𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐲 [TSS #1]

Chapter 8: Playground No More

Carol's POV

"Mayro'n, marami," I proudly answered to her. "I really need to go—ahhh!" Napasigaw ako nang biglang namatay lahat ng ilaw. Binalot ng dilim ang paligid so I immediately step forward to hug Sky.

Gosh, this is so embarrassing but what can I do? Hindi ako sanay sa biglang dilim ng paligid. Nakakatakot. Naramdaman ko nalang na yumakap na rin si Sky sa'kin so I hug her even tighter. Geez, ang awkward.

I just closed my eyes not minding our position dahil ako naman ang naglagay nito sa sarili ko.

"Carol?" Tanong ng isang humahangos na boses. It's Matt's voice. Agad akong lumayo kay Sky. Covering my eyes, Matt lowered down the flashlight of his phone. "Sorry. Are you okay?"

As if on cue, bumalik lahat ng ilaw kaya mas lumayo pa ako kay Sky. We were so close to each other pala.

"I'm fine. Uwi na tayo," I said to him. Bumaling naman ang tingin ko kay Sky na hindi ko mawari ang itsura. "Sky, alis na kami." Paalam ko rito.

"Sige, ingat kayo," she replied saka ngumiti. I turned my back at her. Naglakad na kami paalis.

Nakakainis. I felt how her heartbeat raced when we're embracing each other tapos sumabay rin yung tibok ng puso ko. Parang nag-uunahan sila. Kainis. Maybe palpitation lang 'to kaka-kape ko.

"Something wrong?" Matt suddenly asked nang nasa elevator na kami. Lumingon ako sa kanya. He's wiping his sweat on the side of his face. Tumakbo pa yata s'ya kanina paakyat. Good thing nasa 4th floor lang ang unit ni Sky.

Umiling ako, "Nothing.. really," I answered. "I'm just thinking.. do you think I made the right decision?" Ngumiti naman agad s'ya.

"Yeah," he answered while smiling. "You can't always hide the truth. It's good that you admitted it and gave her chance to spend time with Thea." Magaan niyang saad.

"Do you think Thea will like her?" Tanong kong muli kapagkuwan. The elevator opened so we walked to the parking lot.

"Siguro? magkamukhang magkamukha sila. I see Thea in her," he chuckled afterwards.

He opened the car door for me bago s'ya pumasok sa driver's seat. I put on my seatbelt. Nagsimula na itong magmaneho.

Today's saturday, saturday means full time mom duty ko kay Thea but I already talked with Sky. Tho I'm still thinking kung anong sasabihin ko kay Thea at bigla ko nalang s'yang dadalhin sa isang taong isang beses n'ya palang na-meet.

I don't have the plan to tell her the truth, for now. But I know Thea's a smart girl and soon she'll know about it. And if that day comes, hindi ko alam kung pa'no ko ipapaliwanag sa kanya ang lahat but I hope she understands.

Pagkarating sa bahay, naabutan kong nanonood si Thea ng cartoons sa sala kasama ang yaya n'ya.

"Baby," tawag ko rito. Agad naman s'yang lumingon sa akin.

"Mommy!" She exclaimed. Tumakbo ito palapit sa'kin kaya yumuko ako para yakapin s'ya.

"Hello, baby. Did you eat your lunch?" Malambing na tanong ko rito habang nakayakap parin sa kanya.

"Not yet," she answered cutely while shaking her head.

"Okay, mommy will cook for you." Saad ko saka naglakad papuntang kusina habang buhat-buhat s'ya.

...

I'm here again, at my study table. Kaharap ang sandamakmak na libro, papel, notebooks, and my ipad. I usually do my schoolworks at saturday morning habang binabantayan si Thea but since may ginawa ako nang umaga ay ngayon ko palang ito sisimulan.