Best Friends to PARENTS? (Ongoing)

XXVI

【Xander's】

"Clair? Clair?" Tanong ko sa kanya. Andito kami sa tea house. Kanina pa tulala si Clair. She's been like this for our past few dates at wala din siyang sinasabing problema.

"H-Huh?" Sagot niya sa akin.

"Tulala ka na naman." Sabi ko sa kanya. Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya. "What's wrong, Love?"

Napabuntong-hininga siya bago ako sinagot.

"It's about Anika. Nalaman naming hindi talaga siya anak ni Rafael."

Lumaki ang mga mata ko sa sinabi niya.

"Ha?! Nagbibiro ka ba?" Gulat na sabi ko sa kanya.

"Oo Eli, pina-DNA test niya yung bata. Hindi sila nag match."

"I see why you're frustrated. It's going to be okay." Kinuha ko ang kamay niya at hinalikan. I'm really trying to be more understanding of Clair and Rafael's situation.

Even though umaabot sa puntong nagseselos na ako kay Rafael. I mean, their set-up's definitely unusual.

"Mommy!" Tawag ni Anika kay Clair. Anika and Mico have been tagging along in our dates. Masaya naman si Mico na makalaro si Anika.

"Yes baby?" Tanong ni Clair kay Anika at kinandong siya."

"Mommy! Malapit na po ang birthday ko!"

Napangiti ng hilaw si Clair.

"Ipaghahanda kita ng party Ika!" Ika has been Anika's nickname for a while now. Hindi kasi nababanggit ni Mico ng tama ang pangalang Anika.

"Really Mommy? Can it be a princess party?"

"Anything for you." Sabi ni Clair at hinalikan ang pisngi ni Anika.

It'd be nice if we'd be a complete family like this.

【Rafael's】

"Sir, you'll be meeting the CEO of Pyre Inc. today. He's actually waiting in the conference room."

"Okay, I'll go ahead."

Pumunta ako sa conference room at nagulat ako kung sino ang nakita ko.

"Ikaw?"

"Rafael. We meet again."

Inabot ko ang kamay ko para makipag-handshake. Tinanggap naman niya.

"So Mr. Concepcion. I heard magi-invest ka raw sa bagong project ng kompanya namin." Straight to the point kong sinabi sa kanya.

"You heard it right. I know you've seen that side of me. But I'm also dead serious in my business. I got my head in the game." He's referring to his abusive relationship with Agnes.

"How can you make sure that our collaboration would be successful?" Tanong ko.

"Let's just say, trabaho lang. No Agnes, no Clair this time. You've heard of our company's reputation. We're at the top." Ngumisi si Kaden matapos sabihin ito.