How Did We Get Here?

Chapter 23

Bea POV

Napalingon ako nang may pumasok sa pintuan ng physiolab na babaeng hindi ko kailanman makakalimutan. She still looks gorgeous maybe evenmore as she brought down her glasses. And our eyes met. Lumapit sa kanya yung staff ko pero sinenyasan ko na ako na.

"What can we do for you Ms. Viray?"

"I suffered a grade 2 hamstring in my last game." I noticed the limp in her steps. Kaya dali dali kong kinuha ang bag niya at hinawakan ang arm niya pero para pa rin akong nakuryente.

"And you drove all the way here on your own? You could have called me."

"You seem to be forgetting that we haven't been communicating for 1 year Bea."

"Right. The wound still feels fresh kasi like it was just yesterday."

"Ano magrereminisce ba tayo dito for everyone to hear? Coz I didn't come here for that."

I nodded but she was suprised when I carried her bridal style all the way to my office. Nagtatawanan yung mga staff ko kasi kilala nila si Caitlin and she was really hitting me hard in my arms but I didn't budge.

"Baliw ka pa rin talaga e no?"

"E bakit kinikilig ka?"

"Saang banda hindi kaya."

"Cait can I see your leg ok lang ba?"

"Kelan ka pa naging PT?"

"Hinde pa but I'm studying na din yan." As I carefully turned her to the side. And my hand could not help itself as I gently traced the bruising at the back of her leg and saw her wince in pain. "Sorry."

"I'm fine don't worry. Pero grabe ka din talaga Bei a di ka napapagod mag-aral."

"Dalawang bagay lang naman ang di ako mapapagod. That was one."

"And what's the other?"

"Ang mahalin ka."

"Really now? I thought dinedate mo yung bagong player ng creamline."

I was mum with that remark from her. I mean how did she find out?

"Well to be honest yes. I dunno where you heard it. Pero hinde pa naman kami."

"But if you wanna be with her I wouldn't be opposed to it. Hindi naman na tayo."

"Talaga ba? But you are right hindi na nga tayo. So if I put myself out there again wala namang magagalit, diba?"

Natahimik na lamang ito so dinala ko na siya sa PT namin na maghahandle sa kanya. And I helped her fix her PT sked. Special treatment na kung special treatment who cares.

"Uwi ka ba sa inyo?"

"Bakit where else will I go?"

"You mean to say nag-uuwian ka lagi?"

"Yes."

"Bakit di ka kumuha ng condo na malapit sa venue ng games o training niyo? I could have helped you look for one."

"Yan ka na naman why do you keep forgetting that I can take care of myself? Oo noon alam ko ikaw ang umaasikaso ng lahat to the point na aaminin ko pilay na pilay ako when we broke up. Pero kinaya ko naman at kinaya mo din naman mag-isa."

"Kasi wala naman akong choice Cait kung di kayanin. You left me, remember? My whole world collapsed when you decided to turn your back on us."

Natahimik na naman ito na nagtiis na lang tumingin sa window niya sa passenger seat. Matinding pilitan ang naganap pero naconvince ko siya na sasakyan ko na ang gamitin pacavite. Nagdrive thru muna kami sa mcdo and I ordered food for us.

She was halfway through her burger when I noticed her puncture my drink with a straw and offered to me while giving me french fries one by one. Just like the old times. Dumaan kami sa cake shop so I can buy one for tita and grabbed a toy for Clark.

"Ikaw iniispoil mo na naman sila lalo na si Clark pag ikaw hinanap hanap ka na naman nila a."

"Bakit di naman ako nawala a? Andun lang ako always just a call away. How was Clark though?"

"Ayun panay hanap sa bubu bear niya. Where is bubu bear kelan siya babalik? Sabi ko na lang nasa ibang bansa na yung bubu bear niya para matahimik."

"Wow pero good call."

Pagdating namin sa bahay nila ay sinalubong agad kami ni Tita habang buhat buhat ko si Cait.

"Bea ikaw pala hija. Tagal mong di nagpakita a. Anong nangyari kay Cait nakakalakad naman siya kanina."

"Well she didn't tell you tita that she suffered a hamstring and struggling to walk." Nanghampas na naman tong maitim na babaeng to.

"Hindi naman kasi ko nabalian o baldado OA ka lang talaga Bea may pabuhat ka pang nalalaman nababalisa tuloy yung nanay ko."

"Bakit ba e sa queen treatment ka naman palagi sakin a?"

"Nagkabalikan na ba kayo?"

"No!" Malutong na pagkakasabi ni Cait.

"Hinde pa tita e."

"Naku kayo talaga di na kayo bumabata ayusin niyo yung mga pwede pang ayusin."

Binaba ko na sa sofa si Cait at inayos ang legs niya para ielevate sa pillow. Narinig kong nagtatatakbo si Clark sakin big boy na siya pero dali daling yumakap ito sakin.

"Bubu bear I missed you."

"I missed you too Clarkie."

"Ate honey bubu bear told me you left Philippines na. Where's my pasalubong?"

"Here o makakalimutan ko ba ang baby boy namin?"

"Yehey! Look ate o Bubu Bear got me a toy."

"Tita mauuna na pala ko."

"Di ka ba matutulog dito Bea?"

"May mga kailangan pa kasi kong asikasuhin sa physiolab tita."

"Ay ganun ba kumain ka na muna ng hapunan bago ka umalis. Nagluto pa naman ako ng paborito mo tas magbaon ka din pauwi para makakain ka naman ng lutong bahay paminsan minsan."

"Sige ba tita di naman ako tatanggi diyan paborito ko kaya yang luto mo e."

"Ay nako hija wag mo parinig sa anak ko yan at competitive yan baka awayin ka na naman."

"Hayaan niyo siya tita sanay na ko."

Pagkakain ko nga ay nagsabi ako dito na babalik na lang ako sa lunes para sa next sked ni Cait ng physiotherapy.

Lumapit na ko dito at aktong magpapaalam pansin ko busy busyhan pa to sa phone niya kaya hinablot ko.

"Bea ano ba ibalik mo nga yan."

"Wait lang titignan ko lang if binlock o binura mo na yung no ko." Pagkasilip ko na andun pa rin binalik ko na agad sa kanya.

"Ano naghahanap ka na naman ng pagseselosan mo? FYI matagal na tayong wala no."

I just smiled back. "Pag di na ko nagselos that would be the day. But promise number ko lang talaga chineck ko. Message me sa Monday or if lalabas ka anytime before that para mapuntahan kita."

"So pano kung kadate ko yung kikitain ko pupunta ka?"

"Ano ko martyr? Di ko naman siguro sasagarin ng ganun yung pagkatanga ko sayo. Pasundo ka sa kadate mo pag ganun. Kung may magtatangka man they should be able to take care of you. You don't deserve lesser than that."

I saw a message popup as I was driving back to Mandaluyong. It was from Cait.

Cait: Thank you. Ingat ka sa pagdadrive pauwi.

And just like that para na naman nabuhayan ako ng di maipaliwanag.