Guarded (Alpha Sigma Omicron #5)

Chapter Sixteen

Gotham agreed to my suggestions.

His son and the mother of his son will be moving in the house a few distance away from us. It was a smaller house, but still big enough for a common family to live.

I even saw several moving trucks in the front of the house. Some of his men were helping her moved their things toward their new home.

We talked to Russle about it. He knew what was going on and he was the most excited in this ordeal.

Nasa labas ang kapatid ko kasama ng mga tauhan ni Gotham upang tumulong sa pagbubuhat ng gamit. Nanatili ako sa kwarto naming mag-asawa upang pagmasdan sila mula sa bintana. I was only looking for my brother.

He wanted to meet Gotham’s baby already while I didn’t want any connection with the baby to avoid conflict with the mother.

Someday, maybe…

Russle continued lifting things that were given to him by his companions. Binubuhat niya ang mga bagay na hindi gaanong mabigat palabas masok sa bahay.

Lumabas mula sa kotse si Celeste, minamanduhan niya ang mga tauhan. She was holding the baby.

Tumigil ang kapatid ko upang silayan ang batang hawak niya. The kid’s almost one.

I couldn’t hear what they are talking about, but my brother was smiling. Hinawakan niya ang paa ng bata. He was trying to sway his little foot with caution.

Pumantay si Celeste sa kapatid ko. Ibinigay niya kay Russle ang batang lalaki na malugod na tinanggap ng bata samantalang pumasok ang babae sa loob ng bahay. Naiwan ang kanyang anak kay Russle.

My little brother sat on the pavement in order to hold a child almost half his weight. Tinulungan naman siya ng tauhan ni Gotham. He was still laughing and smiling even with struggle of holding the baby.

“Hey,” Pumulupot ang bisig ni Gotham sa aking baywang.

“Na-meet mo na ba ang anak mo? Inunahan ka pa yata ng kapatid ko.”

He chuckled. “I will meet him later, sweetheart.” Sumilip siya sa pinagmamasdan ko. “You’re right. Russle’s the most excited having a playmate. He’s already doing his big brother duty. Look at them…”

Napangiti ako. “I told you. Saka nagduda ka pa ba? Muntikan na siyang kumidnap ng bata sa mall para iuwi. Sabik na sabik siya sa bata. I think… it’s a good thing that you have a kid already. S’yempre, hindi ko naman sinusuportahan panggagantso ng kanyang ina…”

Inayos niya ang nagkalat kong buhok sa mukha.

“Are you sure you don’t want to meet him yet?” he asked.

Tumango ako. “For the sake of peace, Gotham… I won’t. Not today. Not tomorrow. Siguro sa susunod pang taon, kapag marunong na siyang makipag-usap. His mother won’t take it lightly. Any interaction would be a threat to her that I’m replacing her to be the mother of her child. Hindi iyon makakatulong.”

Humarap ako sa kanya at yumakap. “I want you to be a good father to your child, okay? You and Russle should be a better influence for him.” Sinuklian naman niya ang yakap ko. “What’s his name?”

“Voight. Voight Garrison Arkinson.”

“Sounds badass to me.” I smiled.

***

“Ang lambot lambot niya, ate!”

Pinalitan ko ang kanyang damit na puno ng pawis. He was still in school uniform. Agad siyang bumisita sa kabilang bahay upang makipaglaro sa anak ni Gotham. His excitement never dwindled.

Pagkatapos ng kanyang klase, dumederetso siya sa bagong kalaro.

Pinalitan ko siya ng komportableng damit na pambahay. Isinukbit ko ang dala niyang polaroid camera. Isa iyon sa mga pasalubong ni Gotham ng mag-out of the country siya nitong nakaraan.

Russle was putting the camera into use and his subject is baby Voight Garrison. He would call him bebe Boyt.

Binilhan ko siya ng mini album upang doon ilagay ang lahat ng pictures niyang kinuhanan.

Muli siyang babalik upang makipaglaro sa baby sa kabilang bahay. Napailing na lang ako. He would bring some of his toys, I made sure the toys didn’t have any small particles that the kid could swallow.

Madalas kong ibilin sa kanya na ingatan ang batang kalaro. Babies are sensitive to a lot of things and they have the fastest hand. Bago ko siya hayaang makipaglaro, tinuruan ko muna siya ng tamang pag-aalaga.

Madalas ding walang supervision kapag nakikipaglaro ang kapatid ko sa bata, iniiwanan daw silang dalawa ni Celeste upang magpahinga sa kuwarto habang andoon ang kapatid ko.

Ayaw ni Celeste na mag-hire ng maid para sa bata. But she wouldn’t even do her responsibilities well. Tamang pakitang gilas lang ang babae sa tuwing kaharap ang asawa ko.

I just couldn’t imagine what happens whenever Russle isn’t around to take care of her kid.

Sinabi ko naman ang concern ko na iyon kay Gotham. The house already had cameras around, it could be utilized to use in monitoring the baby. He talked to her about it and she agreed, the cameras would be monitored during the night.

But the woman used it differently. Akala yata niya si Gotham ang magmo-monitor nito sa bawat magdamag. He wasn’t even going into the room where the monitor access was located.

Mayroong access sa loob ng bahay, mayroon ding access ang tauhan niyang nagmo-monitor ang trabaho.

Napadaan ako sa monitor room ng isang beses nang matapos ko ang ginagawang proyekto sa school. My jaw dropped with what I saw. She was purposely naked on the bed, humping a pillow almost near to her sleeping child.

Napailing ako.

I knew she was doing that in hopes my husband could scratch the itchiness on her pussy. The thing is, it wasn’t my husband watching her. Nasabi naman iyon sa kanya.

It didn’t even faze me in the slightest. Hindi rin ako nagalit o nagselos.

Gotham would frequently visit with Russle. He wouldn’t even go to the house without my brother with him. They would play before dinner. Nagpapahatid naman ng pagkain ang asawa ko para sa kabilang bahay.

Pumasok sa kuwarto si Gotham. It was their time to go to the house nearby.

“Enjoy your play.” I said before giving them kisses. “See you at dinner.”

“Ate, iki-kiss kita para kay bebe Boyt.” Russle told me.

“Sige, i-kiss mo na lang si ate para sa kanya. Ingatan mo ang bata, ha. ‘Wag buhatin ng walang alalay.” Hinalikan ko siya sa noo. “Please, be gentle with him, okay?”

He nodded at me.

“We’ll be back before dinner, sweetheart.” My husband gave me a good kiss on the lips.

I just nodded.

For the time being, I spent the next hour doing my school works, so I have time to bond with them later.

***

“Where are you two going?” tanong ko sa dalawang lalaking bihis na bihis na.

“Sama kami, ate.” Russle pouted.

I was just going to the mall to have a grocery shopping for the whole month. Balak ko na ring isabay ang pangangailangan ng kabilang bahay. Hindi ko maatim na wala silang stocks ng grocery at laging paubos ang gatas ng bata.

Wala na akong nagawa nang nagpumilit ang dalawa. It was Gotham who drove us to the mall. Unang pinuntahan namin ang grocery store. Sumakay si Russle sa shopping cart habang pinu-push naman ng asawa ko. I just shook my head.

Mayroon akong dalang listahan upang wala akong malimutan. They were just putting everything they could reach to the cart.

I secured the meat, seafood, fruits and vegetables, canned goods, snacks, cooking essentials, and the milk of Gotham’s child. I made sure it wasn’t near expiration so it could be stored in a long time.

Halos umabot ng limang shopping cart ang aming pinamili. One’s for everything they picked, two for necessities of two houses, one’s for the baby needs, and the other one is for sanitation products.

“You have such an intuition of a great parent more than I could ever be,” Gotham whispered against my ear.

Nakahawak siya sa baywang ko habang hinihintay naming matapos ang pagpa-punch ng aming mga pinamili. Kami lang ang nasa linyang iyon. I guess, the others couldn’t wait that long. It was a lot.

Hindi ko masisisi si Gotham dahil hindi naman niya ginustong magkaroon ng anak. They had an agreement before which she broke and when the baby was conceived, she was given two choices. She just took the money and didn’t do what they initially agreed.

“Then, follow my direction. I’m here to guide you to be a better father. It’s no different from raising Russle,” masuyo kong saad.

Hinaplos ko ang kanyang pisngi at ngumiti.

Gotham paid for everything.

The staff from the grocery arranged several boxes of groceries. Gotham’s men would be collecting those.

The next thing we did was raid the toy store, it was what my brother wanted. Whatever he laid his hands on, Gotham bought it for him. But the toys he chose wasn’t for him, it was for Voight.

Katapat naman ng toy store ay isang boutique para sa mga bata. I walked inside the boutique while the gentlemen were busy looking for toys. There were several designs of kids apparel.

I looked for sizes that would fit Gotham’s little one. Mayroong onesies at shirts. Hinanapan ko rin ng katulad noon sa size ng kapatid ko. It would be nice seeing them in a matching outfit and paid for the items with my own money.

Agad din akong lumabas ng store pagkatapos kong bilhin ang mga damit. Nanlaki ang aking mata nang makitang naghihintay sa labas ang dalawa.

Umiwas ako ng tingin kay Gotham. There was something on the way he looked at me. Ibinigay ko kay Russle ang pinamili ko. His eyes widened seeing the outfits. Ginulo ko ang kanyang buhok.

“What?” I asked Gotham.

He was just smirking, but he didn’t answer me. It felt like he was teasing me. Pasimple ko siyang kinurot sa tagiliran at inirapan.

“Pasalubong mo kay Voight,” I told my brother.

After that shopping spree, we ended up having a meal at a restaurant called El Toro. If I were right, it was owned by one of his friends. Tama nga ako dahil namataan ko si Jianyu.

The man was just everywhere. Napailing ako.

Namataan niya na kami bago nakaiwas sa lalaki. Nagmano pa ang aking kapatid sa lalaki.

Dinaldal niya nang dinaldal ang kapatid ko. Russle just answered everything he asked. Napakuwento na rin ang kapatid ko tungkol sa baby sa kabilang bahay. Jianyu eyed me when the toddler was mentioned. I didn’t give him the satisfaction to tease me.

Itinaboy siya ng asawa ko upang makakain kami nang mapayapa. Russle was tired and hungry from all the shopping he did, he ate a good amount of food. His taste buds were really cultured just like my husband.

“Dapat dalhin din natin sa shopping at pagkain sa labas si bebe Boyt…”

“Of course, big boy. We would bring him to every shopping, brunches and dinners, but we have to wait until he grows up a little, okay?” Gotham assured him.

“Finish your dessert, bunso. Ikain mo muna si Voight.” Nginitian ko siya.

I was done with my panna cotta,so was my husband with his dessert.

“Do you want to go to the cruise ship for your birthday?”

Kumunot ang aking noo.

Oh, is it the time of the year again? Madalas ko naman iyong limot dahil hindi ko naman binibigyang importansya ang okasyon. It is just another day in my life.

Ilang linggo pa naman bago ang kaarawan ko.

Nagkibit – balikat ako. “I don’t celebrate.”

“Let’s change that. We have to do something this year. Out of the country? Or cruising?” He asked.

Russle was singing the birthday song.

“Ikaw nang bahala, iyong mae-enjoy n’yong dalawa.”

“I’ll handle it, sweetheart.” Hinawakan niya ang aking kamay sa ibabaw ng mesa.

Wala na sa pagkain ang atensyon ng kapatid ko kaya hindi niya matapos – tapos ang dessert. But whenever Gotham asked him if he was done, he was just shaking his head. His chosen dessert was fancy.

Nakapokus na sa laruan ang kanyang atensyon, paunti – unti siyang sinusubuan ni Gotham ng strawberry mousse na may something na hindi ko ma-pronounce upang maubos niya iyon.

Once we were done, my husband asked for the bill which was doubled in amount. Iniwan daw noong Chinese ang bill niya upang ang asawa ko ang magbayad. I shook my head.

Ang yaman nila upang tipirin ang pera. My husband’s forehead creased. He would definitely waste his millions on us, but would sulk to give a centavo to Jianyu.

“Did you have a good time, Russle?” I asked. Tumango naman ang kapatid ko. “How about you, sweetheart?”

“Of course, sweetheart.”

Kinabig niya ako palapit sa kanya sa paglalakad palabas ng restaurant.

We headed home.

Pagod na ang kapatid ko at pumipikit na ang mga mata, buhat na siya ng aking asawa. The moment we arrived at the house. A worried Celeste was waiting on the garage, he was holding the toddler.

“What are you doing here?” tanong ng asawa ko sa babae.

Russle was still sleeping on the backseat. Bumaba ako upang tingnan ang komosyon.

“V-voight! He was… I don’t know!” She was in a panic. But her expression turned into hatred seeing me. “You have a son, Gotham! He fucking needs you! Why are you always with that bitch?!”

“For fuck’s sake, Celeste! Call my wife that word again, I’ll make you eat your tongue.” It wasn’t a warning. “If there was something wrong with the child, fucking call an ambulance! You’re not supposed to fucking wait for me!”

Inagaw niya ang bata mula sa babae. I opened the car door for him. Kinuha ko si Russle sa backseat. Muling naalimpungatan ang aking kapatid. Inayos ko ang car seat para sa anak ni Gotham.

Dumikit sa akin ang balat ng bata. It was hot!

“Mataas ang lagnat niya,” sinabi ko sa asawa ko.

Itinulak naman ako ni Celeste upang makapasok siya sasakyan. I just nodded at Gotham. The kid was needed to be taken to the hospital. Russle woke up in the middle of it and started to cry as the car drove off again.

Inalo ko naman ang kapatid ko nang nalaman niya ang nangyari sa kalaro. Pumasok kami sa loob ng mansyon upang painumin siya ng tubig. Muli siyang umiyak hanggang nakatulog na sa aking mga bisig.

Later that day, I received a call from my husband telling the kid was okay.

He would be confined for the night as he wanted so that they could monitor the child’s well-being. Mas hindi siya panatag na ang ina ang kasama nito. Clearly, she wasn’t doing a good job taking care of the child.

May parteng naaawa ako sa bata. That baby isn’t the mother’s priority. Binuhay lang siya nito upang makapanghuthot pa ng pera sa kanyang ama.

Celeste’s irresponsible and unfit to be a mother, it might be harsh, but that’s the truth coming from someone who raised a child that wasn’t mine. I would do everything for my brother, even the things that weren’t right just to keep him safe.

Habang ginagawa naman niyang cash cow ang kanyang sariling anak. She just birthed a kid for the sake of money.

***

The first week was tolerable. It was getting harder and harder each passing day. Sa bawat araw yata mas kumakapal ang mukha ng babae. I was the one trying to be patient to keep the peace.

How thick-faced can she be?

One time Gotham went early to his office, I woke up with the presence of the woman in the room. Naghahalungkat siya ng mga gamit ko sa kuwarto naming mag-asawa. In her defense, pinapasok daw siya ng kapatid ko. As if my brother would say no.

She wanted to take the gifts my husband bought for me. Good thing, nagising ako ng tama sa oras upang pigilan ang kahibangan niya. Whether I used the bags and jewelries my husband gifted or not, those were mine and I cherished each one of them.

Bawat araw ang pagtitimpi ko. Sometimes, I was tempted to bruise her punchable face.

Ayokong ilayo niya ang bata kay Gotham. I wanted the co-parenting to work for them. I wanted the child to grow up knowing his roots and origin. It was something I couldn’t give to my brother.

Hanggang doon lang ang kaya ko… I couldn’t give him a complete family. Even if I weren’t the picture, it wasn’t my call to give him a complete functional family.

Hindi ko rin maintindihan kung bakit ipinipilit ng iba na magkaroon ng kumpletong pamilya gayong puro away lang din naman ang kahihinatnan. Co-parenting exists, and it’s better than having a complete but dysfunctional family.

She was in the house again.

Minamanduhan pa niya ang mga tauhan ni Gotham at ang kapatid ko.

There was another business work related that Gotham attended out of the country. Tinaon na niyang hindi iyon sa birthday ko tatapat kaya inagahan na niya ang pag-alis at pakikipag-usap sa investors ng kompanya.

Naiwan naman kami ni Russle sa parehong rason noong nakaraan. Naka-swimsuit siyang lumalangoy sa pool habang inaaliw ng kapatid ko ang kanyang anak.

It was getting into my nerve.

Kahit gustong – gusto ni Russle at hindi siya nagrereklamo, naiinis ako sa inaasta ng babae sa pagpasa niya ng responsibilidad niya sa kanyang anak sa aking kapatid habang siya nagpapakasarap sa buhay.

“Bunso, it’s time for a nap…” tawag ko sa kapatid ko.

He got up and walked toward me. Pinapasok ko siya sa loob ng bahay, sumunod naman ako.

“Hey! Who’s going to look for my son?!” habol niya sa gilid ng pool.

Bahagya naman akong humarap.

“Not my problem,” mariin kong wika.

I locked the door and followed him toward the master bedroom.

I felt bad for the kid, but his mother was capable of looking for him. Hindi iyon obligasyon ng kapatid ko dahil hindi naman siya ang nagplanong i-trap si Gotham sa kasal at hindi pina-abort ang bata.

If she didn’t want responsibility, she shouldn’t have continued bearing the child. Ayaw niya ng kasambahay upang tulungan siya sa pag-aalaga sa bata… ayaw din naman niyang alagaan ito.

I’m not letting her take my brother’s kindness for granted. I don’t want a child taking care of another child.

Nang makatulog ang kapatid ko, pinanood ko sila mula sa bintana. Mukhang wala talagang pakialam ang babae sa kanyang anak. I called Gotham’s men to take care of the child and remove her from the premises.

Bumaba ako nang gumawa siya ng eksena sa pool side. She was screaming and throwing things on the pool. She wasn’t on her best demeanor since Gotham wasn’t around.

Halos tumama sa gawi ko ang botelya ng lotion. My reflexes were just fast.

“Ano bang problema mo?” kompronta ko sa babae.

“You!” Itinuro niya ako. “You’re my fucking problem! We could’ve been a happy family if not for you!”

Tumawa naman ako. “Happy family, huh? Hindi ka nga gustong pakasalan kahit ginawa mo na ang lahat. Hindi gumana ang plano mo kahit buntis ka na sa kanyang anak. You baby trapped him, yet you didn’t succeed. Kahit wala ako, hindi mangyayari ang happy family mong inaasam.”

Maybe, she needed a reality check.

I was only tolerating her presence for the sake of the kid. I wanted the kid to have a complete family including his biological parents, even if it wasn’t the conventional one.

“I felt bad for your son. He didn’t deserve to be born with a parent like you. All kids deserve parents, but not all parents deserve to have a kid. Kasama ka sa mga hindi deserving magkaroon ng anak,” mariin kong wika.

Mas lalong nagliyab ang galit sa kanyang mata. “You have no right to tell me that! Hindi mo alam ang hirap ko sa batang iyon! Mang-aagaw ka! I should’ve been in your place, and my son should’ve been the first priority instead of your stupid brother!”

“Leave my brother out of your mouth,” I warned her. “Hindi mo magugustuhan ang gagawin ko sa oras na may sabihin kang hindi maganda tungkol sa kanya. I can kill for that boy, Celeste.”

Lumapit ako, unti – unti naman siyang umatras hanggang tubig na lang ang naapakan niya. Nahulog siya sa pool. She was fighting for her life not to drown. I just looked at her with no emotion on my face.

“I could kill you without blinking my eye, Celeste. I certainly do. I would dispose your body and claim your child as mine. Ako ang kikilalanin niyang ina at ako ang magpapalaki sa kanya. You’re not going to get any money from my husband anymore.” Pinanood ko ang pagdaloy ng takot sa kanyang mata.

“Sinabi ko naman sa’yo, nag-click kami ni Gotham dahil pareho kaming masamang tao. You should be thankful, I’m being fair here.” Seryoso kong saad. “Kaya ‘wag mong sagarin ang pasensya ko sa’yo.”

Iniwan ko siya sa pool at bumalik sa loob ng bahay.

I would probably clean the pool afterwards. Ayoko pa namang nadudumihan ang pamamahay namin. I checked on my brother, he was still sleeping on our bedroom.

***

Nadatnan ko si Russle na umiiyak sa hagdan. My class was done. Since my husband wasn’t around, it was his men who fetched my brother. Agad ko siyang dinaluhan.

“Anong nangyari?” tanong ko.

“Hindi ako pinayagang makipaglaro kay bebe Boyt.” Pinahid ko ang kanyang luha.

Kinagat ko ang aking pang-ibabang labi. Hindi ko alam ang sasabihin sa kapatid ko.

“Kakausapin ko si Celeste.”

Umiling siya. “Okay lang po, ate. ‘Wag na po. Hintayin ko lang po si kuya bayaw para makapag-play kami.”

He was wrong.

Kahit dumating ang asawa ko mula sa business trip sa ibang bansa, hindi nawala ang gaspang ng ugali ng babae. She didn’t want my brother to play with his son, it was heartbreaking for Russle.

In that short period of time, I knew that they developed a bond.

Naiintindihan ni Russle ang lahat. Alam niya ang ugnayan ni Voight at Gotham. One time, I saw him crying again.

Narinig niya raw na nagtatalo si Gotham at Celeste. The woman was trying to make my husband choose between us and their son. Mas lalong nasaktan ang kapatid ko.

“Ate… ayokong lumaki si bebe Boyt ng walang tatay. Wala na nga akong nanay at tatay, hindi p’wedeng siya rin ay wala…” Hinagod ko naman ang kanyang likod. I didn’t know what to say to him.

He was stressing about it. Naiiintindihan niyang kapag kami ang pinili ni Gotham, mawawalan ng ama si Voight. Samatalang kapag pinili naman niya ang anak…

I didn’t want him to beg Celeste to let him play with my husband’s son nor talk to the woman. Hindi ko naman siya mapigilan. Lagi siyang pumupunta sa kabilang bahay na may dalang iba’t ibang pagkain, laruan, o kahit anong p’wedeng ialay sa babae upang payagan siyang makipaglaro sa bata.

He would wait there for an hour. Sa tuwing pupuntahan ko siya upang pauwiin, sumasalubong sa akin ang paiyak niyang mata. Gotham tried to talk to him. But even my husband wasn’t granted access to the kid unless… things were settled.

Gotham would choose us more than the son he never wanted. Mas malinaw pa iyon sa araw. It was a clear choice from the beginning.

Kaya lang, nasasaktan ako para sa kapatid ko. He was just a little boy… he was so happy to have a playmate… he made a connection to the kid.

His heart was pure and I was heartless for not leaving my husband.

Nagbago ang ihip ng hangin nitong nakaraan. Gotham stopped giving child support in retaliation to her demands. Muli niyang hinayaang makipaglaro si Russle sa kanyang anak para maibalik ang easy money niya.

Well, I would have applauded her ways of getting money if she didn’t use an innocent child in expense. Hindi ko rin naman nakukuha sa malinis na paraan ang pera ko, pero hindi ako gumagamit ng inosente.

Pinagmasdan ko mula sa malayo ang kapatid ko. She opened the door for him.

Recently, she didn’t agree on having cameras inside the house. Pinatanggal ni Gotham ang lahat ng ito bago siya muling umalis ng bansa para sa surpresa niya sa birthday ko. Surprise? He told me he had a surprise… the woman wouldn’t stop him from giving me my first ever birthday party.

I went to check on them…

My heart shattered when I heard my brother’s stifled cries. I kicked the door open. Tumunghay sa akin ang umiiyak kong kapatid. Celeste was holding a stick to hit him on his butt.

I was clouded with rage seeing my brother in that condition. Pinilit kong kalmahin ang aking sarili.

“Russle…” I called him. Tumingin siya sa akin. Nanlaki ang kanyang mata. “Get the baby and run to the house. Hintayin mo ako sa bahay.”

He did what I told him. Pinigilan ko si Celeste bago niya madampot ang dalawang bata. I locked the door behind us. Hinintay ko hanggang makalayo ang kapatid ko dala ang anak ni Gotham.

I was mad. I was ready to kill.

Inagaw ko ang stick at inihampas iyon sa babae. She tried to fight me, but it was useless. I was trained to be a nuisance in the society. I was trained to be a fucking criminal. Does she think pulling my hair would stop me from smacking her face to the wall?

I was only seeing red.

She passed out when I stopped.

I stopped and went back to the mansion. Russle was tapping his legs, trying to make him sleep while he sang a lullaby.

“Bunso…”

“Ate, gulo ang buhok mo.” Bumaba siya sa kama, pumantay naman ako sa kanya.

“Kailan ka pa niya sinaktan?” tanong ko.

“Tuwing pumupunta ako upang makipaglaro…”

That was my last straw.

Alam kong hindi niya iyon sinabi sa akin dahil sumasaya naman siya kapag naglalaro sila ni Voight. Kinagat ko ang aking labi upang pigilan ang paghikbi at hagulhol.

“Do you want little Voight to have a complete family with nanay and tatay?” I asked.

He nodded his head eagerly.

“That means… we have to leave.” Pinatatag ko ang aking boses.

My head wasn’t thinking right. All I wanted was to take my brother away. I didn’t want anyone to hurt him.

I was expecting him to cry. He loves Gotham. Their bond is unique.

“Okay po, ate.” He nodded his head like he understood why we were leaving.

Tanging mga damit lang niya ang binalot ko at ilang laruan. He played with the child one last time as I wrote something for Gotham. It was a short letter… not to find us anymore. I want him to choose his son over me, the way I’m choosing my brother over him. I know for a fact, he would leave his son for us, and I don’t want that. Voight Garrison needs his father. We don’t want to be the hindrance to that.

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