Chasing Chances [TSC Book 2]°KathNiel° ✓COMPLETE

Chapter Thirteen: Welcome

"Mommy. Don't leave. Stay with us, mommy." Little Chanchan cried out, making my own tears find their exit from my eyes. "You're not going anywhere now, right?"

Lumingon si Chances sa'kin ngayon na hilam sa luha ang mga mata. Nakarehistro roon ang sakit, pangungulila at maging ang takot. Lumapit ako sa kanila.

"She looks exactly like me Zacc." She whispered when I hugged her.

"Mom?" Hinaplos ni Chances ang malamang pisngi ng anak namin. "Dad, tell mom to stay please."

"Don't worry, princess. Mom is staying with us." I answered.

"Is that true?" Little Zac butt in upon hearing my response.

Nilingon ko ang anak ko na ngayon ay nagpupumiglas na makatakas kay Gwen. I gestured her to let go of my son. Even with mom's threatening glare, Gwen followed my instruction. Once freed, Zac ran to his mother.

"Mga anak, mommy is staying with us from now on. And I promise that she will never be away from us. Never again." I told our little precious while glancing at my mother.

Karga si Zac, tumayo ako. Gano'n din si Chances na ngayon ay nakahawak sa prinsesa namin.

"I'm taking my kids home, ma." I announced, making her look at us more sternly. "Babe, can you wait in the car?" Pabulong na tanong ko kay Chances. Tumango siya.

Bago tuluyang lumabas ng bahay, ngumiti siya kay mama at tumango. Samantalang, walang nagbago sa ekspresyon ng mukha ni mama. Sumikip ang dibdib ko dala ng sama ng loob, ng takot, ng galit at ng sakit.

"Mom, I protected you from everything that causes you pain." I began when I'm sure that Chances and the kids are away. "Kasi mahal na mahal kita ma. Lahat gagawin ko para proteksiyonan ka—"

"Then do the same to your kids, Zacchary!"

"What are you talking about?"

"You're letting a stranger in your life, not just in your life, but in the kids' lives as well." She replied angrily.

"She is not a stranger ma! That is my wife! Sabihin mo nga ma, did you really like Chances for once?"

"I do. I still do. But the problem now is... hindi naman si Chances ang babaeng 'yon e. If I know, it's just one of your crazy followers on your blog who's obsessed with you. How would we know?"

"Ba't ba siguradong-sigurado ka? Dahil ba alam mo ang totoong nangyari sa araw na 'yon?"

"Nahihibang ka na ba? Alam ng lahat ang totoo!" Sagot niyang, tumataas ang tono ng boses. Namumula ang mukha niya sa galit.

"Ma, hindi ko matatanggap, hindi kita mapapatawad kapag nalaman kong may kinalaman ka sa nangyari sa asawa ko." Naluluhang pahayag ko sa kanya. "Kasi kung may kinalaman ka ma, hindi lang buhay ng asawa ko ang sinira mo. Buhay ko din ma, buhay ng mga apo mo."

"Anak." Umiiyak na tawag niya. "Hindi ko 'yon magagawa sa'yo. Alam mo ba kung gaano kasakit sa'kin na pinagbibintangan mo 'ko? I adored your wife. Ba't ko gagawin 'yon? You're asking me why I am so sure that she's gone? Huh!" Pinunasan niya ang luhang namutawi sa mga mata niya. "Hawak-hawak ko ang kamay ng asawa mo no'ng araw na 'yon. She was murmuring your name until she spoke no more." Mama's voice trailed off which made me feel guilty. "Hawak ko ang kamay niya hanggang sa... mawalan na siya ng lakas. Akala mo ba, mahirap kalimutan ang araw na 'yon? For a year Zacchary, I lived with the pain of losing her, losing the mother of my grandchildren, the woman that my son loves so much. Araw-araw, iniisip ko kung paano ko sasabihin sa'yong wala na siya paggising mo. Tapos ngayon, ito? Pagbibintangan mo 'ko?"