CHAPTER 20
Child Custody
TAHIMIK na sumisimsim ng scotch si Raffy habang nakatitig sa babaeng nasa harapan niya. She looks so elegant in her plain black dress. Ang buhok nito ay nakalugay lang din. At ang maganda at maamong mukha ay walang bahid ng ano mang make-up.
"So, I believe we have an agreement..." She said as she wiped the sides of her mouth with the table napkin.
Tumango siya. He looked at her intently. Halos hindi naman ito makatingin ng diretso sa kanya.
"I'm sorry for causing trouble last week," sinserong paghingi niya ng paumanhin.
"It's alright. At least nagkasundo na tayo para sa shared custody at parenting plan for Eon," anito sabay ngiti.
"Like I've said earlier, we're not bringing this to court, right?" Dagdag pa nito. "I mean, hindi naman na kailangan pang umabot sa ganoon, diba? Siguro, kaya naman nating magkasundo para sa kapakanan ng bata."
He nodded and took another sip of his scotch. When Monique gestured at the waiter for their bill, he reached for her hand across the table. He cursed himself afterwards. Nang hawakan niya kasi ang kamay nito ay bigla itong napapitlag na tila ba takot ito sa kanya.
Sumagi na naman sa kanyang alaala ang mga nangyari sa kanila noon. Alam niyang habang buhay niyang pagsisisihan ang lahat. And up until now, he's chastising himself. If he could only turn back time, he should have just left not let his anger take over.
"I'm sorry, Nique." Kusang namutawi sa kanyang bibig ang mga katagang iyon.
"I-It's okay. You never really 'kidnapped' Eon. You both just ate out and went shopping, Right?" She said with a nervous laugh.
"No. I... I meant, I'm sorry... for hurting you."
Mariin itong pumikit. She then held her wine glass by the stem and gulped it down. She looked away and bit her lower lip.
"Hindi ba dapat ako ang humingi ng tawad? Kung 'di dahil sa..." Naputol ang pagsasalita nito at tumingala.
"I'm sorry too, Raff, for... for what I did."
"No, I never should have—"
"Tama na, Raff. If we get sucked into that same hell hole again, we'll just be as miserable as we have been before," putol nito sa sasabihin niya saka humugot ng malalim na hininga.
"There's no point in rehashing the past. May kanya kanya na tayong buhay. The only consolation we have is that we're blessed with a sweet and loving child." Monique quipped.
When their bill came, he swifty handed his credit card to the waiter. Napatingin sa kanya si Monique, and just like old times, she understood what his gesture meant.
"Thanks," she said as she stood up. She grabbed her purse and turned to him once again before walking away.
"You'll have Eon tomorrow. Just fetch him at my parents' house. Baka kasi iwan ko nalang siya doon kasi magbabantay pa ako kay daddy."
He nodded. Lumapit na rin sa kanila ang waiter at iniabot ang kanyang credit card. "I'll walk you to your car."
Nagkibit lang ito ng balikat. Sabay na silang naglakad patungo sa parking lot ng naturang fine dining reataurant. Monique reached for her key fob and headed straight to her car.
"Text me or call me nalang tomorrow," anito nang makaupo na ito sa driver's seat.
Tinanguan niya ito. He waved his hand at her as she drove away.
BINABASA MO ANG
Enslaved Mind
قصص عامةEntwined Lives Trilogy [Book 1] Monique made a promise to herself that she will remain pure until marriage. But then she met Michael, a ruthless, sex driven guy who's also her fiance's business partner. Will she become the slave of his seduction?
