When love is near

Chapter 17

Sitting across the Father and son, Jamie, observes the two as they playfully eat their ice cream.

Stares secretly at Adriane.

Tita Jamie! Tumutulo na po yun ice crea mo!

Snap.

Ha?! Oo nga. ang init kasi ng panahon ang bilis makatunaw 

Adriane smirks.

Jamie keeps her calm.

Tita Jamie? I can imagine your baby's face, ang pretty niyasiguro no? Kasi you are very pretty. Right dad?

Slowly pan his eyes on Jamie.

Yes, very pretty.

Blushing.

Ah! Alammo Addie, Ayla is much prettier than me. But she's as smart as you are.

Oh. I want to meet her. When I see her can I give her a doll?

She doesn't like dolls eh. She's more of an Avengers type of kid.

What? Pang boys na toys?

Hindi naman lahat. She enjoys different types of toys, even cars! She has variety of those. Pero talagang favorite niyalangsi Iron Man.

Really?!! Daddy Iron Man daw!

Adriane smiled widely.

Why?

Because it is my dad's favorite superhero. Right dad?

Ha Ha. Yes son. Cool kid you have Jamie, great choice of Avenger.

Now finish your ice cream Addie. 

Alright. Um Dad?

Yes?

Addie's eyes points out to the boys eyeing on Jamie.

Hay nako, bakit ba naka-expose ang legs natin ng ganyan?

Huh? Ako ba pinaparinggan mo? Alangang mag-gown akodito Adriane gusto mo?

Okay lang. Ako naman kasama mo

Blushed.

Adriane and Addie moved their chairs and seated beside Jamie.

Oh! Teka anong ginagawa niyong dalawa?

The two acted deaf.

What's going on with you two? Naiipit na ako ah. Anoba?!

Jamie giggles.

Hay naku Tita Jamie. Madami kasing shark sa tabi-tabi.

Shark?

Confused. Her eyes wandered the place and realized what they meant.

Ah. Sharks. Ha Ha. Kayong dalawa talaga.

They spent an hour eating and laughing.

Dad! May gagawa ng sand castle can I watch? Please!

Alright. But do not wander too far.

Yes!!!! Thanks daddy!

Awkward silence.

(Shucks. Kaming dalawa nalang naiwan. Walang bridge. Anong gagawin ko? anong sasabihin ko?)

Um. Congratulations Adriane for raising such a smart kid!

Blushing as she observes Adriane brushing up his hair.

Yeah! Thank you. Her mom is doing a great job.

Glaring at her while she sips her ice tea.

Stole glances of her, She can't look straight at his eyes.

Um. So what do you do? (As if hindi mo pa alam Jamie)

Sip his ice tea.

I am a branch manager. SaSavourfastfood chain.

I see. 

Biting her lips. Adriane is uneasy.

Tapping her finger on the glass.

How about you?

Ako?

Yes. Parang I haven't seen you dined for a long time nasa branch namin.

(What? He noticed me? okay, Jamie, keep your cool wag kang assuming )

Oh. Nakikitamoako?

Well, yes. Napapansin ko napadalas ka doonsaamin and parang every weekend ka atapumupunta if I'm not mistaken.

(Shucks. Napansin niya nga ako) 

Ah. Hindi ko na maalala eh.

Really? You always wore a white cap.

(Teka, mangingisay na ba ako? Dati akala ko hinid niya ako napapansin pero, pero)

Ah! Yung cap.

Makes me wonder why you always wear that cap. May pinagtataguankaba?

Oo. Mgamatamo.

Ha?

Ah wala. Bad hair day lang.

I doubt that. Your hair is beautiful. I can remember your hair is brownish. What happened?

Broken hearted.

ha ha. Ano?

Wala. Joke koyunsamga kaibigan ko that whenever I changed hairstyle or color, that could only mean na-broken heart ako.

Ha Ha. You are weird.

Tell me more about it.

His eyes stuck on her face.

So. What do you do?

I'm a content writer. A professional marketer to be exact.

Hmm. Corporate world ah.

Yeah. Business! Where I'm expected to be this and that.  But believe me, ibang-iba akosa city kesasanakiktamongayon.

Well, I'm glad that I've met the you here than you there.

And that is because?

Mockingly looks at him with.

You are just simply being you.

Acted cool.

Ha Ha. Ikaw ah. Kulang nalang sabihin mo sakin crush mo ako mga hirit na ganyan eh.

And what if I say yes?

Stared at her charmingly.

Am... Addie! Addie! Come here, Ice cream tayo ulit!

Ulit? Naglalaro pa yung bata oh!

Oo, ang init bigla eh. Tsaka tirik na tirik na ang araw mangingitim si Addie!

Malamang. Nasa tabing dagat tayo Jamie. Oh! Saan ka pupunta? Yung paa mo naman hindi pa magaling yan!

Okay ako. Kaya ko. Alis ka nga dyan humaharang ka eh!

 Teka, bakit hindi ka mapakali?

Ako? Bakit naman ako hindi mapapakali? Ang init lang kasi talaga bigla.

At sa see- through mong cardigan nainitan ka pa ah.

Shut up Adriane!

Rolls eyes.

Ha Ha Ha! Ang cute mo Jamie.

Adriane!

Adriane giggles.