The Truth

She couldn't understand why she has been told to get ready and prepared. They will just eat breakfast but they need to get dressed. She wondered why. But just to obey what Don Rafael has been said, she did it. At the mirror her attention was focused as she combed her hair. She noticed that her son was awake as when she turned her head back.

"Good morning mom."

The nice smile on its face made her son obviously well awake. Gadel was just lying down but eyes were wide open.

"Hello son. Did you slept well? I guess so baby. You became even more cute."

"Yes mom I did. I woke up earlier but you were not beside me. So I went back to sleep. Did you come out? You go away, why didn't you take me with you?"

She smiled at what she heard. Her son is kind and smart. She was overjoyed as it came into her life. Especially it has become so much more resembling the look of his father Miguel. She doesn't know why she was glad that her son still looks like the man she married but hated too. All she knew was that the child was a blessing to her.

"Yes I went out. You slept so well. That's why I didn't woke you up. Next time I will take you there, " she promised.

She opened the closet where she put their travel bag. Inside it were their belongings. All of their things inside the travel were not yet move to the closet. But she noticed other travel bag near to the closet. It is quite big and obviously many clothes can be place inside.

"Mom, do you know who brought this travel inside here? Zaviah asked to her mother.

"I don't know. I saw that before I went out,' her mother answered.

"I also don't know mom." Gadel said it immediaty.

Her son immidiately said he doesn't know. He knew he would be the next to be asked. Zav knew that his mother had come out.

"Okay both of us here doesn't know," shrugged she said.

It was a pleasure for her mother to peek out the window and see the beautiful colors of flowers in bloom. So it finally went to the garden to see the flowers up close. Donya Trinidad ws there too on her wheelchair. In the garden waited the beautiful sunshine of the morning. So the two talked as when Zaviah saw them earlier.

"The breakfast table is ready," said the housemaid.

It just peeked at the door to let them know the food on the table was ready. And just left immediately after speaking.

"Okay thanks. We're going next to you," Zav replied.

She looked to her mother and her son. Who were both standing at the door also staring back to her.

"Mom it is too early to eat for breakfast."

"Then you will used to eat as early as now son. Let's go. This is really how meal time here is the province."

She also looked at her mother to tell by nodding that they need to go to the kitchen right away. Gadel did not complain anymore. The child already knows how to be obedient rather than just complaining such things which is not needed. At his age Zaviah explained the good and bad things a person can do. The three of them walk hand in hand while the child is in the middle. They occupied the vaccant seats which is really reserved for them. Zaviah was no longer surprised at those moments. In the seat reserved for her, Miguel was sitting next to her. She couldn't help but be nervous. She felt it naturally. She needs to be calm. Even if it's like she's in the hot seat and being tried by a judge. What is next but to talk about her and Miguel. She's not worried for herself but for her son. She wasn't sure if her son was ready for the reality that he didn't expect to know at the moment. And one of her fears is that her son would might get mad at her.

"I want you to introduce that boy to his father," Don Rafael said.

Like a loud horn, she was almost deaf to its impact on her ears. There is no turning around the bushes. It is said straightforward. There came a sudden tension for her. Zaviah couldn't hide the trace of it on her face anymore. She was sure there was a leap of blood that his son's father felt. She knew that it's just her and Gadel that Miguel has been looking around since they were walking closer. Still she pretended that everything is fine.

"Are you okay mom?"

"Yes son."

"I want you to introduce that boy to his father," Don Rafael said again.

What Don Rafael said was like a mandate. She feels like she's frozen. She had no right choice but to tell the truth. Gradually she tightened her grip on her son's hand. How did he even start it all? She thought she had prepared everything. But it's not, like she was still in the situation that wanted to set back the times. What is recent happening would not have happened first. Zaviah remained seated for those moments she did not imagine such scenery would happen. in

She didn't know what to say first. She was still shocked at what was happening. But there is no time to feel the hesitation.

"I don't know if I have anything to know. But if there was, even now, in these moments I could understand what it was. But Miguel's eyes were fixed looking on the child. That he seemed to have a hunch.

"Are you okay mom?" Gadel asked it again.

"That man is your father, my son."

There were questions in the child's eyes as he turned to look at her again. Then looked at the man sitting next to her mother. A scene she did not expect. But there was nothing she could do.

'So be it Zav. This is the time ' her troubled mind is whispering.

"Mom you said that--"

"I lied," she interrupted.

Zaviah was so sorry for a long time she hid the truth to her son. But alive in her heart. She tried to think that the man she married and hated was dead. For faster moving on that she wanted to happen. That even in her son's mind she tried to bury.

'Your father is long dead'

That's how she replied to her son when it asked about his father. She knew that the lies was buried into her son's mind. She just hope her son doesn't get mad at her. It was a prayer in her mind.

"I'd like to say it again that he is your father."

Miguel also got shocked. Even if he has any hunch. But it was still different that he heard it directly. He was very happy to hear it. So he did not immediately restrain himself from standing up and hugged his son.

"Forgive me son. I am the only one to blame for what happened to us."

The confused child looked around. He could not believe the truth heard. Until he felt his father's tight hug on him as he was carried up by arms.

"Let's continue to eat our delicious breakfast. The food may eventually get cold, so let's start while it's still warm. It's more fun that we can eat like this together."

Donya Trinidad smiked as well. Seeing t inhat her husband was gradually becoming softer. It is no longer the same as before with a very hard heart.

"Yeah let's eat," Cynthia replied.

Cynthia smiled too. Indeed as Zaviah's mother she was happy too. She prayed that all will be well.