The Billionaire's Heir

CHAPTER 4

Five years later…

Alexa smiled while looking at her son. Tahimik itong nagbabasa ng educational books. Her son was reading about science. Isa sa mga subject na kinaiinisan niya noong nag-aaral pa siya. Napailing na lang siya saka nagpatuloy sa ginagawa. Hinayaan na lang niya ang anak niya na magbasa habang ginagawa naman niya ang trabaho niya.

She was working at the account of CHJ Company. Kailangan na niya itong matapos ngayon at maibigay niya ito sa Boss niya. She needs to work hard for her son. Lalo na ngayon at nag-aaral na at mag-aaral na rin ito sa Grade School sa susunod na pasukan. Katatapos lang nito sa pre-school kahit four years old pa lang ito.

Her son, Axel, is a smart kid. At the age of one, he could already stand on his own. And at the age of two, he could read and talk without stuttering.

Alexa took a deep breath as she finished her work. She sent it to her Boss through mail.

“Axel, that’s enough. Let your eyes rest.” Aniya.

“Yes, Mommy.” Axel immediately obeyed his mother. “Mommy, uuwi na po ba tayo?” tanong niya sa ina nang makita niyang nag-iinat ito.

Alexa looked at her son. Yes, her son could understand Filipino language. Tinuruan niya ito. “Yes, of course. I’m done with my work, baby.”

“Mommy.” Axel frowned. “I’m not a baby anymore. Don’t call me ‘baby’.”

Alexa smiled. “Then what should I call you?” tanong niya sa anak niya saka hindi napigilan ang sarili na ngumiti.

Napa-isip naman si Axel. “My name, of course, mommy.” Wala siyang maisip na pwedeng itawag sa kaniya ng kaniyang ina. Basta ayaw niyang tinatawag siya nitong ‘baby’.

Alexa shook her head. Ang anak niya talaga. Hindi niya alam kung kanino ito nagmana. Bigla siyang natigilan. She suddenly remembers Axel’s father. Hanggang ngayon hindi niya maalala kung sino ito. It’s like her memory was completely wipe out. What exactly happened to her that night?

But that one-night-stand changed her life.

Sighing, Alexa picked up her blazer and placed it on her arm. “Let’s go, Axel.”

Ngumiti si Axel saka humawak sa kamay ng ina.

Habang pauwi sila sakay ng kotse, nakita ni Axel ang paborito nitong Ice Cream Shop na lagi nilang nadadaanan sa tuwing uuwi sila.

“Mommy, I want ice cream.”

Ngumiti si Alexa. “Okay. Let’s buy some but remember the rule. What is it again?”

“One ice cream in a week.” Axel said making Alexa proud. Yes, she made rules for her son para hindi ito masyadong ma-spoil, lalo na sa Kuya Alexander niya ang hilig i-spoil si Axel. Ayaw niyang lumaki ang anak niyang spoiled brat. Siya rin lang mahihirapan kapag ganun.

Alexa smiled and kissed her son’s forehead. “Let’s go.”

Bumaba sila ng kotse at lumapit sa may Ice Cream Shop, napailing na lang si Alexa nang makitang pinili ni Axel ang flavor ng Rocky Road. It was Axel’s favorite ice cream flavor. Ang flavor na rin ‘to ng ice cream ang pinaglihian niya noon kaya hindi na siya nagtataka na naging paborito ito ng anak niya.

Alexa bought two containers of Rocky Road flavor. Then they went home.

Arriving at their house, Alexa saw her sister-in-law at the balcony with her five-month-old child. Yes, her brother already got married and guessed who? It was Dra. Jamie Moore, her OB-GYN doctor before. Ang dalawa ang nagkatuluyan. They got married two years ago and now, they already had a baby girl.

“Ate Jamie, si Kuya?” tanong niya.

“He’s not home yet.”

Alexa nodded.

“Hi, Baby Alexis.” Bati ni Axel sa pinsan nito. “Want ice cream? But no, it’s not good for you. You’re still baby. Enjoy it when you grow up like me.” Mabilis na inilayo ni Axel ang hawak na ice cream.

Nagkatinginan ang mag-hipag.

Napailing na lang si Alexa.

Jamie just smiled.

Pumasok si Alexa sa loob ng bahay at tinungo ang kwarto. Hindi na niya tinawag si Axel dahil alam niyang hindi rin lang ito sasama. Gustong-gusto kasi nitong nilalaro ang pinsan nito.

They were staying with her brother and her sister-in-law.

Alexa wanted to live separately after her brother got married but he didn’t let her. Malaki naman daw ang bahay nito, bakit pa sila hihiwalay? So, she and her son were staying with her brother and his wife. Mabait naman ang asawa ng Kuya niya at hindi ito nagbago pagkalipas ng ilang taon. Mas lalo lang na naging mabait ito sa kaniya.

Pagkatapos magpalit ni Alexa ng damit pambahay, bumaba siya sa kusina para magluto ng dinner nila. Maya-maya pa ay pumasok na si Jamie at Axel.

Alexa and Jamie talked with some random stuff. While Axel played with Alexis.

Eksaktong katatapos lang ni Alexa na magluto nang dumating si Alexander.

“Hmm…smells delicious.” Ani Alexander nang makapasok ito sa kusina. “Hi, honey.” He kissed his wife on the lips.

Jamie just smiled at her husband while she’s buy cooing their daughter.

“Hi, Axel.” He messed Axel’s hair before he picked up his daughter.

“Tito, don’t mess my hair.” Axel complained.

Tinawanan lang ni Alexander ang pagrereklamo ng pamangkin niya at mas lalo niyang itong inasar. He messes his nephew’s hair again making Axel to run away from him.

Tumatawa si Alexander.

“Kuya, huwag mong asarin ang anak ko. Lagi mo ngang ini-spoil pero lagi mo namang inaasar.” Naiiling na saad ni Alexa habang hinahanda ang mga pagkain sa lamesa.

“Anak, halika ka na. Kumain na tayo.” Tawag ni Alexa sa anak na ayaw ng lumapit sa kanila dahil sa Tito nito na nang-aasar.

“Tito Alexander will mess my hair again, Mommy.” Axel crossed his arms. Ang sama rin ng tingin nito sa Tito nito.

“Alexa, sa ama yata nagmana ang anak mo. Tignan mo nga, oh. Ang bata pa lang, ang sulpado na. How much more pa kaya kapag lumaki ‘yan.” Sabi ni Alexander.

“Ikaw naman kasi, Kuya. Lagi mo kasing ginugulo ang buhok niya. Alam mo naming ayaw na ayaw niyang may humahawak sa buhok niya maliban sa akin.” Sabi naman ni Alexa. “Axel, come here.”

Naglakad palapit si Axel sa ina pero singuro niyang hindi siya mahahawakan ng Tito Alexander niya.

Jamie smiled seeing Axel being vigilant around his Uncle. For Axel’s age, he’s really smart. Iba ang pag-iisip nito kaysa sa mga normal na bata. Axel was smart despite of being young. He had a high IQ. Now, she’s sure, Axel got the genes of his father but it’s just a pity that Alexa didn’t know the father of her son.

Habang kumakain sila, napaisip si Alexa habang pasulyap-sulyap siya sa kaniyang anak. Noon pa man, sinasabi na ng kaniyang kapatid na parang walang namana sa kaniya si Axel. Axel’s eyes were blue-grey while hers is hazel.

Alexa sighed. I hope that Axel will never ask about his father. Hindi ko rin lang alam kung ano ang isasagot ko sa kaniya kung sakali.

SECONDS turned to minutes and minutes turned to days, days turned to weeks and weeks turned to months. The sun rise in the morning and set down in the afternoon. Alexa continued to work hard to support her son. While Axel went to grade school.

On the first day of school, Axel was smart and due to his high IQ, he was put in the first section. Axel enjoyed his first day of school because he met some new friends. Pero may isa siyang napansin noong uwian na ng hapon ang mga kaklase niya na sinundo ng kanilang mga ama.

Axel was confused.

He never experienced those. Being fetch by his father in school because he had no father. And he never asked his mother about his father. He never seen him. He was afraid to ask because he doesn’t know if it will be good for his mother to ask about his father.

Naging malungkot ang mukha ni Axel habang nakatingin sa isa niyang kaklase na sinundo ng ama nito. Kailan rin kaya niya mararanasan ang ganun?

“Axel!”

Mabilis na napatingin si Axel sa pinanggalingan ng boses nang tumawag sa pangalan niya. He automatically smiled and his face lit up when he saw his mother. “Mommy!” He waved at her.

Smiling, Alexa went to her son.

“How was your first day of school?” Alexa asked her son.

Axel smiled. “It was good, mommy.”

But Alexa noticed that Axel’s smile didn’t reached his eyes. As a mother, madali niyang mapansin kung ano ang nangyayari o may pagbabago sa anak niya.

“What’s the matter?” Alexa asked her son seeing him sad.

Axel didn’t answer but he was looking on something. Sinundan ni Alexa ang tinitignan ng anak niya at doon niya nakita ang isang estudyante na kasama ang ama nito. Most of the students here, they are being fetch by their own father.

Hindi na kailangan pang tanungin ni Alexa kung bakit malungkot si Axel. Mukhang alam na niya kung bakit.

“Axel.”

“Mommy.” Axel looked at his mother. “Where’s my daddy?”

Alexa stilled. Hindi siya makasagot sa tanong ng anak niya. Ito ang unang beses na nagtanong ito tungkol sa ama nito. Anong isasagot niya?

Though inaasahan na niya na isang araw magtatanong si Axel tungkol sa ama nito pero hindi niya alam kung ano ang isasagot niya.

Alexa sighed. Ito na ang inaalala niya. Ang magtanong si Axel tungkol sa ama nito?

Hinawakan ni Alexa ang kamay ni Axel. “Umuwi na tayo, anak. Huwag mo ng pansinin ang mga nakikita mo.”

Hindi nagsalita si Axel pero ramdam ni Alexa na nangungulila ito sa pagmamahal ng isang ama. Hindi niya maalala ang ama ni Axel dahil na rin siguro ito sa ininom niyang alak pero talagang kahit anong gawin niya wala siyang maalala ng gabing ‘yon. Wala siyang maalala kahit ni isa sa gabing ‘yon, pati mukha ng ama ni Axel ay hindi niya rin maalala. Ang tanging alam niya ay may naka one-night-stand siya ng gabing ‘yon.

Maybe if she stayed that morning and waited for the man whom she had a one-night-stand with, sigurado siyang nakilala niya ito pero pinangunahan kasi siya ng takot kaya nagmamadali siyang umalis sa lugar na ‘yon ng umagi ding ‘yon.

“Mommy, what are you thinking?” Alexa heard her son.

Alexa glanced at her son while driving. Umiling siya. “Wala, anak. May iniisip lang ako.”

Napatango si Axel at hindi na umimik.

“Axel.”

Axel looked at his mother.

Alexa didn’t removed her eyes on the road. “About your father…” she sighed. “Hindi ko siya maalala. I’m sorry, anak.”

“Ano pong ibig niyong sabihin?” tanong ni Axel.

Umiling si Alexa. “I couldn’t remember your father. I don’t know what happened. Bata ka pa at hindi mo pa masyadong naiintindihan ang lahat. When you grow up and reach the right age, I will tell you everything.”

Napakurap si Axel. “Mommy, hindi niyo po kilala si daddy?”

“I’m sorry, anak. Pero hindi ko siya kilala.”

Axel slumped on his seat.

ALEXA sat at the stair on the balcony of their house while looking at the sky. Hindi siya makatulog dahil sa paulit-ulit na nagpapakita sa kaniya ang malungkot na mukha ni Axel kanina habang pinag-uusapan nila ang ama nito.

“Can’t sleep?”

Napatingin si Alexa sa kapatid na tumabi ng upo sa kaniya sa hagdan ng balkonahe. “Kuya?”

“Mukhang ang lalim ng iniisip mo. May problema ba, Alexa?”

Alexa sighed deeply. “Kuya, Axel asked me about his father.”

Natigilan si Alexander. “Anong sinabi mo?”

“I told him the truth. I told him I couldn’t remember his father but I didn’t tell the whole details. Masyado pa siyang bata, Kuya.”

Tumango si Alexander. “But what made him asked you about his father?” he asked.

“He saw one of his classmates. He was fetch by his father at the school.”

“Kaya naman pala. Alexa, your son had a high IQ and you love him so much. Alam nating lahat ‘yon pero iba pa rin kapag kasama niya ang kaniyang ama. I maybe stand as his father but I’m not his father. I’m only his uncle. The love that I could give him is different for the love that his own father could give.” Sabi ni Alexander.

Bumuntong hininga si Alexa. “Kuya…”

“So, what’s your plan?”

Umiling si Alexa. “Hindi ko alam, Kuya. Hindi ko kilala ang ama ni Axel at kahit pa makilala ko siya o ni Axel, natatakot ako na baka masaktan niya lang ang anak ko. It’s been five years. Baka may pamilya na siya o baka may pamilya na siya noong nagkita kami. I was just upset that I couldn’t remember him. But we’re already living peacefully. Baka kapag sakaling nakilala siya ni Axel, magiging magulo lang ang buhay naming dalawa.”

Napailing si Alexander saka bahagyang itinulak ang ulo ng kapatid. “Masyado kang negative mag-isip, Alexa.”

“I was just thinking of the outcome if Axel will really met his father.”

Nagtaas ng palad si Alexander. “I was just saying.”

Nangalumbaba si Alexa saka ipinatong ang siko sa mismong tuhod. “Kuya, ano kaya kung bumalik ako sa Pilipinas?”

Alexander stared at his sister.

“Hindi kasi mawala sa isipan ko ang malungkot na mukha ni Axel sa isipan ko kanina, Kuya.”

“Do you want him to have a complete family?” Alexander asked. Wala na siyang ibang maisip na dahilan upang bumalik si Alexa sa Pilipinas. “Are you going to find Axel’s biological father?” tanong pa niya.

Tumango si Axel. “Pero kailangan ko itong pag-isipan ng mabuti, Kuya.”

Alexander sighed. “Alexa, kailangan mo itong pag-isipan ng mabuti. Hindi ganun kadali ang iniisip mo. Hindi mo kilala ang ama ni Axel na ayon rin sa ‘yo ay hindi mo maalala. I know how much you wanted Axel to have a complete family but even you wanted him to have a father, you never entertain any of your suitors. But even you entertain them, Axel wouldn’t agree.” Napailing siya. “That kid. He’s really smart.”

Natawa ng mahina si Alexa saka napailing.

“But Alexa, it’s been five years, naalala ka pa kaya ng ama ni Axel?”

Alexa stilled. “Ang tanong kuya kung kikilalanin ba niyang anak si Axel kung sakali nga na mahanap ko siya? Though I couldn’t remember him but I know I can find him. Maraming paraang ang pwedeng gawin. At isa pa, Kuya, I need to try for my son.”

Inakbayan ni Alexader ang kapatid saka ito hinalikan sa nuo. “Sa akin lang naman ay pag-isipan mo ito ng mabuti.”

Tumango si Alexa. “I will, Kuya. Sasabihin ko sa ‘yo ang desisyon ko oras na nakapag-decide na ako.”

But unbeknownst to Alexa, someone is looking for her for long time after that night.