BINI SHOTS!

What Happened To Us Pre-Finale

"How are you?"

Maloi was staring by the balcony having a wine glass on her hand which almost fell if she didn't hold unto it after she heard someone speak that made her startle. It was just Colet.

"Tulog na ang mga bata?"

"Yeah, it wasn't that hard since napagod naman sila today."

"Oo nga naman. Can I offer you anything? Gusto mo ng wine rin?"

"I'm good. I still have to drive back sa hotel ko which is pretty far from here."

"You could stay, the kids would want that."

"Nakakahiya, Maloi. It's fine."

Colet joined Maloi on staring the night sky as the cold wind embraced them. The older girl noticed that the younger girl was shivering which made her remove her jacket and placed it onto the latter's shoulders.

"Huy, wag na—

"You need it, hindi ka nagbago. Giniginaw ka parin and you don't bring a jacket."

"Pasensya at salamat."

"You didn't answer my question kanina."

Maloi thought of how to answer the very first question that made her startle. She would like to believe she felt that dahil may biglang sumulpot sa alone time niya but she cannot deny that she really got startled because of the actual question. How does she answer 'How are you' in the calmest way when she could not confidently answer na okay lang siya for the past few years.

"Your silence would mean that I owe you an apology then."

"Ha? Bakit?"

"Your life maybe not as what you thought you would. People normally have the good and bad days but I know you're not getting any good that much."

"It's been really hard since you left, Col."

The way Maloi called out Colet's nickname has made the atmosphere change. Colet does not know what she should feel on the Maloi's sudden confession.

"I think I should go, it was nice seeing you again. Text ulit kita when I want to meet the kids and spend time with them."

Colet started to leave the balcony but she stopped her tracks when Maloi spoke again.

"John left me."

"He what?"

"May bagong pamilya siya. Iniwan niya ang anak namin sa akin."

"And I left you with our two children as well."

"Yeah. Karma ko siguro ito kasi pinagsabayan ko kayo noon eh."

"Don't think of that, you can't blame yourself entirely. I was actually thinking of spending more time with the kids now that I am back here with them."

"What does that mean?"

"Bring them to—."

"Absolutely not! Mga anak ko yan."

"Teka lang, I was gon—."

"Leaving our family, I have already forgiven you for that kasi gets ko anong nararamdaman mo but taking the kids away from me, hindi ko hahayaan na mangyari yun. The kids will be staying here at this household that you have made until I say so."

Maloi must have said those final words a little loud as she heard an infant crying loudly on a nearby room.

"Uunahin ko muna anak ko. You can leave whenever you want."

The younger woman passed by the older as she enters the house leaving Colet alone in the quiet balcony.

"She didn't even get to hear most of my side."