The Accused (A Series #1)

Chapter Forty

She felt like she just closed her eyes when August was awakened by an incessant knock on her door. By the pattern of it, she thought she had an idea who was behind the door. Kaya kahit gusto niya pang mahiga at matulog ulit dahil alas tres na nang umaga nung bumigay ang mga mata niya, ay tinungo niya ang pinto.

"Mommy!"

A smile immediately drew on her face. Aurine was all smile while raising her hands and slightly jumping indicating na gusto nito magpabuhat. Napansin niyang basa na ang buhok nito at nakasuot na ng pang-alis, halatang bagong ligo. Kinarga niya ito agad. Pinaulanan siya ng halik ng anak nang mabuhat niya ito that made her giggle.

"Good morning, Mommy!"

"Good morning, baby. Why are you up early?"

Kinarga niya ito patungo sa kanyang kama. She sat there while her daughter was on her lap.

"Di ba po, Auwine will meet her first daddy today?"

Oh!

Medyo nagulat pa siya nang maalala pero agad siyang ngumiti dito because by the looks of her daughter, she was watching her facial expression. Her daughter looked like she was excited to meet her father and she could not afford to disappoint her.

"Yeah. Is that why you wore that beautiful dress today, huh," she teased.

"Yes, Mommy! Lolo Daddy bought it for me yesterday! We went to a mall, Mom, and we eat to that fat red bee's store."

Ah, Jollibee, her favorite. Madalas nilang dalhin ni Finno ang anak doon dahil napakahilig nito sa Jolly Spaghetti. Sa tuwing hinihiram naman ito ng lolo nito, Finno's grandfather, he would always try to accompany her there kahit pa medyo hirap na ito minsan.

Yesterday, as she went to talk to Calev, Finno brought Aurine to his grandfather's house. Dapat ay silang tatlo ang magkasama but she had to talk with Calev already. Ayaw na niyang patagalin iyon.

"That's great! What did you say to your Lolo Daddy then, after he bought you that fairy's dress?"

"Mmmhh..." she acted like she was thinking it through. "I told him that if I'll be a princess I'll turn him into someone who won't die... he always tells me that he might be gone anytime and uh... Auwine doesn't wan't it, Mom. It hurts here to think." Itinuro nito ang bandang dibdib to clear what she meant by "here".

"Aw, my baby, you're getting smarter each day, ah. You know Aurine, people vanish in our lives whether we want them or not, but their absence does not mean that they are totally gone. They just advanced to the next world and will be waiting for us there. Your Lolo Daddy, if ever he'll vanish, he'll make a good angel for you above."

Tumango-tango lang ito at naglilikot upang bumaba nang marinig na bumukas ang pintuan. Bumaba ito at nagmadaling nagpakarga sa kakarating lang na si Finno. He, too, was already prepared.

"Good morning," he greeted. Hindi na ito lumapit at parang naintindihan na nito na kailangan niya pa na maghanda.

She nodded at him. "Good morning."

"I'll just take her downstairs. Hurry and join us for breakfast."

She nodded at them before they were gone from her sight. She sighed softly before started preparing. May today turn out well.

Kagabi ay napag-usapan nila ni Finno na sasama ito sa pagkikita ng mag-ama. Gaya rin nang pakiusap niya kay Calev ay sa resort sila magkikita-kita lahat. Wala naman itong naging angal.

When she was done, she joined Finno and her daughter in the dining for their breakfast. She could sense how excited her daughter was as she could not stop talking about meeting her father. With that, her heart swelled. Nagpapasalamat siya na ganito ang reaksyon ng anak. She could not help to think about Cevin, would he react the same way? She could only hope.