[LAEL SHAWN]
The same day nang umuwi kami ng gabing yaon ay tila tahimik si Vallesteros than usual. I meant, tahimik naman talaga siya pero ngayong gabi ay tila kakaiba ito dahil halos hindi ito makatingin sa akin o kung magkakasalubong man ang tingin namin ay agaran itong umiiwas na tila ba kabado.
Was it because of my action earlier? Did I creep her out?
Nahalata niya kayang umiiwas ako sa usaping iyon? I'm not against the idea of loving her and getting real official with her but siguro hindi pa ako ready? Hindi pa muna ngayon. We still have our issues na I knew na kahit hindi naman pag-usapan ay nariyan pa rin.
The two weeks that we spent together to test the waters were good but the time span we had together ay hindi pa siguro sapat to hit it off.
Then let her go. Said by the inner voice in my head.
Ipinilig ko ang ulo ko sa naisip kong yaon. Yes, I admit na hindi pa ako handa to take everything on the next level but gusto kong bumawi sa kanilang mag-ina ko.
Mag-ina ko.
I breathed a sigh of relief habang pinapanood silang papasok sa loob ng penthouse. They look tired yet I could also see the contentment in their eyes especially my son.
"I'll take you to your room na. You should both rest. I know you're tired." Tumango-tango ang dalawa na pahikab-hikab na kaya naman I lifted Iael and took Umika's other hand.
Our intertwined hands seem to fit with each other na para bang natural na ginawa ang mga ito para sa isa't-isa samahan pa ng kabog ng puso ko sa tuwing malapit siya sa akin. I don't even how to explain the whirlwind of emotions na nararamdaman ko pag nasa tabi ko sila especially Umika.
It's early to call it love but I know in my heart that I want to keep them. Ayoko nang mawala kung man itong mayroon kami na kahit pa hindi pa ako handa sa ganito kalaking responsibilidad ay haharapin ko ito kasama sila. Building a family was least on my plan but neither letting them go.
After they changed into their pajamas, they went to their bed together in the guest room. Magkatabi silang natutulog and it's fine with me dahil ayoko namang biglain si Vallesteros because I knew na may ilang pa rin siyang nararamdaman especially because of the past that we had. I became harsh at her and I'm admitting it.
"Good night, Papa Lael." Said the sleepy Iael, inabot ko ang noo nito upang dampian ng halik na umani nang maliit na ngiti sa maliit nitong mukha at matapos ay pumikit na ito dahil sa sobrang kapaguran.
"Sleep tight, buddy." Lumingon naman ako kay Vallesteros na nakamasid lamang sa aming dalawa.
She mouthed good night and I nodded but I don't know what has gotten into me ngunit inabot ko ang labi nito upang dampian ng halik.
Our kiss was short peck yet it felt intimate like our soul was connected to each other.
Sinandal ko ang aking noo sa kaniya matapos nang halik na iyon. I could feel the change in her breathings that sent a different sensation straight to my groin kaya naman pinilit kong inilayo ang aking sarili and subtly adjusted my jeans.
"Go, sleep now." I said kaya naman pumikit na ito.
Seeing their calm breathings indicated na tulog na ang mga ito but there seems a gravity na tila humihila sa akin upang pagmasdan pa sila.
This is the sight that I would never get tired of looking at.
I drank the view of them before I got up to do my own business dahil nakaramdam na rin ako ng antok.
I showered, brushed my teeth and went on my own room in the master's bedroom wearing only my boxers dahil ganoon naman ang laging suot ko sa pagtulog.
That night I drifted to sleep with a stupid smile on my face.
I woke up with the smell of bacon and pancakes; I could also hear the faint sound of the TV singing nursery rhymes kaya naman napangiti agad ako. Ah, this is life.
After I did my morning rituals and made myself looked decent ay dumiretso na ako sa sala kung saan nakita ko si Iael na nanonood habang nakahilata sa sofa. Nang matanaw ako nito ay agad-agad itong tumalon papunta sa akin kaya naman sinalo ko ito.
I chuckled. "Good morning to you too, buddy." I kissed his cheek and he did the same.
"Good morning, Papa Lael."
Napalingon-lingon ako na hinahanap si Umika ngunit wala ito sa sala.
"Buddy, where's mommy?" Inginuso naman nito ang direksiyon ng kusina kaya naman inilapag ko muna ito sa sofa dahil ayaw rin nitong sumama dahil siya raw ay nanonood.
I went to the kitchen but Umika's nowhere in sight. Ganoon na lamang ang kabog ng puso ko.
Umalis ba siya nang hindi nagpapaalam?
Panic shot through me kaya naman dali-dali kong chineck ang CR sa kusina ngunit wala rin siya roon, natataranta na ako nang marinig ko ang boses nito sa laundry room.
I was about to burst out inside nang marinig kong tila may kausap ito at nang silipin ko ang siwang ay nakita kong may kausap ito sa cellphone.
"Yes, Gideon. We'll be there. 5 pm sharp at the park in front of Bright Towers."
Gideon who? 5 pm? Park?
I was thinking kung may lakad ba kami na nakalimutan ko nang biglang bumukas ang pintuan.
Umika was startled by my presence at the door.
"Ka-Kanina ka b-ba pa riyan?" she asked stuttering at nanliit ang aking mata nang tila mahagap kong kabado ito.
What's with you, Vallesteros?
But instead of saying anything about what I heard ay umiling-iling lamang ako at hinainan ito ng maliit na ngiti na anaki nagpaluwag sa loob nito.
"No. I was just looking for you. Mag-almusal na tayo." I said and took her hand na agad naman itong nagpabauya.
While eating I asked her kung may lakad ba kami ngayong araw ngunit matindi ang pag-iling nito. Ang pagdududa ko ay hindi nawala kahit pa nabusy ako sa kabi-kabilang phonecalls dahil sa aking trabaho.
Nang mga bandang alas-kwatro ay nagpaalam ako sa kanila na may kailangan akong imeet na kliyente ngunit hindi pa rin nawala sa isip ko ang narinig ko kanina kaya naman I finished my meeting immediately to spy on them.
5 minutes before 5 pm when I saw Iael and Umika exiting the building hand in hand. Nagpalinga-linga pa si Umika bago iginayak si Iael papunta sa direksiyon ng parke na ilang blocks lamang ang pagitan sa building kung saan kami nakatira.
I followed them until they entered the park. I hid behind a grown tree ilang dipa lamang ang layo sa bench kung saan sila nakaupo na tila ba may hinihintay. They couldn't see me from where I'm standing kaya naman malaya ko silang napanonood.
No longer than two minutes nang impit na tumili si Iael na tila ba galak na galak sa kaniyang nakita at tumakbo ito sa direksiyon ng isang lalaki while screaming in glee.
"Daddyyyy!"
The word ringed inside my mind as a shot of pain gripped my heart.
Daddy? Who is he? Is he Gideon?
Umika followed after habang may malawak na ngiti na nakapaskil sa kaniyang mukha na sa almost isang buwan naming pagsasama ay hindi ko nakita sa kaniya habang kaharap ako.
Seeing them hugging each other like a family felt like a stabbed of betrayal and something else I could not explain.
I've seen enough.
With a heavy heart and gritted teeth, I stormed out the place.
BINABASA MO ANG
Willing to You
RomanceUmika Vallesteros, a girl who is head over heels with Lael Shawn Cordero ever since she was seven years old. She liked or even love him for almost twelve years but the guy doesn't seem to have mutual feelings about her. Until one night, she realize...
