Ikaw At Ako

Kabanata 16

This story was Completed with 35 chapters, prologue and epilogue, and a special chapter on my Patreon creator page Rej Martinez and Patrons Facebook Group. To join please message my Facebook Author profile Rej Martinez. Thank you for the support!

Kabanata 16

I got depressed. I always asked myself why I was here. I was trying to find my purpose and I feel like I couldn't. Pakiramdam ko ay wala akong silbi. That my parents doesn't really need a child like me who never listened to them. My brothers were busy with their business and own lives, too. My friends can continue living without my presence. And my husband, Joaquin can always find someone else... Someone better. Someone more deserving...

"I need to buy a gift for your Mama's birthday, Joaquin."

"But I can't come with you. I'm sorry."

Umiling ako. "It's all right. I can go to the mall alone naman. At may driver din na kasama." I smiled to him.

Joaquin nodded. "Take care."

"You, too."

My husband kissed my forehead before he went out of our home and leave for work.

I sighed.

Pumunta ako sa mall para maghanap ng pwede kong iregalo sa birthday ng mama ni Joaquin. I knew that she loved bags, kaya iyon na lang din ang naisip kong gift para sa kaniya.

At may nakita na sana ako agad pero gusto rin iyon ng isang babaeng nakasabay ko sa store. Nagkatinginan kami. She smiled politely at me. "You can take it." aniya sa akin.

Umiling naman ako. "No. You should have it." Dahil mukhang nauna rin naman siya sa aking mapansin iyong bag. Limited edition lang din ito kaya wala nang kapareho.

"Are you sure?"

I nodded and smiled. She prettily smiled at me, too. She looked young and beautiful. She has a nice body and nice hair. Medyo simple lang siya pero elegante sa pananamit, kilos at pananalita. "Thank you." She smilingly thanked me.

Ngumiti rin ako sa polite na ngiti niya.

Pagkatapos ay naghanap na lang ako ng iba pang bag para kay mama. After that I went home to our penthouse. And took care of Bucky.

Hindi rin pala talaga madali ang pagiging pet owner. Or they call it being a paw parent. Damang-dama ko ang pagiging mommy na rin sa kay Bucky. I thought that it was also a good practice for me while I don't yet have a child of my own...

I sighed.

Naisip ko na kung hindi ko pa pala kayang maging parent sa alagang aso ay paano na lang kaya kung bata na talaga ang aalagaan ko?

Nadatnan ako ni Joaquin na nakikipaglaro kay Bucky sa malapad na living room namin. Sinalubong ko ng ngiti ang asawa ko. Ngumiti rin sa akin si Joaquin.

"You two seemed to be really enjoying each other's company while I'm not yet home?" Joaquin smilingly said.

I smiled and nodded. "I already came to love Bucky."

"More than me?" Joaquin playfully asked.

Naiiling na ngumiti lang ako sa asawa ko.

"Dinner's ready." I said.

"Oh." Bahagyang natigilan si Joaquin.

"Bakit?"

He sighed and gave me an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, hon. I already ate my dinner out..."

"Oh. With your business partners?"

Umiling siya. "No. I was with Mama for dinner and a friend."

"A friend?"

"Oh, yeah. My friend from the States. Nagbabakasyon kasi dito sa Pilipinas."

Ngumiti na lang ako. "Ganoon ba..."

"But, well, I think natunawan na ako sa kinain kanina. And now I'm hungry again. Let's eat the food you cooked." Joaquin gave me a kind smile.

"Are you sure?"

He smiled. At inakbayan na ako papunta sa kitchen namin. "Yeah."

Ngumiti na lang ako.

Maayos naman ang relasyon namin ni Joaquin. We've been married for more than a year now. At maayos naman siyang asawa sa akin. Nasanay na lang din ako sa pagiging busy niya sa trabaho. Nasanay na ako na nasa bahay lang namin palagi. I completely learned the house chores now and my cooking skills got real better, too. At natutuwa na rin ako sa ganoon.

I never mentioned to him again about us having a child... I couldn't also say to him my condition. After I last went to the doctor. Wala pa rin namang sinasabi si Joaquin tungkol doon. Kaya inisip ko na siguro ay mas mabuting 'wag na lang din muna talaga naming pag-usapan. Sa ngayon naman ay maayos lang ang relasyon namin bilang mag-asawa.

Nakakapagbakasyon din naman kami minsan ni Joaquin kapag hindi siya talagang busy sa trabaho. The last time on December we went out of the country for his promised honeymoon to me. I enjoyed Europe and some parts of Asia with Joaquin. It was our longest vacation spent so far. And Joaquin promised me na mauulit pa iyon. And I just looked forward to it.

And we also spent our first New Year together this year. Being married to Joaquin was fun. Siguro kasi natutunan ko na rin siyang mahalin.

On the day of mama's birthday we went to her house. Sa bahay niya lang napiling mag-celebrate at konti lang din ang guests niya. Family lang at ilang malalapit na kaibigan. Bahagya pa akong natigilan nang makita ang isang familiar na babae doon.

I remembered her. Siya iyong babae na nakasabay kong mamili ng gift for mama.

"Oh!" Her eyes also widened a fraction when she saw me.

"You know each other, hija?" Mama smiled to her.

"Oh, no. But we've already met once, tita." Ngumiti rin ito kay mama.

"Really?" Mama smiled.

"Laine, this is my wife, Angel Ossorio Aguirrezabal." Joaquin introduced me.

Ngumiti naman ito sa akin at naglahad ng kamay sa harap ko. "Nice to meet you."

"Oh." Tinanggap ko rin ang kamay niya for a handshake. Medyo nagulat pa ako na makita siyang nandito. At na magkakilala sila nina mama at Joaquin?

"This is Lalaine, hija. She's Joaquin's childhood friend while growing up in the US." Mama introduced, too.

Tumango na ako sa sinabi ni mama. Kababata pala ito ni Joaquin...

I never knew until today that Joaquin has a girl and beautiful childhood friend. She's tall and really pretty. And she looked like a foreigner.

"I didn't know that you have a friend..." Bumaling ako kay Joaquin habang sumusunod na kami sa mama niya na nagpatiuna kasama si Lalaine sa kung nasaan nakahanda na ang mga pagkain for mama's birthday. "I thought si Dwayne lang ang best friend mo..."

"Oh, no." Umiling si Joaquin. "I met Dwayne in middle school."

"And Lalaine?"

"We were neighbors so we've known each other since Kindergarten..."

Tumango na lang ako. At binalik ang tingin ko sa harap kung saan magkahawak kamay pa si Lalaine at ang Mama ni Joaquin na tumutungo sa iba pang bisita.