AGAIN

Chapter Sixteen

NOW

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“I want you to meet my girlfriend.” He says, his smile reaching his eyes while I’m horrified.

I stop dead in my tracks and gape at him like he’s from a mental asylum.

“What? Why? No, no, no--" I stutter as I start to step back.

“Too late, we’re already here.” He tells me and quickly grabs my cold hand.

We continue walking until we reach the table at the very end.

“Ms. Ritchie, I’d like you to meet my girlfriend.” He says and I slowly turn my head to the direction he’s pertaining to.

Holding my breath, I blink my eyes ten times, not believing what I am seeing. As I go speechless, my mouth opens and closes repeatedly.

I look back and forth from Kyle then to her.

“You?!” I finally blurt out.

I have never been confused and surprised all my life until now.

**********
Raising a brow, she examines me like some barcode scanner checking for the value of an item in a supermarket, but her curiosity is nothing compared to my amazement as I stare at her in return. Her heart-shaped face, the color of her eyes, and the way she twitches her lips look too familiar. She reminds me of someone I miss, the woman who lives in my heart. And she stays there forever.

But how? And who is this replica?

I've forgotten my ability to talk, confused and at the same time, nervous, knowing by instinct that I'm not yet ready to hear the answer to my questions.

"So she's the reason you're not calling me as often as before." She turns to Kyle, frowning.

Kyle sits down beside the young lady who looks like around 4-year old. He tousles her long, light brown hair in a playful manner while I stand across them awkwardly. She giggles and hits him gently in return.

It's hard not to smile. I'm like watching a similar scene I've seen before, but the characters this time, they are-- happy.

"Dale." Kyle interrupts before I can put both of my feet in the memory lane.

I sit across them on the empty seat and smile at the young miss. She doesn't smile back. Too bad.

"Isn't she too young for you?" She comments, pointing her cherry lips to my direction as she faces the handsome man beside her.

Handsome. Dammit.

Kyle laughs. "I'm sorry. She talks a lot." He says with his eyes smiling, taking my breath away.

"Well, this is Marivic." He pats her head like a puppy before adding, "Oh, believe me, she used to be cool 'til she learned to speak. I call her Mayb." The little girl scowls at him.

"Hello, Mayb?"

That's attempting a courteous greeting, but my brain has sent a stupid signal to my tongue so it sounds like a question instead.

That day someone called Kyle--

Babe.

But it was Mayb then.

My cheeks are burning from the realization. I feel embarrassed but at some point, relieved. Oh god.

But still--a daughter?

Clearing my throat, I try again. "Hi Mayb, I'm Dale. Nice to meet you." I extend my hand and wait for her to acknowledge it.

Kyle nudges her and finally, she reaches out and shakes it abruptly.  Her little hand feels soft and warm. She's still not smiling even after removing it from mine. I smile at her anyway.