Pagod na isinandal ni Rhezi ang likod sa malambot na sofa. Tumingala rin siya at hinilot ang sentido habang nakapikit. She was dead tired and drained from all the things that happened to her the whole day. Aside from that, she was hungry too.
Hinubad niya ang blue na blazer at itinapon iyon kung saan. Walang lakas na kinapa niya ang cell phone sa ibabaw ng sofa at tiningnan iyon. It was past eight in the evening. Hindi na siya nagulat kung bakit halos wala na siyang lakas na kumilos pa.
After the trial was another meeting with a client. Isang politiko iyon na gustong makipaghiwalay sa asawa. It was a two-hour conversation and explaining. She was tired of it, but seeing Kraius was more tiring.
“Momma. . .”
Her lips instantly flashed a genuine smile as she felt someone removing her heels. Kaagad siyang nagmulat ng mga mata at tiningnan iyon.
“Hi! How was your day, love?”
The small brown-eyed lad lifted his head and looked at her directly. His eyes were beaming with happiness. His lips formed a beautiful smile that instantly washed away her pain and worry.
“jyid!” (good!) sagot nito.
She smiled and nodded. She was overwhelmed by the sight in front of her. It was so beautiful. An addiction that she would always endure.
His white skin. His long and pointed nose. His almond-shaped eyes and his thick eyebrows. It was a perfect copy of someone she loved from the past, but more innocent and beautiful. It was something that she could not ask for more, especially that it was multiplied by three and was looking at her intently now.
“What?” she asked them, smiling.
“You’re beautiful, Momma,” sabay na sabi ng tatlo.
Mas lalong lumawak ang kaniyang pagkakangiti.
“Come on! Don’t look at Momma like that, boys!”
“Daddy!”
Rhezi shifted her gaze and raised her eyebrow. Seeing Jericho in his usual polo shirt and jeans while hugging her babies was still unbelievable for her. Who would have thought that the guy she hated the most would help her in the past years of her life? Ni sa hinagap ay hindi niya naisip na makakasama ang lalaki sa matagal na panahon.
“Hi, Momma!” bati ni Jericho. Nakangiti ito sa kaniya.
Rhezi jokingly rolled her eyes at him. Siniguro niyang hindi iyon nakita ng mga anak niya.
“So? What’s making you smile like that?”
“May nakita akong guwapo kanina. Oh my gosh! Parang gusto kong magpa-sex changed agad-agad,” kinikilig na wika nito.
“Rendahan mo ’yang bibig mo at baka marinig ka ng mga anak ko,” mariing sagot niya at sinulyapan ang tatlong anak na nasa likuran lamang ni Jericho.
“Sorry, Momma.” Umarte itong sinisilyuhan ang bibig.
Rhezi shook her head and smiled lightly. Itinulak niya si Jericho nang bahagya. Hindi pa rin siya mapaniwalaan na ito pala ay isang bisexual. Umamin ito sa kaniya noong nakita nito sa personal si Cristiano Ronaldo sa Brazil dahil sa isang soccer tournament. Magkasama sila nito na nagbabakasyon noon kasama ang tatlo niyang anak. Totoong nawindang siya sa inamin nito. Gayunpaman, lalaking-lalaki pa rin ang kilos at pananamit nito dahil sa takot na mabuko sa madla; lalo na sa sarili nitong pamilya.
“Kids! Did Momma eat already?” baling ni Jericho sa tatlong bata na nasa likuran nito.
Isa-isang umiling ang tatlong mga bata.
“Momma, what do you want to eat?” tanong ni Uno, isa sa tatlo niyang anak. He was the eldest.
“I’m tired, baby. Momma wanted a hug.” She smiled at them and stretched her arm. Dahan-dahan naman ang mga ito na lumapit sa kaniya. They hugged her tight and kissed her cheek. Lahat ng pagod niya ay nawala; lalo na kapag naglalambing at nilalambing siya ng mga anak.
It had been ten years since she left and flew to Dubai. Ten years of hiding and living alone in the land that she wasn’t familiar with. Ten years of struggling and striving. Sampung taon na rin niyang itinatago ang mga anak sa tunay nilang ama.
She may sound selfish, but she wouldn’t allow her child to be part of him. Her feelings were already dead a long time ago, and she had buried it six feet under. Tama nang minsan sa buhay niya ay nagmahal siya nang totoo, ngunit sinaktan at niloko lang nang wagas.
“Dada, bring me water. Please. . .” utos niya kay Jericho na nakaupo sa katapat niyang sofa.
“Echusera,” mahinang bulong nito at inikutan siya ng mga mata.
Natawa siya nang mahina sa inakto nito. Ganunpaman, tumayo pa rin ito at nagtungo sa kusina ng kanilang bahay.
Bailey mansion was owned by Jericho. Malapit lamang ito sa South Ridge Village at Forbes. It was grand and a modern European style. Two storey ang bahay at halos likha sa salamin. Engrande ang interior at exterior sa pinaghalong berde at mapusyaw na puti, habang gawa naman sa marmol ang sahig.
The house screamed luxury. Being a restaurant magnate, Jericho managed to provide abundance for her as well as for her kids. Hindi niya lubos akalain na sa panahong lutang siya at bigo, tutulungan siya nito. She was lost and in despair back then, and he helped her, while her kids fixed her from being totally broken.
Pagkatapos kumain, nagpasya si Rhezi na ihatid ang mga anak sa kwarto ng mga ito. As usual, makalat na naman iyon dahil sa mga laruan, maging ang gamit ng mga itong PS4 ay nakalatag lang sa sahig. Napa-face palm na lamang siya at sinimangutan ang mga ito. Boys will always be boys indeed!
It was a typical boy’s room. Superman ang theme at may tatlong kama sa loob na mas malaki sa pangkaraniwan. Blue ang interior ng kwarto habang personalized LED lights naman na nasa ceiling ay ang initial S ni Superman na kulay pula rin. Carpeted ang sahig at mas malawak kaysa ginagamit niya. It was the biggest room in the entire house because Jericho wanted it to be. He spoiled her kids so much and gave everything to them like they were his own. Isa iyon sa mga bagay na ipinagpapasalamat niya ngunit minsan kinaiinisan din.
“Boys, keep in mind that you need to tidy your things. Pagkatapos maglaro, maglinis. Momma doesn’t like what she’s seeing right now.” May himig inis ang boses niya nang sabihin iyon.
“Sorry, Momma!” sabay-sabay na wika ng tatlo habang nakatitig sa kaniya.
Agad na nagtakbuhan ang tatlo at mabilis na nilinis ang kalat. Napangiti na lamang siya nang makitang kung saan-saan lamang iyon isinalampak ng mga anak. Pagkatapos, patakbo ang mga itong nilapitan siya’t niyakap muli.
“Momma, will Mamala visit us?” tanong ni Tres. He was looking at her with hopeful eyes. The same eyes that made her drown and insane when she was young.
“We’re excited, Momma!” Dos screamed, and gave a high five to his brothers.
Rhezi sighed heavily and shook her head. She didn’t know how to tell her kids that their grandparents didn’t even know their existence. Naglayas siya ten years ago, at binura niya lahat ng puwedeng susi para mahanap siya. She made sure of it. Jericho made sure of it. Nine years after she ran away—or exactly a year ago, she agreed to marry him.
She changed her surname. She was not a Lagdameo anymore. She wasn’t the same vulnerable girl like before. The old fat Rhezi was gone, replaced by a licensed attorney—Attorney Rhezaliza Bailey.
@sheinAlthea
BINABASA MO ANG
BS#3: OWNING HER INNOCENCE
General Fiction#Mature #Age gap #Tinaguan ng anak Mapaglaro sa pag-ibig. Kaya si Kraius, seventeen years ang naging bad luck.
