The days went by smoothly. Although hectic parin ang schedule ni Shin, she somehow learned to balance everything. After noong reunion nila ng champs at pagpasyal nilang tatlo nina Sarah at Erik kay Raffy, natutunan ni Shin na hindi siya dapat magpakasubsob sa trabaho to the point na naneneglect na niya ang anak. Raffy should always be her first prioriy. Kaya ngayon, kahit paano ay nabibigyan na niya ng oras ang anak niya. Hindi na ito gaanong nagrerelakmo na namimiss siya.
She sees to it that she and Raffy would have quality time togehther everyday. Sweet as his son is, lagi nitong iniinsist na hintayin siya bago matulog. Nagkakaproblema lang sila everytime her schedule wouldn’t permit her to go home early. But somehow she managed to explain everything to Raffy and being the intelligent and loving boy that he is, he was able to understand.
She was also becoming more and more at peace. Nagiging mas komprtable na siya sa trabaho niya, even if she is with Ian most of the time. She has become more comfortable around him. Unti unti nang nababalik ang friendship nila, with Ian doing most of the effort for it to be so. But of course she still has her limitations. She still has that wall, the wall she cannot let Ian penetrate. And that is the wall surrounding Raffy.
One Saturday morning, Shin was pleased to have a very early visitor.
“Good morning Bes!” Erik kissed her on the cheek. “Asan si Raffy?”
“Si Raffy agad? Di mo man lang ako kukumustahin?”
“Hala! Pagselosan daw ba ang anak? Malala ka na bes! Hanap ka na ng lalaking magmamahal sayo!”
“Hahaha! Sira! Anong connect?’
“Wala naman. Maipilit lang, bakit ba?”
“Hahahaha! Pag ikaw nag-asawa na. Dun na ako mangangarag humanap ng akin!”
“Sabi mo yan ha! Walang bawian! Mag-aasawa ako next month! Hahahaha!”
“Uncle!!” napalingon sila at nakita si Raffy na tumatakbo pababa ng hagdan.
“Hey! Be careful babe!”
Raffy ran straight to Erik and hugged him. Kinarga naman siya nito.
“I missed you Uncle! You said you would visit, but you haven’t! Where’s pretty Aunt Sarah? I miss her too.”
“I’m sorry baby boy. Uncle just got busy that’s why I wasn’t able to visit. Aunt Sarah is busy too. But I know she will visit you one of these days.”
“But when?”
Napakamot ng ulo si Erik. “Hmmmm, she said it will be a surprise!” Ayaw niya rin mangako sa bata at baka madisapppoint ito.
“Okay. Let’s play Uncle!”
“You know what baby, I have a better idea. How about if we go to the mall? You and me. I will make it up to you!”
“I like that Uncle! Will that be okay mum?”
They looked at Shin. “Mum, pwede ko ba mahiram si Raffy sandali? Gusto ko lang makipagbonding.”
“May rehearsals ako Bes. Hindi ko kayo masasamahan.”
“I know! Sabi ko nga kami lang diba? Boys bonding. Don’t worry Bes, I will take good care of your son. Promise.”
Nag-isip si Shin. She is not very sure about the idea. Kinakabahan siya. Napansin ni Erik na nagdadalawang isip ang kaibigan.
“Promise Bes, walang mangyayaring masama. Akong bahala kay Raffy.”
Naisip ni Shin na mas makakabuti din siguro kung makakalabas si Raffy kasama ang ibang tao. Wala na itong nakikita at nakakahalubilo kundi ang mga tao sa bahay nila. A breath of fresh air for her son might be good.
