Until Love Fades

23 - Threatened.

Enjoy. ❤️

**

"Well, that's nice," sagot ko sa sinabi ni Maan. Ano naman kung ex siya? Bakit kailangan niyang i-bring up?

Natawa rin siya sa sagot ko. "What brings you here? You have a child now?"

Umiling si Maan. "Nope, still single!" she said while waving her left hand, showing that there is no wedding ring, nor an engagement ring. "I'm here because I joined my niece here at the Halloween party."

Tinuro ni Maan kung sinong bata ang tinutukoy niya kaya nilingon namin 'yun. Isang teenager na pala, naka-costume ng Wonder Woman. Damon and I both nodded.

"So you live here in the subdivision as well?" tanong ni Damon. Maan shook her head. "I live at a condo in Makati. Though, my ate Marian is the one who's living here with her family, I just go here from time to time para bisitahin ko ang pamangkin kong 'yun na napakakulit."

"How thoughtful of you as an aunt," I commented. She smiled at me then nodded. "Syempre, pag wala kang anak, bibigyan mo ng attention 'yung anak ng iba! Kayo? Where's your kid?"

Tinuro ko ang kambal ngayon na kinuhaan na ni Manang Beth ng pagkain dahil nga na-stuck na kami rito. Aalalahanin kong magsabi ng pasensya kay Manang Beth mamaya.

"Our one-year old twins, Tristan and Isolde," I said. Halatang tuwang tuwa si Maan sa nakita. "Oh, how cute! And fraternal twins?! Grabe! You guys are so blessed!"

Damon squeezed my hand and switched his gaze to me. "Yeah, we really are blessed."

"We should catch up some time, yeah? Ang dami na nating na-miss out, Damon!" sabi ni Maan. "Sure! Let me have your phone so I can add my contact number. You can message anytime so we can have a chat." Tinype nga ni Damon ang contact number niya roon sa phone ni Maan. I was just observing the two of them. It seems like the two were really close friends back then. Siguro nakadagdag din ang closeness dahil ex ni Damon 'yun. Pero sa pagkakatanda ko, Damon never had a steady girlfriend, just flings and sex buddies. So sino 'tong babae na 'to sa buhay ng asawa ko?

They said a few words before saying goodbye to each other and before Maan said goodbye to me. She seems genuinely kind, but I just can't help not to think about who she really is. Damon never mentioned her name and she did not even attend our wedding! Kung bestfriend siya, at least dapat um-attend siya, regardless kung ex siya or not. I held back a sigh and smiled at Damon when he faced me. "Sorry about that, 'di tayo nakakuha agad ng food. Let's eat?"

"Kumuha na ng food si Manang para sa kambal, gutom na rin silang tatlo roon kakahintay," I said. I tried my best not to make it sound sarcastic, but I was really going for a sarcastic tone.

He smiled at me. "Sorry about that. I think ngayon na lang ulit kami nagkita after graduation," Damon said. I nodded then smiled. Tumalikod na ako at nagsimula nang kumuha ng pagkain dahil gutom na rin talaga ako. Sumunod na rin naman sa akin si Damon at sabay na kaming naupo kasama ng mga bata at ni Manang.

"'Nang, sorry natagalan kami. Si Damon kasi, nakipag-usap pa sa college friend niya," bulong ko. Ngumiti si Manang sa akin.

"Ano ka ba, anak. Ayos lang naman sa'kin," tugon niya. "Teka, sinong college friend? Naalala niya 'yun?"

I nodded. Nagbubulungan lang kaming dalawa para hindi marinig ng asawa ko. "Naalala niya 'di ba 'yung college memories niya. Basta 'yung memories related sa'kin, 'di pa bumabalik! Maan 'yung nickname. Ex daw ni Damon tapos best friend din nung college. Kilala mo ba 'yun, Manang?"