Wild Heart (Eastwood University Series #2) ✔️

Chapter 24

"You guys take care of each other po, ha? I hope you two will end up together and will make each other happy. I don't want you to end up like my parents po na naghiwalay for whatever reason." 

He said with a very sad voice but still gave me a wide smile on his face. He did not tell me but I can sense that he's still hurt with what happened. 

Lumapit ako dito at hinawakan ang taas ng ulo nito, "Baby." 

He is now on the verge of crying. Nanubig ang gilid ng aking mata pero binigyan ko pa rin ito ng comforting smile. 

"I feel you, hmm? I know how it feels to have a broken family, I'm on that stage right now," panimula ko, "And, I'm telling you, Nick," I held both of his cheeks, "I will take note of the thing that you said earlier, I promise." 

Right after I said that, he immediately hugged me tight while silently sobbing that made my heart wrench. 

It is my first encounter to see a child like this being deeply hurt because of their parents. We really don't know what's going on in someone's mind sometimes and it's sad that a 5 year old kid is already feeling like shit. 

"Honey," natanggal ko ang hawak ko kay Nick pero nanatili itong nakayakap sa akin. 

Sidra looked at Nick with a worried face before looking back at me. Her face turns soft before sighing.

"I'm sorry to disturb you but we need to go. Hanap ako ni Papa. Soleil's not currently in Adira's house, someone needs to look for her." Mahabang pahayag nito kaya namab tumango na lang ako at tumingin kay Nick na hanggang ngayon ay yakap pa rin ako.

Sidra looks at me, asking what happened using her eyes. 

"Breakdown," I said so she understandably nodded before kneeling to match Nick's height. 

"Hey, buddy," maingat na tawag nito sa bata and when he looks at her, she smiled softly. "Ate Ganda and I need to go. We can visit you guys next time but for now we need to go. Sorry." 

Umangat ang tingin ni Nick kay Sidra before nodding his head softly, "Okay po. I'll see you next time, I guess?" 

Tumango kaming dalawa at ginulo ni Sidra ang buhok ni Nick. She smiled at him one last time before looking for Nanay Tessa, na ngayon ay papalapit na sa amin. 

"Aalis na kayo?" Nakangiti na bungad nito tumango si Sidra at ngumiti ng pilit dito. 

"Yes po. We'll visit next time po, we just really need to go na." Ngiting paumanhin nito at nilagay ang kaniyang palad sa aking lower back before snaking her hands on my waist.

"Walang problema, 'nak. Bumisita kayo pag hindi kayo busy, alam ko naman na marami kayong ginagawa," sabi nito at bumaling sa akin, "Ikinagagalak ko makita ka, 'nak. Ngayon ko na nakita ang dati pa kinukwento nito ni Sidra sa amin—"

"Nay!" Nagulat kami ng biglang sumigaw si Sidra habang namumula ang mukha, "We're going na po. Let's go, baby." 

Pinipilit na ako nitong maglakad papalayo habang ako ay pinipigilan naman siya. Nakikinig pa 'yung tao sa sinasabi nung matanda e. 

"Sidra! I was talking to—"

Nilakihan ako nito ng mata, "We need to go." She uttered at muling tumingin sa matatanda ng may pilit na ngiti, "Bye po!" 

She open the car door for me at agad na rin sinarado ng makapasok ako. Naiiling na lang ako at natawa ng makita na pati ang tenga nito ay namumula sa hiya.

Matagal mo na pala akong crush, ha?

"So, saan nga tayo after nito?"