Chasing After The Storm | D'heir Series 2

Chapter 35

Chase Villafranca 

It's Monday, time for Cheysela to go to school. I woke up early and canceled all of my plans for this day. I promised myself that even though Isabella and I didn't work, I'll be the best father there is for our little Princess.  I am slowly coming to terms with the possibility that maybe we were never meant to be together in the first place. That she deserved someone better. 

But seeing them together, doing mother-daughter stuff, it makes my heart warm. Like, I want to be selfish. I need both of them in my life. Ni hindi ko namalayan, na nakangiti na pala ako habang pinag mamasdan ko ang mag-ina ko habang nakasandig ako sa pinto. 

Isabella looked so happy and excited for our daughter. She was tying Cheysela's hair with adoration. As if she were the most precious gem there is. 

In fact, she really is. 

"Love, I know you're having a great time but it's almost eight and we need to go."

Due to overwhelming happiness, I didn't even realized that word slipped out my mouth. Bilang palusot, tumingin nalang ako sa anak ko upang takpan ang di sinasadyang salita na nabigkas ko. 

I think it worked. The whole ride, si Cheysela lamang ang nag sasalita. It was like a blessing for me. Hindi ko din kasi alam kung ano ang sasabihin ko kung mag sasalita ako. And I don't want to make everything awkward for Isabella. 

But of course, I know kailangan din naming ibaba si Cheysela sa paaralan. Hence why I looked like a dumb ass motherfucker repeating the question I will ask kay Isabella. 

Hey, may pupuntahan ka? Tanga, ang pangit. Yow Isabella- Bobo! Ano ka tropa? Isabella, saan kita ihahatid? Psh, that sound so stiff. 

After rethinking my word choices a hundred times, I successfully asked her,

"May pupuntahan ka pa ba?" Swabe, hindi halatang pinag isipan. 

Isabella told me na ibaba ko daw siya sa isang mall at may kikitaing kaibigan. I know I should be minding my own business, pero bakit hindi siya nag banggit ng pangalan ng kaibigan niya? Kaya naman pasimple akong nag sabi na may meeting din ako sa mall na to kahit wala naman. Ayaw pa nga maniwala nung una eh, but maybe I'm really handsome kaya napaniwala ko siya. 

Hindi naman sa pagiging chismoso, but I found my foot following wherever Isabella go. I don't know why, but I just really want to know kung sino tong "friend" na tinutukoy niya. Just curious. But of course, I need to stick with my palusot na "meeting." Kaya naman laking pasasalamat ko ng saktong nag text ang pinsan kong si Liliane na umuwi daw siya ng bansa at gusto makipag meet up sa akin. 

Psh, I'm pretty sure she'll just use me again to get close to one of my friend na gustong gusto niya noon pa. 

I've simply sent her my location bago umupo sa hindi hindi ganoon kalapit at hindi din ganoon kalayo mula kay Isabella. I chose the seat with the best view, Isabella, of course. Umupo ako kung saan tanaw na tanaw ko siya from head to toe.

But my brows furrowed when I saw a man calling Isabella. Tinitigan ko ng mabuti ang lalaki, matangkad siya, halatang may biceps, mestizo, pero higit sa lahat, mas pogi ako. I don't feel threatened at all. Pero agad akong natigilan ng makita kong bumeso ito kay Isabella.

ABA HINALIKAN PA ASAWA KO, NAKNAMPUCHA! 

If looks can kill, I bet this man was already lying on the floor lifeless. Nag tatawanan pa sila, ang kakapal ng mga muka niyo. Thankfully, Liliane arrived. I missed her kahit palagi kaming mag kaaway nung mga bata palang kami. She's like my younger sister already. Sadly, her family moved back to England when she was 18. Nag babakasyon siya dito, pero sobrang bihira at hindi rin nag tatagal. 

"Omg, Chase! Hindi ka na pangit!" 

Sama ng ugali, pinsan ko ba talaga to? 

"Really, Liliane? After 5 years yan ang una mong sasabihin sakin?" I said with a sarcastic tone and she just laughed it out. 

"Just kidding, I just miss you okay? I don't have my kuya na kaya in England na pwedeng asarin," She said as she slapped my shoulders. 

"Aray! Ikaw talagang babae ka, ang hilig mo paring manapak," I said as I pinched her nose so hard causing for it to red, then proceeds to mess up with her hair. I laughed when I saw her irritated face, ayaw na ayaw kasi netong ginugulo ang buhok niya because that's her "asset" daw. 

"Hey, stop that! Pag dumaan lang dito yung crush ko tapos na-see na messy ang hair ko ah, lagot ka sakin!" Inis na sabi neto. 

"Kahit ano pang ayos mo sa buhok mo, you wouldn't stand a chance to even get on a date with my best friend," I smirked as I bluntly replied to her that made her even more annoyed. 

"Hmp! Dapat nga you're supporting me because I'm your pinsan!" Pagkatapos ay pinag krus neto bago muling mag salita, "By the way, I heard from auntie that you and Isabella are back together na ha," Pag bibiro nito. I looked at Isabella at hindi ko inaasahang mag tatama ang paningin naming dalawa. 

Agad din siyang umiwas ng tingin sa akin kaya't napabuntong hininga nalamang din ako. 

"Late ka na sa balita, we've decided to stay civil," 

"WHAT?" 

Agad akong napatingin sa kaniya at sinenyasan siya na wag maingay. Tsk, so nosy. 

"Shut up, lower down your voice okay?" I said bago tumingin kay Isabella saglit para makita kung narinig niya ang oa na sagot ng pinsan ko. 

"Why? That fast? What happened? Why won't you get your girl back?" Sunod sunod na tanong neto. 

"Stop asking and finish your food, it's a long story," Sagot ko bago ulit tumingin kina Isabella na mukang paalis na. I immediately stopped her from eating that made her more irritated. 

"What now?" She asked, almost halfway sa pag subo ng food. "Stop eating, we'll follow them." Sagot ko, agad na irinolyo neto ang kaniyang mata bago ako pinukpok ng hindi pa nagagamit na tinidor sa ulo. 

"Stupid! Sabi mo kumain ako, and now you're making me stop? You're so annoying, bahala ka diyan!" 

Inis ako huming ang malalim lalo na ngayong nakaalis na sila ta hindi ko na nasundan pa. I've seen how that man wrap his shoulders around my woman's waist, somehow, it made my blood boil and my heart crumple. 

"Why don't you chase her?" 

I looked at Liliane who's still focused on cutting her food. She looked at me and raise an eyebrow as if she's still waiting for my answer. I immediately shake my head bago sumandig sa malambot na upuan. She then rolled her eyes at me. 

"Come on, why? If you love her, go chase her. Chase ang pangalan mo hindi ka naman marunong mag habol," She added. 

"It's not as simple as that, Liliane." Seryoso kong komento "We've been chasing each other for a long time already. We've hurt each other pero mas nasaktan ko siya. She's been through a lot, she deserves peace and happiness."  Sinserong sabi ko, tumango tango sa Liliane bago uminom ng juice na para bang nauunawaan niya. 

"Sila ng anak ko," Dagdag ko ng biglang maibuga niya ang kaniyang iniinom ng juice sa akin. 

"WHAT THE FUCK, LILIANE?" Inis na sabi ko, fuck nabugahan pa talaga tong muka ko. 

"What the hell, kuya? You have a daughter?" Gulat na tanong niya, agad kong pinunsan ang aking muka ng table napkin at ibinato iyon sa kaniya na agad niya namang ihinagis sa lapag.

"Akala ko ba sinabi sayo ni mommy?" Takang tanong ko at agad naman siyang umiling. 

"No, ang sabi lang ni tita nagkabalikan kayo. I didn't know you have a daughter!" Pagkatapos ay agad na nag ningning ang kaniyang mga mata, "What's her name? Where is she? How old is she? OMG! Ano gusto niya? Let's buy her toys! Or how about collection bags? You should've told me! I want to be her ninang okay? Ninang niya na ako ngayon, I want to meet her!" Sunod sunod na sabi nito, agad akong napailing. 

Paano ko sasabihin sayo eh hindi ko nga din alam na may anak pala ako noon diba? 

She stood up and get her bag bago ako hinila sa braso para tumayo. Naguguluhan ko siyang tiningnan, "Where will we go?" I asked. She rolled her eyes at me as if I'm slow. 

"Saan pa? Edi mag shopping tayo! Come on, I want to get close with your daughter. Might as well buy her some gifts diba?" Excited na sabi nito. Agad akong napangiti, Liliane really love kids. 

I agreed at nag libot libot na kami sa mall. Halos sumakit ang paa ko kakalad sa rami ng pinamili niyang laruan at damit. I told her na marami nang laruan ang anak ko but she asked me what's the problem with that. I am happy na mukang gustong gusto ng pinsan kong mapalapit sa anak ko. 

May mapag iiwanan na ako kay Cheysela pag gusto ko solohin ang mommy niya

Which will only happen in my dreams. And then I remembered Isabella. Napakaganda niya talaga, she's the prettiest woman I have ever seen in my life. She's so perfect, everything about her is perfect. Lalo na kapag nakikita ko ang mga ngiti niya, parang nahahatak niya lalo ako na lumapit sa kaniya. 

Sadly, lahat ng binibigay ko sakaniya ay problema at sakit. Our life is a mess because of me, ang raming nangyayari, I don't know how we will continue our love story. I don't want us to end like this, pero what can I do? Anong karapatan ko? After all, I'm nothing but the man who broke her heart. Ano nga ba ang ginawa ko para mapasaya si Isabella? Kasi sa sarili ko, wala akong maalala. Ang lahat lang ng naalala ko, yung kamalian ko sakaniya. 

That's why I couldn't forgive my self, I didn't deserve her. 

"Hey, you're zoning out. Ang rami kong sinasabi oh, are you alright?" Liliane asked me, may hawak itong dalawang damit na mukang pinapakita sa akin. 

"Uhm, yeah sorry, uuwi na ba tayo?" Gusto ko na kasing makita ulit ang Isabella ko... 

"Okay fine, I want to visit your daughter sana eh. Kaso si daddy pinapasundo na ako nasa labas na driver ko, I'll message you pag pupunta ako sa bahay niyo alright?"

Tumango nalamang ako at hindi na nag salita pa, I get my phone from my pockets and decided to check on Isabella. Hindi ko alam kung anong sasabihin ko, what alibi should I use? Kasama pa ba niya yung pangit na kaibigan niya? Is she having fun? Nakauwi na ba siya?