The Heartthrob That Can't Walk

Chapter 31

“Da,da!” Migo called me.

“Yes?” I asked, while my attentions is still on my laptop.

“Migo, he’s busy. Lets eat na.” Lara told him and hold his hand. She guide him to the dining table.

I massage my nose bridge. Tanginang buhay ‘to. Kailangan pa talagang gumawa ng gimik para mapa oo ang mga investors? Hindi ba pwedeng ma bilib nalang sila sa presentations? Tutal mga gurang nanaman sila. Dapat di na nila pinahihirapan sarili nila.

I look at the both of them. I sighed. Hindi talaga kakain ng gulay. Pasaway na bata. Sinarado ko ang laptop bago tumayo.

“Ayaw nanaman kumain ng gulay.” Tila nag susumbong na sambit ni Lara.

“Wala naman akong nagagawa kung ayaw niya. Pero kahit konti dapat ay may makain siya.”

Umupo ako sa tabi ni Migo, “hey, you should eat vegetables. Even just a little bit.”

“No! No!” pag tanggi niya habang naka ngusong umiiling.

I bit my lower lip, this kid is really stubborn, “ you want the air plane toy you saw yesterday?”

Nanlaki ang mga mata niya, “yes! Dada!” he cheerfully answered.

“Then eat veggies. I’ll buy you that when you ate that.” Pag kundisyon ko.

Ngumuso siya at tumingin sa gulay. Natawa si Lara sa gilid dahil sa reaksyon ng anak.

“J-just a little dada?”

Tumango ako, “half of it.” Turo ko sa gulay na nasa plato niya. Hindi naman ganoon karami.

He pouted more. He uses his little spoon for it. Habang papalapit ang kutsara ay sumasama na ang mukha niya. Maging ako ay natawa. This kid really hate vegetable. Can’t sue him though. I also hate it. But I can eat it if I want to.

Naka ilang subo siya, “dada, you’ll—buy-“

“Don’t talk when your mouth is full.” Saway ng kaniyang ina. She went closer and clean Migo’s cheeks using a tissue.

“Yeah, I’ll buy those. Finish your food.” I assured him and he smiled at me.

Bumalik ako sa ginagawa. My phone vibrated. It’s oldie.

“What?” tamad na sagot ko.

“Ay di ka naman interesado. Wag nalang pala. Bye—”

“What is it?”

“Sabihin mo muna, please.” Kundisyon niya.

“I have no time in your shits.”

“Joke lang. 'Tong bata na'to walang galang. Anyway, nakita ko na siya.”

Bilga akong napa tayo. “What’s her address.”

“Sabihin mo muna 'please'.” Tumawa pa siya.

Napa hawak ako sa beywang ko. “Oldie!” I called him in frustration.

He just laugh at me, “oo na, isesend ko sayo ang detalye.”

“Faster.” I end the call.

“Who’s that?” she asked.

“Oldie.” I answered and start fixing my things.

“Where are you going? You promised Migo that you’ll buy him that toy.” She has disappointment tone on her words.

“I’ll contact my secretary to buy it. I have some important things to do.” I said in a serious tone. I have no time for shits.

“But he’ll look for you. He taught that you’ll go with him to the mall.”

“You go with him. I have some urgent work to do.” Nag pipigil sa inis kong sabi.

“Is it really work?” she mocked me.

“Do I need to explain to you? Work or not I don’t owe you an explanation.” Nilampasan ko nalang siya.

Bigla niyang hinawakan ang braso ko, “sorry. I didn’t mean to say that.” She apologized.

“Yeah.” Binawi ko ang braso ko at mabilis na lumabas.

I need to see her.

After an hour I arrived at her address. My fist clench. She doesn’t deserve to live on a place like this. It’s all my fault. Kung hindi lang sana ako naging maka sarili. Kung hindi ko lang sana siya iniwan. But…I need to. That’s what I think before.

My heart beat faster when she went out. She’s wearing a simple outfit. She’s still beautiful. Hindi naman mag babago ‘yon. But…she lost her smile. Her eyes look so sad. I felt my chest tighten, realizing the effect of the incident to her.

I ride my motorcycle as I follow the jeep. Bumaba siya sa tapat ng isang fast food chain. Sinalubong siya ng isang may edad na lalaki. Tila kumulo ang dugo ko nang makitang sinisigawan niya ang babaeng mahal ko.

Kahit gusto ko na siyang lapitan ay hindi ko magawa. I must admit, I’m scared. I left her when she need me the most. I left her drowning in pain. While the truth is she’s willing to heal me first.

I left saying to myself that she’s free from my love. Na wag na akong umasang may babalikan pa ‘ko. And now I just found myself getting jealous of a guy beside her. They look good together.

I switch my position. I stand behind the tree watching her cook. Wala akong pakielam kahit ilang oras na akong naka tayo rito. Kung pagod ako mas pagod siya.

I can’t contain my emotion watching that guy with her. Sigurado akong lagi niyang hinahatid si Shane. That’s a good thing though. It’s just that…jealousy. I hate to admit it but that’s what I feel.

I have to man up. Be contented watching her from afar. Ako naman ang may kasalanan. Dapat harapin ko rin. Kasi masasaktan ko nanaman siya pag naging maka sarili ako. I always hurt her. I hate myself for that. I can’t see the mature image of me. But in the past years we’ve been a part. I knew I change, so did she. We both change. Because of the pain I caused her. Because of my selfishness.

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It’s now my thrid day stalking her. The last one was a week ago. Ayoko man ay kailangan ako sa kumpanya. Dahil sa mga bwisit na gurang na investors. I don’t need them to be honest. But my mother’s company does. She’s taking a rest for now. She experienced a lot of stress lately. I offer to help her but she refuse. The only thing I can do is to look for investors.

Plus Migo, that kid sometimes made my head ache. Napaka kulit, pero ayos lang naman sakin. He’s cute. Kahit na minsan nakaka stress ang batang ‘yon ay nakaka aliw rin. Masyado kasing bibo.

My phone vibrates.

“Yes?” asked while watching Shane fry the chickens.

“Busy ka ba?” it’s Lara.

“Yeah.”

I heard her sigh, “pero diba tapos na ang meeting niyo? Napa payag mo na ang mga investors.”

I massage my nose bridge. She change. When I met her again in the US she already had Migo. The father of her child ditch her. We’re friends literally so I decided to help her. But she’s too…clingy. Kung si Migo okay lang. Pero siya? I don’t think so.

“So? I already talked to Migo. He understands that I’m not his father. He ask if he could just treat me as his uncle. I agreed since I get closer to him. I have to hang up.”

“But—” pinatayan ko siya ng tawag. She’s been calling me since yesterday. Mas makulit pa siya sa anak niya.

Halos manlaki ang mata ko nang makitang sarado na ang restaurant. Where is she?! Wala ng tao ni isa. Bakit ang bilis magsara? I just had a phone call.

Agad akong sumakay sa motor. Pumunta ako sa inuupahan niya. Nakita ko siyang papasok. Luminga-linga siya sa paligid bago isarado ang pinto.

She can sense it. Did I scare her?

-_-