Wasted (A BCWMH Fanfic)

Wasted - Part 9

Luke placed the take home brown bag for Abby in the backseat then silently buckled himself in. He was well aware of his father watching his every move.

Richard buckled his own seatbelt then drove out of the parking lot. They headed in the direction of their home.

“Luke, penny for your thoughts?” His father cannot take the tense silence anymore.

“Dad,” Luke started. “Nung nalaman ko kahapon na kapatid ko si Anton, I thought na may secret relationship lang kayo ni Tita. Naisip ko na siguro hindi niyo lang naipagtapat sa amin bago kayo nagkahiwalay dahil sa trabaho. O baka it was a bad break-up kaya naging secret na lang pati si Anton. But Dad, the actual situation never crossed my mind. Nagkaanak kayo and well, you didn’t have any relationship at that time.”

Richard correctly interpreted the worried tone of his son.”No one took advantage of the other, son.” He glanced at his son. “It was consensual, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“Good to know, Dad. For a while there, I started to question everything I knew.” Luke exhaled deeply. “Ano na yung mangyayari, Dad?”

“I will still pursue her. That hasn’t changed.”

“Just say, Dad, if kailangan mo ng resbak.” Luke lightly punched his dad’s arm.

Richard barked a laugh. “Thanks son.” He was relieved that he had his son on his side.

—

Maya waited in trepidation for the arrival of the middle Lim. Nikki, among the three Lim children, was the one she had the most difficult time with. No matter how she sincere she may be, she always seemed to rub Nikki the wrong way. Bracing herself, she opened the door on the second set of knocks.

Maya had prepared herself for a slap or even a shouting tirade but she was not prepared for a hug launched by the teary-eyed young woman.

—

“Ricardo.” Manang Fe greeted by the doorway as her former charge got down from the car.

Richard took out the paper bag from the back seat. “Manang, si Abby?”

“Nag-aaral ng leksyon niya.” Manang Fe caught sight of Luke alighting from the car. “Luke, sa daddy mo pala ikaw sumabay.”

“Opo, si Niks po?” The eldest Lim son inclined his head.

“Wala pa sila ni Joma.”

Richard’s forehead furrowed. “What? Nauna pa sila sa amin umalis ng mall. And we stopped to buy Abby pasalubong.”

Luke tapped out a quick message then tried calling Nikki’s phone to know her whereabouts. “Dad, hindi sumasagot.”

Richard dialed Joma’s number.

“Hello ser.” Came Joma’s gruff voice from the receiver.

“Nasaan na kayo ni Nikki?”

“Ah ser, may dinadaan lang ho kami. Dito sa mga condo unit.” Joma proceeded to give the address.

“Na kay Maya kayo?” Richard loudly and incredulously asked.

—

Maya led Nikki to the sofa. They sat beside each other and Nikki clutched Maya’s hands tightly.

“Oh-my-gee Tita Maya, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know -we didn’t know- what you went through.” Nikki, in an out of character moment, murmured.

“Nikki,” Maya soothed. “Ok lang, tulad nga ng sabi mo ‘di niyo alam.”

“But that’s just it,” Nikki insisted. “We didn’t even try to know or made sure you were doing ok when you left. After all the things you have done for our family, we weren’t able to do even the simplest thing, even to just check on you or maintain contact.” The young woman swallowed as moisture leaked from her eyes. “Families don’t do that to each other.”