TEASER

Teaser

Napalunok si Neera noong makita niya na mula sa pagkakangiti ay nagbago ang itsura ng lalaking nasa harapan niya. 

"You're running away again?"

Naglakad si Eliazar papalapit sa kanya at napaatras naman siya dahil sa sobrang kaba. Walang nakakaalam na aalis siya kundi ang anak nilang dalawa! Did her son betrayed her? But that's impossible! He even planned this with her! 

"Mommy is leaving again, Daddy. We must stop her."

Nanlaki pa lalo ang mga mata niya noong makita niyang bumukas ang pinto at pumasok doon ang anak nilang dalawa ni Eliazar at walang ekspresyon si Kiel na sinulyapan siya ng tingin. 

"Baby," she called him softly but her son avoided her gaze and instead, looked at his father. 

"Is the handcuff enough to detain Mommy, Daddy? Or I need to get a rope, too?"

Pagkatapos sabihin iyon, nilabas nito ang posas mula sa bulsa nito na nagpatulala sa kanya at nagpahalakhak naman kay Eliazar.

"You see, my Queen, even our son doesn't want you to leave us."

Literal na napanganga si Neera . Sinubukan niyang magsalita ngunit walang lumabas sa bibig niya. This man and her son collaborated with each other to stop her from going away? Gusto niyang mapahawak sa noo! 

"Eli, let me explain—"

She was cut off. 

"Kiel, get the rope, too. I'm tying your mom."

The little kid frowned and let out a tired sigh. "Don't tie Mommy to tightly, okay? Don't hurt her or I'll get mad."

"Eliazar! Stop this madness!" sita naman niya sa lalaki. 

Tumitig lang sa kanya si Eliazar habang si Kiel ay lumabas nga muli ng kwarto at ilang sandali lang, bumalik ito na may dalang makapal na lubid. Napalunok na naman si Neera. 

What the héll?! May handcuff na, may lubid pa?! Paano siya makakaalis? Why are they acting like this?! 

Lumapit sa kanya si Eliazar kaya tinangka niyang tumakbo palabas ng kwarto ngunit mabilis siyang nahawakan sa beywang ng lalaki at tuluyan nitong ikulong sa mahigpit na yakap. Nagpumiglas pa si Neera ngunit parang bakal ang mga bisig ni Eliazar na nakakapit sa kanya. 

"Eli..."

"No, don't leave us. I'll do anything you want, I'll give everything you want but don't leave us," may pagsusumamong bulong nito. 

She turned silent. Neera didn't really think that this was how Eliazar would react from her departure. Akala niya ay wala itong pakialam sa plano niyang pag-alis. But now, she knew that it's the other way around. Tinago lang nito ang nararamdaman hanggang sa sumabog na. 

"Promise me you won't leave us, hmm?" nagmamakaawa ang boses nito pero hindi naman makapagsalita si Neera para tumugon dito. 

"Are you really leaving, Mommy?" pagsali ni Kiel sa usapan. 

Neera bit her lips. Narinig niya sa boses ni Kiel na parang maiiyak na ito. It broke her heart but she really couldn't answer their questions. She needs to leave—

"If you're really going away...you can, Mommy. But take me away with you. Let's leave Daddy. Yes, that will do."

Napabaling si Neera at Eliazar kay Kiel. Did he really say that? He's just five years old! Hindi makapaniwala si Neera. Kiel is very close to his father! But he's going to leave him for her! Hindi alam ni Neera kung matatawa ba siya o ano! 

"Kiel!" si Eliazar. 

"I wanna be with Mommy!" reklamo ni Kiel sa ama at kunot na kunot ang noo. Sa itsura nito, kamukhang-kamukha nga nito ang blankong ekspresyon ni Eliazar kapag seryoso ang lalaki. Pinigil ni Neera na tumaas ang sulok ng labi. 

"I thought you're with me, son?" Disbelief was written on Eliazar's face. 

Kiel looked at his father. "That's in the past and I changed my mind. I'm calling off our plan. I'm leaving with Mommy now. Bye, Daddy."

"Then you can take me away, too. I'll be good, I promise," sagot naman ni Eliazar at bumaling sa kanya.

Nasapo ni Neera ang noo. 

~ ~ ~