Taming The Night [Cosmos Series#2]

Kabanata 12

I buzzed the doorbell of Creed's condo and waited for a few seconds before the door finally opened.

Bumungad sa akin ang isang batang babae. She's wearing a pink dress and her hair is in a ponytail. Agad itong ngumiti nang makita ako.

"Hello po! Friend din po ba kayo ni Daddy?" She asked but no words came out of my mouth. Because first, I don't know how to answer and second, I don't know, I fell my tears forming on my eyes as I looked at the kid.

Lumuhod ako upang mapantayan ko siya. Napilitan ako na ibaba ang dala dahil sa kagustuhan na mahawakan ang bata.

I remember my baby. Hindi ko alam kung bakit bigla ko nalang naalala ang aking anak, maybe because this little girl is Creed's daughter.

Inabot ko ang dalawang kamay nito. "What is your name?"

"I'm Crizzette Ferron but you can call me Crizzy po." She smiled.

"Okay, Crizzy po."

Her mouth fell open. Nang makuha ang aking sinabi ay bahagya itong napatawa. "You can call me Crizzy po, I mean Crizzy lang."

Hindi na ako nakasagot dito dahil narinig ko ang papalapit na boses ni Creed.

"Crizzy is that your Mommy?"

Kinuha ko ang aking dala bago tumayo. Kasabay noon ang paglabas ng bulto ni Creed.

"No, Daddy! She's--oh! I forgot to ask your name. What's your name po?" She asked in a cute manner. Her eyes looks so innocent and herr cheeks looks so fluffy though hindi masyadong mataba ang katawan nito, siguro ay sakto lang sa kanyang edad.

"I am Lirae Verania Amherst, you can call me Tita Vinia po." I smiled. Namilog ang mga mata nito na ipinagtaka ko.

"Ms. Amherst, what are you doing here?" Bungad ni Creed nang makita ako.

I was about to answer ngunit naunahan ako ako ni Crizzy. "Daddy! Her name sounds like Mommy Mirae's name! Her name is Lirae then Mommy is Mirae! Are they twins?"

Nangatal ang aking mga labi sa sinambit nito. Nakita ko ang pagkunot ng noo ni Creed ngunit agad ding sumagod. "No they're not. Your Mommy Mirae is a Lozano."

Crizzy nodded her head. "And Tita Vinia is an Amherst."

Mommy Mirae? Paano? I mean, it can't be.

"M-Mirae is your Mom?" I stammered. I thought she's Cerys' daughter. I mean, I thought they already found her and it's Crizzy.

"Yes po, I have two Moms. Mommy Mirae and Mommy Astrid," Masiglang sagot nito na lalo ko lang ikinalito. What the fuck? How about Cerys?

"Anyway, come in Tita Vinia," Anyaya niyo.

I hesitated because of Creed. Hindi ko rin alam kung bakit ko naisipan pumunta rito. Good thing na narito sila. It's Sunday today kaya nagbakasakali ako na puntahan ang dating condo ni Creed, hanggang ngayon pala ay dito pa rin sila nakatira.

"Come in," Sambit ni Creed ngunit tila ba napilitan lang dahil na rin sa anak. Nilakihan nito ang bukas ng pinto upang makapasok ako.

I looked around and everything feels so familiar, walang nabago sa condo niya. From the couches, center table, and the furnitures are still the same.

"Tita Vinia, why are you smiling yet your eyes looks sad." Natigilan ako sa sinabi ni Crizzy. Hindi ko namalayan na mayroon ng ngiti sa aking mga labi.

"Nothing, it's just that..." I shook my head. "Nothing." Napaisip ako at napagdesisyonan na huwag na lang sabihin ang totoong dahilan. Crizzy's too young for this while Creed can't remember me. Kaya wala namang makakaintindi sa akin kung hindi ang sarili ko lang kahit na sabihin ko pa ito sa kanila.