Mistakes and Promises

Chapter Thirty-three

Chapter Thirty-three

Other woman

Hinatid kami ni Aaron sa bahay pagkatapos sa wedding reception nina Jarvis at Sophie. Bella already fell asleep in the car so Aaron carried our daughter up to our unit.

It was the time back then when I was already earning enough from working at our hospital when I've decided to move out of my parents' house. Noong una ay ayaw pa akong payagan nina daddy. But I told them my reason of wanting to be more independent especially now that I already have my own daughter. Kalaunan ay pumayag din ang family ko.

I got myself and Bella a decent condo unit. I think Bella was three years old back when we moved here. Since then ay dito na kami nakatira ng anak ko at minsan bumibista na lang at doon natutulog kaming mag-ina sa bahay ng parents ko. Lalo kapag hindi rin busy si daddy sa hospital. Gusto niya na nasa bahay din kami ni Bella dahil namimiss niya rin kami ng apo niya.

Nakasunod sa akin si Aaron papunta sa kwarto ni Bella. I opened the door to our daughter's cute pink bedroom. Sunod ko rin na binuksan ang mga ilaw doon. "Just put her on the bed. Mamaya ko na siya bibihisan."

"She must be tired from playing with kids her age at the venue earlier."

Tumango ako sa sinabi ni Aaron. "Oo nga."

Iniwan na muna namin si Bella sa loob ng room niya. Gabi na rin at nakapag-dinner na kami doon kanina sa reception.

"Do you want coffee?" I offered to Aaron.

Hindi pa naman siguro siya aalis agad...?

He nodded. "Yes, please. Thank you."

Tumango ako nagpaalam muna na papasok sa kusina. I started making Aaron's coffee. And then after that bumalik din ako agad sa living room ng condo kung saan ko siya iniwan muna.

"Thank you." ani Aaron pagkatapos kong maglapag ng tinimplang kape sa coffee table sa harap niya.

I just smiled.

We talked for a while as he finished his coffee. Tungkol lang kay Bella o sa mga trabaho namin. Aaron and I just talked like we're friends. Well, naging magkaibigan pa rin naman kami after our engagement was called off years ago. Ang akala ko pa nga noon ay magagalit sa akin si Aaron at hindi na kami makakapag-usap pa ngayon nang ganito.

But I also knew that he's an understanding person and reasonable. I thought he understood me back then... He understood what I wanted for us...

"I shall take my leave now." Tumayo na si Aaron at nagpapaalam nang aalis.

Tumango na lang ako at tumayo na rin para ihatid siya sa may pintuan...

"Bella said that you will be busy this weekend..." Wala kasi sana akong trabaho sa hospital, and I thought we could go out with our daughter. The three of us like a family...

Tumango si Aaron. "Yes. I have some important things to attend to at work."

"Kahit weekend?" Bahagyang nangunot ang noo ko. Madalas naman kasi na hindi nagtatrabaho si Aaron kapag linggo. Ako lang nga minsan ang may emergencies sa hospital.

He used to spend his weekends with our daughter...

Tumango si Aaron. He gave me an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry. Kaya nagpaalam na rin ako kay Bella na magiging busy ako ngayong weekend, para hindi na rin magtampo ang bata..." He sighed.

I nodded. And gave him a smile. Siguro ay kailangan talaga si Aaron sa trabaho niya. At ayos lang naman iyon...

So on the weekend kami na lang dalawa ni Bella ang lumabas. Pinasyal ko siya sa mall and bought her new clothes and shoes, and toys. And other things that she might need. Minsan ko na lang din nagagawa ito na ipag-shopping ang anak ko. Palagi kasi talaga akong busy sa hospital. I sighed.