The Revelation

I stood up from my seat quickly and in shock when Cedrick suddenly entered my office When our two eyes met, he didn't stop it at me, but moved it around as if he was looking for something.

And when he saw my son on the side while playing with small cars. He went straight there while holding his breath and staring at Cairo. As if it was analyzing my son's face.

He knelt down so that they could face each other. "So you like playing cars?" Cedrick asked with a smile plastered on his face.

Guilt settled in my chest.

"Yeah!" My son answered enthusiastically... our son.

"I like cars too." Cedrick answered.

My son immediately looked up at him, his eyes still shining. "Yes." he said and ruffled my son's hair.

"Well mommy likes playing cars with me too. We always played a lot after she is gone from her work."

I watched them both talk. I sat there feeling helpless because I didn't know what to do. Should I push Cedrick out? But am I not being too defensive? Even now... I know he has patterns forming in his mind.

Now... I'm losing hope that I can hide Cairo from him for the rest of my life. He seemed too interested to know my son.

"You always played with your mom? You have no playmates?" My eyes narrowed when Cedrick asked that.

"I only played with my mom and aunt Seyah. How about you? Do you want to be my playmate?" My son asked.

"It is my pleasure to play with you." Cedrick's eyes were shining.

"Really?"

"Yes. Anyway, you have no siblings?" Cedrick asked out of line.

I stood up and they both turned their head to me. "Stop asking him too many questions. Don't use my son to know the personal information you want to steal from us." Every word I say has an emphasis. I made it sharp. i could broke almost broke my teeth.

I caught the shock and disappointment in Cedrick's eyes.

"Mommy, you're mad." My son ran to me and hugged my leg. "Calm down mommy..." Cairo was caressing my thighs. I looked away from Cedrick to touch my son's cheek.

I caressed his cheeks. "Mommy's not mad, okay? I love you baby." I kissed him.

Cairo kissed me back on my cheek as well. "I love you too, mommy."

After clearing Cairo's mind, I stood up again to face Cedrick. He has been watching us for a while and he has witnessed how my son and I caress.

He looked me in the eye, by now he was standing up and frowning.

"I need to talk to you. Come to my office if you don't want the kid to hear everything I want to say." Cedrick ordered but it was in Tagalog language because my son does not understand the Tagalog language.

"What did he say Mommy?" My son asked curiously. He probably knows the word 'po' because I told him to always include it in his last word.

"He told me that he has cars for you so mommy will gonna get it to his office now, hm? Just stay here and don't even leave this room unless I saw so." I conditioned.

My son immediately nodded so I left him there for a while while I drew. I was also a bit relieved when Cedrick called his secretary to watch over my son while we talked.

"Who is Cairo?" That was the first thing that came out of Cedrick's mouth when I entered. As if he is eager to know who my son really is. The nervousness in my chest worsened. This is what I fear. He will have guts about my son.

"Cairo is my son." I emphasized the word 'my son'.

"Really?" His voice was full of sarcasm.

I stared at him. "Don't talk as if Cairo is not his father's son. You have no right to say that."

"Who's his father? I read here that you are single. You are not married." My throat went dry when Cedrick asked again and held my curriculum vitae. Why does he have it?

"You are not in the position to meddle in my life. You are interfering too much."

"Because I think... I have a right to question you. Before you left the Philippines for Australia... We had an intimate night, Sherin. And I know you still remember that—" What Cedrick was about to say was cut off when His cell phone rang. I am very grateful because he lost his attention on me because that was the nation he was talking to.

"What?!" Cedrick was mad on the phone.

"Fuck." He cursed and then he looked at me like his eyes saying sorry.

"Why?" I was nervous because they seemed to be talking about me. And I also feel that something bad is happening at this time.

After Cedrick hung up the phone, he looked at me. "Your son." He said in nervousness and then ran outside the room. My eyes widened and only then did I realize that something really bad was happening... And fuck it is my son! My beloved baby!

I was crying while inside the ambulance. My son's body is currently lying on the bed and his head is bleeding after falling down the stairs.

I'm with Cedrick and I'm mad at him right now. I'm so furious. "When something bad happens to my son, You will for it!" I screamed, almost cutting my throat.

He's stupid and looks like he's going to blame himself. But all his regrets could not wake up my son.

"Cairo, baby please... Cairo... Mommy's here... Baby... Mommy's here.." I hugged my son's hand while crying.

When we arrived at the hospital, my son was immediately rushed to the emergency room. The door was closed and we were not allowed to enter. I was during a period while watching him take his life inside just between this glass window.

I feel like I'm going crazy. I continued to caress the mirror while watching him inside as the doctors were now treating him.

"Baby please.... Fight, huh? Baby... Please... My Cairo..." I cried.

When night fell, my son still did not regain consciousness. I have no idea when he will wake up. I'm still crying because I can't do anything. If only I could have fallen down the stairs and was lying there... Don't be my baby.

I can't afford to lose this time. That's my son. I will never be able to handle it.

"Isn't it so rude that you put all the blame on Cedrick?" My eyes lit up when Seyah said that.

"If he hadn't insisted on talking to me in his office, my son wouldn't be lying there now." We are still outside the ER because we are not allowed to enter.

SHe sighed and looked around, as if making sure no one would hear what he had to say next.

"Did you ever try asking yourself on what was the reason why he asked you to go in his office? Didn't you say... He was asking who Cairo really was? No way... he already sounded it. The father. Because after all... if you didn't hide Cairo from him, he would have no reason to ask, to send you to his office. And... I can't see any reason to blame Cedrick. He is just a father who longed for his son." I admit that I blame myself as well.

I climbed up and leaned on Seyah's shoulder. "We shouldn't... go back here... This country always does something bad to me... We're happy and healthy, living in Australia, huh? Maybe I'm just under a curse."

I stood up quickly when I saw the doctor coming out of the emergency room. I immediately approached him and wiped my tears.

"You must be the mother of the child." The doctor said.

"I am." I answered while fiddling with my fingers.

The doctor sighed so heavily. And I bet... he would give me a bad news. "Mother, I would confront you. The child's condition is not that good. He lost too much blood and... I now suggest you to find a blood donor."

After saying that, he immediately walked away.

I went back to my seat in a daze. I don't know where else to get strength. I felt like I was on the brink of death. My son needs a blood donor.

And I personally know someone who matches his blood type the most. But if I do that... This will be the end of my hiding.

Cedrick will know everything. That Cairo is really his son.

I was standing between my pride versus the love I have for my son. If I get tall and stubborn... Nothing will happen and I might even lose my child. And that's what I'm most afraid of happening... That one day he'll be gone before me in this world.

That's why even though I don't want to. Even if it's against my heart. I walked in the direction where Cedrick was. He's still here in the hospital and leaning back, he's sitting in the row of waiting chairs in the hallway. When he felt my presence, he got out of his leaning and looked at me.

I cried when our eyes met and I quickly came closer, sat next to him and held his hands. I know he is confused by my actions but I can't raise my pride anymore if my son's life depends on it.

I hold his hand tightly and squeeze it. As if I was begging while I couldn't stop crying. I just felt his arm wrapped around my body, hugging me warmly. "Cedrick..." I cried.

"Help my son..." I raised my face that was filled with tears. "Please... Help my son..." I cried on his shoulders.

Our eyes met and I could see the confusion in his eyes. He asks how and what he will do to help.

I looked down before speaking. "Cai..." I was having hard times muttering the words he deserves to know. "C-Cairo... Cairo is your son... Please... Help my son please..." I begged and I could feel his hugs slightly getting unattached.

I thought he was angry but when he let go of me... He held my cheeks and was careful so that he could see them. My tears kept falling and he wiped them away. And with that... My heart seemed to jump out of my chest. He is not the old Cedrick... He changed. He changed totally. He changed for the new and good one.

"Shh... Stop crying..." He pressed our foreheads together. "Tomorrow morning... I will talk to the doctor, okay?" He assured me.

I hastily nodded. "Sorry... Sorry for hiding anything about Cairo..."

I saw sadness in his eyes. "Let's not talk about that for the meantime. For now... let's take care of the safety of our son, okay? He will be okay soon." Cedrick.

I slowly looked down. "Thank you..."

He leaned me on his shoulder and I just felt his hand go to my back to hug me, caressing it softly, and gently.

"Thank you as well... For letting me know about him... about my son..." He muttered.