Living With My Future-Ex °[KathNiel] ✓COMPLETE

Chapter 12: Envelope

Rylai

Kinakabahan ako. Hindi ko alam kung tama ba ang desisyon kong pumayag sa hiniling ng kaibigan ni Mira. I just can't help not trusting the boy. It's just that I can see Ashton in him plus the fact that he is also her bestfriend. I must also add the number of instances he's proven himself worthy of our trust. Last year, naglasing si Mira no'ng nagkasagutan kami. Hindi namin alam kung saan siya hahanapin. Umiiyak pa ako no'n nang pauwi kami ni Ashton na hindi kasama ang anak namin. Tapos pagdating namin, nasa bahay na siya, hinatid ni Sven. And every time he's around, nakikita kong walang bahid ng malisya o ano ang gestures niya para kay Mira. Somehow, I felt confident that my daughter has him as a friend. Pero hindi ko lang din maalis ang di mag-alala. Kapag nagiging nanay ka, maiintindihan mo ang pinagdadaanan ko.

Dahil nga hindi ako mapakali, naisipan kong maglinis at magre—arrange sa bahay. Inuna ko ang kwarto namin ni Ashton. I was almost done rearranging our stuff when I found something on our drawer. There was an envelope below the box where I keep my bitter—sweet old memories.

Tumambad agad sa'kin ang magkapares na journal namin ni Blaze noon. I slowly touch the engraving on the cover. To my Future-Wife. I smiled bitterly at a thought.

"Future. Kaya pala, grumpy. Wala ka naman kasi sa future ko."mahinang sambit ko habang pilit na pinipigilan ang luhang gustong lumabas sa mga mata ko. "I'm sorry. Tama na ang labing-anim na taon na umasang babalik ka. Para kay Ashton at sa anak ko..."

Kasabay no'n, ibinalik ko ang mga gamit sa box para dalhin sa basement kung saan ang stock room. Mabigat sa dibdib pero kailangan kong gumising sa katotohanan. Paano ba babalik 'yong tao na matagal ng wala? Wala namang masama kung maniniwala ako sa isang himala, diba? Pero tama si Ash, tama na. Nagiging mali na kasi. Bumalik na agad ako ng kwarto para tapusin ang paglilinis matapos kung ibaba ang box na naglalaman ng mga larawan at ng mga alaala namin ni Blaze.

Wait. The envelope. I don't remember placing it there. Driven by curiosity, I quickly took it out from the drawer. Ang lakas ng kabog ng puso ko habang hawak-hawak ko 'to. Naglalaman ng mga dokumento ang envelope tungkol sa isang babae. From the looks of it, pinapahanap siya— ni Ashton?

"Moira Hernandez."I read the name on the document. "I don't remember her at all."

Ashton never mentioned about that certain name. I'm sure she's not in the list of his family friends. Who is this woman? Bakit siya pinapahanap ni Ash?

The ringing telephone stopped my mind from formulating theories about the woman. Lazily, I picked it up and heard Ashton's voice from the other line.

"Hello penguin, how are you?"he sweetly greeted.

"I'm... I'm fine—"

"You're not. Do you want me to go home? Alam ko nagpapanic ka na naman riyan. Lai, trust me, our baby's safe and most probably, she's enjoying right now."

"I'm fine... Uhm. Kung... kung hindi ka naman masyadong kailangan sa site, yes. It would be better if you could join me for lunch. Ipagluluto kita."

"In thirty minutes, I'll be home, gorgeous. I love you. See you later."paalam niya at saka nagbaba ng phone.

Samantalang ako naman, napatulala ng ilang minuto. Hay nako, Rylai. Stop overthinking. That woman is nobody. Get her out of your head. Pero nang tumama ulit ang mga mata ko sa brown envelope, napatitig na naman ako rito ng ilang sandali.

"May tinatago ka ba sa'kin Ash?"naibulong ko na lang.

Bago pa niya ako maabutan, ibinalik ko na sa drawer ang envelope at nagmamadaling bumaba para magluto. I kept track of the time but an hour has passed and Ashton hasn't arrived yet. Hay. Napaparanoid na naman ako. Matawagan na nga lang ang anak ko.

"Hello mom."bati niya at natitiyak kong nakangiti siya ng sandaling 'yon.

I miss her so much. My little baby grump.

"How are you there?"

"Huh? I'm fine. Is dad with you right now?"

Naiinggit ako na palaging ang daddy niya ang bukambibig niya pero hindi ko rin maipagkaila na ang gaan sa pakiramdam— na pinapahalagahan ng dalawang taong mahal mo ang isa't isa. It feels so good to be a wife and a mother.

"No, sweetheart. Why?"

"I tried calling him. He isn't picking up."

"No worries, baby. Maybe, he's driving. He just called earlier and promised to come home. I'll tell him to give you a call back once he's here."

"Thanks mom. I have to go—"

"Who are you talking to, gorgeous?"biglang bulong ni Ashton na nagpasinghap sa'kin habang niyakap niya ako mula sa likuran.

"Sweetie, dad's here."wika ko bago mapatay ni Miracle ang tawag. "She's looking for you."sabi ko kay Ashton sabay abot ng phone sa kanya.

He kissed me on the cheek before taking the call. I gestured him to the living area dahil tinatapos ko pa ang huling putahi na niluto ko. I just toasted the chicken kaya nasundan ko kaagad si Ashton. Nadatnan ko siyang tumatawa habang nakababad parin sa phone at kausap ang anak namin.

"Okay. Good. Kumain ka ng marami. But wait, para sa ikakalma ng puso ng mommy mo, let me talk to Sven first before you hang up."I heard him say which made me smile.

He wasn't aware that I was just watching him from a distance.

"I only have one thing to say young man, don't spoil my little girl."

If that boy is like him, I doubt if he will not spoil my girl. Ashton has spoiled me in all ways possible since we're kids. Isn't that what a bestfriend normally do?

"O honey, kanina ka pa diyan?"tanong niya nang mapansin niya akong nakatayo.

Tumayo narin agad siya at lumapit sa'kin. Habang tinitigan ko siya, hindi ko sinasadyang maalala ang pangalan ng babae.

"Lai? Are you okay?"nakakunot ang noo na tanong niya. Tumango ako't nag-iwas ng tingin. "Something's bothering you, I know. Tell me, what is it?"

"Nothing. I'm just... hungry."

"Me too."mahinang sagot niya at saka ako ninakawan ng halik. "Sorry. I thought your lips are cherries."

"Lumang tugtugin, Buenavista."pambabara kong tinawanan lang din niya.

"Mahal na mahal kita, Mrs. Buenavista."

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Author's Corner:

Yong puso ko Ashton, pinatitibok mo ng malakas. Yiiiii. Sana ako nalang si Rylai eh no? XD

PS: Na-achieve ko ang pang-MMK na title. Hahaha