BACK IN YOUR ARMS

Kabanata 26

Kabanata 26

A Mother's Love

"Is this your routine? Ganito ka lang ba talaga? Iyong uupo lang, babantayan ang paligid at saka sumimsim ng milktea. Seriously? Ang sagana ng buhay mo." Puri ko kay Gucci. Dahil kanina pa siyang nakaupo sa harapan ko, dito sa cashier, habang sinisimsim niya ang kaniyang milktea. O-order pa siya ng panibago kahit kailan man niya gusto.

"I think, almost everyday. God, I love milktea so much. Good thing that my Mom and Dad built this business for me." She sounds proud.

"Baka ikaw lang naman ang makaubos ng mga paninda mong milktea," I said then laughed.

She intentionally rolled her eyes. "Yeah you're right. My Mom and Dad wanted me, to be independent. Kaya siguro nila ginawa 'to. They wanted me to manage something, aside from our other businesses."

"Wow nakakamangha," tutal wala pa namang costumer, lumapit ako kay Gucci at saka umupo sa harapan niya. "Ilang taon ka na ba? You're too young pero CEO ka na ng isang business."

"18, pagkatapos, 17 lang ako no'ng pinatayo nila Mommy't Daddy ang milktea'ng shop ko na 'to." She smiled. Enjoy na enjoy siya sa kaniyang milktea.

"Bad kaya ang uminom ng milktea araw-araw." I said.

"Actually, I don't usually drink milktea everyday. I do fasting and it takes a week before I can drink milktea again. Para hindi ako magsawa, you know. And for this week, ngayon lang ako nakainom ng milktea. Iniiwasan ko ang shop kong 'to, so that it could be less tempting. Everytime I'm here, I'm so tempted to drink a lot," she laughed and start to act like drunk. Wait what? Nilalasing ba siya ng milktea.

"Hoy lasing ka ba?" Tinusok ko ang kaniyang pisngi.

Sumimangot siya. "No, bakit? Is drinking a milktea can make you drunk?" Tumawa siya.

"Okay, Gucci pwe-" I stopped when my phone rang. My heart felt warm when I saw Damien's name on my cellphone. He is calling me. "Gucci, labas na muna ako, pwede ba? May call kasi." Paalam ko sa kaniya.

She nodded. "Sure."

[How's the baby?] Bungad kaagad ni Damien.

I smiled. "I'm okay, don't worry," sagot ko. Totoo naman, e. Ako naman talaga ang original baby ni Damien.

I can hear Damien's chuckled on the other line. [Good to know. Then how 'bout my other baby in your tummy? How's she?] Pagtutukoy naman niya sa anak namin.

"It's a boy, Damien. It's a he. But anyways, healthy naman siya pero please, huwag mo akong bigyan ng stress, a'. Baka si baby ang mapahamak. Mabuti naman tumawag ka na," I said.

[It's a boy? Did you already did an ultrasound? Why didn't you tell me?] He sound defeated.

I laughed. "No, hindi pa ako nakapag-ultrasound. Niraramdaman ko lang kasi, e. Pakiramdam ko talaga lalaki."

[I love you, Babe.] He muttered.

Napalunok ako. Parang may nararamdaman akong kakaiba? Ugh. It felt different. Is there something wrong? O nag-iinarte lang talaga siya.

"I love you too, babe. Are you busy right now? Kailangan ko na kasing bumalik sa trabaho. Just call me this evening, okay?" I asked.

[Why are you working? I don't want you to worked a lot. You should just stay home and get some rest.] He sounds worried. [Ako na ang gagastos sa mga pangangailangan mo, just stay at home.]

"No, it's okay. Hindi pa naman masyadong malaki ang tiyan ko. I can work, titigil lang ako kapag talagang mabigat na 'tong tiyan ko."

[I'm sorry.] Biglaang naisabi niya.