Love At First Thrust

12

"Nasaan ba 'yung bag na 'yon?"

Nasa isang store ako ng mall ngayon at hinahanap 'yung bag na nakita ko para kay Dewy. And speaking of Dewy, iniwan ko siya sa playhouse sa may second floor.

"Ayun!"

Nakangiti kong nilapitan 'yung bag ng makita ko pero agad ding naglaho ng may kasabay akong humawak sa bag.

"Camos?" Nanlalaki ang mata ko ng makita kung sino ang kaagaw ko sa bag.

Hala ring nagulat ito na makita ako kaya nabitawan nito ang bag at nakangiting bumaling sa akin. Nakalimutan na ang bag.

"Ciello, what are you doing here?"

Tinaas ko naman ang yakap-yakap kong bag. "Buying stuffs for my son. Ikaw?"

Napakamot naman ito sa ulo niya at parang nanghihinayang na hindi nakuha ang bag. "I'm also buying stuffs for my...son."

Nanlaki ang mata ko sa sinabi nito.

"You have a son? You're married and trying to flirt with me--"

"No, no, that's not it." He cut me off.

Tinaasan ko naman siya ng kilay.

Mga lalaki talaga!

Tinaas nito ang kamay. "You see, I don't have a ring--"

"Kase tinatanggal mo." I cut him off. Ano ba 'yan! Naturn off naman ako rito. Akala ko genuine na tao.

Kumamot na naman ito sa ulo niya. "No. I'm single. My son...I'm not his biological father."

I'm still skeptical about what he said and he saw my look and chuckled.

"I'm not a cheater type, excuse me." Natatawang sabi nito.

Binayaran ko na 'yung bag. May isa pa palang stock nito kaya nakabili rin siya ng para sa anak niya.

"Where's your son?" Tanong nito sa akin.

"Playhouse. Second floor. 'Yung anak mo?" Luminga-linga pa ako.

"Second floor. Playhouse." Nakangiti nitong sabi.

Hindi ko alam kung marupok ba ako o ano pero nadadala ako sa ngiti niya kaya napangiti na rin ako.

"You said you're not his biological father? How come?" Pag-uusisa ko habang papasakay kami ng escalator.

Inalalayan pa muna ako nito at pumantay ng tayo sa akin.

"I was an intern back then when I met his father which is my senior. You see, I'm supposed to be a doctor but things happen. My senior and I did a volunteer work somewhere. Unfortunately, the terrorist attacked us and my senior died right in front of my eyes but before he passed away, he ask me to look after his son because his wife passed away after she gave birth to their son so obviously his son will have no one. So I stopped pursuing my study and adopted his son. I shift from being a medical student to a business student."

Inalalayan na naman ako nito sa pagbaba sa escalator.

He look taken aback when he saw me with teary eyes.

He laughed. "Why are you crying?"

I wiped my eyes. "That must hurt the child and you must be traumatized to witness such cruelty." Naiiyak talaga ako dahil naiisip ko pag nawala ako paano na si Dewy. The child must be devastated.

Natawa na naman ito at siya na ang nagpunas sa mata ko. "Aw. Such a softy!" He teased.

He keep on teasing me while we are on our way to our sons.