Missing Chances

Kabanata 25

Kabanata 25

"C-CHANCE," I called his name like it was the first time saying it again.

I saw how the confusion and shock filled his eyes, mula sa akin ay unti-unting lumipat ang tingin niya kay Cookie na nasa bisig niya.

"Who..."

"Papa!" My eyes swelled when Cookie smiled brightly and it was the first time I'd ever seen that smile.

Between him and Sky, my Cookie was the one who often smiles pero sa lahat ng mga ngiting 'yon, ngayon ko lang nakitang ganito kaliwanag ang kanyang mga mata habang nakangiti.

"P-papa?" I heard his voice break and stared intently at his son.

"Papa ni Cookie!" Cookie said in his small, bubbly voice, mula kay Chance ay bumaling ang anak ko sa akin at tinuro ako. "Mama ni Cookie!" he cheered.

Chance licked his lower lip, nakita ko ang pangingilid ng mata niya habang nakatitig sa anak pabalik sa akin.

"I-is he..."

I found myself nodding abruptly, tears started falling down my cheek as I spoke.

"H-he's yours..." I sniffed and felt my heart ache when Chance's tears fell down his cheeks as he hugged the small kid.

"S-son..." he muttered.

It was as if it was me who saw my son for the first time, kung umiyak na si Chance ay napahagulgol na ako habang nakatingin sa dalawa.

"M-mama..." Napasinghap ako nang gustong humiwalay ni Cookie sa Papa niya nang makita akong umiiyak. "M-mama iyak..."

"I-I'm fine, Cookie." I sniffed, my shoulders shaking. Huminga ako ng malalim at kinurot ang aking daliri.

"No!" he exclaimed, inaabot ako.

Chance's hugging him, still, unmoving. I can see how his shoulders move while hugging the kid.

"No, Papa. No!" My eyes widened despite my tears when Cookie pulled his father's hair to let him go.

"W-why... ouch!" Suminghap na ako nang sabunutan niya ang Papa niya.

"No, Papa!" he exclaimed. "Mama cry! No!"

Napasulyap sa 'kin si Chance, bakas pa ang luha sa kanyang mga mata kaya kinagat ko ang labi at napasinghot.

"S-sorry..."

"Ma! Ma! Karga!" Cookie almost dragged his body to me kaya napausog si Chance. My hands were shaking but I managed to get Cookie from him.

The moment I got him, kaagad na yumakap sa leeg ko ang anak ko kaya mas napaiyak ako. It was as if all the emotions I've been hiding for a long time escaped. Maybe it was because it was so emotional to me.

Everything was.

"M-mama, no cry..." I heard my son sniffing. "Mama cry, Cookie cry!"

"O-oh, s-sorry, Mama is fine..." I muttered and touched his back to console him.

"No Mama cry!" Cookie exclaimed, as if he's mad. "Ouch here!" he even moved away and pointed his chest kaya mas napaiyak na ako.

"I-I love you," I said and smiled. "L-love na love ka ni Mama, hmm?"

Cookie hugged me again. Napasulyap ako kay Chance na nakatitig lang sa aming dalawa, may mga luha pa rin sa mga mata.

I saw him lift his arm to try and remove the tears on his cheek when he caught me looking.

"S-sorry, I was—" he chuckled a bit pero nawala kaagad, tumingala pa siya para subukang magpigil ng luha pero hindi magawa kaya mas nanlambot ako.

"I-I'm shaking..." I muttered. Nagkatitigan kami ni Chance nang hinanap niya ang tingin ko. Pareho kaming umiiyak na dalawa at nanginginig.