Kung Di Rin Lang Ikaw (TAGLISH)

Unexpected Call

"Yes Cris. Once I get more details about Batanes, I'll send you a draft of it at the end of week."

"Okay Liv. Thank you so much for being my go-to partner. Hindi ako nagkamali sa pagpili sayo for this project."

"Ofcourse noh! I'm not just your partner but I'm also your friend. Pero salamat din kaya, dahil sayo nakapunta ako sa magandang lugar na 'to. Super thankful!"

"No worries, Liv."

I'm talking to Cris over Skype. She's one of the local authors na nag hire sa akin as their voice over artist. We've been friends for 3 years now. And aside from that, siya rin yung author na nag alok sa akin ng partnership para sa isang book na gagawin namin.

Cris has a kid and her name is Miel. She's 2 years old now at super cute na bata. Kaso nga lang, super kulit din. Kaya habang nagsi-Skype kami ni Cris, Miel is on her lap playing with her mom's hair.

"Liv, teka lang at kukuha lang ako ng pagkain ni Miel while we discuss more of this project."

"Sure Cris, take your time."

"Baby, wait. Dito ka muna with tata Liv okay. Talk to her but politely." Leaving me with Miel on the camera. Miel was already smiling at me kahit na hindi pa ako nagsasalita.

"Hi Miel. How's our baby girl doing?"

"Tata Liv! Beautiful tata!" She calls me 'tata' instead of 'tita'. I know, it's cute. Medyo di pa develop yung pagsasalita nya but she can recognize voices and can speak with a tone.

"Cute naman ni Mielly! Take care of Mommy Cris okay? Tata will visit you very soon. I'll bring foods from here for you when I come home. Okay? Love you!" At yun lang ay napatawa ko yung bata. 

Syempre, sino ba naman ang hindi matutuwa kapag pagkain ang pinag uusapan? Haha!

"Miel, come here." Narinig kong tawag sa kanya ng mommy niyang si Cris.

"Bye tata! Love you!"

"Love you too Mielly!"

Ang sarap sigurong maging nanay. I can see from the screen how Cris is happy with Miel. Kahit single mom siya eh napagkakasya niya ang oras between Miel and her career.

"Liv? Liv? Lutang ka nanaman. May problema ba?" For a few minutes, I forgot I was talking with Cris. I've been quite bothered lately, but I choose not to tell her about it until I confirm.

"Cris, sorry. I was thinking about something. But anyway, san na nga ba tayo?"

My phone's vibrating. Someone's calling and it's Bren. Short for Brenaia. She's my 10 years (and counting)-long bestfriend.

"Cris, sorry someone's calling. Can we talk about this some other time? Naka ilang calls na kasi and I've been rejecting it. I think this one's urgent." 

All of a sudden, my heart was racing. I don't know but my mind says I have to take this call.

"Sure Liv. Send me a message when you can okay? Take care. Bye! Miel, say bye to tata now." Narinig kong tawag ni Cris sa anak niya.

"Bye tata! Love you! mwa"

"Bye mielly! Love you too! Cris, ingat din dyan"

It took me a few minutes staring at my phone, thinking ano naman kaya ang dahilan kung bakit maraming attempted calls si Bren sa akin.

"Bren, yes? What's the fuss about?" I placed my phone on speaker mode and shut down my laptop.

"Liv, bakit ang tagal mong sumagot?" I can feel she was shaking when she said that.

"Bakit? Something wrong? Tell me straight. You know how bad the signal is here in my place now."

Kinakabahan na rin ako but I can't show that to her. Bren is such a sensitive gal. Kapag feeling niyang kinakabahan na ako, she'll cry like a baby. And I don't even know where she is right now.

"Liv, can you please come home na? There's something I need to show you."

"Can you please tell me straight to the point Bren."

"Okay, let's put it this way. I'll send you a picture and tell me if that's him or not."

Him. I already know who's him she was talking about.

"Okay send me the pic now." A few minutes, my phone vibrated again.

And there, I saw a man together with another woman. Nakaakbay ang lalake sa kanya and caught kissing the girl's forehead.

No way.

"Is that him, Liv? Is that William?"

William. William Andrada. Bren's boyfriend. Si William na ilang beses ng sinaktan ang bestfriend ko dahil sa pangba-babae niya. Bren's been forgiving him God knows how long.

"Bren, where are you? Can you tell me where the hell are you?"

"Liv, is that him?" I can hear some screeching cars kaya alam ko na kung nasaan siya.

"Bren, go home. I'll be going back there tomorrow. Okay? Just please let me know that you'll go home."

I can hear her cry now. I can hear her calling a cab. Thank goodness, nakinig naman.

"I'm at the cab now. I'll be home soon. Thank you Liv. Please visit me tomorrow as soon as you come back."

Bren has been a brave woman.  But I think I'll need to come home tomorrow.

Till then, Batanes.