Second Chance

THEODORE 16

I went back to the Philippines without Chelsea. She told me that everything went smoothly at lilipad na nga siya agad sa Paris to sort out the things she need in the local brand she has been eyeing on. She would sure be busy from now on.

She also told me na pasunurin na nga si mama sa Paris. After how many times I tried persuading her na umalis na nga ng Pilipinas, buti naman napapayag ko nga siya. I just assured her that I’m fine and I’m stable enough to run the company again. Wala siyang dapat ikabahala.

But then, I was reminded that I have to see her again. In a week’s time, magsisimula na ang meetings for the WAR renovations.
I was in my office, kakatapos lang ng meeting regarding the Harrison mall.

“Hey, Theo. Diba client mo si Mr. Willford??”, biglang sabi ni Paul.

He was in my office, the usual tumatambay na naman.

“Yes, why?”
“And you’re friends with him??”
“Oo. Teka bakit ba?”
“He’s getting married.”

What???

“Ha??”
“Look. There’s an article about him and his…future wife.”

Pinakita naman niya sakin yung article sa phone niya. It was true. Clyde’s engaged with Ms. Eliza Franco. Heiress lang naman ng Eli Hotels, one of the most successful five-star hotels in Manila.

Obviously, this was an arranged marriage.

“Looks like he’s tied up with business for the rest of his life. Tsk, kawawa naman to.”, sabi pa ni Paul.

I was still looking at the article. Nakalagay doon na gaganapin ang kasal nila this December. I also saw pictures of their parents na talaga namang akala mo ay nakakuha ng milyon sa mga ngiti nila.

Why didn’t Clyde tell me this nung nagkita kami?

“Kung ako yan, I certainly won’t marry someone just for business. Jusko, imagine the manipulations they will do to me!!!”, satsat pa nitong si Paul.
“Don’t worry. I really think di mo magiging problema yan.”
“Ha?? Anong ibig mong sabihin ha!!!”

Tumunog naman yung phone ko.
Shit. Reminder to pick up Sab and Becca.

Ngayon pala yung alis namin??? Nagligpit na nga ako and I hurried outside.

“Hoy pre! San ka punta???”
“Sab’s gonna kill me. Mauna na ko!”

I didn’t bring a driver with me. Paano kasi sabi ni Sabrina mas ok daw na wag na lang isama si Dennis kasi baka magtagal daw kami. Seriously? Ilang gamit ba kailangan ni Becca sa school??

I got to the salon 15 minutes after ng napagkasunduang oras.

“DADDY!!!”

I opened the door at binuhat ko nga tong si Becca. I missed her so much.

“How was Korea???”, tanong nito.

Pano naman niya nalaman? Tumingin ako kay Sab.

“I asked your secretary. Bigla bigla ka na lang kasi umaalis.”, sabi nito.
“Bakit ba di ako nagugulat?”

Pinasakay ko na nga silang dalawa sa kotse and went straight to the mall. Nung nakarating na kami, I noticed something different with Sab.

“What???”, sabi nito sakin.
“Uhh..did you cut your hair?”

Oo buhok nga niya. It was shorter now. Shoulder-length. She looked younger.
Umirap naman siya.

“Yes Theo. Gods, kanina pa tayo magkasama ngayon mo lang napansin???”
“I was busy driving.”

Nagpabuhat naman si Becca.

“Daddy, mommy’s pretty diba???”
“Yes, baby.”

I saw Sabrina blushing.
Did I say something wrong?

“Let’s go to the bookstore.”, pag-aaya na ni Sabrina.

We went straight to the National bookstore and I got a cart for Becca to sit on habang nagiikot kami. Nakita ko naman si Sab na may nilalabas na papel.

“Hmm she needs…notebooks and pens. Ah, tara dun.”

She was basically in-command. Tagasunod lang kami ni Becca while we were playing around as well. Nagkwento din si Becca to how her week went and to how excited she is to go to school.

I was happy to see her growing up so happily. Parang dati lang she was so little that my arms were just the right size for her tiny body.

Tinignan ko naman ulit si Sab. She looked….slimmer too. Saka yung eyebags niya lumalaki ata. Was she stressed out?

“Sab. Why don’t you take this cart, ako na maghahanap ng natitira.”, sabi ko dito.
“Huh? Di kaya ko na. Saka konti na lang naman---”

Kinuha ko naman sa kanya yung papel.

“Ako na. You and Becca just stay in the corner, babalikan ko kayo.”
“Sige.”

I got the rest of the things on the list in no time. Binalikan ko nga agad sila and paid for everything. After that nagyaya akong kumain kami. Becca wanted fried chicken so nagMcdonalds kami.

Becca still was having a hard time slicing the chicken to little bits kaya hinimayan siya ni Sab.

“Thank you mommy!!”

Sab kissed her on the cheek.

“What? Why are you staring???”, sabi naman ni Sab sakin.
“Wala lang.”

While we were eating, Becca pointed something on my face.

“What is it baby??”

Napatawa naman silang dalawa ni Sab. Sab then got a tissue at pinunas nya yun malapit sa labi ko.

“Bungal ka ba ha??”, pagtatawa pa nito.

She showed me a grain of rice at tumawa na lang din ako.

After we ate, nakakita si Becca ng kids zone wherein little kids would play. She told me she wanted to try it.

“Becca it’s too dangerous.”, sabi ni Sab.
“But mommy a lot of kids are playing and may mga bantay po oh”

She was really insisting this time.

“Becca, you might get---”
“Go. We’ll watch you outside.”, sabi ko dito.
“Theo???”
“Sab, it’s fine. We’ll watch her.”
“Yayyy!!! Thank you daddy!!!!”

Niregister ko na nga si Becca sa playground and she started playing around. Kakaupo lang siguro namin ni Sab sa parents area ng may nakita akong may kinakausap na siya na ibang bata.

“Hindi ka ba busy?”, tanong naman ni Sab sakin.
“Huh? I am. But you said I have to come with you so wala akong schedule ngayon.”

Becca was now trying the slide.
Nakita ko naman na pumikit sandali si Sab. Tsk, nakakapagtaka na talaga ang kinikilos niya ha? She hasn’t been her annoying self so far. Is she really stressed out by something?

“Hey. Are you okay?”, tanong ko dito.
“Ha? Oo bakit?”
“You’re acting strange. Stressed ka ba?”
“Ah, dahil ba sa haircut ko? Trip lang yan.”
“No. Parang pumayat ka and your eyebags got bigger. Saka you’ve been suspiciously calm. Meron bang problema??”

She smiled at me.

“Bago to ah. You’re noticing me now??”
“Sab, I’m not ignoring you.”

Napabuntong hininga siya.

“Nagkita na kami ulit ni mama. She wants me to continue my studies abroad.”
“What? What about Becca??”
“She said she can arrange everything for us in the states.”

I just looked at her. Aalis sila???

“W-what did you say??”
“Theo, don’t worry I said no.”

Wew. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag dun ah? I didn’t want to be selfish pero, I can’t imagine my life without completely seeing Becca.

“I don’t think I’m ready yet. Saka pano na yung mga plano ko for Becca kung aalis kami? Of course it’s a no.”

I can’t say anything.
Di ko masabing wag silang umalis.

“But mama has allowed me to work in our company again. I’ll start small pero the compensation surely is better than the salon’s. Lilipat na din kami ni Becca.”
“Where?”
“In a condo unit malapit sa office. Mama has provided that so wala na kaming kailangang problemahin sa expenses. I mean, it’s about time she---”
“What about school? Akala ko malapit lang sa salon yung school ni Becca?”
“There’s a school malapit sa condo offering kindergarten. That would be fine. Saka, Becca said it’s okay din for her.”

I felt….uncomfortable. Nasanay kasi ako na ako ang kinakapitan nina Sabrina. Ano na lang mangyayari kapag dumepende na sila sa iba? Malalayo ba sakin si Becca??
Sab held my hand.

“Theo, I know what you’re thinking. You’re still gonna be her daddy. Kailangan ko lang tanggapin ang tulong ni mama. It’s such a huge opportunity for Becca. Saka, we can’t be forever dependent to you. Sabi mo nga, I have to be responsible.”
“If you needed that much help, syempre I can lend you money. If it’s for Becca, I will.”
“Tss. Masyado na kong baon na baon sa utang sayo no. Besides, I want to prove to you that I can be better….”

There was a sad look in her eyes.
But she smiled nonetheless.

“Hayaan mo, pag nakaluwag luwag na kami ni Becca, ikaw naman ililibre ko. Promise.”

I smiled too. She looked really positive.

“Sige. I’ll look forward to that.”
“Thanks, Theo. For everything. You’ve been so kind to us. But this time, hayaan mong ako naman ang gumawa ng paraan for us.”

I know na dadating din naman ang araw na magiging responsible din si Sabrina. But I wasn’t just ready. Especially if that means, I have to see less of them….,of Becca.
Sab closed her eyes again and I knew now what has been bothering her. This has been a huge step for her lalong lalo na that she had to go by her mom’s terms again.
I let her head lean on my shoulder. What she needed right now is a comfort from a friend. And I will gladly give her that.

“You did great, Sab.”

------

“Trish, anong schedule ko for tomorrow?”

I just had a monthly meeting with the board. Usual lang naman ang pinagusapan, yung financial status and projects we will handle in the future. But I don’t know, ang sakit ng ulo ko ngayon.

“Sir, meron po kayong meeting in WAR at 9:00 am onwards.”

WAR? Bukas na ba yon?
I looked up in the internet. Hmm, walang balita na bumalik na sa Pilipinas si Soyi?

“Sir?”
“Y-yes??”
“Tinatanong ko po kung icconfirm ko na po ang attendance nyo tomorrow?”
“Ah, yes. Please.”

Pinaalis ko na din secretary ko and I decided to go home early. Ugh nakakainis talaga tong headache na to eh.

While I was driving home, nakatanggap ako ng message from Sabrina.

Are you in the office?

Nagreply akong pauwi na ko.

Great. You can help me sign Becca’s papers in school. See you!

Hayy di pa pala ako makakapahinga agad.
When I got home, nakita kong may mga lalaki na nagdadala ng mga kahon sa kabilang unit.
May bagong lipat?
Ahh. Kakaalis nga lang pala ng dating umuupa ng unit na yan. Oh well. Sana hindi maingay ang papalit sa kanya. I hate neighbors who are noisy.
Saglit lang ng makapagpalit na ko ng damit, nagring na yung doorbell.

“Busy??”, bati ni Sab.

Pinapasok ko naman siya and we settled in the dining area.
May nilabas siyang mga papel from an envelope.

“Here are the papers we need to sign. And oh, Becca needs to have her ID picture taken kaya after dito, I’ll fetch her and we’ll go straight to her school.”
“Do you want me to come with you?”

Tumingin siya sakin at tinaasan ako ng kilay.

“Teka nga. Why are you not busy? It’s a miracle na ang aga mo umuwi ngayon.”, sabi niya.
“Ahh. Headache. I needed some rest.”
“Then rest. Kaya na namin ni Becca to.”

I noticed that she was wearing a dress and she even had her hair tied up. Ang ayos na niya tignan compared noong nasa salon pa sila.
I’m glad that everything is working out for her.

“Here. Sign this. Ikaw ang nilagay kong guardian niya since wala naman akong choice.”, pagngingiti nito sakin.”
“Wala talaga. Don’t even dare getting her a new daddy.”

Pumirma na nga ako and I gave her the paper.
She was still looking at me, blushing.

“Oh? Bakit?”
“You don’t want me to….have a boyfriend?”
“Ha???”
“Sabi mo I wouldn’t dare getting her a new daddy???”

Napatawa naman ako.
I poked her in her forehead. Di pa din talaga nagbabago eh.

“Hey!!”
“Kung ano ano naman iniisip mo eh.”
“Joke lang, di mabiro??”
“You should get going. I have to rest too.”

She gathered her things at hinatid ko nga siya palabas. She also insisted that since di ko naman sila sasamahan ni Becca sa school nito, ihatid ko na lang daw siya kahit sa lobby ng condo. And so I did.

We called for a taxi around the area and about a minute or so, dumating na nga yung taxi. Sab waved goodbye and I did too.

Bumalik na nga ako sa loob and I saw that the elevator just got closed. I tried clicking the up button again at buti na lang bumukas.

And then my heart almost sank.
……
……..
………

Soyi looked at me, gulat din sa nakikita niya.

The elevator doors almost closed again. Pero pinigilan ko to.

I stepped in and stood beside her.
……
……..
……….

“Dito…ka nakatira?”, tanong niya.

I didn’t look at her.

“Yes.”

Silence again. Nakarating na kami sa floor ko and I went out.

Sumunod naman siya.

Tumingin na ko sa kanya. Sinusundan ba niya ko???

“Dito din ang floor ko. Yun unit ko oh.”

Tinuro niya yung unit beside mine. What the hell???
Siya yung bagong lipat????
I didn’t say anything. Ayokong magmukang interesado.

Dumiretso na lang ako sa unit ko and closed the door. Napansin ko namang may pawis ako sa noo ko. The fuck? Aircon ang buong condo bat ako pinagpapawisan?

--------

I didn’t get to sleep. Uminom na ko ng gatas, I even tried taking up meds that can cause drowsiness, wala. Nakakainis.
I tried shifting from my bedroom to the living room. I tried to sense if Soyi is still inside the other unit.

“Ano ba Theo ano bang pake mo kung nandun siya ngayon???”

Binuksan ko nga yung tv. I clicked a channel kung san basketball ang palabas. Makanood na nga lang.

I reached for my phone. Chineck ko ulit if there was any news upon her arrival.

“Bakit wala man lang balita na bumalik na siya?”

I closed my phone. Ugh again, Theo. It’s none of your business!!!
I tried focusing on the game.

“Why is she renting a unit anyway? Ibig sabihin magtatagal sya dito??”

Napaisip ako. Gaano nga ba katagal ang meetings for renovations of WAR?

I tried checking on my phone again. Wala akong nakita sa schedule ko.
I called Trish.

“Yes, sir?”
“How many meetings do I have for WAR renovations?”
“Hmm, isa lang po sir.”
“Isa lang? Are you sure?”
“Yes, sir. Pinaconfirm ko po kayo last month kung ilan po ang aattendan nyo, you told me sir na isa lang po. WAR renovations would take 6 months to finish pero sabi nyo po----”
“Uhh, then please change it. I’d like to attend in all the meetings. “
“Sir? Pero po you already have scheduled appointments with Mr. Willford’s toy company rebranding. Icacancel ko na lang po ba yun?”

Shit oo nga I’m the head for Clyde’s project. Tsk.
Ano ba kasing ginagawa mo Theodore???

“Then compromise. I’d like to attend to both.”
“Sige po sir, I’ll see what I can do.”

Binaba ko na nga yung phone and I tried not to be frustrated with myself.

Well, gusto ko naman talaga maging hands-on sa parehong project. WAR was my home for years, dapat lang na tuunan ko yun ng pansin.

And it’s certainly not because Soyi will be there. Again, she’s none of my business. Wala.