Teardrops in Daylight (Salvaje Caballero Series 3)

Treinta y Dos

Hers

I laughed while taking a video of him standing in front. Kasama ko naman si Sara at si Auntie Neth na nanonood sa nagpapabibo kong anak.

He said he's practicing to introduce himself when he will be going to school. He's....only two years old!

"Okay....let's pretend we're your classmates." 

He nodded obediently and smiled..

"Hi evewybody, myyyy nammeee is Zawim Thannnn Pewezz." he introduced himself. I tried my very best not to laugh because of his cuteness.

"How old are you?" tanong naman ni Sara.

"Amm two yeawss old!"

"What's your favorite color?" Auntie Neth asked.

Zalim pouted. I was busy taking videos of him because I'll probably regret not taking videos because he's growing up too fast!

"Wed!!"

Natawa kaming lahat pero pinalakpakan pa din namin.

"Favorite fruit?"

He giggled before answering.

"Stwawbewwy."

"Favorite pet?"

"Dog!"

"Favorite hero?" sabat ko naman.

Nahihirapan kasi siyang pumili kaya natawa ako nang natigilan siya at nag-isip.

Then his face lit up. I smiled more staring how adorable my son is.

"My..favowitee hewo is....m-mama!"

Hindi ko inasahan ang sagot niya kaya hindi ko na napigilan ang pagyakap sa kanya at pag ulan ng halik sa matambok niyang pisnge..

Kinuha naman ni Sara ang phone ko at siya ang nagvideo sa aming dalawa. Tawang tawa ang anak ko habang hinahalikan ko siya.

"My favorite baby is Zalim!" nangingigil kong sigaw at kinulit ang anak.

Waking up with kisses on my face made me ask for nothing more. Zalim is such a sweet and cheerful kid. Hindi din siya mapili sa mga taong bumubuhat sa kanya.

Hinding hindi siya makakatulog kapag hindi ko niya ako yinayakap. Kapag nagigising yan na wala ako sa tabi niya, iiyak yan. Zalim always completes my day and my life.

Ganito ata ang akiramdam ng ina, lahat kayang gawin para sa anak. Kaya hindi ko maintindihan ang mga inang nagtatapon ng mga anak nila diyan sa tabi. O kahit yung mga nagpapalaglag ng anak. Dahil ang...... sarap maging ina. We may not have the same stories to tell and we have different kinds of situation but still, abortion shouldn't be in your option.

If you get pregnant at very young age, then don't abort your baby. Dahil madaming mga babae na gustong gustong magkaanak. Pwede mo namang ipaampon kapag hindi mo kayang buhayin, huwag mo lang patayin. Huwag mong putulin ang pagkakataon niyang mabuhay.

"Baby, can mama ask you a question?" Tanong ko kay Zalim habang sinusubuan ko siya ng kanin.

He nodded and smiled.

"Why am I your favorite hero?" tanong ko at sinubuan siya ulit.

"You have powewss mama." he spoke.

Natawa ako at pinunasan ang lumapas na pagkain sa gilid ng labi niya.

"What powers?" natatawa kong tanong.

"Secwet mama."

I laughed and just kissed his cheeks.

"Mama loves you." I uttered and brushed his hair.

He giggled. "Zalim wuvs mama." he mumbled.

"Zalim wuvs papa...too." he added.

After we ate, Zalim was waiting for me to finish washing the dishes.

"Mama...video...me." Zalim uttered when we're inside our room. Kahit nagtataka ay kinuha ko ang phone.

He sat in our bed and smiled in front of the camera of my phone.

"What are you going to do?" natatawa kong sambit habang vinivideohan ko siya.

"I wuv you...you wuv me...we'we a happy...fawily. With a gweat big hug....." he hugged himself that is why I laughed.

"And a kiss...fwom me to you....Won't you say....I wuv you too."

I laughed and cheered for him..

"Wow!" puri ko tapos siya pa mismo ang pumalakpak para sa sarili niya.

"Zalim wuvs mama and papa.." he spoke.

"Papa.."  he uttered and looked at my phone.

Nagflying kiss siya kaya parang binasag ang puso ko. Kita ko ang pananabik sa mata niya sa isang ama.

"I wuv you!" he giggled.

The video lasted for 30 minutes because he was telling stories. And I tried so hard not to cry in front of him. Bilin pa niya na ipakita ko daw sa papa niya.

That night, Zalim kept on crying and crying. Agad kaming naalarma nina Sara dahil sa sobrang iyak ng anak ko habng sinasabunutan ang buhok niya.

"Mama...awiee. My head mama...awieee." iyak niya.

Pati ako umiiyak na din habang pinupunasan siya gamit ang bimpo.

"Sara....dalhin na natin sa hospital." iyak ko at mas binihisan ang anak. Tumango naman ang kaibigan ko na halatang nag-aalala na din.

Kinarga ko si Zalim and pilit na pinapatahan sa pamamagitan ng paghagod sa kanyang likod ngunit mas umiyak lang siya.

I have never been this scared my whole life. When we're in the hospital, I never wasted a second and went to emergency room.

Halos tumigil ang mundo ko nang makita ang anak na nanginig. That was the time when the nurses were alerted. They adviced me to wait outside the emergency room while my son...is inside, seizuring!

Panay ang iyak ko sa labas habang nagdadasal. Please, nawalan na ako ng isang mahal sa buhay. Hindi ko kakayanin kung pati ang anak ko mawawala.

He's...only two years old. Kung pwede lang na kunin ko lahat ng sakit na nararamdaman niya, kukunin ko.

I didn't know how long I've waited while Sara kept on comforting me.

"He'll...be okay. Our Zalim is strong." bulong niya pero pati siya ay umiiyak din.

Halos sabay kaming tumayo ni Sara nang makalabas ang doctor.

"Doc...how's my son?" I asked
desperately as my hands trembled.

He sighed and looked so sorry. No..tell me a good news.

"He's....in coma."

Coma?

I covered my mouth when sobs came out. I can't....how? Why? Coma? My son?

"We need to run tests to make sure."

But...that wasn't what I wanted to hear. Si Sara na ang nakipag-usap sa doktor dahil halos mawalan ako ng lakas. Hindi ko halos maisip ang kalagayan ng sariling anak. Paanong nacoma ang anak ko?

I kept on crying while holding his little fingers.

"Baby....wake up. Please, mama is here." I whispered.

But he....didn't.

My baby.......never woke up again. He never....opened his eyes again.