What If's

CHAPTER 2

It's a typical Saturday mid-morning where I am curled into the couch with a book in my hands. I don't usually go out during weekends kasi traffic, syempre halos lahat nang tao pumupunta sa mga malls at parks at isa naring dahilan ay masyadong mainit sa labas. I'd rather stay in my pad and indulge on reading and coffee. 

[phone rings]

I ignored the buzzing  sound from my phone kasi for sure si Andrea lang yan, makulit kasi ang lahi nang babaeng yun. She always insist on bringing me to dates and meet-ups na hindi ko naman gusto. Halos kilala ko na nga lahat ng office mates niya na single at pati narin biyudo. Oo ganon ka lakas ang topak niya. Then incident from last week popped into my mind.

Nandito ako ngayon sa isang seafood place malapit sa office namin kasi nakatanggap ako nang message from my crazy cousin na magdi-dinner daw kami dito.

"Nasan ka na? Kakarating ko lang," I said on the phone.

"Talaga?" There's a hint of excitement in her voice. "Wait for a minute, 'wag kang-aalis ha!" Pagbabanta nito sabay baba ng telepono.

That's weird. Feeling ko may nilulutong plano na naman ang gagang yun.

A few moments later, I saw a guy in a blue dress shirt headed my direction. Hindi ko na lang pinansin kasi di ko naman siya kilala. 

I busied my self scanning through my mail when someone spoke, "Ikaw ba si Alexandra Marquez?"

Nilingon ko ang pinanggalingan ng boses at nakita ko yung lalake kanina na nakatayo sa harapan ko. "Oo ako nga, do I know you?"

"Sammuel nga pala, office mate ni Andrea."

"Shit!" I cursed under my breath.

"Ha? May sinabi ka?" Tanong pa nung Sammuel.

"Nothing. Please have a seat." I immediately sent a message to my idiotic couisin saying, 'Im gonna kill you for this', along with those demon emoji's.

Binalot kami ng katahimikan, ayaw kong magsalita kasi baka mabugahan ko ng apoy itong kaharap ko ng dahil sa galit ko.

"Single ka diba?" The guy spoke.

I stared at him for a few seconds bago ako sumagot, "Oo naman, aren't you?" I meant it as a joke, of course he's single.

"I have kids," I assumed he's referring to puppies since calling dogs as children is a thing now. "Well, that's cool of you."

"You think so?" I nodded. He's not ugly really, not that bulky but not that small either and his height his also on average. He leaned forward kaya napaatras ako sa gulat, hindi niya napansin ang reaction ko kasi busy siya sa kakatingin sa phone niya, parang may hinahanap.

"So eto, this is my eldest Jacob and my youngest Carl." He looked so proud showing me a photo of two little boys--

"May anak ka!?" Sobrang nagulat ako sa revelation niya kaya medyo napataas ang boses ko na naging dahilan ng pagtingin ng ibang customers sa table namin. Napayuko ako dahil sa kahihiyan.

"May anak kana?" I said, my voice still etched with bewilderment.

"I thought you said it's cool?" Naguguluhan niyang balik sa akin.

I was unable to speak, I was lost for words. Who would actually thought that my cousin would go this far, I mean a family man, really?

I was about to speak when a buzzing sound caught our attention, Sammuel picked the call.

"Yes anak?" I guessed it's his son. "What! Anong nangyari, o-okay I'm on my way, stop crying now." He looked at me apollogitically, I know what this means so I smiled to let him know it's okay.

Agad na nakaalis si Sammuel sa restaurant, what a good father he is, rushing to attend to his child's needs.

I stayed there para kumain, nakakahiya sa may ari kung tumambay lang kami tapos di o-order diba?

After dinner, tinawagan ko ang bruha.

"Hell--"

"Gaga ka ba? May pamilya yung tao tapos sinet mo for meet-up, adik ka ghurl?" 

"Hindi naman yun gan--" 

"Anong hindi? May anak yun, ano nalang gagawin ng asawa niya pag nalaman edi patay ka at damay ako!" Naiinis ako kasi feeling ko naging kabit ako for 30 minutes. 

"Biyudo na si Sammuel ano ka ba! Two years na." Para akong nabunutan ng tinik sa nalaman. But still ayoko.

"Andrea, this is your last warning, itatakwil kita talaga!"

Napailing nalang ako sa ka-abnormalan ng pinsan ko. The ringing stopped, napagod na ata. Bumalik ako sa pagbabasa, 5 minutes into the book at nag ring muli ang phone ko.

Inis kong kinuha iyon mula sa center table at sinagot na hindi nag check kung sino ang tumatawag.

"Ano ba Aya, I said stop it already! Ayaw ko na sa meet-ups na yan nakakapagod! I dont care kung maging single ako forever kaya please stop pestering me!" Full power kung bulyaw sa kausap ko.

I was about to dismiss the call when I heard a manly chuckle on the other end. 

Akmang titingnan ko ang caller ID nang magsalita ito. "C'mon princess, you don't wanna be an old maid now do you?"

"Shit! Dad?"

"No cursing Alexandra! Yan ba ang natutunan mo riyan sa Manila?" I winced at my father's tone. 

Zandro Marquez Jr., my father, is not usually strict. He's intimidating on the outside but he's a teddy bear. 

"Sorry na po, I thought si Andrea yung tumawag," I said sincerely.

"Fine! So how are you?"

"Doing well, I think. So dad, what's wrong?"

"Does there have to be a problem for me to call you?" My dad is such a drama king.

"Dad I know you love me but you only call us-- specially me when its urgent." He's sweet alright pero his time is very precious since he's hardworking and parating may call na sinasagot kaya for him to personally call us it means important.

I can hear my father sighing, "Aren't you coming home?"

I was taken aback by the question, I suddenly felt sad. I missed them really but I'm still hesitating.

"Dad alam mong may trabaho ako diba?" I reasoned.

"Take a leave or else I'll get you fired," he said.

"Dad no! You will not do that."

"I can and I might princess pag hindi ka pa umuwi dito, its been 5 years, the place missed you." I hate my father for making me guilty.

A defeated sigh escaped my lips, "Fine uuwi kami." 

"That's good to hear, be here on our anniversary okay. I love you my princess, see you soon."

I heard the tone signaling that the call has ended.

I mentally faced palm when I realized what had I agreed upon. Napasubo ako dun ah! 

What's done is done. Kaya naman kailangan kong pangatawanan to.

I searched my contacts and sent her a message.

Clear ur schedule at the end of the month, uuwi tayo.