Broken Strings
Chapter 30

MELISSA QUIZON

I was about to leave the kitchen when I saw my son and his father in the living room. I hid on the wall near them to hear their conversation. I think Reid just woke up because his hair was still messy. I left them to cook our lunch.

Reid looked up as Wright held his hand.

“Maliliit na gagamba, umakyat sa sanga.” He sings while gapping Reid’s hand. Reid smiled when he felt a tingle because of what Wright was doing with his hand. “Dumating ang ulan, at itinaboy sila. Sumikat ang araw, natuyo ang sanga. Maliliit na gagamba, ay lagging masaya!” (It was a Filipino song for kids)

Wright teased Reid. He lifted Reid’s pyjamas and blew wind in his stomach. His laughter was so sweet to hear. Their laughter. They are both tired when they stopped. And now lying on the sofa bed, Reid was lying on Wright’s arm.

“Daddy, do you know how to play the piano?” Reid asked politely.

He wiped the sweat off Reid’s forehead and kissed him there. “No, e. Will you teach me?”

Reid suddenly sat up. He nodded. “Yes. On one condition.”

Wright sat down as well. He placed his hand on Reid’s lap and the other was on the sofa. “Anything.”

“Please be kind. Don’t make my Mommy cry, because I love my Mommy so much. I love you too but– Ay! I slipped!”

Wright’s smile sweetened. “What? You love me?”

Reid averted his eyes. His cheek is red. “Y-Yes. My teacher told us, we need to love our parents. Daddy, that’s why I love you too. But the Daddy, the love I have for you got minus points for making my Mommy cried a while ago .”

“I’ll make it up to you, Son. Promise.”

Reid raised his fist and tilted his little finger. “Ate Bobbie said, when you make a pinky promise, you can never break your promise. So, Daddy, when you break your promise I will get mad at you. If you do, I will not be going to talk or even get near you.”

“I won’t let that happen.” He said softly.

They pinky-promised. Wright messed up Reid’s hair. Reid stood up and jumped to get off the sofa. He pulled Wright upright to the Grand Piano located on the side of the elegant staircase. They both sat in front of it. Wright lifted the cover and Reid immediately placed his hands on the piano keys.

“This is basic, Daddy.” Reid doesn’t take his eyes off the Piano. His fingers began to move. “Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So, La, Ti, Do. Try it.”

Wright mimicked what Reid was doing. He looks like he is happy with the attention our son is giving him.

They started talking in front of the Grand Piano. Even when Bobbie comes down to watch them, and sometimes she gets involved as well. All-day Reid taught him what he knew. Sometimes he would ask me when he forgot some of the keys and then immediately run to Wright to teach him.

The next day he woke up early to take us to school. I sat in the passenger seat and Reid was in the backseat. Bobbie has already been in the school.

“Mommy, my birthday is coming up. I want a bike. Do we have the money to buy it? If I save five pesos every day until my birthday, can I buy a bike?” Reid asked as he fiddled with its cap.

I smiled. I also heard Wright’s weak laugh. “Don’t save, Baby. I’ll just buy you one.”

“Mommy, did you hear that? Daddy is going to buy me! I don’t have to save five.” Reid said cheerfully.

“Yes, Baby, I heard. Put your shoes on. We’re close to your school.” I said softly.

He did what I said. Wright turned off the car engine and got out. A lot of people looked at Wright. He opened the backseat door and removed Reid’s seatbelt. Reid kissed my cheek before he got out of the car. Wright went to the back of the car to retrieve Reid’s bag. They saluted each other before Reid entered the large gate of his school.

Wright got into the car when Reid disappeared from his sight. It started the car and we made our way to the school I was teaching. I was surprised when his hand touched my hand that was above my thigh.

“I’m not the clutch so take your hand off,” I said coldly.

He laughed but still didn’t remove his hand.

“You know when I saw you. Twenty becomes my favourite number.” He says.

Wait. Is it a pick up-line? “Why?”

“Because twenty-ngin on you, I love you even more.” His grip tightened on my hand. (“Twenty-ngin” in the Filipino language “Tuwing titingin” in English “Every time I look at you”)

“Ah.” I simply said and looked out the window. I heard him sigh.

I bit my lower l*p as his thumb caressed the back of my palm. He was so intense, he seemed to caress my whole being.

We got to school. I was about to go out but Wright pulled me. I frowned as I looked at him. He smiled sparingly. “I’ll pick you up later, huh? I’ll wait for you no matter how long.”

“A-All right.” I stammered. Damn.

I shivered when I felt his soft lips on my palm. My heart sank when our eyes met. He moved away and released my hand. I felt cold without his warm palm.

I hurried out of its car. I watched him drove his car away. When he left I suddenly grabbed my hand and kissed it. I pressed my l*p and walked quickly towards the school gate.

I was shocked when Nadine hit my desk. “When are you going to tell us this?”

It was now our break time that’s why we can talk freely. All of our Co-teachers were now looking at us. Others are whispering while looking at me.

Crissa and Ellyza were also around me, they are now standing in front of me, crossed arms.

“And when do you plan to explain to us?” I cleared my throat as I heard the tone of Crissa’s voice.

I winced. “Hehe.” I awkwardly laugh.

Ellyza’s eyes widened at me. “Don’t ‘Hehe’ us.” (“hehe” is a sound of a small laugh in Filipino)

“Okay. Sorry that I didn’t tell you that Wright is the real father of Reis. All I know was that he will never go back, okay? That’s why I choose not to tell you or everyone.” I said softly so that my other faculty members would not hear.

“How many times have I exploited him in my mind. Last night I was still having wet dreams.” Nadine murmured.

“Nads!” Ellyza scolded.

We went inside the private comfort room and locked the door so no one could hear what I had to say.

“Okay, this is what happened.” I will tell you everything. As well as what I do with Wright now.

“Eh, He’s stupid! What sensible woman wants to have an abortion? He should be locked in the oven. But since the oven is small, He needs to be chopped.” Said Nads.

“Can’t you give him a chance? He looks remorseful and he loves you so much.” Ellyza g*****d.

“That’s the reason was not enough, Ellyza. How can I forgive the man who ruined my self-being? He’s feeling less pain than I felt before.”

“Sometimes whoever broke you, he’s also the one who knows how to rebuild you, Melissa.”

I frowned at what Ellyza said. She’s defending Wright. “I don’t need him to rebuild me.”

She looked at me defiantly. “Wasn’t he? Or you’re just saying that because you’re afraid that when you forgive him, eh, your love for him will return.”

My head heated at what she said. “What do you know about what I’ve been through? How can you say that? Are you y friend?”

“I’m your friend but I don’t take sides. ‘Don’t harden your heart. You weren’t born a stone.”

“Ellyza, stop it,” Crissa warned.

Ellyza nodded. “I’m sorry. I’m just stating my opinion, is that bad? In what you’re doing, you’re both just hurting each other. Follow what your heart says. Not all the time the mind is right.”

“You said ‘follow my heart, but my heart is in a million pieces. Which piece do I need to follow? Eliza, you won’t understand how I felt until it happens to you until you experience the pain.” I came out of the comfort room after I said that.

After that, they didn’t carve me anymore. The bell rang to signal that the class was over. I dismissed all my students and went to the faculty. Probably the others have already gone home. I sat quietly at my desk when I noticed sticky notes glued to the cover of my lesson plan and on the side of it was a large rock.

‘There, talk to him. After all, you are stubborn. It is not wrong to forgive. That’s in the Ten Commandments, right? It will hurt more if you stay that way. True love covers all pain. ‘

–Ellyza