Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

I wonder what are they doing upstairs in his office. It's been one minute pero hindi pa rin sila bumababa. Aljier's face kanina is dead serious as if he's furious about something or maybe he was outrage at Rhysand.

“Mommy, I'm gonna dump po.” napalingon ako sa may ari ng mahinang boses na 'yon, kay Vanilla.

I held her hand and pulled her up to stand. Sinamahan ko siya sa cr itaas.

“Call me when you're done, baby.” sabi ko bago isinirado ang pinto at nagtungo sa labas ng opisina ni Rhys.

I walked slowly to his office out of curiosity. Kakatok na sana ako para tingnan kung ano ang kinababalaan nila pero may narinig akong sumigaw. I know it's rude to listen to other people's conversation but I can't help it.

“For goodness sake, Rhysand! She still didn't know anything!” Aljier's voice roared.

My eyebrows furrowed. Who are they talking about?

“She will know it soon, Aljier! I just want to make her suffer!” Rhysand retorted.

“Tell her the truth as soon as possible!! Don't act like a jerk.”

I quickly u-turned when I heard footsteps walking towards the door. Mabilis na pinuntahan ko si Vanilla sa cr kahit hindi niya pa ako tinatawag.

“Mommy?” Vanilla jolted.

“A-ah are you done?” tanong ko dito.

She peeked from the shower curtains. Inosenteng tiningnan niya ako at tumango.

“Yes po. I've been calling you three times po pero hindi ka po nasagot.” sabi niya sa akin.

Chismosa ka kasi Fleur! Lumapit ako sakaniya at kinuha ang bidet. I washed her butt and made sure it's clean and mabango.

Nang bumaba kami sa sala ay nakita naming naka upo si Rhysand sa sofa habang nakayuko. Inangat niya ang tingin at nagliwanag ang mga mata ng makita ang anak niya.

“Daddy, tomorrow is my school's Family Day.” mahinang sabi ni Vanilla at kumandong sa daddy niya.

Umupo naman ako sa harap nila at kinuha 'yong french fries na inorder ko. I stared at my fries before ko kinain. Hindi ko pa 'to nababayaran. I looked at Rhysand, maybe he already paid this? Hindi niya naman ata kukunin kung hindi niya babayaran.

“Pupunta po kayo ni mommy, right?” tanong ni Vanilla na nilalaro ang buhok ng tatay niya.

“I have meetings tomorrow, baby, I'm afraid I can't go.” malungkot na sagot ni Rhysand sa anak niya.

“But, But it's a family day, papa. If you're not there hindi na po siya matatawag na family.”

Natahimik ang lalaki at kalaunan ay tumingin sa akin. Tiningnan ko rin siya habang ngumunguya ng pagkain.

“Mommy will be there. Mommy will go with you, tomorrow.” sabi niya na nakatingin pa rin sa akin.

I raised my brow. Lumingon si Vanilla sa akin. She looked at me with hope. I didn't utter a word. Pinandilatan ako ng mata ng lalaki nang niyoko ni Vanilla ang ulo niya.

“Y-Yes, of course, mommy will go.”

i said with energy trying to lift her up by agreeing.

I can't refuse because sasabihin na naman ni Rhysand na “You're Vanilla's acting mother, you should go.” with full authority. And I can't also say no to Vanilla.

“Really, mommy? Tomorrow will be the first family day in our school that I will go with a mom!” she said happily.

Natahimik kami ni Rhysand sa sinabi ni Vanilla. Tiningnan niya ang anak niya. I can see sadness in his eyes because of what his daughter said. While Vanilla, on the other hand, looked happy because of the thought that she will go to the school tomorrow with a mother.

She really is longing for a mother's love. And as long as her biological mother is still not back, I am willing to give her the love of a mother that she deserves.

Kinuha ko ang brush sa lalagyan ng make up ko. I looked at my reflection in the mirror as I started putting blush-on n my face. Napatigil ako ginagawa at napatitig kay Rhysand sa salamin na ngayon ay nagbibihis. He sprayed a perfume on his body. Kitang kita ko ang butil ng perfume na lumandas pababa sa abs niya. He craned his neck to look at me with his normal impassive face, kaya naman nataranta akong binalik ang atensyon sa sarili.

I cleared my throat to avoid awkwardness “Are you sure you're not going to Vanilla's school?” tanong ko sakaniya.

“I have to attend a meeting with someone important today.” malamig na sagot niya sa akin.

Tiningnan ko ulit siya at nakitang nakabihis na ito.

“Is that meeting more important than your daughter?”

Napatigil siya sa pag lalagay ng relo. He stopped as if he's thinking, and then, he proceeded to put his watch on his wrist.

“Vanilla is going with you. Susunod ako kapag ma agang matapos.” he said at lumabas na ng kwarto.

Nang makarating kami sa Nurseries School ay marami ng mga tao. Of course, it's their foundation day. We walked towards the flock. Maraming tao ang pinagtitinginan kami pero hindi ko sila pinansin.

Sinalubong kami ng isang guro na nakangiti. She looked at Vanilla and then looked at me. Pinagsiklop niya ang mga kamay niya at nginitian ako.

“Are you Vanillaʼs mother?” nakangiting tanong.

“I am,” sagot ko naman.

Nag-usap muna kami na hindi gaanong importante. Itinuro niya sa akin ang tent kung saan ang section nila Amariana. Kids and their parents are also there, talking and comfortably sitting.

Umupo ako roon at hinayaan si Vanilla na puntahan ang mga kaibigan niya sa hindi kalayuan. Nakamasid at tinitingnan ko lang siya para hindi siya mawala sa paningin ko.

“Are you Mrs. Velarde?” biglaang tanong ng katabi ko.

I glanced at her and smile. Maganda at maliit ang mukha niya. May class ang aura niya at elegante siyang tingnan.

“No,” I politely answered.

Her eyebrows furrowed a bit. She confusely scanned me.

“But you're Vanilla's mother?” tanong niya ulit sa akin.

“Yes,”

Nakakunot pa rin ang noo niya na halatang nagugutom sa akin. I mean, who wouldn't? I am Vanilla's mother but we don't have the same surname. Step-mother to be exact. Pero may mga tao namang ganoon hindi ba?

“Vanilla's father and I are not married.”

Umawang ang labi niya at napatango ng may napagtanto sa sinabi ko. She looked like she regretted saying and asking me.

Ngumiti lang ako sakaniya bago binaling ulit at atensyon kay Vanilla. She's happy and all smiles while playing with her friends that I supposed one of them ay anak ng katabi ko. How did I know? She waved at her mother, who was beside me.

Ilang minuto pa ay ka agad nag simula ang event. We were told to gather outside the field. Sumunod naman kami kahit ang init dahil wala kaming choice. I mean there are games and any activities that we need to participate in.

Vanilla ran towards me while waving the reward she received. Nanalo kasi siya sa games ng pang bata. She smiled widely that even showed her gums.

“Mommy look!! I won, I won!” she exclaimed joyfully.

Itinaas niya ang kamay at tumatalon pa para maipakita sa akin ang prize na natanggap niya.

I chuckled and caressed her face. “Good job, baby!” pinunasan ko ang pawisang mukha niya.

I crouched a bit to match our height. Tuwang-tuwa niyang tinitingnan ang natanggap niya. She's so happy as if it's her first time to win something eagerly. Habang ako naman ay abala sa pag punas ng pawis niya.

“The next game will be designing a cake in 30 minutes! Kasama ang tatay, nanay at anak sa larong ito!” the host said.

Obviously the game is for the whole family.

“Mommy let's play! I want to design a cake!” sabi ni Vanilla na at itinuturo pa sa akin ang malaking table kung saan naka set na ang gagamitin.

I looked around to find Rhysand. Dapat ngayon nandito na siya. I almost didn't find him but luckily my gaze stopped at the man leaning at the entrance. Naka shades pa ito at naglalakad papalapit kung saan kami nakatayo ni Vanilla.

“Daddy!” Vanilla exclaimed and run towards her father.

Kinarga naman niya ang anak niya at hinalikan ito sa buhok. Lumapit siya sa akin at tinanggal ang shades niya.

His dark piercing eyes landed on mine. My brows flickered. Buti naman pumunta to.

“Let's participate po! Gagawa po tayo ng cake!” masayang sabi ni Vanilla sa tatay niya.

“Really?” nilipat niya ang tingin sa akin at binaba si Vanilla. He held Vanilla's hands and pulled my waist close.

“Let's participate then.”

The teacher instructed us what to do. Nasa kaniya-kaniya na rin kaming pwesto. We are all wearing a apron to protect our clothes.

“All you need to do is to design the cake in 30 minutes! The most beautiful cake will have an award.” masayang sambit ng guro sa amin.

Nagsimula ng magbilang ang timer. We started mixing everything that we will use. Gumawa na rin kami ng icing at gumamit ng chocolates and many more.

Vanilla opened the flour and unexpectedly it spreaded. Nalagyan ng harina ang apron namin. But instead of being nervous we just laughed it out.

Hindi ko alam kung nag bebake pa ba kami o naglalaro. I looked at the other at nakitang sobrang busy sila sa pag gawa ng cake. While us on the other hand, are not taking this game seriously.

Maybe because wala sa utak namin ang manalo? We are here to have fun so why not?

Tumatawang nilagyan ni Vanilla ng icing ang mukha ng tatay niya. Rhysand smiled at nilagyan niya rin ng icing ang mukha ng anak niya. I was happy watching them. Tumingin sila sa akin at nagbulongan. Rhysand carried Vanilla and they leaned closer to me.

It's to late to avoid her hands. Nalagyan na ni Vanilla ng icing ang mukha ko. She even cutey smiled at me like she didn't do anything. Napatawa nalang ako at nilagyan din ang mukha niya.

Para kaming may sariling mundo at hindi man lang nag-abala at tinuonan ng pansin ang cake na nasa lamesa.

“Times up!” sigaw ng guro at doon lang namin napagtanto na tapos na pala.

The teacher ordered us to stand straight so they can judge each and everyone's cake. Napahinto ang isang judge sa harap namin. She was scrutinizing us before siya pumunta sa katabi naming table.

“Mommy, I think the judge was judging our whole being.” Vanilla said meekly.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Rhysand. Nagtawanan kami dahil sa sinabi ng anak namin. Napatigil siya sa pagtawa and so as me. Hinapit niya ang beywang ko at inilapit ang katawan sakaniya. Nilagyan niya ng harina ang pisnge ko. And before I reacted, he already kissed my lips.

My eyes widened. Napahawak ako sa tagiliran niya nang mas pinalalim niya pa ang halik.

“Daddy, why are you eating mommy's lips?”