His Unwanted Wife

Chapter 13

"Where's mommy, nanay?" a nine-year-old Eli asked her yaya, a question she had often repeated since she was little.

Nanay Mercy smiled softly, gently stroking Eli's hair.

"Busy si mommy mo, iha. Hintayin na lang natin siyang maging free, okay?" she soothed the teary-eyed child.

"Is mommy okay, nanay? She doesn't come out of her room with daddy. And si daddy po? When is he coming home? I lost count na po of how many days he's been away."

Nanay Mercy's smile faltered slightly, her heart breaking for the child. At such a young age, Eli was already witnessing things no child should ever have to endure.

"Why don't you visit Yumi's room? Play with your little sister for now, okay?"

Eli brightened up, nodding eagerly. "Sige po, nanay. Just call me when mommy's not busy and when daddy comes home."

As Eli skipped off, Nanay Mercy sighed, watching the little girl who had seen too much too soon.

"Nanay, is mommy and daddy okay po?" a now 10-year-old Eli asked one evening after hearing raised voices from her parents' room.

Nanay Mercy's heart sank, but she forced a gentle smile. The truth was too heavy for a child to bear, yet Eli was no longer the innocent little girl who could be shielded from it.

"They are fighting, right nanay? I'm not supposed to meddle, but they'll make up naman, diba? Like me and Yumi when we argue?"

Her words pierced through Nanay Mercy, who had come to love Eli like her own. The child was wiser than her years, but some truths were still too painful to understand.

"Mommy! I got first place in class! You and daddy will attend my awarding, right?" Eli beamed as she rushed through the door.

"Sorry, baby. Daddy can't make it. But mommy will be there for you, okay?"

Eli's smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly nodded. "Super busy po ba talaga si daddy, mommy?"

Her mother gently touched her cheek, holding her hand. "Remember what I told you?"

Eli nodded eagerly. "If daddy doesn't work po, maraming families of his workers ang magugutom. Daddy's like a hero, right?"

Her mother chuckled softly, pinching her daughter's cheek. "Goodness, you really know how to make mommy laugh."

"Of course, mommy! So you won't be sad. I'm sad rin po kasi when you don't come out of your room."

Tears filled her mother's eyes, and Eli quickly wiped them away with her small hands.

"Is mommy making our big princess sad? I'm sorry, baby."

"It's okay, mom. Don't be sorry," Eli said softly, using the familiar line she always said to her mom.
"MOMMY I GO—"The now 12-year-old Eli froze as she entered the house, her eyes falling on the scattered clothes and suitcase. Her father was kneeling, clutching the hem of her mother's dress, tears streaming down both their faces.