ang anak ko kundi ako.
"Look at this, Toffie. I think this will look cute on you." Inilagay ko sa harap niya ang naka-hanger pa na short sleeve polo. Napangiti ako. I made him try different clothes. Hindi naman siya nagrereklamo. Minsan lang din kami lumabas nang ganito. Pagkatapos ay dinala ko na sa cashier.
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