Fatima Riarte only had one cardinal rule. And it's to never fall in love with her friend, Rigo Riorson.
Despite the meaningful glances and the silent pleas of the heart, their relationship never materialized.
Not until that one night.
But when a mis...
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Chapter 22
Home Stretch
Fatima was pissed. Ang aga aga ay parang sasabog na siya sa init ng mukha niya. Her washing machine wouldn't work, and there was a huge pile of dirty clothes already waiting to be washed. Wala na siyang grocery at gutom na gutom na siya pero pinipigilan niya mag-order ng fast food (dahil bubungangaan na naman siya ni Abe). And to top it all off, her back, legs, and feet hurt kaya hindi siya halos makakilos mula sa pagkakaupo sa sala.
"Aaaaaargh!" Fatima half-yelled in frustration. At 35 weeks, she was in her home stretch. Hirap na hirap na siyang kumilos at kahit nagsasalita lang ay hingal na hingal na siya. Rigo also didn't allow her to do much dahil ayaw nitong nahahapo siya kaya madalas siya ang kumikilos—nagluluto, naglalaba, bumibili ng grocery para sa kanila. On top of that, he had a job to tend to dahil natanggap ito sa isang government agency.
But he was busy today. Katatapos lang nito mag-file ng applications for his board exam at nagsisimula pa lang ang review period nito. Fatima wasn't even sure how he would make it work as he juggled a full time job, reviewing, and his personal life. Kaya gusto niya na kahit paano ay makatulong dito.
Her phone rang just in time as she was about to stand up from the couch. Pangalan ni Rigo ang bumungad sa kanya. Narinig siguro nito ang sigaw niya.
Fatima slid the button to answer. "Hello?"
"Kumain ka na?" Rigo's voice cut through the line. Medyo maingay sa background nito at naririnig niya ang mga katrabaho nito.
"Uh, 'di pa." Fatima bit her thumb. "But I will. Nagluto ako ng fried chicken." She felt bad for lying, because there wasn't a fried chicken in existence, but she didn't want him to worry.
"Okay. Ako bumili lang ng ulam dito, parang scam nga eh. Ang mahal tapos tatlong subo ko lang yata 'yong laman."
"Sabi ko naman sa 'yo magbaon ka na lang. Bumili na lang tayo ng madaling lutuin."
Pumalatak ito sa kabilang linya. "Puro processed food 'yon. Tapos wala naman na akong oras para magluto sa umaga." It was true. He barely had enough time to sleep dahil sa gabi ay nagrereview pa ito.
Bumaling ang tingin ni Fatima sa gilid ng sala. May make-shift working table ito na binili para sa kanila, in case Fatima wanted to work from home after her maternity leave. Pero siya muna ang gumagamit gawa ng pagrereview niya.
"Ako na lang magluluto. Gisingin mo ako mga 30 minutes bago ka umalis."
"Ang aga no'n. Maiistorbo tulog mo." She could almost see the frown between the spaces of his brows.
Fatima wanted to roll her eyes at him. "Just wake me up, okay? Done deal. 'Wag ka nang magreklamo."
Sandali itong natahimik sa kabilang linya kaya inilayo ni Fatima sa kanya ang phone para tignan kung ibinaba na ba nito ang tawag. The call was still on-going.
