Can't Marry You Yet (The Edited & Continuation)

Kabanata 36 (The Weight of Sincerity)

Zayd

Kakauwi niya lang ng condo nang maabutan niya sa labas si Kendra. Nagtataka siya kung bakit nandoon ang babae since wala naman silang usapan na magkikita ni Selena.

"What are you doing here?"

"Selena is missing. She was kidnap."

"What? She's at school and has a tight security. You might just overthinking Kendra."

"I came to pick her up today but she's not there. Her teacher told me a woman picked her up."

"Why would Selena go with her in the first place? She might be your friend."

"Or not. I already look for her everywhere Zayd and my friends would always call me when they're with Selena but not this time. I'm getting worried."

"Okay. Did you already report it?"

"Not yet, I came here first to let you know. You were not picking up your phone earlier so I decided to go here."

"Okay. I'll call the cops."

Tatawag na sana siya ng pulis nang dumating si Nayeli at kasama nito si Selena.

"Anong nangyayari rito?" tanong ng dalaga.

Nakahinga siya ng maluwag. Glad that Selena was not kidnap.

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Nayeli

Nasa kalagitnaan siya ng trabaho kanina nang tumawag ang adviser ni Selena. Umiiyak daw ang bata dahil walang kasamang guardian kanina sa isang cooking activity.

Naawa siya kaya pinuntahan niya ito sa school nito. Cute na bata si Selena kaya madaling napalapit ang loob niya rito.

"You have your mom's phone number? I'll call her so she can pick you up here."

"I still don't wanna go home Aunt Nayeli."

"But Selena, your mom will look for you. She will get worry."

"Please?"

"Naku kung hindi ka lang talaga cute. Sige na nga ay este okay fine where do you want to go?"

"Can we go to the mall?"

"Sure. Let's go."

Nagpunta sila ng mall. Sinamahan niya rin maglaro sa playground si Selena.

"Your daughter is so cute" komento ng babaeng katabi niya.

"She's not my daughter."

"My bad. It's just you two look like a mother and daughter."

She awkwardly smiled. Well, kung iisipin magiging anak naman talaga niya si Selena if magpapakasal na sila ni Zayd siya ang magiging step mother nito.

"Selena come here for a second" tawag niya sa bata.

"What is it Aunt Nayeli?"

"Are you hungry? Let's eat then we can come back here to play again later."

"Okay."

Sa sobrang nawili ang bata sa paglalaro ay ginabi na sila ng uwi. Ang balak niya sana ay ihatid si Selena sa kanila pero naisip niya na mas maganda kung si Zayd na lang ang maghahatid dito. Nang malapit na sa kanilang unit napansin niya sina Zayd at Kendra.

"Anong nangyayari rito?" tanong niya.

"Saan kayo galing? We thought Selena was kidnap" ani Zayd.

"Huh? Nagpunta lang kami ng mall eh napasarap ang laro nitong si Selena kaya ngayon lang kami nakauwi" excited niyang kwento.

"How dare you brought my daughter somewhere without my permission?" galit na wika ni Kendra.

"Look Kendra that was not my intention. The adviser called me saying if I can join Selena on her cooking lesson that's why I went to her school. After that she wants to go to the mall of course I said no but you know, Selena looked so sad that's why I decided we go."

"You should have called me!"

"I did. You were not answering your phone sweetheart."

"You don't even know how much I got worried. As if...you can't even relate cause you're not even a mother."

Nasaktan siya sa sinabi ng babae. But she's right tho.

"Mommy don't get mad, Aunt Nayeli just brought me to the mall because I kept on asking her earlier" saad ni Selena saka hinawakan ang kamay niya kaya napangiti siya.

"Not this time Selena" pagmamaldita pa ni Kendra.

"Ano ba ang pinuputok ng butsi mo nakarating naman ng maayos si Selena rito ah. Eh kung sana nagpakita ka sa nila hindi ako tatawagan ng adviser nila" hindi na siya nakapagtimpi at nasagot na ito. Wala siyang pakialam kung hindi man siya naiintindihan ng babae.

"What are you saying? Did you swear at me? Zayd what is this bitch saying?"

"Oh ano ka ngayon?"

"You better not swear at me Nayeli."

"I'm not swearing hala siya napakaassuming mo naman girl."

"Stop it both of you" saway ni Zayd.

"Don't tell me you will side with her Zayd? This is her fault" ani Kendra.

"I'm not siding anyone let's just call it a day. Look Selena might want to take a rest. Everyone is tired so don't let our emotions control us tonight and better not fight in front of a child. Come on Kends, I'll take you home—"

"No need. I have my car."

"Okay, drive safe. Call me when you get home."

Nilingon siya ni Zayd pagkaalis nila Kendra.

"Mag-uusap tayo."

"So aawayin mo rin ako dahil sa anak mo?"

"You make us worry, Nayeli. Ano lang man 'yon kung tawagan mo ako' di ba since hindi mo naman macontact si Kendra."

"Sorry. Nawala na sa isip ko since natuwa akong makita na nag-i-enjoy si Selena. Tapos heto kayo sinusumbatan ninyo ako kahit nagmamagandang loob lang naman ako."

"Hindi kita sinusumbatan. Sinasabi ko lang ang pwede mo sanang gawin gawin kanina para hindi kami mag-alala."

"Fine! Huwag kang mag-alala next time hindi na ako makikialam pagdating dyan sa anak mo."

"Alam ko na sincere ka lang kay Selena pero mali ka this time Nayeli."

"It's okay naiintindihan ko magulang nga pala kayo syempre mag-aalala talaga kayo...ano lang ba ako ni Selena."

"Look, that's not what I meant."

"But that's how you make me feel!"

"Okay, I'm sorry kung iyon ang tingin mo na pinaparamdam ko but it's not it Nayeli. I just wanted to—"

"Magsama kayo ni Kendra" tinalikuran niya ito.

Batid niyang sinundan siya ni Zayd.

"Nayeli..."

"I'm done talking with you."

Nagpalit siya ng damit at nahiga. Naiinis parin kasi siya sa mga nangyari. Oo, may mali naman talaga siya at aminado siya doon. Pero para ipamukha sa kanya na parang wala siyang karapatan sa bata dahil hindi siya ang ina, masakit iyon para sa kanya.

At pakiramdam niya mas inaalala pa ni Zayd ang nararamdaman ni Kendra kumpara sa kanya. Kahit sino sasama ang loob. Valid naman ang pagtatampo niya rito.

Sinundan siya ni Zayd. Humiga siya nang nakatalikod dito.

"Nayeli, hindi ko intensyon na saktan ka. You know how much I don't want to see you hurting."

Hindi siya kumibo.

"Nayeli, galit ka ba?"

Kausapin mo ang hangin, hmp.

"Hey... hindi mo talaga ako kakausapin?"

Hindi talaga.