I woke up to the sound of gunfire. It was coming from somewhere outside. I checked my phone and saw it was 8 am. I covered my ears when another volley of shots rang out, but then the firing stopped. I cautiously lifted my head, listening for any further sounds.

I went outside and saw an abandoned building. I walked inside, unsure if the fighting was over, since I couldn't hear any more gunshots.

As I stepped inside, I gasped and covered my mouth. The floor was littered with bodies, many of them covered in blood. But I couldn't focus on the carnage. My heart was pounding in my chest, my mind racing, trying to piece together what had happened. I needed to find my son, Francisco, and Mateo.

I saw a staircase and climbed up, even though there was a body lying on the steps. I didn't know how many floors there were. I was about to continue climbing when I heard a shout, Mateo's voice.

"GIVE ME BACK MY SON, CHATALINA!" he roared, his voice like thunder. I heard Chatalina's laughter in response. I tried to pinpoint where the voices were coming from, following the sound.

"Come on, Mateo. We wouldn't be in this mess if you'd chosen me. Alam mong gusto kita, but you chose that cheap girl," Chatalina hissed, her voice laced with venom.

"You know I don't like you. That's why I didn't choose you. Now give me back my son, or else," Mateo said, his voice low and dangerous. As I entered the last room of the building, I saw a gaping hole in the wall. Francisco lay on the floor, unconscious. Chatalina stood over him, holding my son.

Mateo stood facing her, a gun pointed at her chest. His other hand was on his side, where he'd clearly been shot.

"M-Mommy," I heard Kyle say, his voice small and scared. Both Mateo and Chatalina turned to look at me.

Chatalina smirked at me. "What a sweet family reunion," Chatalina said, a cruel smile twisting her lips. I stood up, my legs shaking, and walked towards Mateo, who was focused entirely on me.

"What are you doing here?" Mateo asked, his voice low and strained. I just rolled my eyes at him.

I glared at him. "Wala kang pakialam. My son is in danger," I said, my voice sharp and cold, my gaze fixed on Chatalina.

"Our child," he hissed, his voice tight with a mixture of anger and desperation. I ignored him, my focus solely on Chatalina.

"Please, Chatalina," I pleaded, my voice cracking. "Give me my son back. I'll do anything you want. Just give him back to me." I heard her cruel laughter.

"Anything?" she asked, her voice dripping with malice. I nodded frantically.

"Anything. Just give my son back to me, please," I said, my voice barely a whisper. Mateo grabbed my arm, and I turned to face him.

"What the hell are you doing?" Mateo snapped, his gaze intense and accusatory. I pulled my arm away and turned back to Chatalina, who seemed to be enjoying the situation.

"Hmm, you will give me everything I want, right?" she purred, her voice laced with amusement. I nodded, desperate to get my son back.

"Anything?" Chatalina laughed, a cruel, mocking sound that sent shivers down my spine. Then, she suddenly lowered Kyle, her hand dropping him to the floor. Mateo and I both moved to reach him, but she raised her gun, pointing it directly at us.

Her eyes narrowed, fixed on me. "Don't move, or else," she warned. We froze, our movements halted. Then, she pointed the gun at my son, and I let out a sob.

"Please, don't," I pleaded, my voice trembling. I raised my hands in surrender.

"Enough with your games, Chatalina. Just tell us what you want," Mateo said, his jaw clenched tight. The muscles in his face were taut, his eyes burning with fury.

She smirked, her gaze sliding over us. "I want you, Mateo... to marry me," she declared, her voice filled with a manic glee. She turned her head, her lips curled into a sinister smile, as she looked at me.

"Everything alright, Zylene? Oh, my bad, Luliana pala. I want Mateo. Are you willing to give him to me?" she asked, pointing at Mateo, her voice filled with a manic glee. I nodded, my head bobbing in a desperate, almost robotic motion. My tears continued to fall, a steady stream down my cheeks.

"Chatalina, please," I begged, my voice cracking with emotion. "I am begging you. Give my son back to me. He's just a child."

I can't lost my child. Hindi pwedeng wala kaming gawin, mababaliw ako kung mawawala man ang anak ko.

"You can shove him up your—well, you know what! I don't care! Ibigay mo lang sa akin ang anak ko!" Chatalina roared with laughter. Mateo turned to look at me, his eyes wide with shock and disbelief.

"The hell?! You're giving me to that bitch?" he muttered, his voice laced with outrage. I ignored him.

"What will you say, Mateo? Your lovely wife is giving you to me," Chatalina sneered, her eyes gleaming with amusement. I saw my son flinch, his face contorted in fear. My feet were itching to reach him, to snatch him away, but I held myself back.

"Take him," I said, my voice a mere whisper. "Take him anywhere. Gusto ko ng umuwi kasama ang anak ko," I looked at my son, his eyes pleading, and saw Chatalina kick him lightly, adding to my anger and despair. I wanted to scream, to cry, to unleash my rage, but I couldn't let myself be weak now. Not when my son needed me to be strong.

Mateo's jaw clenched, his eyes bloodshot and blazing with fury. "Fuck you, Chatalina! Don't you dare hurt my son," he snarled, his voice raw with anger. I saw a police officer standing behind him.

"I would love to if you'd fuck me hard in the bed, Mateo," Chatalina said, her voice dripping with feigned seduction. But then she turned serious again.

"Come on, Mateo doesn't like me. So, I'll shoot this piece of shit instead," Chatalina said, a cruel glint in her eyes. I burst into tears as she pointed the gun at my son's head.

Hindi na ako makapag isip nang maayos dahil kitang kita sa mata ko ang hirap.

"Don't you dare, Chatalina!" Mateo roared, his voice shaking with rage. "One wrong move and you know what will happen to you."

"Putangina naman, Mateo," I screamed, my voice choked with despair. "Just go with her, for our son! For your son!" I couldn't hold back any longer. I ran towards them. A gunshot rang out behind me, and I felt a searing pain in my chest.

I looked down and saw Chatalina's gun pointed at me. We both fell to the ground together.

"ZYLENE!" Mateo screamed, his voice filled with terror. He ran towards me. I turned my head and saw my son struggling to stand. He was trying to walk towards me, his little legs trembling.

"Bullshit, Liana!" I heard Francisco shout, my name on his lips. He was clutching his stomach, coughing violently.

"M-Mommy," my son cried, his voice filled with despair. I weakly reached out and touched his cheek.

"Good job, anak. You're strong. You waited for us. Mommy is proud," I said, my voice fading. I was in awe of my son.

He was only four years old, but he was so brave.

"M-Mommy, please. Don't leave us. My birthday is coming, right? Mommy, please don't do this, M-Mommy. You can't close your eyes. I'll be mad at you... forever," he begged, his words laced with a desperate plea. I smiled, a tear rolling down my cheek.

"Luliana, don't close your eyes, please. babe." Francisco uttered.

"Mommy won't leave you, I promise. Always remember, Mommy won't leave you," I whispered, my voice growing fainter. My eyelids felt heavy, my hearing fading.

"Don't talk like that, please," my son pleaded, his tiny fingers tracing my cheeks. Tears streamed down his face.

"No, Zylene. Don't close your eyes," I heard Mateo's desperate plea.

"M-Mommy, no. P-Please, don't close your eyes," my son cried, his voice breaking with sorrow. Even as my strength ebbed away, I managed a smile, my gaze fixed on my son.

"You really are a big boy now," I whispered, my voice fading. "You're so strong. You met Daddy already. And when you two met at the park, it was your Daddy. Mommy is so proud of you. Mommy is sorry for lying, anak." My hand, weak and trembling, brushed his cheek.

His cries grew louder, mas lalo akong nang hina dahil sa iyak niyang palakas nang palakas.

"Mommy, I forgive you already. Don't leave me, please. You promised. Remember that? I already forgave you," he sobbed, his voice a barely audible whisper.

My vision blurred, the world around me fading to a hazy grey. My hearing was gone, replaced by a deafening silence. Slowly, my eyelids fluttered closed, my heart heavy with a thousand unsaid words.