Her unheard weeps (Affliction Series #2)

Prologue

"Mommy?" Called by a small voice on my left. Bumaba ang tingin ko sa kaniya at napangiti nang makitang may tinuturo ito.

"Yes...baby?" I smiled at lumuhod sa harapan niya para magpantay ang aming  mukha. I chuckled when she cupped my cheek and squeezed it a little using her tiny hands. Alam ko na ang gusto niyang iparating bago pa niya sabihin.

"B-buy?" She said.

"Do you want mommy to buy you cotton candy?" Masuyo kong tanong.

Tumango siya. "P-pwease?"

"Sure thing baby. But after you pray okay?"

Ngumuso siya pero tumango pa din naman. She clasped her  fingers together and bowed her head as she closed both eyes. 

Seconds after closing them, I chuckled a little when I saw her left eye opened like she wanted to see kung  nakabantay ako sa kaniya. When she saw I was watching ay kaagad siyang pumikit ulit ng mariin.

I got up from the grassy soil at bahagyang pinagpagan ang sarili bago siya hinawakan sa kabilang kamay.

"Okay, that should do baby. Let's go" ani ko at kinarga na ang maliit na bata.

"Mmm...candy?" She lifted her hopeful eyes.

"Yes...we'll buy you your cotton candy now."

She smiled widely and clapped her hands in glee. I can't help but crack a smile too. She's so adorable!

"Aalis na po kami. But don't worry. We'll visit again soon" i smiled. I didn't received any feedback sa kausap, tumalikod na kami para umalis.

"Which color do you want?" I asked my baby when we reached the candy stall.

She didn't say anything and just looked at me cluelessly. After that, she naively raised her right hand and formed a peace sign. Napatawa ako.

"Right...sorry! Mommy forgot that you're barely two and doesn't know about colors yet" like she can understand me...she giggled.

I gave her the color green cotton candy, she immediately became fond of it dahil imbes na kainin ay nilaro niya ito.

Papara na sana ako ng taxi nang marinig ko ang bahagyang paghagikhik ng anak.

Nilingon ko siya para makita kung sino ang kaniyang kausap. Palagi kasing may kumakausap sa kaniya kapag lumalabas kami, it's because a lot of people find her adorable and bubbly. And she's always giggling whenever people makes face just to get her attention. Kaya hindi na ako nagtataka kung may kumakausap na naman sa kaniya ngayon.

"Mmm..." she mumbled something which I didn't quite catch.

"What is it emie? Ano 'yong tinitingnan mo diyan?"

Nilingon ko siya at nakita ko siyang nakatingin sa bandang harapan. Sinundan ko iyon ng tingin at halos mamutla ako sa kaba nang makita kung sino ang taong nasa kabilang kalsada; 'yong nginingitian niya--hindi malayo sa kung saan kami.

My breathing labored.

"Friend!" She exclaimed making me gasp.

N-no...No! No! not a friend! 

HOW THE FUCK DID HE FIND US!?

"Emie! Let's go!" Kinarga ko na siya at naglakad-takbo na. 

Medyo may kabigatan ang anak at nahirapan ako, kaya hindi na ako masyadong nagulat nang maabutan niya kami.

I gasped as he caught my wrist with a harsh pull. Sinalubong ko ang nanlilisik niyang mga mata. Hindi nakaligtas sa akin ang pagdapo ng tingin niya sa kargang anak. I slightly tilted my body to the side in order to hide emie from his menacin gaze.

"Sasama kayo sa akin! We'll talk." he said in a low, angry voice.