Maybe This Time

11

The afternoon sunlight filtered through the window of Aiah's condo, casting a warm glow over the living room. Maxwell was busy playing with his toy trucks on the floor, his innocent laughter filling the space, while Gian watched over him quietly, sitting on the sofa with a cup of coffee in hand.

Aiah paced back and forth in her bedroom, her heart racing. She couldn't stop thinking about what Gian had said earlier. The truth about Maxwell—the secret she had been keeping for three years—was suffocating her, and she knew she couldn't carry it any longer. Every day, seeing MJ and Maxwell together, seeing their similarities, was a constant reminder of the night she left MJ behind. She couldn't continue living with this secret.

She stopped pacing and stared at her reflection in the mirror. "Kaya mo 'to, Aiah," she whispered to herself, her voice shaky but determined. "You need to tell him the truth."

Without a second thought, she grabbed her phone from the bedside table and dialed Gian's number. He answered after a few rings.

"Aiah?" Gian's calm voice echoed through the phone.

"Gian, pwede bang ikaw muna magbantay kay Maxwell? I need to go out," Aiah's voice trembled slightly, but she tried her best to sound composed.

"Sure, walang problema. Where are you going?" Gian asked, his tone laced with concern.

Aiah hesitated for a moment, her fingers gripping the phone tightly. "I need to tell MJ... about Maxwell."

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line, then Gian responded softly, "Tama 'yan, Aiah. Pero sigurado ka na ngayon mo na sasabihin?"

"Oo, Gian. Hindi ko na kaya itago. It's time," Aiah said firmly, her mind set on what she needed to do.

"Okay, I'll look after Maxwell. Alam mo naman kung saan si MJ diba?"

Aiah hesitated again. "Actually, hindi ko alam yung exact address niya ngayon. I mean, baka nag-move na siya after all these years."

Gian chuckled softly. "Nope. Hindi siya umalis dun sa condo niya. Same place. Same condo unit."

Aiah's heart skipped a beat. The same condo? The place where they had shared that unforgettable night—the night everything changed. She quickly pushed the memories aside. This was not the time to dwell on the past.

"Sige, thank you, Gian. I'll be back later," Aiah said, hanging up the phone and grabbing her bag.

Maxwell, who had been engrossed in his toys, looked up at her with his wide, innocent eyes. "Momma, where are you going?"

Aiah knelt down and kissed his forehead. "Momma will just be out for a while, baby. Tito Gian will stay with you, okay?"

Maxwell pouted but nodded, his little hands wrapping around his favorite truck. "Okay, Momma. Don't be gone too long ha?"

"Promise, I'll be back soon," Aiah whispered, giving him one last hug before standing up.

Gian gave her a reassuring nod as she made her way to the door. "Good luck, Aiah. I'll take care of things here."

With a deep breath, Aiah left the condo and headed for MJ's place. Her mind raced with a mix of anxiety and determination. She didn't know how MJ would react, but she had to tell him the truth. She owed it to him. And she owed it to Maxwell.

---

After what felt like an eternity, Aiah finally stood in front of MJ's condo building. The familiar lobby, the elevators, the hallways—everything brought back memories she had tried so hard to forget. Her hands trembled as she pressed the button for MJ's floor, her heart pounding in her chest.