Timelapse of Catastrophe (Solis Occasum Series 1)

Kabanata 50

A/N: 1st anniversary ng book na 'to last February 14, Valentine's Day. Naalala ko pa 'yung time na nag-hesitate akong i-publish 'to dahil takot na magsulat ng plot about sa mag-asawa. But, we're here now. This is one of the most successful book I've ever published in this platform. Thank you, guys, for your continuous support and undying patience. I will always be grateful, =>

Kabanata 50

This time

"What is this, Tay?"

"That's your Nanay's lip gloss..."

"Eh?" He stared at me for a moment. "This one?"

"Yeah. You ask her right now," I even tried to convince the kid.

Sa kagustuhan ng bata na masagot ang tanong ay nagtatatakbo siya sa labas habang tinatawag si Henriette. 'Di ko maiwasang matawa bago bumalik sa isinusulat sa lamesa.

Ito lang muna ang tangi kong magagawa ngayon dahil hindi ko pa naman balak bumalik sa dome. Ibibgay ko muna sa mga actors ang script at mga pre-recorded na kantang ginawa ko upang mapag-aralan bago kami magsimula ulit. I trust in them the most when it comes to these stuffs, so they should trust themselves too.

My body's still aching. We encountered another problem yesterday night, but I wanted to make sure that those people would never come back here. I'll never let them see my son or even Henriette. I still need to apologize to Sho and talk to him deeply about what I did.

"Tatay said that this is your lip gloss po, Nanay," I heard my son's voice somewhere near. "But, the color is too pale to be a lip gloss."

Nakipaglaban ako ng tingin sa asawa kong nanlaki ang mga mata.

My eyes drifted to the duct tape she was holding. "Why?"

"Lip gloss, ha?" Henriette said. Agad niya iyon na ibinato sa akin. "Ikaw, kung ano-anong itinuturo mo sa bata."

"What?!" I defended again. "Nagtanong e." At tsaka tumingin kay Sho.

Napakapit siya sa kamay ng Nanay niya, habang ang isa naman ay ipinangkamot ng ulo. Mangha siyang natawa.

"And besides, that's the use of this thing." Patukoy ko sa duct tape. "Pantapal sa bibig ng maingay. Pandikit kapag ayaw tumahimik."

Napawi ang tapang sa mukha niya. Sabay silang natahimik na dalawa habang nakatikhom ang bibig.

Damn, I'm just kidding, of course. But why is she guilty?

Henriette didn't act like nothing happened in between us. We're taking it slowly, just like the limited time given to both of us. She keeps on telling me that I shouldn't waste the chances and strength that I received for myself. Those chances were quite different from the ones I already had. While the strength she was talking about, I don't know.

She'll always be the reason why I've become stronger these days. She's the strength herself.

So, this is what it feels like to live in your dreams, huh? This... is so unreal.

I don't know why they choose to stay here inside my office at home. I have no air conditioner here. Stand fan lang ang naririto kaya kataka-takang nananatili sila rito habang nagt-trabaho ako. They're not distracting me but somehow, it's weird. Ang Nanay ay parang bata rin na sumunod sa akin.

"Can I have my 10 pesos now po?"

"Ask your Tatay for your that."

"I don't have any here." Saad ko habang nagsusulat ng script. "Abonohan mo muna."

"Nanay don't have to make abono," Sho replied. "It's my money."

"Wala rin akong pera," tugon naman ni Henriette. "Tinatamad akong lumakad palabas ng kwarto."