Kabanata 28

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Everything comes to an end. Everything has their own endings. Nothing is permanent in this world. Sometimes people enters in your life and fuck you up. They will not stay.

Kung baga ang iilan lang sa kanila ay 'napadaan' lang sa buhay mo para bigyan ka ng leksyon. Ng magandang leksyon na dadalhin mo sa susunod na kabanata ng buhay mo. Ang mga leksyon na iyon ang huhubog sayo kung nasaan ka man ngayon.

We should be grateful for that. I think they're also considered as a blessings. Even if they hurt you. Or even if you hurt them. Atleast you learned something about that.

We were perfect. Everything was so fine and I didn't want it to end. I didn't saw it coming. No one saw it coming. We were almost a love story. He was once mine. I was once his.

The way I look at it right now, I just want to smile bitterly and ask myself. Did I do what's right? Is that a wise decision? Pinagsisisihan ko ba ang mga naging desisyon ko?

Maybe, yes. I regret it sometimes. But somehow, I learned that it was a way for me to look at everything. He was my world. I was focused on him. Hindi ko nakikita ang paligid ko na wala siya. Kaya noong nawala siya, doon ko lang narealize na hindi lang pala siya ang mundo ko. May iba pa.

My family who is always at my back. My cousins who never bring me down. And my brother. Masaya ako ngayon. Everything right now is I think, is worth it.

But that's what I thought.

When I saw him after two years, I trembled. I admitted that it was too hard to just move on and forget everything. Alam ko sa sarili kong hindi pa ako ayos. Pero nang makita ko siya ulit, I was shaking than I expected!

Sino iyong kasama niya? Girlfriend ba niya? Bakit ang bilis naman? I mean, I don't have a boyfriend! But I have some guys you can call my flings. Pero boyfriend? Wala pa akong naging boyfriend na iba bukod sa kaniya!

Nagpapasalamat ako dahil niyaya ako ni Derek ng dinner kinabukasan. Derek was my friend right now. Friend lang naman. He never courted me again. Tsaka may nililigawan yata iyon, e.

"Zeth!" Bungad ni Ate sa kwarto ko nang bumisita siya.

Iritado ko siyang nilingon habang maingat na naglalagay ako ng eyeliner. The other one is done but I'm suffering on the other side. Kailangan ng focus.

"What?"

She looked at me in the mirror and smiled widely. "May lakad ka?"

That voice meant something. Padabog kong binaba ang pencil eyeliner na hawak ko.

Tinitigan ko siya. "I'm busy, Ate. May date ako. Ano na naman ba?"

"May lakad din kami ni Vander! Isama mo na si Isla-"

"No!" Agap ko kaagad.

She pouted. Umirap ako. Her natural pink lips won't do anything to change my mind. Pinagpatuloy ko ang paglagay ng eyeliner. It was perfect so I sighed.

She just watched me. Inirapan ko siya ulit. Ang ate ko'y mukhang walang asawa at kaedad ko lang. Mukhang wala ding anak.

"Sige na! Bibilhin ko na iyong Pendora Box na gusto mo!"

Natigilan ako. I stared at her. She really knows how to get me. "Ilang oras?"

"Two or three-"

"What?! Paano ang dinner date ko!"

"Isama mo na! Sino ba 'yan? 'Yung foreigner ba o iyong model?"

At kailan niya naman nalaman iyong kay Zero Monasterio?

Umiling ako. "Si Derek."

"Ah, iyong gwapong may Rolls Royce? Ex mo 'yon-"

Sinabunutan ko siya dahil sa inis. "Hindi 'yon si Derek! H'wag mo ngang pinapalaala!"

She knew that because of fucking Sean. Pumunta iyon kahapon dito at binalita ang pagbabalik ni Lean. The Rolls Royce really got them talking 'bout him. Isa pa itong si Seidon na nag aya pa talaga ng reunion raw kuno. Syempre, sinong nagsabing sasama ako? Wala!

I wore my bodysuit with a jeans and a coat just to make me look decent tonight. Maagang iniwan sa akin ni Astra ang anak niya. Si Isla. My favorite pamangkin of all. I don't know, siguro dahil ito ang pinaka approachable sa kanilang lahat. And she's the only girl.

Binihisan ko si Isla tulad ng mandalas kong ginagawa sa kaniya. Dito lang ako nag eenjoy dahil mabait naman siya at tahimik. I let her wore a jeans and a cute shirt. I tied her hair like me.

I clapped when I saw her final look on my mirror. "Do you like it?"

She pouted and pointed her cheek. "What's this, Mimi?"

Mimi or Mommy. That's what she call me. I really find it cute but Astra's always jealous. Ayaw ko namang tawagin lang niya akong Tita. I like it that way.

I kissed her cheek. "Make up, Isla. That's how you make fake-blush."

Nilingon niya ako. "Blush?"

She got the Monreal eyes. Dark and brooding. Mahahaba ang pilik mata niya na sa tingin ko ay kay Kuya Vander niya nakuha. All in all, its their mixture with Ate Astra. Feeling ko kamukha ko din siya kasi magkamukha kami ni Ate. Sabi din naman ng iba.

I texted Derek and told him I'm with my niece. Akala ko ay maiinis pa siya dahil may aalagaan kaming bata pero ayos lang naman raw, he sounded excited.

"Kakain tayo, Isla! Gutom ka na ba?" I asked her.

She's hugging her doll on my car. Maayos naman ang pagkaseat belt ko sa kaniya.

She just nodded and ignored me afterwards. Ngumiwi ako. Ang tahimik din nito, e. Nakuha niya siguro sa Tatay niyang minsan lang bumuka ang bibig.

Its still almost 6. Maaga kami ngayon at siguro magtatagal din dahil alas dyis pa makakabalik sila Astra sa kung saan. I think they're dating or something. Sa akin pa talaga pinaubaya ang anak.

It was a fancy nice restaurant. This is what Derek wants. Although, its fine for me. Iyon nga lang, si Isla ay medyo mapili sa pagkain. I'm thinking pasta is fine.

Hawak hawak ko sa kamay si Isla habang naglalakad papunta kila Derek. Tumayo kaagad si Derek at sinalubong kami ng ngiti. He smiled at my niece and squatted to talk to her.

"You hungry, little kid?" He asked. Its their first time to meet. Bakit pakiramdam ko close sila kaagad?

Isla nodded. "Ketchup!"

Tiningnan ako ni Derek. I smiled shyly. "She likes ketchup."

"Okay." Tumawa siya. "We'll order ketchup for you!"

I was about to seat when a familiar figure of a guy caught my eye. And I wasn't wrong. Ang mga matang nakatingin ng matalim sa mesa namin ay ang parehong mata na nakita ko kailan lang.

I immediately removed my eyes on him. How lucky my day is. He's here. Behind the table on our side if their seat. Hindi ko na tinignan ang kasama niya dahil ayaw ko naman talaga.

Like I said, I am moving on. I shouldn't meddle in whatever he do. Anong pakialam ko?

Isla sat beside Derek. Nagulat pa ako doon. She was smiling while Derek is whispering something to her. Tinuturo niya ang kung ano ano at pareho silang tumatawa.

"Pwede ka nang mag anak," Suggest ko kay Derek habang nakatingin sa menu na nasa lamesa na.

He laughed. "Oo nga. Ikaw din, pwede na."

"Wala pa akong bahay, Derek. Mag iipon muna ako." Humalakhak ako.

"So, may asawa ka na?" He joked.

Hindi ako nakaimik dahil totoo nga naman. Inuna ko pa ang bahay kaysa sa asawa.

Its easy to find a husband, for me. Dating sites, from my cousins and some guys I used to like before. Ang iba'y nagtetext sa akin pero hindi ko pinapansin dahil pare pareho lang naman na nag aaya ng dinner. Come on, if you want me to be interested, ayain mo ako sa isang mall o kaya sa dagat! Hindi iyong dinner lang!

Nilingon ko ang lamesa nila Leander. I saw a woman in front of him. Her hair was familiar. Black and very straight one. His girlfriend. Iyong babaeng laman ng Instagram post niya.

Nagtiim bagang ako. Leander was looking at her and just nodding everything the woman is saying. Tinitigan ko siya. He got really taller and very bulky. He must've been going to gyms so much. His button down shirt is almost giving up, lalo na sa biceps niya!

Clean cut hair, sharp jaw, intimidating arctic colored eyes and the grim lips. There's no sign of any piercings there. Hindi ko pa siya nakita na wala iyon kaya ngayon naninibago ako sa kaniya. The old playboy looking and boy next door Leander is now gone. He looked like a fucking bachelor business man.

"Mimi?" Natauhan ako sa tawag ni Isla.

"Yes, baby?"

"Wiwi.." she baby-talked.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Derek. Kumunot ang noo niya at natatawa. "What did she say?"

"She wants to pee." Sabi ko at tumayo. Inakay ko pababa sa upuan si Isla bago tignan si Derek. "We'll be back."

"Okay." He smiled.

Tumalikod kami ni Isla at tulad ng madalas ginagawa ng nanay sa anak ay sinamahan ko pa siya sa pag upo sa bowl. She was giggling while her hands are on my shoulder. Hinahawakan ko siya sa baywang dahil baka mahulog at maiflush sa bowl.

"Done!" She said.

I felt like peeing too so after I dressed her up, sabi ko hintayin lang ako sa labas at ako naman ang iihi. She nodded.

It took me a while to go out, of course. Nang lumabas ako ay wala na si Isla sa labas. Kumunot ang noo ko at nagawa pang magtanong sa isang babaeng nasa salamin.

"Bata? Wala naman akong nakita dito, miss." She said and smiled.

I started to panic. Naghugas ako ng kamay at nagmamadaling lumabas. Kumalabog ang puso ko habang iniisip na baka kinidnap siya!

I remembered Leander's words. Maybe he's right. Sana ay hindi ko hinahayaang mag isa ang bata.

Huminto ako sa pagtakbo nang makita ko sa maliit na hallway sa labas ng CR si Leander na nakaupi at kausap si Isla.

Mabilis akong kumilos at lumapit sa kanila. Leander was talking to her in a furrowed brows. Again! Bakit ba nakikipag usap si Isla sa mga taong hindi niya kilala? How many times to I have to tell her to not talk to strangers!

"Isla." Tawag ko. Kaagad siyang lumingon sa akin.

She jumped. "Mimi!"

Nagkatinginan kami ni Leander. Dahan dahan siyang tumayo na ganoon pa din ang itsura. Mukhang aapoy ang tingin sa kahit sana niya itapat ang mata niya.

I looked at Isla. "Bakit ka lumabas? I told you to wait for me. You didn't listen."

Ngumuso siya. "I'm sorry, Mimi."

Tumikhim si Leander. "You don't have to scold her. Just be thankful that she didn't went too far. Mabuti at nakita ko."

Tumalim ang tingin ko kay Isla dahil sa inis ko kay Leander. Bakit ba siya nangengealam? Pamangkin niya ba ito? Akin 'to! I know what I'm doing.

Oh, e'di ikaw na ang good samaritan, Leander! Its not like I'm going to pay you for what you did!

"I also told you to not talk to strangers, Isla. What did you do?" I almost shouted.

Her mouth shaped into a rainbow and her eyes started to tear up. Kumurap kurap ako nang paunti unti ay tumulo ang luha niya. Tinakpan niya pa ang mukha para punasan iyon.

She shook her head. "I'm sorry, Mimi.."

I squatted immediately. "No! I mean, it's fine, Isla. But.." nilingon ko si Leander na nakapaymewang ngayon at pinapanood kami.

"See? You made it worst."

Tinaliman ko siya ng tingin habang inaalo ko si Isla. "I know what I'm doing! Bakit ka ba nangingialam?"

"I just saved your kid. Kung wala ako ay sana ngayon-"

"Nandoon si Derek! I'm sure he'll notice Isla going out!"

"But I was here!"

Nagkatinginan kami. He was glaring at me and I am, too. Mas matalim nga lang yata ang sa kaniya dahil sanay na sanay na siya sa pataliman ng mata.

Isla calmed down pero sinisinok na siya ngayon. Namumila ang mata sa ilang saglit na pag iyak. She's really sensitive. Kapag nakita ito ni Astra ngayon ay papatayin niya ako kaya dapat hindi niya malaman.

Tumayo ako. My poise was ruined for a sudden. Taas noo kong tinignan si Lean.

"Fine. Thanks for that, Leander."

Pumamulsa siya. "You have a great kid, Hazeth. So try to be a better parent, too."

I have a great kid?!

Nilingon ko si Isla. She was pouting and staring at something. He think that this is my daughter. Ayos lang naman. Pero anong sabi niya?

"Sinasabi mo bang pabaya akong magulang?"

"You're only claiming that-"

"No! You're saying I'm a bad parent!"

Hindi ko talaga maiwasang matrigger sa mga sinasabi niya. Kung makapagsabi siya ng ganoon ay parang ang laki ng experience niya sa ganitong bagay. Bakit? Is he a parent? Hindi naman, ah!

Kumpara sa akin, I'm a better parent. Kitang kita na iyon kay Isla. I'm her second mother and I really think I'm not a bad parent and I will not going to be one.

He smirked in a sarcastic way and looked at my niece. "Your mother looked very pissed, little girl. You should tell your father to not tolerate this kind of-"

"Shut up!" Sigaw ko sabay kuha ng kamay ni Isla na talagang tumatango pa sa mga sinasabi ni Leander.

I pulled her away from him. "Let's go!"


You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net