Young and Married

Chapter XLIII

Chapter XLIII

It's my day off today and I planned to spend this day with children. Dadalhin ko sila sa malapit na park upang maglaro. They like it there because it's wide and there's a lot of children they can play with. Although our garden is wide and it also have a playground, they like it better there because the other children loves to play with them.

Binihisan ko sila ng pares na damit. They don't like it because it make them more alike but they look cute with matching outfits. Gusto ko iyon dahil natutuwa akong pagmasdan sila.

"Momma, let's go!" excited na sabi ni Benj.

We were about to go when I saw Antony outside our house. Nakangiti ito habang nag-aabang sa amin, nasa likod nito ang kanyang kotse.

"Dada!" sigaw ni Benj ng makita si Antony. Tumakbo ito papunta dito kung kaya hinabol siya ng kanyang babysitter.

"Careful, baby." natatawang ni Antony saka sinablubong ang aking anak at binuhat ito.

Samantalang si Otep naman ay buhat ko. Nakatitig lamang ito kay Antony ngunit alam kong masaya din ito dahil iniharap ni Otep ang kanyang kamay sa direksyon ni Antony na parang gusto din magpabuhat dito.

"Stay with Mommy, Otep. You will be playing with Dada later." sabi ko kay Otep dahilan para sumimangot ito ngunit hindi naman nagreklamo.

"Why are you here?" tanong ko kay Antony.

"I'm always here, Paige." anito na ngayon ay buhat na si Antony. "Hindi naman ako nawawala kapag Sunday, right?" nakangiti nitong tanong.

Umiling ako dito at hinayaan siya. Sumakay kami sa kotse niya na may child seat na sa likod para sa kambal. Doon din umupo ang babysitter ng kambal na si Ate Polly. Inayos ko ang seatbelt ko.

"Your car looks like a family car. You're one of the most famous bachelor in town. Baka isipin nilang may anak ka na." I said.

"Doesn't matter. It's better than being chase by girls." biro niya na nakapagpatawa sa akin. His confidence really made laugh. Kumindat pa siya na mas nakapagpatawa sa akin.

Mabilis kaming nakarating sa community park dahil hindi naman ito ganoong kalayo mula sa subdivision kung saan kami nakatira. Dahil Linggo ay medyo madaming tao. Binuhat ko si Benj at si Antony naman ang bumuhat kay Otep. Habang karga ang aking anak ay pumunta ito sa likod ng kotse at kinuha ang isang picnic basket.

Tumaas ang aking kilay. I didn't know that he prepared for this. Tinulungan ko siya at kinuha ang picnic clothe. Nakahanap kami ng magandang pwesto kahit pa madaming mag-anak ang nasa malapit sa playground upang mabantayan ang kanilang anak. Naglatag ako ng picnic clothe at inayos ang dala niyang mga pagkain habang si Antony naman ay sinamahan ang mga anak ko na maglaro sa playground.

"Ate Polly, bantayan mo muna ang ito dahil nakalimutan ko sa sasakyan ang tubig para sa atin pati ang baby bag para sa mga bata."

"Ma'am, ako na lang po ang kukuha." anito.

Sumang-ayon ako dito dahil gusto ko din mapanood na maglaro ang mga anak ko. Bumalik si Ate Polly dala ang mga kailangan namin. Mula sa kalayuan ay natanaw ko ang isang matanda na nagtitinda ng cotton candy. Tumayo ako para bumili noon para sa amin dahil paborito ito ng kambal at tuwing Linggo ko lamang sila hinahayaang kumain dahil masyado itong matamis para sa kanila.

"Four cotton candies please." Iniabot ko ang bayad sa matanda. Ngumiti ito sa akin dahil kilala niya na ako. Linggo-linggo kasi kami dito sa community park.

"You have sons?"

Lumingon ako sa nagtanong at nakita si Zack, o mas tamang tawagin siyang Adrian? Nakatingin ito sa playground na may kalayuan sa amin ngunit natatanaw ko ang kambal na tumatawa habang hinahabol ni Antony.

"Yes." I answered shortly habang nakatingin din sa mga anak ko.

"Twins?" he asked.

"Yes. What are you doing here?" hindi ko napigilang magtanong.

"Just because." he said plainly. "You look like happy family." anito saka tumingin sa akin.

Oh, Zack. We could have been happier if you were with us. Ngunit ayaw mong malaman ang katotohanan at mas pinili mong maniwala kay Emmy. Well, if it's true that they are engaged then I will consult my legal counsel. Zack is still married to me. I won't let them have their happy ending. Zack is my husband.

"Thank you." I just said. Kinuha ko ang cotton candy at tinalikudan na siya. Naramdaman ko ang pagsunod niya sa aking ngunit hindi ko ito pinansin.

"Can I meet your children?" tanong nito na nakapagpatigil sa akin. Galit ko siyang hinarap ngunit sinalubong niya lamang ako ng seryosong mga tingin.

"What for?" naiinis kong tanong.

"I..." hindi nito natuloy ang sinasabi dahil tila nahihirapan siyang maghanap ng salitang idudugtong upang sagutin ang aking tanong. He sighed then he spoke again. "I don't know. I just want to know them." he said he have given up.

"I don't let strangers talk to my sons, sorry." I said. Akmang tatalikudan ko siya ngunit hinablot niya ang aking braso dahilan upang mapalingon ako ulit sa kanya. Mabuti na lamang at mahigpit ang hawak ko sa cotton candies kung kaya hindi ito nahulog sa lupa.

"What you have said to me other day, it kept on bothering me." he confessed. "I want to listen to your explanation. My name is Adrian but... the moment you called me Zack, it felt like I was meant to be called that way. I don't understand. I am with Emmy for years now. She took care of me but I don't understand. My mind keep on messing around. I want to know your version of truth." anito.

"No, Adrian. It's not my version of truth. It's the truth but you don't want to hear it." I said firmly.

"When can I talk to you?" anito saka medyo bumaling kung nasaan ang playground. "Your man might be jealous but I want to talk to you privately." anito.

Tumaas ang aking kilay dito. Tumingin ako sa direksyon nina Antony. He thinks that Antony is my man. Bumuntong hininga ako. I will do this for my children and after this, I will let Emmy pay for what she did on my family.

"I'm not sure. I'm busy with my work and I have to take care of my children. If you want to talk to me privately, I hoped that you will not bring Emmy with you." I said.

"You can bring your children if you want." segunda nito.

"I thought you wanted to talk privately? Besides, I don't think it's a good idea. I will be distracted because I tend to watch my children all the time." I said.

"It won't bother me though." he said while looking at my children's direction.

He looks so serious while looking upon my children. I bet his heart is longing for them. That's right Zack. They're you're children and you are denying them your time and attention. Emmy had manipulated you in ways I don't know of yet. Emmy have stolen your time for our family. It's only right that your heart will long for them.

"They have been waiting for their father for years, you know." sabi ko habang nakatingin sa aking mga anak.

"That man is not the father of your beautiful children?" he asked, surprised.

"No." I said as I directly looked into his eyes.