Almost, Always | The Boy Who Brought a Flower
@coupslovre
Cyrus’ POV
“Are you sorry because of what your child did to Ligaya, or are you sorry because you know there’s a possibility and that I have the power to put you and your child in jail?” I said, staring down at the mother of the kid who harmed my daughter.
“Ah— Mr. Altamonte—” the principal tried to interrupt, but with one look from me, he shut up instantly. I turned back to them.
“I-I’m sorry po. Hindi na po mauulit—” the mother tried again, but I cut her off with a laugh. Her son beside her kept sobbing.
Fucking ridiculous. People only learn when consequences finally punch them in the face.
“So if this didn’t happen—if Ligaya isn’t in the hospital right now—mauulit pa rin?” I asked. “You’d still talk to your son with the same bullshit coming out of your mouth—”
Joy held my arm before I could continue. I looked at him. He shook his head gently.
“Cy… may bata. Huwag kang magmura,” Joy whispered. The softness in his eyes lingered. I sighed.
Joy is too kind. Too… kind.
Kind enough for people like this to take advantage.
Joy crouched and held the child’s hands.
“JM… bakit mo talaga ’yon ginawa kay Ligaya?” he asked softly. “Hindi ba mabait sa’yo si Ligaya? Binibigyan ka niya ng crayons kapag wala kang dala. Pencil kapag wala kang pencil. Food kapag wala kang baon.”
I watched him.
He still chooses gentleness, even when the world spits on him. I don’t know if I admire him or if I want to shield him from everything. Maybe both.
The child wiped his tears with his arm.
“S-Sabi po ni M-Mommy… bigyan ko po—”
“JM!” his mother snapped, cutting him off.
Joy looked sharply at her.
“Nagsasalita ang bata, Mrs. Castillo. Let him talk.”
She fell silent.
“Bigyan ng… food?” Joy asked gently. The kid nodded.
“Hindi ko po alam na may hipon po sa pagkain…” JM cried. “Ang sabi po ni Mommy… basta ibigay ko po kay Ligaya at sabihin po na kung hindi po kayo mukhang pera, Teacher Joy, ipakain ko po kay Lia ’yung food…”
He sobbed harder.
“Para d-daw po mapansin din ako ni Ligaya… kasi p-po crush ko po siya…”
Crush… huh. I sighed. Kids.
Joy smiled a little and patted his head. “Next time, para mapansin ka ni Ligaya, do something kind. Something that will make her happy. And I know napapansin ka niya kasi you’re the funniest in class.”
He wiped JM’s tears.
“Remember what Teacher Joy always says?” The kid nodded.
“Good kids tell the truth… and good kids don’t hurt others.”
“I-I’m sorry po kay Ligaya…” the kid whispered. He pulled out a small, crumpled flower picked from somewhere outside. “Gift ko po sa kanya… I will pray po na gumaling na siya.”
Joy chuckled and accepted the flower.
A flower. Cute.
I quietly scoffed.
Bare minimum.
As if you’re ever getting close to my daughter again.
God. Why am I fighting children?
“Okay, ibibigay ko sa kanya,” Joy said. He handed the flower to Ali. “Ali, pakitago.”
“Yes, Boss Madam,” Ali said.
Joy tapped my arm. I frowned.
He made a face. Huh? What?
Then leaned closer.
“Do your thing, Cy. Ipakulong mo si Marites,” he said sweetly.
I snorted.
Just as I was about to speak, the mother suddenly fell to her knees.
“I-I’m sorry po! I’m sorry! I’m really sorry!” she cried.
Joy and I exchanged a look. The kind that meant… Too late.
“We will be filing a case for this,” I said coldly. “And to ensure the child is safe, your son will stay with his father for now. As I read in your files…”
I extended my hand and Ali placed the folder on it.
“You are living separately. Co-parenting Jeremiah Castillo. And you,” I looked at the father, “already have a family with your present partner.”
“A-Adopted po yung anak ng boyfriend ko, sir—”
“I know.” I continued scanning. “Are you capable of keeping your child safe while the mother faces the consequences of what she did to Ligaya?”
Before he could respond—
“S-Sir please… depressed lang po ako… hindi pa ako makamove on sa hiwalayan namin dahil… dahil nanlalaki ka! Kasalanan mo ’to!” she screamed, punching her ex-husband’s chest.
“Kalma, Mrs. Castillo,” the principal stepped in.
After a few tense minutes, the room settled.
“Don’t use that mental health card on me,” I said. “I’ve been running a company built on a crisis. I know the difference between a breakdown and an excuse.”
I turned to Joy. “Joy? You have something to say?”
Joy inhaled deeply, then faced her.
“Wala po akong pakialam sa mga chismis na pinapakalat niyo tungkol sa’kin, Mrs. Castillo. Pero sana, bilang ina, alam niyo ang pakiramdam kapag may nangyari sa anak niyo,” Joy said quietly.
“Alam ko po ang nangyayari sa bahay niyo dahil naikukwento ng anak niyo sa akin. Alam ko rin na kumakayod kayo para may baon si JM. Hindi nawawala ang pagiging ina ninyo.”
His voice trembled.
“Kaya sana… hindi mangyari sa anak niyo ang nangyari kay Ligaya. Dahil mahirap makita ang anak na nasa ICU at walang malay.”
A tear escaped, but he wiped it quickly.
“Mas mabuti na po na ganito. At kung ano man ang kaso na ihahain sa inyo… sana maisip niyo na mali ang ginawa niyo.” He looked at JM and smiled sadly.
“At hindi sa panunumbat… naging mabuting bata si Ligaya sa anak niyo. Hati sila sa baon. Minsan sinasabi pa ni Ligaya sa’kin na dagdagan ko kasi bibigyan daw niya si JM.” He faced the mother one last time.
“Kaya sana maisip niyo na wala pong kasalanan si Ligaya sa kung ano ang nangyayari sa buhay ko.” Joy straightened his posture, keeping his voice steady despite the tightness in his chest.
“Dahil napakabait niyang bata and hurting others is simply not in her nature.”
The room fell silent except for the quiet sobbing.
Joy’s hands trembled.
Oh, Joy.
I held his hand. He squeezed mine back.
“It’s settled,” I said, standing. “My attorney will contact you within the day.”
—
We finally got into the car. Joy stared outside, quiet.
I reached for his hand and squeezed. “You did well, Joy.”
He looked at me, tears finally falling and I wiped them before pulling him into my chest, kissing his forehead.
“Galit na galit ako, Cy…” he whispered. “Gusto ko siyang murahin, sampalin, parusahan dahil sa ginawa niya sa anak natin… pero naaawa ako sa anak niya.”
I held him tighter.
“I’ll give the mother what she deserves. Justice will be served. And I’ll make sure no one harms our daughter ever again.”
Joy looked up. “Huwag mong idadamay ang bata, Cy. Crush din siya ni Ligaya. Baka magalit sa’yo anak mo.”
I froze.
“What? Crush din siya ni Ligaya?”
Joy laughed.
“Joy… do you want me to transfer her? De La Salle Lipa maybe—”
“Baka diyan pa magsimula ang love story ng anak natin,” Joy teased.
“I will never associate my daughter with that kid,” I muttered. “Ali, itapon mo ’yung bulaklak. Crush? No way.”
Joy laughed harder and tapped my arm. “OA mo. Kids lang sila, Cy. Hayaan mo na.”
“Nope. I’m telling Ligaya na no crushes. At all. She can have a boyfriend when she’s forty-three.”
“Ang strict mo, boss,” Ali chimed in. “Parang hindi ka lumandi nung sixteen.”
“Correction,” Joy said immediately. “Ten years old pa lang ’yan nagbigay na siya ng flowers sa crush niya. Tapos na-reject. Kaya ayaw na niya sa love.”
Ali gasped. “Then Boss Madam… ikaw lang pala ulit ang minahal niya.”
I looked at Joy. He smiled at me.
“You ask him,” Joy teased.
I chuckled. “Yeah…”
“And I'm glad Joy didn’t reject the flowers I gave him that night.”
Joy looked at me, lips parted, shocked by what I said. Maybe because he didn’t expect that I still remember it.
Well… how could I not?
That was one of the happiest moments of my life.
And looking at him now… I’m reminded why I fell in the first place.