Aya

"Thank you for raising him well," anas ni Yves na nasa tabi ko. Nasa tapat kami ng pintuan ng kuwarto ni Krypton habang pinagmamasdan siyang naglalaro. Yes, kuwarto niya. Ito 'yong kuwarto na pinasadya namin ni Yves noon para sa magiging anak namin.

"It's my responsibility to raised him well." Nilingon ko ito at nginitan. "And now, responsibility mo nang magpakatatay sa kaniya."

He gave me a soft smile and mouthed a thank you. Senyasan ko ito saka kami lumapit kay Krypton.

"Baby, may sasabihin si mommy sa 'yo." I sat on the bed, and Krypton approached me while Yves stood nearby.

"Do you know who he is?" I pointed to Yves, and Krypton nodded his head.

"Yes, he's Tito Yves," he replied.

I smiled at him and tousled his hair. "May sasabihin si Mommy, I know magugulohan ka pero makinig ka lang ha."

He nodded in response.

Yves took a seat on the floor, his eyes fixed on both Krypton and me.

"Years ago, Mommy and tito Yves got married." I noticed the sudden change in Krypton's facial expression as I uttered those words.

"Kinasal kami years ago at itong bahay na ito ang naging bahay namin."

Krypton just stared at me, seemingly unable to comprehend. I let out a soft laugh and caressed his cheek.

"I know, hindi mo pa masiyadong maintindihan pero gusto ko lang malaman mo. Na ikaw ang naging bunga ng pagmamahalan namin ni tito Yves mo."

"What do you mean, mommy?" he innocently asked.

"Yves is your real Daddy, anak."

Krypton's eyes widened in surprise and confusion. "Yves is my real Daddy? But... I thought he was just my tito."

I smiled gently at Krypton, trying to reassure him. "Yes, Krypton, Yves is your real Daddy. I know it might be hard to understand right now, but I want you to know the truth."

Krypton looked at Yves, his eyes filled with a mix of surprise and curiosity. "But Mommy, if Tito Yves is my dad, what about Daddy Aero then?"

Napalunok ako bago siya nginitian. "I know it's a little confusing, sweetheart. Let me explain it to you in a way that you can understand."

Krypton nodded, his curiosity piqued. "Okay, Mommy. I'm listening."

I took a deep breath, trying to simplify the explanation for his young mind. "You see, Krypton, families come in all different ways. Sometimes, a child has a biological father and sometimes they have a father figure who loves and cares for them just like a daddy would. Aero is that special person in your life who loves you like a daddy but Yves is your biological Daddy."

Nababasa ko pa rin sa mga mata ni Krypton ang pagkalito. Alam kong mahirap intindihin ang mga sinasabi ko sa kaniya ngayon pero kailangan niya nang malaman ang totoo.

"But Mommy, why didn't you tell me before? Why did you keep it a secret?" His innocent eyes and soft voice make my heart ache.

I took a deep breath again, feeling a pang of guilt. "I'm sorry, my love. I wanted to wait until you were a bit older to understand. But now that you're growing up, I believe it's important for you to know the truth."

Yves knelt down in front of Krypton, his voice filled with love and sincerity. Yves took a deep breath, his eyes filled with remorse.

"Krypton, I made a mistake in the past. I made choices that I now deeply regret. But I want you to know that I am here now, and I want to make up for all the lost time, anak."

Hinaplos niya ang mukha ni Krypton. "Can you give me a chance?"

Krypton's confusion slowly turned into a smile as he looked at Yves. "So, you're not just my tito, you're my Daddy too?"

Yves scooped Krypton into his arms, tears welling up in his eyes. "Yes, my little one. I am your Daddy, and I promise, I will never leave you again. Dito na ako palagi."

Krypton giggled, wrapping his arms around Yves' neck. "I love you, Daddy Yves!"

Yves hugged him tightly, his voice filled with emotion. "And I love you, my precious son, " Yves said while his tears streaming down his cheeks. Ito ang unang beses na tinawag siyabg Daddy ni Krypton.

I watched the heartfelt exchange between Krypton and Yves, feeling a sense of warmth and happiness. Napangiti na lang ako habang gumugulong ang mga luha ko pababa sa pisngi ko. Finally, maayos na ang mag-ama ko.

Pagkatapos ng pag amin namin kay Krypton at sabay na rin kaming kumain ng dinner. Nag bonding din ang mag-ama hangang sa napagod si Krypton at nakatulog.

"Hihintayin ko na na lang siya magising, uuwi kami. " Inayos ko muna ang kumot ni Krypton at tumayo sa kama.

"It's already late, Aya. Dito na lang kayo mag palipas ng gabi. Ang himbing na rin ng tulog ni Krypton, kawawa naman kung gigisingin."

Napasinghap ako dahil sa sinabi ni Yves. Sabagay may point naman siya. Alas-nuwebe na rin ng gabi at ayoko na rin naman gisingin si Krypton.

"Sige, tatawagan ko lang ang yaya ni Krypton para hindi na mag hintay." Nginitian ko si Yves bago lumabas ng kwarto ni Krypton para tawagan si Mich.

Pagkatapos kong matawagan si Mich at dumeretso muna ako sa kusina para uminom ng tubig. Pag balik ko ay nadatnan ko si Yves sa sala na nakaupo sa sofa.

Lalagpasan ko sana ito para umakyat sa kwarto ni Krypton ngunit nag salita siya.

"Can we talk, Aya? Hindi ka pa naman siguro inaantok 'no?"

I nodded my head, a smile forming on his lips. He tapped the sofa beside him, signaling for me to sit there, so I walked over and took a seat beside him.

"Anong gusto mong pag-usapan?" I asked.

"Ang magiging set-up natin kay Krypton at kung paano i-d-deal si Aero sa sitwasyon na 'to na ngayon na alam na ni Krypton kung sino ako. Naging kaibigan ko rin naman siya at nagpakatatay siya sa anak ko sa loob ng ilang taon."

He chuckled softly, and I could feel the sadness behind that laughter. Their friendship had been shattered because of me.

He looked at me as if his gaze was piercing through me. "Mahal pa rin kita, Aya, pero ayoko na rin namang sirain ang kasiyahan mo para lang sa kagustuhan ko kaya rerespetohin ko na lang ang relasyon mo. Masaya na rin ako dahil nalaman kong may anak tayo, na tatay ako." He smiled, and I could see the pain in his smile.

I don't know, but my heart ached when I saw that smile. He was letting me go.

He lowered his head and wiped his cheek with his hand. Tears fell.

"Yves..." I called him, and he immediately turned to look at me.

"Hmm?" He still had a smile on his face. He's pretending to be okay even though he's not.

"You don't need to worry about Aero, Yves."

He looked at me, confused. "What do you mean? Kahit ayaw ko sa kaniya dahil sinulot ka niya, ayoko naman sagasaan ang pagiging ama niya kay Krypton."

I sighed deeply. "We already left his house. Ilang araw na kaming nakabukod ni Krypton sa kaniya."

He became even more confused at what I said. "What do you mean, nakabukod? Why, what happened?" he asked, one question after another.

"It's a long story." I sighed.

"You two broke up or just an LQ?" he curiously asked again.

We didn't have a formal breakup with Aero, but what he did gave me the right to leave him. It's considered a breakup even without a formal one. The moment he laid a hand on Krypton, I ended our relationship.

"Aya..." Yves called my attention.

I took a deep breath before smiling at him. "We broke up."

I could see the surprise on his face.

"Why? Kung saan ipapaubaya na kita doon naman kayo naghiwalay," he said, coughing to hide the smirk forming on his lips.

I tsked. How quickly his reaction changed. "You're such a jerk." I slapped his forehead, causing him to wince and hold his forehead. "AWW!"

"It's not obvious how delighted you are."

He laughed while still rubbing his forehead.

"Sorry to say this, Aya, pero mukhang ayaw talaga ni Lord na mapunta ka sa iba. Sa akin ka lang daw dapat."

I raised an eyebrow at his statement, but he had a serious expression on his face.

"Ayokong mag-take advantage dahil kakahiwalay niyo lang, pero gusto ko lang malaman..."

He stared intensely into my eyes, as if drowning me.

"Sa limang taong lumipas, meron pa bang ako riyan sa puso mo?"

I was taken aback by his question. I knew the answer. He never left my heart in the past five years.

I looked into Yves' eyes, my heart pounding with a mix of emotions. His question caught me off guard, and I could feel the weight of his words hanging in the air. I took a deep breath, gathering my thoughts before open my mouth to speak.

"5 years since we separate ways, Yves, and now you're asking me kung meron ka pa sa puso ko?"

I could see a bittersweet smile forming on his lips as he met my gaze.

"Oo nga naman. Bakit ko pa ba tinatanong 'yan." Huminga ito ng malalim at nilihis niya sa akin ang kaniyang tingin papunta sa ibang direksyon.

"Sa loob ng limang taon na 'yon ang dami kong pinagdaanan, ang dami kong hirap, ang dami kong iniyak at ang dami kong sama ng loob... "

I paused, feeling a lump forming in my throat as the weight of my emotions threatened to overwhelm me.

"I'm sorry," he whispered softly, his eyes filled with guilt.

"Alam mo ba sa loob ng limang taon na 'yon, sinarili ko 'yon." Unti-unti na namang bumibigat ang aking paghinga.

"Gusto kong mag sumbong, gusto kong ilabas 'yon pero sa 'yo ko lang n-nagagawa 'yon." Napalunok ako kasabay ng pag tulo ng luha ko.

He looked at me and guilt washed over his face as he listened intently to my words.

"Gustong-gusto kong mag sumbong sa 'yo kahit isa ka sa mga dahilan kung bakit masama ang loob ko. Pero paano? Wala ka sa tabi ko, iniwan mo ako."

"Aya..."

I kept my gaze on him as my tears continued to fall. "And now you ask me if there's still a place for you in my heart?" I sobbed, my voice filled with a mix of pain and longing. "Do you know that no matter how hard I tried, no matter how much I wanted to erase you from my heart, I couldn't?"

I sobbed uncontrollably, feeling the weight of my emotions crashing over me.

"I've been so unfair to Aero," I whispered through my tears. "Because even when he was there with me, you were still the one I thought of. When I saw Krypton, I couldn't help but think of you, even though Aero was right in front of me."

"Aya..." he whispered, his voice filled with a mixture of regret and longing.

I nodded my head, sunod-sunod ang pagkawala ng mga luha ko. I couldn't deny the truth anymore. Yves had always held a special place in my heart, even after all these years. Never siyang nawala sa puso ko. I took a deep breath and mustered up the courage to confess my feelings.

"Yves, I still love you at kailan man hindi ka nawala sa puso ko." I admitted, my voice trembling with emotion. "Hindi ako pwedeng magsinungaling sa sarili ko at sabihin na wala na ako nararamdaman para sa'yo. Ginagawa ko lang ang sarili ko."

A soft, melancholic laugh escaped my lips as tears continued to flow.

"Well, I am a fool, indeed," I cried. "Because even after everything that has happened, I still love you, siraulo ka!"

This time, my sobs grew louder, echoing through the salas. But before I could continue, he pulled me closer to him at niyakap ako sa mga bisig niya.

"I'm sorry. I'm really sorry, Aya," he whispered, his voice filled with genuine remorse. Alam kong hindi na mababalik ng sorry ko ang limang taon na lumipas. And I know that 'sorry' is not enough to heal the wounds I inflicted upon you..."

He held me tightly, his embrace providing a sense of comfort and safety that I had missed for so long.

"But please, give me a chance to make things right," he pleaded, his voice filled with desperation. "Give me a chance para itama ang pagkakamali ko noon sa 'yo. Bigyan mo ulit ako ng isa pang chance na pasukin ang buhay mo. I won't ever repeat the mistake I made before. Magiging better person na ako para sa inyo ng anak ko. Please, Aya. Let me enter your life again. L-Let me love you, again."

He broke down, his tears mingling with mine as he held me in his arms.

I wrapped my arms around him, closing my eyes tightly as tears continued to flow. "You don't know how much I've missed you," I choked out between sobs. "I... I really miss you, Yves."

I felt his lips gently press against the top of my head. "I miss you too, my love," he whispered, holding me tightly in his arms. "I will make it up to you, I promise."

Ngayon ko lang ulit naramdaman ang ganito. Pakiramdam na ligtas ako sa braso ng mahal ko.