Chapter 23
It's been months since the revelation of my relationship with Gabe. Namimiss ko na siya. Sila ni Julie. Simula nung nag-usap kami ni Sally, she's been updating me of Gabe's activities in school. Yes, we are good friends and she's been helping me fix everything with Julie and Gabe.
"Gusto mo bang puntahan si Gabe? Julie told me she'll be late kasi may inaasikaso siya." ani Sally. Tumawag kasi ako sa kanya when she told me na break time nilang mga teachers.
"Okay lang ba?"
"Oo naman. I know he misses you as much as you missed him." sagot niya. Napangiti ako and decided to visit Gabe.
"Sige. Dadaan ako. I just have to drop by Pol's office."
"Tapos mo na yung painting mo for him?" she asked.
"Yeah. Finished it yesterday." sagot ko.
"Okay. If you arrive in school na di pa dismissal ng mga bata, just let Kuya Edgar know na alam kong bibisita ka ha? He'll give you a visitor's pass."
"Okay. Thank you, Sal." sabi ko.
After namin mag-usap ay nagtungo na ako sa office ni Pol. He asked me if I could paint him a picture for his office. Nalipat na kasi siya ng office since his dad retired and his brother took over as CEO. Siya naman, napromote as COO.
"Uy! Yan na ba yung painting ko?" tanong niya. Natawa ko saka inalis ang blanket na nakatakip sa painting. His eyes grew wide when he saw the portait he asked me to do. "Woah! Parang totoo!" aniya.
"Siyempre ako pa ba? Wala kang bilib saken eh." mayabang na sabi ko. Natawa lang siya saka napailing.
"Lintek balik sa yabang si gago." aniya. "Tulungan mo ko. Lagay natin dito." sabi niya pa sabay turo sa part ng office niya na bakante. I helped him place the portrait and we admired it after.
"I get it right?" sabi ko. He smiled and nodded at me.
"Thanks for this man. You don't know how happy I am." sagot niya. "It's been 15 years since I last saw mom and Allie. Ngayon, mas maiinspire akong pumasok everyday dahil makikita ko sila."
"It's nothing. Kinda missed seeing Allie too." sabi ko pertaining to his little sister. His mom and sister died because of a road accident. Galing sa isang company party ang mga ito at nang pauwi na ay nabangga sila ng isang truck na nawalan ng preno. Tita Alice died on the spot and Allie was in critical condition. Pero after a few days ay binawian din siya ng buhay. Nakita ko ang nagbabadyang luha sa mata ni Pol kaya agad kong iniba ang usapan. "Onga pala. I'm gonna visit Gabe today."
"Talaga? So okay na kayo ni Julie?" umiling ako saka natawa.
"I'm just gonna visit him in school. Sabi kasi ni Sally late siyang masusundo ni Julie kaya naisipan kong puntahan siya." sabi ko.
Natahimik siya saka napasinghap.
"Bakit?"
"Alam mo, patagal nang patagal naisip ko, tama nga lahat ng pang-aasar ko sayo dati no? Naalala mo when you first saw Gabe? Sabi ko magkamukha kayo. Then nung matagal kayong di nagkita ang sabi ko parang tatay ang concern mo sa bata. And then just today, naisip ko, Julie named him after you..."
"Ha?"
"Di mo ba alam ang full name ng anak mo? It's Gabriel Moses... Gabe has all the clues pero bakit nga kaya di natin naisip agad na ikaw ang ama? Or maybe all of us knew it pero hindi lang natin inentertain yung thought na yun because we know that it's impossible since from an unknown donor nga yung reason kung bakit nabuo si Gabe... And maybe because you're both angry at each other..."
