Passion and Revenge (ON HOLD)

Chapter 27

Nauna nang pumasok ang parents ko sa sasakyan. Si Papa sa front seat at sa likod naman pumwesto si Mama, agad namang sumunod si Allen na karga pa rin si Hunter sa pintuan ng SUV na malapit kay Mama.

"Bye Hunter." malambing na paalam nito habang nanggigigill na hinalikan si Hunter na siya namang kinatuwa ng bata.

"Bye ..'To.. Yen!" humahagikhik pa na sagot ng bata.

Nakangiti naman na inabot ni Mama si Hunter mula kay Allen. "It's nice to see Hunter is quite taken with you Allen, hindi basta basta sumasama ang batang to sa hindi niya kilala, lalo na sa mga bagong mukha."

"The feeling is mutual Tita, hindi rin ho ako basta basta sumasama sa mga bata." nagtawanan sila sa biro ni Allen.

"You should join us for lunch or dinner one of this days para magkita uli kayo ni Hunter." Imbita ni Papa na nakisali sa usapan.

"I surely will Tito."

"Okay baby Hunter, give na flying kiss to Tito Allen." agad naman sinunod ng bata ang utos ni Mama at nagpakitang gilas na ilang beses hinalikan ang palad niya tsaka hinarap kay Allen, na impress naman ang isa at sumagot din ng flying kiss. Inabot pa halos isang minuto bago tuluyang humiwalay si Allen sa bata.

Nakangiti na umikot si Allen sa likod ng sasakyan at lumapit sa akin na nakatayo pa rin sa tabi SUV.

"Kung gusto mo papakiusapan ko sina Mama na ibigay na si Hunter sa'yo." salubong ko dito sa mahina pero naiiritang boses.

"You think they will agree?" excited na tanong ni Allen, his eyes glint with amusement.

"Hello?? I'm being sarcastic here!" is he serious?? Gusto niya talagang kunin si Hunter?

"And I'm only joking sweetie.." na-aamuse na sagot naman ni Allen na lalo kong kinaiinis.

"See you tomorrow?" tanong nito sa akin.

"I don't think so. My parents would expect me to spend my week end with them." I can see the disappointment in Allen's face sa sinabi ko pero tumango lang ito.

"I'll call you then, maybe you can spare me an hour for dinner."

"I doubt it." ayaw kong mangako, I welcome the idea of two days without Allen. We have been spending a lot of time together at ayaw kong dumating ang panahon na masanay na naman akong kasama siya lagi.

Ayaw kong mahulog na naman ang loob ko sa kanya at habang hawak ko pa ang sitwasyon, I have to start putting boundaries.

"Sige, see you on Monday and thanks for dropping me." paalam ko kay Allen.

But before I manage to turn my back, he grabbed my arms at mabilis akong hinalikan sa labi.

"Allen!" halos patili ang boses na sita ko dito sabay lingon kina Mama, mabuti na lang they are busy with Hunter at hindi nila nakita ang ginawa ni Allen.

"Bye sweetheart, I'm gonna miss you." he gave me a wink at nakangiti na tumalikod ito papunta sa direksiyon kung nasaan naka park ang kotse niya.

Nakakuyom ang palad na nakatingin na lang ako sa likod ng papalayong si Allen, I swallowed the words I was going to throw at him. Alam niyang papagalitan ko siya sa ginawa niya kaya basta na lang itong tumalikod.

He kissed me in front of my parents!

Allen's becoming bold. He's not worried that we'll get caught at sa tingin ko pa nga, he's more than happy if our family will find out that we are in a relationship.

I sighed. Allen and I need to talk about his behavior, I need to remind him again of our agreement.

"Iha, nanliligaw ba si Allen sa'yo?"

I froze, nag aalangin akong tumingin kay Papa who are looking at me expectantly.

"N-no Papa..uhm...he's a friend and we became closer dahil lagi kaming magkasama sa work." mabuti na lang mabilis akong nakaisip ng rason.

"Well...we don't mind kung manligaw si Allen sa'yo. We knew his family very well and I'm sure you'll be in good hands."

"Mama!...he's not courting me and please don't ever mention this to Allen. As I said, he's a friend like how Ricky is a friend to me." their approval and confidence to Allen might made me happy two years ago but now, it doesn't matter to me anymore.

Mabuti na lang nabaling ang atensiyon ng mga magulang ko kay Hunter who's squirming in my mother's lap kaya natigil ang pangungulit nila sa akin tungkol kay Allen. Now that I mentioned Ricky, bigla akong nakaramdam ng pangulila sa kaibigan ko. I can't stay mad at him for so long, I miss Ricky so much. I have to call him later and make peace with him.

"Dodo! Dodo!"

Nakakunot ang nuo na bumaling ako kina Mama, kanina pa maingay si Hunter sa loob ng sasakyan and now the boy is chanting loudly that I'm on the edge of having a headache.

"Vic, take Hunter. He wants his milk and I can't mix it while holding him." hindi na hinintay ni Mama ang sagot ko at basta na lang nilipat si Hunter sa kandungan ko. Wala akong nagawa but to wrap both my arms to the boy to avoid dropping him in the car's floor.

"Baby, be a good boy to Mommy Vic." si Papa na natutuwa na nakalingon sa amin na nakikitang kandong ko si Hunter, kanina pa nila ako pinipilit na kargahin si Hunter pero nagmamatigas ako.

But this time, my mother didn't give me any choice.

"Mommy Vic? why mommy ang tawag sa akin?" nagtataka kong tanong.

I'm supposed to be his big sister right?

"Since we are too old to be Hunter's parents, we decided that you, Jake and Nikki will stand as his parents."

I rolled my eyes sa narinig ko. "Great! it's already hard for me to accept being his big sister..now I come to know I'm the co- parent. Great! Just great Ma."

Nagkatinginan na lang parents ko sa outburst ko, they knew better not to instigate me more.

"Here's your milk baby." si Mama.

Hunter grabbed the bottle from my mother and loudly sucked on it right away. The boy must be very hungry. Humilig ito sa balikat ko but since the position is awkward for his little body, hinawakan ko ang likod niya and let him curled on my lap, his head on my arms.

Hindi ko naman mapigilan ang mapa buntong hininga na napatingin sa labas ng sasakyan. Mainis man ako pero wala na akong magawa, my parents already decided and I'm sure they have discussed it with Kuya Jake and Ate Nikki at hindi na naman nila ako kinunsulta. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang pumasok sa isipan ng mga magulang ko to involve me in raising Hunter, when they knew that I myself are vulnerable.

Natigil ako sa pag iisip ng maramdaman kong may humihila sa buhok ko kaya binaling ko ang atensiyon sa batang kandong ko.

"Don't.."

Natigilan ako.

Hindi ko na naituloy ang balak na pagsaway kay Hunter.

He's playfully tugging at my loose hair, his one hand gripping the milk bottle.

It's the pair of gray eyes, the remarkable color of dark ashes with dash of forest green looking straight to mine, sparkling with mischievousness that I caught my breath.

It's not possible!

I blinked. Pero hindi ako pwedeng magkamali!

The same gray eyes that used to haunt me in my every waking hours and even when I sleep.

Sparkling and intense..

Exactly the same as Allen's..