#1: Once A Gangster Loves (WATTYS2020)

CHAPTER 31 - Questions

ONCE A GANGSTER LOVES

CHAPTER 31

"Are you sure hindi ka na sasama sakin?" Tanong ko kay Shazney bago ako pumasok ng kotse. Tumango siya sakin bilang sagot.

"May gagawin pa kong project kaya ikaw nalang," aniya. Tumango ako sakaniya tapos ay nagpaalam na bago pa ako sumakay sa kotse at umalis.

Today is my Mom's last check up sa doctor niya and I'm going to accompany her since Dad wouldn't be able to and I'm actually not satisfied with Shazney's excuse. She already did her project last night if I am not mistaken. I doubt that she will do another project. But I didn't say anything further dahil baka ayaw niya lang talaga lumabas ngayon ng bahay.

I picked my Mom at our house which is one hour away pa sa bahay ko then went directly to the hospital na pagma may-ari pa ng pamilya ni Tristan.

Nang makarating sa hospital ay pumunta kami agad sa loob ng office ng Cardiologist ni Mommy.

"Mrs. Pascual," bati ni Dr. Angeles at sinalubong rin kami ng ngiti. "Upo po kayo." Sabay gesture niya sa upuang nakapwesto sa tapat ng kaniyang table.

Dr. Angeles examined my Mother's medical records at nilabas din ang ilang test results na in-undergo ni Mommy last time. The doctor said that her records and test results for the x-ray and such are good but he said that my Mom has to be extra-careful of herself this time. Nag-advice ulit ng gamot si Dr. Angeles para kay Mommy na dapat i-take consistently at mga pagkain na dapat iwasan at dapat kainin lagi ni Mom.

It just took us one hour and few minutes. Matapos ng pagpapacheck up Mommy ay nagpaalam siya na pupunta lang siyang comfort room. She told me to stay nalang sa waiting room because she can handle herself daw. Hinayaan ko na siya at sinunod nalang ang sinabi niya na maghintay nalang ako sa waiting room.

Habang nakaupo at naghihintay kay Mommy, nahagip ng mata ko si Tristan na pumasok sa office ng kaniyang Daddy na isang Neurologist pero mukhang may naunang pumasok sakaniya. Kumunot ang aking noo. May girlfriend ba siya?

I stood up and was about to follow them just to sneak peak pero biglang dumating si Mommy. Wrong timing.

"May hinahanap ka ba?" Tanong niya sakin.

Umiling ako. "Wala po. Tara na? Gusto niyo bang dumaan muna tayo sa isang restaurant malapit dito para makapag-lunch na tayo?"

"Sige. Tamang tama. Hindi mo na nade-date ang Mommy mo eh."

I chuckled. "Sorry na."

She grinned at me. "Si Shazney na kasi laging ka-date mo." My face turned red in embarrassment at napakamot sa batok. I was caught-off-guard.

***

After kong ihatid sa bahay si Mommy ay dumiretso na ako pauwi sa bahay namin ni Shazney. Pero nakakapagtaka lang kasi hindi siya sakin nagte-text. May ginagawa pa ba talaga siyang project? Is she that busy?

Bumuntong hininga ako tapos initabi ang kotse sa gilid ng daan at inilabas ang cellphone ko. Ako nalang ang magte-text sakaniya.

Sinabi ko lang sakaniya na pauwi na ko at sinabi ko ring ayos naman ang check up ni Mommy para hindi na siya mag-alala. Tapos ay nag-drive na ulit ako pauwi.

Nang makarating ako sa bahay, agad akong sinalubong ng aso ni Shazney na si Blue. Nagulat ako dahil tinahulan ako nito. Mabuti nalang at nasanay na ako na may aso sa bahay kaya di na ako natatakot. Sa halip ay nagawa ko pa itong kargahin.

"Nasaan ang mommy mo?" Wika ko dito tapos ay inilibot ang paningin sa paligid.

Ang tahimik yata?

Tumaas ako para i-check si Shazney kung nandoon siya pero nagulat ako nang wala akong nadatnan sa loob ng kwarto niya. Saan naman kaya 'yun nagpunta?

Bumaba na ulit ako habang karga ko pa rin si Blue.

"Iniwan ka pala dito ng mommy mo kaya ka nagtatahol kanina," sabi ko muli kay Blue while caressing her head. Sakto namang bumukas ang pintuan at pumasok si Shazney. Kumunot ang noo ko sakaniya dahil nakasuot ito ng jeans at t-shirt. May nakasukbit ring sling-bag sakaniya.

Tiningnan niya ako na parang gulat.

"Saan ka galing?" Wika ko.

"Ah... May dinaanan lang akong kaibigan," aniya tapos lumapit siya sakin.

"Kadarating mo lang?" Tapos ni-pet niya si Blue.

"Oo. Nagtext ako sa'yo, nabasa mo ba?"

She looked at me. "Oo."

"Sino yung dinaanan mong kaibigan? I thought you're doing your project?"

Binaba na niya ang kamay niya na kanina ay nakapatong kay at tiningnan ako. "Kay Chloe ako pumunta tsaka tapos na pala yung project ko kahapon pa. Nakalimutan ko."

Tiningnan ko lang siya na parang hindi ako makapaniwala pero hindi na ako nagtanong pa sakaniya dahil sasakit lang ang ulo ko. Isa pa, ayokong maghinala sakaniya. Hindi maganda ang kahahantungan. Tsaka hindi ko dapat pagdudahan si Shazney, di ba? Because for a relationship to develop a strong bond must have a solid trust for each other and that's what I want for the both of us.

"Bakit ka ganyan makatingin?" I snapped back. She has this anxious look.

"Wala. Kumain ka na ba?" I asked her, changing the topic.

"Oo. Sorry, di kita nahintay."

I smiled at her and placed my arm around her shoulder. We began walking inside.

[Shazney's POV]

"Okay lang. Kumain na rin naman kami ni Mommy sa isang restaurant kanina." I smiled at him and tried acting as if I didn't know it.

"She says, it has been awhile since we dated. Mom sounded like she was jealous of you, did you know that?" He said while chuckling. I didn't respond and sighed while looking at him. We both sat at the sofa. His arms is still around my shoulder. It makes me feel safe now that I'm beside him.

To be honest, I saw him and Tita Kaycee awhile ago on that restaurant he was referring awhile ago. That restaurant is near the hospital I gone. I was supposed to eat there with Tristan but good thing we immediately recognized them so we looked for another restaurant to eat. That time, I felt like I'm cheating on him. I felt like I was a suspect and he was my victim. It's making me feel anxious now that I'm hiding something from him. But what can I do? I do not want to trouble him. I do not want him be worried about me.