MARIBELLA

I was taking my break outside of the office when I decided to go to the nearest coffee shop so I could check on my schedules for this whole week. I was walking while looking around, trying to appreciate everything around me because I am getting old now, I guess.

I suddenly stopped walking when I saw a kid who looks like 15 years old who’s running in the middle of the road, I quickly looked at the car that’s approaching and did not even notice the kid.

My eyes widened as I found myself from running as fast as I could and immediately wrapped my arms around to the boy and brought him to the other side of the road.

I closed my eyes in frustration, that was damn close!

I looked at the boy who clearly did not realize what just happened. I checked him out to see if he have some wounds because of the incident a minute ago.

“Are you alright?” I could not help but ask him, but he was just staring at me as if he hasn’t still moved on yet from what happened.

Some people were starting to walk towards us, some of them worried about what they saw.

I held my chest when I felt my heart was beating so fast while looking at the boy who obviously has some good looks, and he’s quite tall for his age. He felt shocked until a woman came to us, claiming to be his mother. I explained what happened earlier and she couldn’t stop thanking me for what I did. Some of them were even clapping, and it was totally awkward for me.

I just gave them a small smile before proceeding to the coffee shop that I was about to go to. When I went to the counter and couldn’t stop thinking about the boy, I suddenly looked outside, and it was a wall glass so I could see him with his mom. She was talking to him as if she was scolding him for what happened earlier.

“Ma’am?” I looked at the cashier who was still waiting for my answer. I sighed as I told her my order.

I walked to one of their unoccupied seats. I sat down beside the wall glass and checked out my schedule on my tablet as I have planned to do while I was waiting for my order to come.

I saw a black Mercedes Benz, and it really speaks some privileges from it. It was owned by the boy who I literally saved earlier. His mom gets inside first, and before he could even follow her, he suddenly took a glanced at my side and gave me a small smile as he finally went inside the car and left.

I felt shocked at the moment. He reminds me of my child, Abriana, although he’s probably older at her. I let out my phone and make a phone call. I nodded at the waitress and gestured her to just put down my order at the table.

“Abriana, sweetheart.” I greeted. “How are you, honey?” I asked. I suddenly missed her. I’m too occupied at work. I couldn’t check on her from time to time, and I feel so horrible as her mother.

“I’m busy, mom. Call some other time.” She coldly said, but I ignored it. Instead, I chuckled, which made her confused, “What now?” She asked with confusion.

“How could you be? You’re just 13 like going 14,” I replied, letting out a laugh.

“Mom! I have school works, you know?”She said in a low voice.

“Alright, I’ll hang up now. Just don’t forget to have fun with your friends!” I said while smiling, although she can’t see it.

“Yep, you too.” She replied back after ending the phone call. I couldn’t be moved for like seconds when she told me that. I just realized how lonely I was. I didn’t even have any friends or just a friend beside me.

That is kinda.. sad, I guess.

When I finished eating my salad and my beverage, I immediately went back to my office. For sure, They needed me there now. I saw my secretary who's obviously just coming back from her lunch break. She gave me a small smile, and I just gave her a quick nod as I went inside my office as I started to work again.

What a tiring day it is. Antonio suddenly walked inside of my office with a strange face, no, I am just kidding. He has no emotion at all. He handed me some papers that I needed to sign for him.

“Better to make it good this time, Antonio.” I sounded like a boss, but I should when he can’t even respect me as his wife anymore.

He sighed, “Of course.” He answered, watching me sign those papers.

I sighed deeply after he left, I could even see his grins while I secretly checked the documents, and it was about some money that he wants to get. This idiot couldn’t earn on his own. I shook my head in disappointment.

When I get home, there’s no one around. It’s quite empty when it is not. I could feel the silence who’s embracing the whole Mansion. I walked to Abriana’s room, I knocked on her door, as I opened it. She was already sleeping.

I sighed, as I walked towards her bed as I sat down at the edge of her bed, feeling sorry that I couldn’t be around for her, I always come home late, and Antonio wasn’t always around, of course, he’s always with some girl who I don’t even know.

I kissed Abriana’s forehead as I muttered the words that I could not even say to her in person or even on a phone call because I was too ashamed to say it for myself. I already know about how irresponsible and horrible a mother that I am, no doubts about that.

“I am sorry.”