Claire's "O"

Talk

Claire


After punching the code in, she opened the door of her condo and let Thomas in first as he was carrying the sleeping Nicolai in his arms. Nang makapasok sya sa loob kasunod ang yaya ay itinuro nya ang kwarto ng anak, she opened the door for him too.

Maingat na inilapag ni Thomas ang anak sa kama, careful not to wake him up. Nang maiayos ang pagkakahiga ni Nicolai ay tinitigan nito ng matagal ang anak and she was holding back her tears. As much as she hated Thomas, she just couldn't ruin the moment. Nicolai was very happy upon meeting his Father for the first time. She wasn't prepared ofcourse, but that impromptu meeting was surely going to change her son's life.

Tahimik syang lumabas ng kwarto at dumiretso sa kusina para uminom ng tubig. She needed to breathe normally. Seriously, kanina pa mabilis ang tibok ng puso nya at hindi na ito naging normal the whole time na magkasama sila ni Thomas. Mula kasi sa Toy Store ay hindi na humiwalay sa kanila ang lalaki. Well, she could say the same for Nicolai dahil hindi na rin ito humiwalay sa ama. There's that instant connection between them that she wouldn't dare break.

Napangiti sya nang maalala ang nangyari kanina. That very moment when her two boys locked eyes, it was magical. That was something she didn't have when she met her Father for the first time. Nakita nya kung gaano kasaya at ka-excited si Thomas nang makita ang anak. And seeing Thomas with that reaction only awakened her feelings for him. Masakit man aminin pero alam nya sa sarili nyang mahal na mahal pa rin nya ang gagong yun sa kabila ng lahat ng nangyari. 

She didn't talk to him at all habang ipinapasyal nila ang anak kanina sa mall. Hindi rin naman sya sinubukang kausapin ni Thomas. His full attention was on their son but she took some glances when he wasn't looking. He looked like a mess pero ang unfair dahil hindi naman nabawasan ang kagwapuhan nito. It has to be a crime to be that handsome and messed up at the same time. Nakita nya kung paano nito yakapin at halikan ang anak nila and she silently wished na sana ay sya na lang si Nicolai because she terribly missed his arms wrapped around her, his lips kissing her. 

Pero saglit lang ang kahibangang yun dahil bumabalik sa alaala nya ang nangyari 2 months ago. Kung paano nya ito nagisnan at iniwan sa kwarto nito. 

At si Gertrude, that bitch. 

Humugot sya ng malalim na hininga nang pumasok sa isip nya ang mukha ni Gertrude. The thought of her fucking Thomas kills her to the bolt. Ang mga kamay nyang nakatukod sa lamesa ay napakuyom nang hindi nya namamalayan. 

Nang makarinig sya ng mga yabag papalapit ay naglakad sya papuntang sink at inilapag ang baso doon. Ilang beses muna syang huminga ng malalim at nag ipon ng lakas dahil alam nya kung sino ang makikita nya kapag lumingon sya. 

When their eyes met, bigla syang naging marupok. Lahat ng galit nya sa lalaki ay parang bulang naglaho nang makita ang istura nito. Regret and longing were very evident on his orbs and they were misty. He really looked like a mess, in agony. Hindi sya dapat nakakaramdam ng sakit dahil galit sya dito pero kabaliktaran nun ang nararamdaman nya. Nasasaktan syang nakikita ang sakit sa mga mata nito kaya pati sya ay naluha na rin.

"C-Claire..." 

She had to blink her eyes to stop her tears from falling. 

God I miss his voice calling my name! 

Humakbang syang muli palapit sa lamesa at ganun din ang ginawa ni Thomas. Naupo sila nang magkatapat.

"I umn...I think we should talk." Sabi nito na tinanguan lang nya.

Ginawa nya ang lahat ng makakaya nya para hindi magpakita ng emosyon habang nakikipag tagisan ng tingin sa lalaki. Kaya mo yan Claire.

"S-since when did you move here?" Umpisa nito.

"Just go straight to the point Thomas." 

Napalunok ito at parang lito pa kung paano mag uumpisa. 

"I'll just do the talking then."

Hindi ito kumibo, ni hindi rin naman tumango kaya nagpatuloy sya.

"First, I want to say sorry for not telling you about Nicolai. Considering how we first met and given the circumstances, I just didn't get the chance. "

"I understand..."

"Second, how do you want us to co-parent for our son?"

"Co-parent?"

"Yes. Co-parent. We have to agree on some terms. "

His jaw clenched and face darkened as if he's not liking their conversation. Well he has to bear with it.