Running Away from the Billionaire (LOB series #4)

Chapter 21

Riona and I were strolling at the mall and shopping. Binili ko siya ng mga bestida na gusto niya pero parang mas excited siya sa mga tshirt na pinamili natin. I don't have a problem with her fashion pero masiyado akong kikay na mommy, ang lungkot lang na hindi siya nag mana sa akin.

"Rio, baby do you want a doll house?" Nakangiting sabi ko sa kanya habang itinuro ang doll house sa toy store. Tinitigan niya yun pagkatapos ay umiling.

"No mommy, I want that one." She pointed at the Go Kart race track toys on display. "I want to play that one."

"But baby, that's for boys." Sumimangot naman siya.

"I read in a magazine about women, mommy. They said what boys do, girls can do better. I bet daddy loves toy cars too because you don't, and lola mama said nagmana ka talaga sa daddy mo. That's what she always says to me."

Natahimik ako dahil sa sinabi ng anak ko. Hindi ko alam na mahilig mag basa ng magazine si Riona. I feel like I'm missing with Riona growing without me. Pero ang hindi ko matanggap, bakit palaging binabanggit ni Riona si Klaus? At isa pa itong si mama, she keeps on feeding information about Klaus to my daughter. I sighed.

I can see in Riona's eyes how excited she is whenever she mentions her father but I don't want her to be disappointed. I want her to know Klaus, but I'm scared. Nakakatakot dahil hindi ko alam kung anong pwedeng mangyari. Will he be happy? Angry? I don't want him to be angry specially now that I am in love with him.

I don't want him to leave me.

"Rio, baby, can you please not mention your father too much? Especially to mommy?" Napansin ko ang pag lungkot ng mukha ni Riona. Parang kinurot naman ang puso ko.

"Why mommy? Why can't I see daddy? Lola mama said—"

"Don't believe anything she said about your father. Why do you always mention your daddy? Ayaw mo ba kay mommy?"

"I'm sorry mommy." Napayuko naman si Riona at parang nawala ng parang bula ang galit ko.

"Why do you want to see your daddy?" Nakayuko siya habang ginagalaw ang paa. I know my daughter too well because that gesture means that she's both sad and embarrassed. I bent down and looked at her. "What is it Rio?"

"I just want to have a daddy like the other kids. I saw some kids like me with a mommy and a daddy. The daddy hold mommy's hand and kiss her and she laugh. I want a daddy so someone can make my mommy laugh too." Tumingala ako upang pigilan ang luha na gustong tumulo sa mga mata ko.

All along I thought Riona wanted a father because she envied other kids but I was wrong. She wanted a father because she wants me to be happy like the other mothers that she sees. Hindi ko napigilang yakapin ang anak ko.

Parehong pareho talaga sila ni Klaus. Wala na silang ibang inisip kundi ang pasayahin ako.

•••

"I need your help." Hindi parin nakaka get over si Alex na nakatulala parin sa anak ko.

"Mommy is tito Alex alright?" My daughter innocently asked.

"Yes baby, you can continue watching na." I fixed her hair and she continued watching on my phone.

"My goodness, spokening dollars pa! I kennot bakla!" Overacting na sabi ni Alex na nakawak pa sa noo niya. "Aswang ka ba? Ilang linggo palang kayo ni Sir Klaus may nabuo na kayo at.. at... ganito na agad kalaki? Twilight ang peg?"