My Ex, His Dad

Chapter 5

Luke POV

Luke watched Camille and Aj go inside the house. There is regret and sadness in his eyes. Those are the two people he loved. Bigla siyang nagulat sa realization na hindi lang si Camille ang mahal niya, naramdaman din niya na mahal niya si Aj. Siguro dahil anak siya ni Camille. Naisip niya kahit siguro ilang ang magiging anak ni Camille, he will love them. God! He is pathetic. Mabigat ang paa ni Luke na humakbang papalayo sa bahay ni Camille. Pumasok ito sa kotse niya at umalis na.

A week after the party.
Niyaya ni Luke sa Ollie's bar si Steven at Nathan. Isinama na rin ni Nathan si Raisa hanggang sa nagkayayaan at dumating na rin si Bianca at Ryan. Sina Riley at Hanna lang ang hindi nakapunta dahil masama ang pakiramdam nito.

Caitlin was in the bar with Owen. Dahil halos nandoon lahat ng barkada, Owen got them a karaoke room to stay. They ordered their drinks and pulutan. Si Caitlin na at Owen ang nag-asikaso sa kanila. Sumali na rin ang mag-asawa sa impromptu get-together nila.

" Lu, hindi mo yata kasama si Annette?"tanong ni Nathan.

"She isn't here, out of the town for a convention"sagot lang ni  Luke na parang wala sa sarili.

" Bro, does Annette know about Camille?"tanong ni Owen na nakatingin kay Luke.

"Why?"defensive agad na tanong ni Luke na parang nagagalit.Camille has always been a sensitive issue for Luke. Hindi nila pinag-uusapan ito after she left because Luke's demeanor always change pag ito na ang topic. Until now......

"Bro, relax. I'm just asking" sabi ni Owen hands up." I didnt mean to make you upset."

Luke calmed down, took a deep breath and shook his head no." There is no need for me to tell her about Elle. Elle will obviously be going back to the States anyway so........" he left it hanging.

Inspite of Luke's words, his friends can still feel his pain, his hurt. They watched him drained his whiskey. They felt so helpless. They tried to help him before pero kahit anong gawin nila ay hindi umubra kay Luke. He really, really loved Camille and it broke him when she left.

They all knew that Annette is Luke's current girlfriend. They have been seeing each other for a year now, pinakamatagal na yon for Luke after Camille left. Natuwa naman ang barkada ng nakita nilang nag move on na si Luke after 3 years na nawala si Camille. Dahil kahit sino pa ang ipa blind date nila dito or e- match make, walang tumagal. Si Camille pa rin ang nanaig sa kay Luke. But now that Camille is back, they are concern. Ayaw nilang makita uli si Luke na nasasakatan. Nobody said a word about it. Iniba ni Raisa ang usapan.

" Is Hanna okay?"tanong ni Raisa when everybody settled down on the couch.

" Riley said , Napagod lang yata,"inform ni Ryan." So she just needs rest."

" I'll call her tomorrow , see if needs anything,"sabi ni Caitlin na nilagay sa phone reminder niya.Napansin nito ang mga pictures nila last Saturday." Hey, nakalimutan ko palang eh forward sa inyo ang mga pictures natin nong Saturday. Let me forward it to you guys now."

Maya maya ay nag beep ang mga phone nila.

Bianca and Raisa started scrolling their phones to look at the pictures.

"We should have called Camille and asked if she could join us,"sabi ni Steven casually.

" I don't think she can come in a short notice dahil kay Aj,"sabi ni Nathan na nagsimula ng uminom.

"Oo nga,"sagot ni Bianca habang nagtitingin pa ng pictures" Ang cute ng mga kuha natin dito. Itong si Aj ang cute, lalo ng itong nagki-kiss siya and rubbing noses with Lu. Para kayong mag-ama.......opps...s-sorry Lu,"sabi ni Bianca bigla. Alam niyang sore topic si Camille kay Luke.

"But Bea, you're right parang hawig si Aj kay Lu noh", puna din ni Caitlin nakatitig sa picture sa phone niya." Look at Aj's eyes and lips.....parang kay Lu."

Tumawa si Ryan." Kung ganoon eh, pinaglihian ni Elle si Lu habang buntis siya,"sabi nito.

" Unless Pare na may nangyari sa inyo ni Elle bago siya umalis, bago kayo nag-away,"tukso ni Owen na tinapik pa si Luke sa balikat.

Iinom pa sana si Luke and stopped. He slowly set his glass down.Napansin ito ni Steven." Bro, don't tell me na meron nga?"biglang tanong nito.

Everybody stopped what they were looking at and stared at Luke. He stiffened. He remembered that night when he and Elle made love for the first time. He was Elle's first. That was the most unforgettable night he had ever had with Elle. Luke was deathly white.

" At Ryan's lake house. Remember nong nagstay tayo doon for the weekend,"mahinang sabi ni Luke.

" What?" biglang sabi ni Caitlin and Bianca.

" Wait......you guys did......L-Lu, Aj is 2 years old. We asked Elle yesterday kung ano ang birthday nito so we can send him a gift, she said October 6....."sabi ni Raisa.

Natahimik si Luke and started calculating it in his head.

" Is it possible Lu?"tanong ni Owen."From the way you look like now, is it possible that Aj is yours?'tanong ni Owen.

Hindi ito nagsalita pero tumango si Luke.

" And I notice that she is not wearing any wedding ring. I didn't say anything though"sabi ni Caitlin.

Tumayo si Luke bigla and attempted to leave."Where are you going?"tanong ni Owen.

" I need to talk to Elle,"sabi agad ni Luke.

"Pare, it is late right now. Talking to her tonight is not a good idea. Calm yourself down, think of what you are going to say to her. Plan it. You only have one shot in this. Either you will get her to admit it or she will shut you out,"advise ni Steven.

" Stu is right Lu. Right now, you are emotional. You may say things that you don't mean. See her tomorrow. Pag isipan mo kung ano ang sasabihin mo. You don't want her to leave again without saying goodbye. This time, with Aj,"payo din ni Nathan.

Luke sat back down. Pinayuhan siya ng mga barkada na kung ano ang pwede niyang gawin. They explored all possibilities. Alam ng mga ito na sooner or later. Luke would have to deal with Annette and tell her about Camille if Aj is indeed his son.