Unfinished Yesterday

The Interview

(Vince P.O.V.)

I looked at the two beautiful girls in front of me.I smiled at the little girl but she just raised her eyebrows.

" You still call me that ha." I said to Paula. Something inside me that are in riot.

"You still playing humble eh." she said in her sunny disposition. I noticed that the little girl is tugging her dress." By the way this is my daughter Pauline." She introduced.

I looked at the most beautiful child that I saw. Something inside me is painful.

" Hello!" I wave and smile charmingly. She didn't smiles back which is first. I always get the attention of  women , in all ages.

"You have been eyeing my mama since she walked in the powder room. I don't like you mister. Stay away from my mama." She said brutally. I gulped. The child is so frank.

I look at her mother who looks so amuse with her daughter. She has that challenge look. I sit on the floor para magpantay kami ng anak niya.

"So you drove away men who paid attention to your mama? Good job pretty girl".

She is still not smiling. " That includes you. You are not an exemption po mister." she said.

I laughed " Oh playing hard to get eh. I tell you what, I can always get what I want." I said meaningfully.

"Well sorry but I also don't give what's mine. My mama is mine not yours. " Napahagalpak ng tawa ang ina niya. Nag-eenjoy siya na pinag-aagawan.

"Pretty girl aren't you hungry? Let's talk this matter over lunch." The little girl hold Paula's hand but she gets her and carry her , kissing both her cheeks.

I drag the chair on the table. She puts her child carefully on it. I sit in front of the both of them.

"Pauline let's have a truce first okey until we're done eating. It is not proper to keep frowning in front of foods."

"Okey because that's what mama told me also."  She said and smiles to her mama who looks at her daughter proudly.

"You haven't answer my question awhile ago.Why are you here mayor?" Tanong sa akin ni Paula.

I look at her putting food on her daughter's plate first. " We are having a lunch conference with the other mayors in the province. I saw you entering the restaurant so here I am."

She's wiping her daughter's mouth who has smudge in her corner lips. I put food on her plate which surprises her."You should eat now."

"You don't need to do that ,I can take care of myself." She said without smiling.

I frown. Since when she became so cold towards me. She used to smile when I made things for her.

I still look at her who gives her full attention to her daughter as if I don't exist. Do I become invisible to her?

"Do you like my mama?"

Nabigla ako sa tanong ng bata. Saka ko lang napansin na tinitingnan niya pala ako."Your mama is so likable, what's not to like her? Safe kong sagot.

"You answered my question with another question,it's not  a valid answer. So do you like my mama?".

"No Pauline he doesn't like me. He's mama's friend and neighbor only. He didn't like me even before." She said cutting my answer.

I  got irritated " Don't put words in my mouth Paula."

She was about to say something when Pauline asks again. " You didn't like my mama before? Why?" Tiningnan ko ang bata na mukhang di makapaniwala ."Why you didn't like my mama?"

Tiningnan ako ni Paula at mukhang siya na naman ang sasagot." Your mother was still enjoying her teenage life then and she was too young for me.  I also have a girlfriend during that time. Your mother also was hard-headed and very annoying. She constantly gave me headaches with her stalking." I answered with a teasing smile.

I saw Paula wincing as if she's in pain. Dudugtungan ko pa sana ang sasabihin niya nang " Baby remember what I told you? You cannot get all you want. There were things that were not meant for you and there were people that were not meant for you too." She said in her softest voice. The girl looks at her mother nodding as if she understands what her mother said.

I hold the little girl's hand. "There's always a right timing for everything. Maybe you didn't get what you want yet because it's not yet the right time." I said softly. I looked at Paula while saying it. She has no emotion on her face.

"Too bad sometimes time heals everything. As time goes by, you realized that the things you wanted are not the things that you needed . You learned to let go and moved on." She said looking at me with a sly smile .

I kept quiet. I have nothing to counterpart on her statement." Too much of our past, it's water under the bridge now." She said after a minute of silence. I look at her and she looks at me too.

Tumikhim si Pauline " You always looked at my mama, do you like her now?"

"Your mama is very beautiful , can't help myself looking at her." I again evaded her question.

"Are you gonna court my mama?" I saw Pauline turned pale.

"Will you allow me?" I jokingly asked the child.

"No. You are not good enough for my mama." She said without batting her eyelashes.

" What is the requirement for your mama then?"

"Requirements mister." I signalled her to go on." First, a man should accepts me.Mama and I are like "buy one take one." I laughed at her answer but close my mouth when she looked offended."Second, my mama should be in love with him and third he should be more in love to mama than mama loves him." I was amazed with the girl's answer.

"And what does a pretty girl like you knew about love?" I challenged her.

"Love is what mama showed me. Staying with me even if I became unbearable. Chosing me first before her other options. Grandma said my mama has a choice not to have me then and she has modelling offers but she chose me. From then till now I am her first option, so sorry, when I say no to you that means no to mama also. Right ? Nilingon nito ang ina na teary eyed na.

"Anak, you will never be my option. You are always my  choice ."

The child looked please with her mother's answer. I cleared my throat ."So I guess if a man will court your mama, he should court you first? " I joked.

"Yes and mister there were a lot of men who failed in doing it, you don't want to be one of them."

"You know ,you sound like your mama's mother. Come to think of it,you think more mature than your mother when she's 16."  I joked.

The child looked please . "I know right. Grandma says that all the time."

Paula glared at me "Wait,do I hear you agreeing with this man? And I thought you are loyal to me?"

"Liars go to hell mama so I need to tell him the truth." I laughed with her answer. Pauline just shrugged while Paula is smiling secretly.

I was about to say something when I received a text that my presence is badly needed in the function room of the restaurant. Our meeting will now resume.

"Work?" Paula asked. I nodded "Go now. Anyway you are not much needed here." Pagtataboy niya. I looked at her and caught her teasing smile.

"Ouch ,you are not good for my ego baby" I hold my heart for an effect.

"My mama's name is not baby." Ayan na naman si little sungit.

"Oops my bad. I'll visit you tonight in your home Pauline and Paula". I kissed both​ of them on the cheek. " I already paid your order with your bodyguards" nakita ko na magsasalita si Paula so I beat her on it. "Consider it as my welcome back treat."

"You are still kuripot. You know tumatanggap ako ng gift certificates?" Pabirong sabi ni Paula na nakalahad ang kamay.

Tumawa nalang ako at umalis. I vow to see them today. I heard Pauline asked​ Paula what is kuripot in which she answered.