"ASTRID, didn't I tell you to wait for me in the car?" I told my eight year old daughter.
"I got bored, ma." She sigh and look around the restaurant. Axel isn't with us anymore.
Bumalik sa bogota pagtapos ng 7th birthday ni Astrid, at iniwan niya kami sa Pilipinas. Ang sabi ko ay ayaw ko dito pero mukang wala naman daw hahanap saakin dito.
"Let's go inside." Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya at naglakad na papasok.
"Babe." My boyfriend, Timothy.
I'am no saint, kailangan ko ng katulong sa pagpapalaki ng anak ko lalo na at nasanay ako na andyan si Axel para saamin at willing naman siya. He's just so good for accepting a woman like me.
"Tito, I didn't know you'd be here." Medyo maalat nga lang ang pakikitungo sa kanya ni Astrid, paano ba naman ay kinu-kwentuhan ni Axel si Astrid kung gaanong kabuti kuno ang tatay niya.
Kung alam mo lang, muntik nako mapatay ng tatay mo.
"Hi, Astrid. Order anything you want." Timothy smiled at her sweetly.
"I order you out of my moms life, how about that?" Mataray na sagot niya.
Agad ko naman siyang pinagsabihan. "Say sorry to tito Tim, young lady."
"I ain't saying sorry." Then she walked out.
"I guess I have no place in her heart." Timothy sadly smiled at me.
I felt bad for him, wala siyang ibang ginawa kundi intindihin ako at si Astrid pero ganito ang inaabot niya sakin.
"I'll talk to her, I'm so sorry Timothy." I kissed him and followed Astrid.
I almost lost her in the crowd, nasa loob na kasi kami ng mall. Bago ko pa siya mahabol ay lalo siyang bumilis at nakita ko ang isang lalaki na naglalakad papunta sa direksyon na tinatahak din ni Astrid.
How many years have it been? Nine years.
Nine years have passed, pero wala ni isa ang nagbago sa kanya. My heart pounded so hard at his sight, I hate him but I love him at the same time.
"Zayn Cleverious..."
Kung kinakabahan na ako na baka makita niya ako ay mas lalo ako'ng kinabahan ng makabanggaan niya si Astrid!
Nanlaki ang mata ko at dali daling nagtago sa kumpol ng tao.
"You okay?" He asked gently and held her hand to help her stood up.
"Yes, thankyou." My daughter step away.
Kakausapin sana niya si Astrid pero may dalaga at binata ang lumapit sa kanya.
"Dad! Goodness, I thought we're lost." My heart almost fell, oo at siyam taon palang ang nakakalipas pero paano naman na nagkaron siya ng binata at dalaga ng anak? Or maybe may anak na siya nung mga panahon palang na naghiwalay na kami ng unang beses? After our first child.
Lumayo na agad ang anak ko pero hinawakan siya ng dalaga sa kamay.
"Are you lost? We can help you find your mother." The girl smiled at Astrid. My daughter looked swayed. Gosh, mananakaw ang anak ko.
"Stop it, Chloe. Baka mamaya ay hinahanap pala siya ng mama niya." Sagot naman ng binata.
Chloe, I think I heard of it before.
"Then lucky her!" The girl laughed. "What is your name?"
"Astrid Celestine."
"Wow! We both have AC's initials. I'm—"
