One Wild Night | ✅

21: Tears

"LAMB, WAG NA LANG tayo umalis? Medyo masakit yung ulo ko. Ang init sa labas eh." She said. Halos mangatog pa din ang mga tuhod niya sa nangyari kanina. It was Collin, he said her name. It was a different Collin compared to the one she knew, he was a bit more frail and his skin was too pale. The moment he said hello ay natameme lang siya for a few seconds before she asked him to leave. He had a defeated look on his face pero wala na siyang pake, ayaw niyang makita ang lalaki. Does he even know na may anak sila?

"Why?" Karga na nito si Grant nang ilapat nito ang palad sa noo niya. "You do seem a little warm. Wag na nga tayo umalis. I'll just order food para mapadeliver dito."

"Thanks," she plopped herself down the sofa. Naubos ata ang lahat ng lakas niya sa katawan dahil lang nakita niya si Collin.

Tinitigan niya si Grant na magulo nanaman at naglalaro sa harapan niya. He's her spitting image minus the very light brown blonde hair that he has, namana niya yun kay Collin. Pilit niyang tinitingnan kung may posibilidad bang makilala ito ni Collin kapag tiningnan niya ito. It has been nearly three years since they last saw each other, it was the day he said he didn't want to lead her on. Kahit papaano ay may ipagpapasalamat naman siya kay Collin, ang anak niya at si Leo. She wouldn't have had them if not for him.

"Sino nga pala yung kumatok kanina?" Leo asked noong dalhan siya nito ng tubig.

"Ah, wala lang yun. Staff ng condo na nagkamali nang pinuntahan." She lied, hindi siya halos makatingin kay Leo. Ayaw na ayaw niyang magsinungaling pero ayaw niya din na malaman pa nito na andito si Collin, it might ruin things for them at ayaw niya iyon.

"I ordered Japanese food, okay na ba yun sayo?" He was carefully attending to her. Malamang ay mukhang lumong-lumo siya ngayon kaya papasa na may sakit talaga siya. "You love sushi and tempura."

"Yes, yes I do." She smiled and caressed his cheek. "Thank you for always taking care of me and Grant."

"Syempre naman, I love both of you." Pinisil nito ng kaunti ang ilong niya.

"Ang swerte talaga namin sayo." She said. "Sana ikaw na lang ang daddy ni Grant. I wish I could turn back time and I'd choose you kahit di mo pa ako pinipili noon. I will chase you to the ends of the earth."

"Nagiging sentimental ka nanaman," sabi nito sa kanya, magkatabi sila ngayon sa sofa habang pinapanood si Grant na makipag-wrestling sa malaking teddy bear sa sala. He has his hand over her shoulder kaya naman she took the liberty to lean her head to his shoulder. "I'll be his dad, kahit di siya galing sa akin I will make sure to give him the same kind of love that a father does."

"What if Collin comes back?" Nilingon niya ang nobyo at nakita niya ang paninigas ng bagang nito, may kakaibang dilim sa aura nito kumpara kanina. He hates him, alam niya naman iyon pero will his return affect them as well? Will he not want her anymore?

"Let's not talk about that douche bag. He's not welcome here." Payak na sabi ni Leo bago tumayo muli.

"Yeah," tumango siya. Leo doesn't need to know about Collin coming back, he's her problem. She's gonna send him away on her own.

***

"What brings you out here?" She asked habang nakaupo sa katapat na upuan ni Collin
sa isang coffee shop. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi niya pa din tinatanggap na totoo ang nangyayaring ito. He appeared right by her school's gate kaya ano pa ba ang kawala niya? She decided na it was time to talk once and for all. It's been a few days since he visited her home at hindi niya na dapat pang patagalin ang pagpapaalis dito.