DISCLAIMER: I am no lawyer so I don't know the exact proceedings when it comes to custody battles. I have an idea how it works but not the nitty gritty that comes with it. Please do not quote me on anything I say here and please do not sue me. :)
//
Tahimik na nananghalian sina Maine at Alden kasama si Baste. Hindi naman alintana ng bata ang katahimikan sa pagitan ng dalawa sapagkat okupado ito sa paglalaro sa kanyang iPad na dala ng ama.
Pansin ni Maine ang medyo pagkawala sa mood ni Alden kaya naman hinayaan niya lang itong manahimik habang sinusubukan nila pareho ang kumain ng maayos.
Ngunit sa pang-pitong buntong-hininga nito --
Not that I'm counting. Nope. Hindi ko naman binibilang talaga.
-- hindi na napagilan ni Maine ang magtanong. "Alden - are you ok?"
Tumingala si Alden mula sa pagkakatitig sa kanyang plato upang tingnan si Maine. Pilit itong ngumiti at umiling na tila wala naman siyang kunwa'y iniisip.
"I'm all right. Why do you ask? Ikaw? Bakit parang hindi pa nababawasan yang pasta mo? Hindi ba masarap? Shall we order a new one?"
Akmang tatawagin na ni Alden ang kanilang waiter ng matigilan ito dahil sa paghawak ni Maine sa kamay niya. "Love..."
Binalik ni Alden ang tingin kay Maine at bumuntong-hininga ulit.
8th. That's the 8th -- MENGGAY UMAYOS KA NGA JUSKO!
"It's nothing. It's just that --"
"Yung kanina? Si Cindy?"
Pumikit si Alden at sumandal sa kinauupuan habang hinawakan naman ng mahigpit bigla ang kamay ni Maine. "Yes."
"Why did she appear all of a sudden? After all these years?" marahang tanong ni Maine.
Buntong-hininga ulit. Ok. That's the 9th - STOP COUNTING MENG ANUBAH?!
"I don't know how to say this so I'm just going to say it outright. She wants joint custody of Baste. She sent the papers from her lawyer this morning sa opisina ko. Tapos nagulat na lang din ako na bigla siyang nagpakita sa school ni Baste."
"WHAT????"
Tumango lamang si Alden at bumuntong-hininga muli. 10th. That's the -- WHAT THE HELL MAINE?! CAN YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT HE JUST TOLD YOU AND NOT HOW MANY TIMES HE'S BREATHING DEEPLY?! JUSKO!!
"Did you check if her summons were legit?"
"I sent it to our company's lawyers na to review. I told them to prioritize it and to report to me tomorrow. I also hired a private eye para mapa-imbestigahan itong si Cindy. Kung bakit after almost 5 years na wala kaming communication eh biglang magpaparamdam ngayon."
Marahang pinisil naman ni Maine ang kamay ni Alden. "What do you need me to do? Do you need me to research? Find out more about joint custodies? Ano? Alden - just let me know. Alam mo naman na parang anak ko na si Baste kaya naman lahat ay --"
"What did you say?" biglaang pagsasabad ni Alden kay Maine.
"Alin? Yung tutulungan kita sa research? I swear, love - I will definitely help you sa --"
"No, not that. About Baste," iling na sagot ni Alden habang nakangiti.
"Which one?" pagtatakang tanong ni Maine habang inaalala kung ano ang kanyang nasabi. Nang maalala niya na, nanlaki ang mga mata nito habang lalong lumaki naman ang mga ngiti ni Alden. "Oh... That..."
BINABASA MO ANG
Sa Tamang Panahon (An AlDub Fanfic) #Wattys2016 Winner
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