CHAPTER 43

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Chapter 43

I attended all my appointments and scheduled meetings before I’ll go to Manila. Gusto kong tapusin lahat ng dapat kong tapusin para wala na akong iisipin. Nag cancel na rin ako ng mga appointments sa araw ng lakad ko para wala na akong maistorbo. Ayokong iasa sa iba ang mga importanteng meetings dahil gusto kong ako mismo ang a-attend.

Sinabihan lang ako ni Dio sa mga dapat kong gagawin habang nandoon ako. To make sure, I need to tour around their ship and make sure that our furnitures will be safe while shipping it abroad. When the contract is all settled, then everything will be alright. Dio will do the rest.

“Mommy? Where are you going?” my daughter, Aquila, asked me while I’m packing my things for the business meeting tomorrow.

Galing ito sa kanyang kuwarto pero katulad nang nakagawian ay dito na naman siya pumunta.

“What are you doing here, baby? Akala ko ba doon ka matutulog sa kuwarto mo?” Inabot ko siya saka pinaupo sa kama sa tabi ko. Hawak niya ang kanyang unan at mukhang alam ko na kung bakit siya nandito.

“I can’t sleep there, mommy. I want you beside me. Tsaka aalis ka po? Saan ka po pupunta?”

“It’s work, baby. Mommy needs to leave for a while. I’ll be away for three days.”

“Can’t I come?” her lips protruded cutely. Bahagya siyang nagtago sa unan habang titig na titig sa akin.

I sighed sadly and caress her hair. “I’m sorry, baby, but you can’t. It’s an important meeting that I need to attend. Babalik naman agad ako dito once na tapos na ang trabaho ko doon.”

“Then sino po katabi ko tuwing mag s-sleep po ako?” Malungkot ang boses na saad niya. “you’ll be away for three days. Matagal po ‘yon, mommy.”

“I’ll call you every night, how’s that?” I smiled. “I’ll leave you to Tita Helda so don’t worry. Spoil na spoil ka ni Tita kaya alam kong aalagaan ka niya ng mabuti. I’m sure she’ll treat you to whatever you want.”

Her lips is still protruded. “Call me every night, okay? I will miss you, mom.”

“I know, and I will miss you too. So, so much, baby.” I lean forward to kiss her forehead. Tinapos ko lang ang ginagawa bago sinamahan si Aquila na matulog.

I was humming and tapping her butt while watching her fell asleep. Masuyo akong napangiti at pinatakan ng halik ang kanyang noo.

“Sleep well, Aquila. Have a sweet dreams.”

Kinumutan ko ito ng maayos bago pumasok sa banyo para maghilamos. Nang matapos, tumabi ako kay Aquila at niyakap ito. I’m not yet sleepy so I settled my self by looking at her. Kasing ganda ako ni Aquila noon pero mas marami parin talaga siyang nakuha sa kanyang ama. She looks like a mini version of him.

My baby grew up beautiful, confident and good to people. Bukod sa akin, maayos na pinalaki rin ito ni Tita na palagi niyang kasama noon no’ng mga panahong nag-aaral pa ako. Abala ako sa trabaho at inaamin kong madalas ko lang nakakasama si Aquila pero palagi kong sinisiguro na sulit ang pagsasama namin.

I always taught her a lot of things. Especially that she grew up curious to her surroundings. Marami siyang gustong malaman pero bilang isang ina, may mga bagay na hindi ko kayang sabihin sa kanya dahil ayoko siyang masaktan. There’s a lot, actually. I’m just too afraid to tell her the truth.

Umayos na ako ng higa at pinikit ang mata para matulog. Though, my daughter is humming something and it made me curious. Bahagya akong lumapit para marinig ang kanyang binubulong sa panaginip. At first, I thought it was just a snore but I’m wrong.

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