CHAPTER 54: YOU ARE GOING TO BE A GOOD MOTHER

"Aunt Rian, can I go with you and Daddy to the mall?" Dino asked me when he saw me applying my lipstick in front of my make up stand. Francine left him with us this morning because she said, she has important things to do and there's no one who would look after with her child. Alex is still inside the bathroom. "Sure." I simply answered and I smiled at him. "Yey! Can we also buy some toys and eat in Mc.donalds and then eat some ice cream, Aunt Rian?" he squealed in excitement and I just found myself being amused with his childish reaction. "Of course! We're going to buy a lot of toys!" I said messing up his hair. "Yey! Thank you, Aunt Rian. I wish you were my real mother and not my mama Francine." his voice became upset in a moment. My hand stopped in mid-air as I was about to put mascara on my lashes. I was taken aback by his wish. I inhaled deeply and tried to ask him the meaning of his wish. "Why are you saying that? Don't you love your mama Francine?" I asked while lifting him up to sit on my lap and we looked each other in the mirror. "I love her Aunt Rian, but I don't know if she also loves me. She always shouts at me when she has no money. She won't let me go out and play with my friends outside the house. And she never bring me to the mall and eat to Mc. Donalds like my friends always telling me." I felt a sudden pinched inside my heart after hearing his confession. That's just a simple wish of kid like him, but why she doesn't give it to him? "She never bring you to the mall? As in ever?" "Nope." he said shaking his head while playing with the small car I gave to him. "But why?" "Because she doesn't want to use money on someone like me. She said I'm a brat." "A brat? You don't even know what's the meaning of it." I can't help my temper to rise inside my chest. "She said I was just a fruit of sin, that I was a big mistake and no one would want to love me." "That's not true!" My voice raised a bit as I blinked back my tears. I lifted him again and put back to the floor, standing. "Listen to me, Dino." I hold both of his little shoulders. "You're not a fruit of any sin and you're not a mistake! Always remember that, okay?" He nodded and we didn't notice that Alex already emerged from the bathroom and stopped when he heard our conversation. "But she said, it's my fault that I was born in this world, and that I shouldn't have made because I am just a burden." "Oh dear God!" A lump formed inside my throat as I pulled him into a tight hug. Am I hearing these words from a four years old kid? What does he know about these things? And what kind of mother he has for blaming on him all her own mistakes? "She also burned me one time with her cigarette----" "She what?" Alex instantly came in front of us and asked the same question I've asked. I immediately dropped on my knees and inspect his face, his neck, his arms and I was about to check his stomach when he speak. "On my back Aunt Rian." he said lifting up his shirt and turned around to show me his burn. And I gasped when I saw the almost fresh scar on his skin. "Fuck her!" Alex cursed loudly but I glared my eyes on him. "Language, Mister!" "Sorry baby. I can't help it!" he balled his fists and clenched his jaws. "It's okay Daddy, Aunt Rian. It doesn't hurt anymore. Myla put some ointment on it." "Who's Myla?" we both asked in unison. "She's Mama's boyfriend." "A girl?" Alex asked as we both crunched our eyebrows. "Yes, a girl." We both looked at each other and then I noticed he's still on his towel. "Alex-----" "Daddy, aren't you going to change into your clothes?" I chuckled when Dino cut me off and asked my supposed question to his father. "Oh.. I'm sorry." And I chuckled more when his son rolled his eyes on him. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Wow! Can we also have the mini-dear, Aunt Rian, Daddy?" Dino asked the both of us while jumping in excitement. He pulled my hand to the stuffed toys section, although he already has two toy cars, a Megatron robot and a mini-size elephant. "Wait, careful." I said laughing with the way he's pulling me. "Careful Dino, Aunt Rian is pregnant." Alex immediately followed us with three huge bags of toys in his hands. "Ops! Sorry Auntie." he stopped from running and just grabbed me by my arm. We just watched him on picking all the toys that he wants inside the store. We also bought him all the clothes and shoes he wants. After shopping, we ate inside the Mc. Donalds as the kid requested the most. He looked so happy and carefree while eating his large fries. But his look was totally the opposite of his father's face, who were complaining since we entered the fast-food store until we finished eating. And for the last part of our bonding, we let him play in the kid's indoor playground inside the mall. His laughs and screams brought so much joy inside of me. We also took some pictures while shopping, eating and while Dino is playing. We were watching him on the bench outside the playhouse when I felt Alex arm around my shoulders. I looked at him and he pulled me more to him. "You're going to be a good mother, baby." he smiled and kissed me on my forehead. "You think so?" I asked him and put my hand over my belly. "Nope. I know so." and he placed his hand on where my hand rested. He was about to kiss me on my lips when we heard Dino's voice. "Aren't we going home now, Daddy, Aunt Rian?" "Oh, God! This kid knows how to come on the right timing!" Alex said in a whisper and put his face on the crook of my neck. I chuckled at him and it doubled when Dino winked at me having a big grin on his cute and chubby face.