Chapter 42
We waited outside for a few more minutes. I really want to go inside but I know I couldn’t because of the school protocol.
“Babe, calm down,”
No matter what Steven said to calm me down, it couldn’t help even a bit, cause I knew that those children were referring to my son earlier.
I think I should go to the principal’s office now.
I approached the guard. I’ll venture to come inside even just for a sec.
“Sir, please. I need to see my son.”
“Ma’am, I’m sorry. I’m just following the rules to do not let anyone to go inside.”
“But sir, I’m not just anyone. My son is in-”
“Mama,” I immediately turned to the one who called me. It’s my son and I almost ran the distance between us especially when I saw the bruises on his lips and other parts of his face.
“What happened?” I asked him worriedly. Oh my God!
“I’m sorry mom,”
“Why are you the one apologizing to me? I will talk to your teacher,” I trembled when I saw the bruise on his face. Why did this happen to my son? Are they not looking after the children properly?
“Mom, it’s okay. It doesn’t hurt at all. But, I punched someone, and between us, he’s in more critical than me,” he said without a hint of remorse. I gasped, when did my son learn to talk like that?
“Our teacher didn’t know all these. She just found out what happened after the incident. I already clean my name in front of her. My classmate provoked me reason why I punch him but then, I know I have some lapses too and I should say sorry for worrying you. I’m sorry mom,”
I was shunned to my son’s deep sentiments. I’ll just wanted to cry and hug him. Oh God! Thank you for giving me this child. I am so lucky to be his mother.
I looked at Steven, I just noticed how shock he was while looking at Hivo. He couldn’t even move his foot to come over to us. And it seems like Hivo just noticed him now. My son looked at me. He seemed confused and wondering why his father was here.
“I’m fine mom. Can we go home now?” he said. I was surprised why his reaction was like that. He has been asking me about his father for several years and now that the father he has been looking for a long time is here, then why…. Why does he want to leave?
“Hivo,” I called my son.
“Hmm…”
I looked at Steven and I saw the pain in his eyes while looking at his son who was just looking at me. He doesn’t really pay attention to his father.
“Your dad is here,” I said to him.
“No mama. Papa is busy. He told me earlier,” he’s referring to Vios. I don’t know what pain Steven is feeling now after hearing those words from his son.
“Don’t be rude, Hivo. Haven’t you been waiting for your dad for a long time?” I want to force him to pay attention to his father. But whatever my son feels now, I have to respect it too.
As a child, what he went through was not easy. He grew up without Steven. He grew up seeing on the news that his father had married another woman.
“Ma,” it’s obvious in his voice that he’s not comfortable with what is happening now. I looked at Steven, he smiled at me but forcedly. I don’t know what to say to him.
“I didn’t raise you like that. At least say hi to your father,” I said.
He looked into my eyes. I need to show him that I’m serious. I know he is observing my reaction.
He’s weighing the level of my anger. He’ll obey me if he’s sure enough that I am real mad but if he notice that I’m not, he won’t listen. I know what’s running inside of his head.
I know how deeply he missed his father, but the fact that he’s ignoring Steven, it’s because he’s in pain.
His face showed no reaction as he approached his father. He just stood in front of him. He didn’t know what to do. I can’t blame him. He’s already 8 years old turning 9. He’s maturing and maybe he’s feeling awkward seeing his father now.
“Can I hug my son?” I could feel the fear in Steven’s voice. I feel sorry for him.
Like Hivo, I know he missed our son too. Damn it! My heart is crying, seeing them like that. They won’t be like this if Lia didn’t try to ruin us.
My son hugged him. I can clearly see Steven’s tears falling from his eyes. He turned to me and I read the word ‘thank you’ from his lips.
“Can we have a dinner before you go home? I-Is that okay?” We are in his car now.
I looked at my son who was just quiet and looking out the window. I know he misses his father very much. He just maybe sulking that Steven took too long before he show his face to him.
“Are you fine with that, son?”
He looked at me and his father. I knew Steven was watching him from the front mirror.
“Mom, dad and I will play later,” he’s referring to Vios.
Hivo is like Steven, so Steven knew very well that it’s hard to persuade Hivo. His son takes it from him after all.
“Son, your father just made a request. Are you not going to grant him his request?”
I ought that Steven will never see his children, but what happened now? I’m the one who pretends to be a bridge between the two of them.
“Fine. I’ll just text dad that we’re rescheduling our bonding time.” I bit my lip as our son openly told his father about his moment with Vios.
Hivo is smart. I know why he does all this. He sulked at his father.
“I’m sorry,” I softly whispered to Steven.
He just smiled and drove to JABEE. I remember that we ate here for the first time when we went out as a family.
“Do you still remember this place son? Didn’t mom and I eat here before?”
“No and I don’t like Jabee now. I prefer something else. Dad and I spent our time there after we jog every Sunday morning,”
I closed my eyes again. It’s obvious why Hivo always brings up Vios. And I’m not blind for me not to notice the pain in Steven’s eyes.
“Is that so? You like MDo?”
“Yes,” answered my son gruffly.
“Steven, drive your car to your condo. We’ll eat there,” I said. I don’t like Hivo’s answer to his father. To be honest, I’m having a hard time weighing the situation.
“Hivo, fix your attitude boy. I’m not happy anymore. When we get to your dad’s condo, we’ll replace the bandage on your face. I’ll ask you later why you got into a fight,”
“No need mom. Teacher Mariel will call you later. She will tell you everything so as not to be biased. Besides, I have evidences to prove that I’m innocent that’s why I got out and wasn’t in the detention room.”
Is my son really young? Why is he so mature?
“Fine. Then be rational son. Your father wants to bond you,” I said.
Steven kept quiet and listened to me. I don’t know what’s going through his mind right now. I also know that he blames himself for why Hivo treated him like that.
——————-
THIRD PERSON
Ria made an excuse so that Steven and Hivo could converse. She knew that Steven wanted to talk to his son so she distracted herself in the kitchen.
“Can you come with papa? I was going to show you something,” Hivo did not answer. He just stood up and Steven knew he was agreeing.
He brought Hivo to the room. He immediately took the only thing he was keeping. The customized cap that they made years ago.
“Do you remember thisNôvelDrama.Org: owner of this content.
Back then he had to kneel down to match Hivo’s height, now it’s different. Hivo inherited his height.
“Yeah. The cap we made,” Hivo replied to his father while sitting down.
“Are you really mad at dad, son?” Steven’s voice cracked. For the nth time, he’s being weak again. Only his son and Ria are his weakness and strength.
Hivo looked at his father. Sadness was seen on his father’s face. He hates to see it so he immediately averted his gaze.
“I’m mad at you… papa,” for the first time after he saw his son, tears suddenly flowed from his face when he heard the word papa from Hivo.
“I know. Is there any way for you to forgive me?” he gently asked his son.
“I don’t know. There are things that I want to know. Why did you leave us? Why did you abandon us? Why did you hurt mom? Why did you marry someone else? Why did you reply to my email like that? What took you so long to come back to us?”
No matter how angry and sullen he showed his father, he couldn’t deny that he was happy to see Steven again. It’s his greatest dream to be with him again.
“Son, you and your mother are my family and I love you very much,” after Hivo heard those words, he suddenly lost his temper and anger towards his father. And Steven knows that his son longs for his presence. He knows and he can clearly see it in Hivo’s face.
“Can you give papa another chance to make it up to you?” Steven asked his son expectantly.
Hivo slowly nodded. After 3 years of being tough, the wall he built starts to crumble down.
“Yes dad. I’m sorry,”
Steven chuckled and hugged his son. “Thank you, son. Papa really miss you so much.” He wiped the tears from his eyes while holding his son. ‘Finally’