All or nothing

Chapter One

I've seen better

Saina Antoneitta Buensuceso's

"YOU'LL be taking over your father's company, aren't you excited?"

Hindi ko alam kung nang-iinis ba si Uriel. Nakatalikod kasi ako sa kanya. Abala ako sa pamimili ng damit para kay Haniel. It's Saturday and Uriel requested if he could see his son today, eksakto namang nasa mall kaming mag – ina nang tumawag si Uriel kaya pinapunta ko na lang siya rito. Haniel was holding Uriel's hand while they were following me around. Kung ano – anong shirt, polo shirt, pants at shorts ang kinukuha ko para sa anak ko. Tulak – tulak ng attendant ang isang pushcart na mapupuno ng damit ni Haniel ngayon.

"Are you mocking me?" I finally faced him. Uriel is looking so good – madalas kong mabanggit kay Avery iyon at ang sinasabi lang naman sa akin ng asawa niya ay alagang Apelyido raw kasi.

"I'm just saying. After three years, your father is finally under investigation. It's supposed to be like that years ago kundi nakialam iyong mga board members ninyo, at kung hindi ka nagpakipot na ikaw ang uupo as CEO. You deserve this more than your father. As my wife will always tell me, isa ka raw sa pinakamalakas na babaeng kilala niya. She adores you a lot."

"And that's why I like Avery so much. Hindi siya toxic, hindi katulad ng ibang naging girlfriend mo na kahit may asawa ka na, which is Avery, ako pa rin ang inaaway nila. Like why? We didn't even end up together. Of it weren't for your wife, we're not even co-parenting." I rolled my eyes. Maldita pa rin naman ako, alam ni Uriel iyon. Minsan namamalditahan ko pa rin si Avery, pero gets naman ni Avery, at isa pa, hindi ko naman siya minamalditahan to the extent na parang hindi pa ako nakaka-move on sa asawa niya.

I have moved on. I have accepted the fact that Uriel is just a part of my past. Hindi ko kahit kailan pwedeng itanggi ang naging nakaraan namin dahil kahit gaano iyon naging masakit sa parte naming dalawa, it resulted to something beautiful, si Haniel.

"Sometimes, I think about it and I realized that Avery is too much for me. I mean, look at the two of you, your friends!"

"At this point, Uriel, hindi ka ba nakakahalata na kinakaibigan ni Avery lahat ng ex mo? Two days ago, we saw each other and then she started asking me about your exes, as if my ala mako. Girlfriend ko ako noon, hindi mo sasabihin sa akin kung pinagloloko mo ako." I snorted. Namutla naman ang mukha ni Uriel, tinawanan ko siya at hinawakan ang kamay ni Haniel.

I leveled with him, touched his cheek softly and smiled wide.

"Baby, let's go try on the outfits I picked for you. You should be ready for your first day of school tomorrow. Aren't you telling me last night that you're excited?"

"Yes, Mommy! Told you! I already have a friend there. I just don't know if we have the same class." Doon ako naba-bother. Paano siya nagkaroon kaagad ng kaibigan, samantalang pabalik – balik si Haniel dito sa Metro at sa Batangas, sa ancestral house ni Mama.

"You already have a friend?" Uriel's voice sounded so concern. I guess we shared the same sentiments.

"Yes! He's my playmate in Roblox and minecraft. He's the same age as I am, Papa. His name is Joshua. He's my new best friend!" Napatingin sa akin si Uriel. I shook my head. I wanted to tell him that I have no idea what Haniel is saying, that is why I am so concerned too. Baka mamaya kasi hindi naman bata ang kalaro ng anak ko, maybe it's just some dude who's trying to screw with my son because of the surname he's using now.

A year ago, finally, Uriel and I settled things and by then, Haniel became a legal Consunji. His name now is Haniel Peter Buensuceso – Consunji. Proud na proud si Uriel sa kinalabasan ng pangalan ng anak naming dalawa. Si Avery nga ay halos maiyak pa dahil nga sa nangyaring pagpapalit apelyido ng anak ko. I really like Avery, minsan nga ay naiisip kong ipahanap sa kanya ang kalaro ni Haniel just to be sure that he's safe.