CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Five Years Later
"Mommy~" A little girl dressed in a pink fluffy dressed called out happily as she ran out of her kindergarden. She had two little pig tails
that were tied up with matching pink Micky Mouse hairbands. She had big eyes and snow white skin with little blushing cheeks. Very adorable.
"Nattra~" Ann smiled happily as she rushed up to her cute daughter and hugged her tightly. When she finally released her she look kindly
at her and asked, "How was your first day? Did you miss Mommy?" She said as she tugged a piece of Nattra's curly hair behind her ears.
"Of course~ Nattra missed mommy a lot!" Nattra smiled happily and gave her mom a big hug. And she gave her a big kiss on the cheek.
"You're so cute! mom missed you a lot too!" Ann stood up and held her daughters hand tightly. "come on, uncle is going to take us out to
dinner to celebrate your first day as a big girl!"
"What! uncle is taking Nattra out to dinner! Can we have ice cream?!" Nattra jumped happily as she ran along with her mom, Ann to meet Rome.
A kind gentlemen.
“Mommy~” Nattra’s soft voice snapped me out of my daydream. I shuffled nervously in my seat and tried to get the memories out of my head.
Those painful memories that will last with me until the moment I die. Is that really needed? Can’t I just forget this? Forget him… I don’t need him
anymore. I don’t want him anymore. I want to forget him, to erase him from my memory. Today was my anniversary, my anniversary of the first
time I ever met him, the bastard that forgot me and left me alone. Though I never blamed him, it’s not his fault that an accident must occur.
It is just… bad time. That’s what I’ve been telling myself. I sighed heavily as I erased the painful expression and looked at my cute daughter,
Nattra, happily.
“Yes Nattra?” I smiled towards her. She’s my daughter; I can’t show her my weak side. Or else not only will I break down, she will do so with me.
I have to be a good role model, to set an example. So, my daughter won’t ever make the same mistake as me.
“Mom, are you okay? Nattra think mom is sad. Does mom feel okay?” Nattra had a little wrinkle on her little forehead to show that she was
really worried. She’s so cute, such an understanding child.
“Mom is fine.” I playfully said even though I was really overwhelmed with tiredness. If this weren’t for Nattra’s first day, if I were alone,
I would be home, sleeping. I was really tired.
“Are you sure mom? Do you need Nattra to rub your stomach?” You see, Nattra thinks that rubbing someone’s stomach is the best way
to cure a disease. Since when Nattra was younger, sometimes even now, she will have stomach pains and constipation. So, I will always
rub her stomach and she’ll feel much better, and she’ll jump around and say that it was a miracle.
“No, it’s alright. Mommy feels fine as long as Nattra feels fine!” I said patting her lightly on the head.
“OKAY! Then Nattra will always feel good, so that mommy will always feel good!” Nattra held up her little fist to show her power.
I chuckled. She’s such a sweet child, really quite similar to him. The playfulness and kindness… really similar to… him.
A struck of pain stabbed my heart as I breathed heavily, tears gathering in my eyes. I can’t think about this. I can’t… I need to be happy.
I need to be cheerful. This way, my daughter will have a wonderful life ahead. I can’t pull her down with me. It’s already bad that she
doesn’t have a father. I can’t cause any more damage on her. She’s still so young…
“AH! UNCLE ROME IS HERE!” Nattra’s cheerful voice called out as she jumped from the little bench and ran towards the BMW
that stopped before them. Rome ran out of the car and picked Nattra up carefully. They’ve become quite close to my surprise.
“How’s my cute Nattra?” Rome said sweetly as he twirled Nattra in his hands. Swinging her around, though with care.
“I’m very good uncle! I feel good, so mom will feel good!” Nattra laughed happily. With this, Rome looked worriedly at me.
He knew that today wasn’t a good day for me. He knew that today was the day… the day that I first met him. He slowly put Nattra
down and took her hand as they walked closer to me. I sat, seeming pale, on the bench, unwilling to move.
“You alright?” Rome’s gentle voice asked, you could tell he was concerned.
“Yah…” I said breathlessly. “I’m fine.” I tried to force out a smile that will convince him. I’m pretty sure it didn’t work since
Rome frowned at my reaction. But he didn’t push me, he never did, he understood. That’s why I like him; he isn’t forceful.
Through these five years, he was always there for me. I was really grateful. He was always there for me when I needed him.
‘Well, let’s go then. Where do you wanna go eat Nattra?” He smiled again as Nattra jumped happily and said that she wanted to
eat ice cream.
The car ride there was really quiet, except for Nattra’s chattering that really calmed me instead of annoyed. She was a miracle for me.
She restored me back with life. For the nine months that I was pregnant, I was lifeless. My life was empty and had no meaning.
But, as soon as Nattra appeared in my life, it became magically filled with color again. Like someone through a bucket of cold water on me,
and woke me up from the nightmare. That’s when I decided that I would live my life only to protect my daughter from the harmful world.
I smiled as I looked at Nattra’s cute and happy face.
“YAH! WE’RE HERE!” Nattra screamed loudly as she jumped in excitement and ran towards the open door. Rome and I followed silently after.
The dinner was really fun, Nattra was very happy and she told us about her first day as a big girl. She said that the teachers were really
nice and the kids were good as well. That it was a great school and she had a lot of fun. I was really happy to hear this.
Her happiness is my happiness. As long as she’s happy, I’m happy. So, yes, she’s the key to my life.
When the dinner finally finished, Nattra was exhausted and fell asleep in my lap in the car. I cuddled her closely to me,
making sure that she had enough warmth and slept well. Nattra drove as I starred lovingly at my cute daughter.
“Are you alright?” Rome suddenly asked. Making me shift uncomfortably. Hearing that I wasn’t replying, he said.
“She’s asleep now, it’s alright. .” His voice was soothing. Comfortable.
I finally choked out. “How can I not be? My daughter is happy, living well, healthy. And today’s her first day at kindergarten.
How can I not be happy?”
“Isn’t today…”
“Yes, but I’ve decided long ago that he wasn't part of my life anymore. My life revolves around my daughter and
my daughter only. She’s my life.” I smiled down at the sleeping Nattra.
“I can tell that you are tired.” Rome said worriedly.
“Yes, tired. I’m really tired. It’s hard taking care of her by myself.” I sighed. I didn’t deny it; taking care of a child by
myself wasn’t easy. It was the hardest thing ever. But to think that she’s having a good life filled the harshness with love.
So, I’m contented.
“I’m content with my life.” I finally said, and I wasn’t lying. I’m sure that if he were with me, I will be so much happier.
But I can’t think about that now, because he’s truly not with me anymore. He doesn’t know me anymore. And I’m pretty sure
that I don’t know him either.
“If you say so…” Rome said. “You know I can always help. Don’t hide everything. Try to open it. Locking yourself to it won’t help.”
“I know…” I said as a drop of tear rolled down my cheek. I quickly wiped it away and starred out the window. Hoping that Rome didn’t see.
