TRUTH OF THE PAST III

Ivan was listening to his mother recalling the events of the past. His face lacking in emotions and his eyes was closed as if he was in a deep slumber. If you wouldn't notice the small tremble of his eyelashes, you would really think that he was asleep.

When he snapped his eyes open, there was pain and sadness visible in it but his parents didn't notice the slight change in his emotion.

"So that's how I become your son." It wasn't a question but a statement confirming what he learned from them. "How come she agreed?"

"She didn't agree at first, but due to lack of financial assistance, you were sickly as a child and that cost her so much. She didn't want to give up on you." His mother, Grace explained to him and continued recalling what happened a long time ago.

"We visited her a couple of times after you were discharge. On that day..."

Yvonne was cradling Ivan to sleep. He just finished his meal and he needed to sleep so that she could do some work.

Grace arrived with bunch of groceries and stuff for the baby. She didn't mention that she was visiting her in behalf of their father to avoid triggering her emotions.

"How is he?" Grace asked her sister who put Ivan slowly on his crib.

"He's doing fine. Thanks for your help." Yvonne responded before she tidy up her own small bed and took the dirty clothes for laundry.

"Yve, this is just my opinion and I know you've got the final say. How about you go with Dad's proposal." Grace spoke slowly to her sister letting the words sank in her brain. "I don't mean any harm. I just thought it would be great for you and Ivan."

Yvonne stopped with what she was doing and turned around to face her sister. "What's good for me and Ivan is none of your business. We're doing fine." Yvonne didn't yeild but when her eyes strayed towards Ivan who was sleeping soundly, she wavered.

"You don't have to rush yourself in deciding. Just think about it." Grace tried diffusing the situation to make sure that Yvonne won't flare up.

"How about you? Do you think it would be better for me?" Yvonne asked her back. Her voice was trembling but she had been doubting herself if she can really do it, raising her child alone.

Seeing her sister, who once relied on her, asked her what should be better for her, Grace started to persuade her. "I guess it is. I can take care of your baby and you can pursue your study. After that you can look for a job or put up your own clinic."

Yvonne nodded her head slowly. She looked at her son once again before she walked away. Before stepping out of the room, she stopped and spoke."Give me a week. I'll come home when I've decided. Within this week, please don't show up in front of me." Then, she left to do her chores.

Grace stood there for a while but she still went home after making sure everything's fine. She asked their servants to clean Yvonne's original room even though it wasn't sure that she would go back.

Grace was more of a daddy's girl and Yvonne was a mama's girl, but their mother died when they were young. Yvonne was never close to her father. She was more like a tool for business purposes.

A week later, Yvonne came home with Ivan. She was greeted by her sister who looked so happy upon seeing her. Elder Maine was sitting in the living room, having some tea.

When he saw his daughter came home with the child, he was still disappointed but he didn't show it on his face.

On that day, Yvonne agreed to have Ivan under her sister's care while she would be sent to United States to continue her studies.

When Grace's husband came home, they decided to change Ivan's last name without telling Grace since it was Elder Maine's instruction.

"People must not know that she gave birth. You pretend to be the child's parents. No one must know about this." instructed Elder Maine who looked stern and determined to keep the child's birth a secret from everyone.

Within the four years that Yvonne spent studying, she wasn't allowed to come home or take any suitors. She was only able to see her son during video calls or when her sister sent her pictures.

"He's grown big. Sis, you're very good when it comes to taking care of a child. Why don't you give birth to one for your husband?" Yvonne asked her sister one time when they were having video call. Ivan had grown and he could already talk. In the video, he was drawing something while Grace stayed beside him.

"Mommy, look at my drawing. This is you and daddy." Ivan said which was an innocent statement but it drained Yvonne's blood. She was ghastly pale when she heard her son called her sister 'mommy'.

"What's going on?Why is he calling you mommy?" Yvonne was in panic. Her heart was broken into pieces. She was betrayed. Her sister and father didn't intend to help her. They wanted to take her son away from her.

Ivan blinked his eyes when he heard the woman on the phone asked a question. He looked confused but cute. "Auntie, she is my mommy." Ivan pointed at Grace.

Grace was also scared. It wasn't her intention after all. "Yvonne listen to me. This was..."

"You lied to me." Yvonne's voice was icy cold. Her eyes were red from anger. She wanted to smash her phone against her sister's face. She wanted to take her child away. "I never thought you were the most treacherous of all people. I will never forgive you." A tear fell from her eyes looking at the child who sat at her sister's lap.

Ivan should be sitting with her. Ivan should be looking at her with admiration. She should be the one beside her.

"Yve, listen to me first..."

"Stop talking to me!" Yvonne yelled, ended the call and cried her heart out. She was so heart broken with what she found out.

Betrayal isn't always painful, it only cause you pain when the person who betrayed you was someone you trusted so much.