LIKE I NEVER LEFT °[KathNiel] ✓COMPLETE

11. Reunion

Amara

During lunch break, tinawagan ko kaagad si Four para kumustahin sila ni Darryl. He sent me a message earlier that he already took her from school. The last picture I receive from him is of them at Jollibee. It's the only bee my daughter loves. Halos lahat naman yata talaga ng bata, gusto si Jollibee.

"We're done eating na, mahal. Ikaw? Kumain ka na?"

"I'm on my way to the school canteen. Marami bang kinain si Darryl?"

"Medyo. Ang dami niyang inorder." I can hear the amusement in his voice while narrating me what happened.

"Bantayan mo 'yan. Kapag busog 'yan, naiidlip 'yan ng mabilis. Iiwan mo lang saglit, tulog na 'yan."

"Di na ako mabibigla. Manang-mana naman talaga 'to sa'yo." Aniyang tumatawa pa. "Wala talagang namana si Darryl sa'kin." Lumungkot 'yong boses niya.

"Buti nga rin ano? Kawawa naman ako 'pag nagkataon." Pang-aasar ko sa kanya. "Seven years kitang pinilit kalimutan tapos kamukha mo pala anak natin, eh paano kita makalimutan non?" I hear him chuckling-his soft genuine chuckles.

"Kaya pala nakalimutan mo 'ko."

Ugh. How did we arrive to this conversation?

"Pakiusap nga kay Darryl." Pag-iiba ko ng paksa.

"Kausap pa si mama Carl." Napangiti ako ng mapakla. That's how he used to call my mother when we were young. Teka. Did he say Darryl is talking to mama?

"Huh? Ba't may phone si Darryl?"

"Hindi. Napadaan sila ni Papa Tobi dito tapos tinawag ni Darryl." Paliwanag niya. "Kumain ka na kaya? Malapit ng mag-alauna, Amara. Malilipasan ka na ng gutom e."

"Amara?" Lumingon ako't nakita ko si Ethan.

"Is that Spiky?"

"Stop calling him that." Saway ko sa kanya. "Sige na. Kakain na ako. Drive her home before three, okay? She has to sleep during afternoons."

"Okay, love. See you later."

I hope not.

"I love you, sungit." He adds and hangs up the phone. Ang galing. Pinatayan agad ako.

"Was that Palmer?" Ethan confronts as soon as I keep the phone back to my pocket. "Did I hear it right? Kasama niya ngayon si Darryl?"

"Ethan, it's okay—"

"Okay? How could you change your mind that fast? Amara, si Palmer 'yon. Ano'ng alam non sa pag-aalaga ng bata?"

"Oo, si Palmer 'yon and he is Darryl's father. Alam kong gago si Four pero Ethan, hindi niya ipapahamak ang anak namin." Naiinis na sagot ko. Napikon nalang kasi ako bigla dahil sa paraan ng pagsasalita niya sa'kin. "I have to take my lunch. Babalik na ako sa klase in thirty minutes." Sabi ko't naglakad papunta sa school canteen.

"Amara, sandali."

"Ethan."

"I'm sorry." He apologizes sincerely.

"It's okay. Naiintindihan naman kita. Nag-aalala ka lang sa anak ko." I reply, sounding calm this time. "Do you want to join me for lunch?"

He smiles as he nods his head. I suddenly remember him with his spiky hair when we were in high school. Oh. Puberty hits Ethan hard. He looks like an icon now. Time has molded him right.

"Susunduin kita mamaya." Bilin ni Ethan nang paalis na siya pagkatapos naming kumain. Tumango ako saka pumasok na ng classroom.

Mga limang minuto lang pagkatapos ng huling klase ko, dumating nga si Ethan para sunduin ako. Akmang sasakay na ako ng kotse nang may bumusinang kotse na kakarating lang. When I look around, I see Four with glaring eyes and my baby girl waving at me with a wide smile. They're riding a convertible, the roof open, so their faces are exposed.