My Ex, His Dad

Chapter 10

       Nakaupo sina Melissa at Camille sa couch sa may cabana facing the pool. Nasa pool si Aj with Tito Andrew and Tita Elise. Tulog pa si Tyler. Luke went inside after breakfast to change into his swimming shorts dahil gustong mag swimming ito kasama ang anak niya.

    "Ate Elle, are you going back to the States?" tanong ni Melissa.

    This is the question that she is dreading."I'm not sure when we are going back but yes, we are. Umuwi lang kami ni Aj dahil may pinaasikaso si Dad sa akin. Hindi ko maiwanan si Aj doon and I don't think I can leave him anyway."

   " I hope you wont get mad at me for asking this but .......may kapalit na ba si Kuya Luke?"tanong ni Melissa. Camille looked at her." Sorry Ate.......all the while kasi I thought we would be sisters and......."

    Melissa looked sad." Issa, just because hindi kami nagkatuluyan ni Luke doesn't mean, we cant be sisters. We may not be sister by blood or by me marrying Lu , but we are still sisters,'sabi ni Camille.

    Melissa hugged her."So there is somebody huh. I hope he will love Aj and take good care of him,"malungkot na sabi nito.

    " Aj is my world right now. But if and when I am ready for another relationship, I will make sure that that person will love him as much as I do"sabi ni Camille absently,watching her son.

    Melissa perked up."Wala na bang chance na magkabalikan kayo ni Kuya Lu?'tanong nito.

   Hindi agad nakasagot si Camille. Is there still a chance? she asked herself silently. Bago siya nakasagot ay dumating si Luke. He was in his swimming short and topless. He looks so heavenly. Toned abs and just perfect. Melissa saw the look in Camille face, in her eyes,  before she looked away. Melissa smiled at Camille's reaction.

    Inaayos ni Camille ang overnight bag nila. They are getting ready to go home. Aj is with Luke downstairs. Camille stopped what she was doing, sat on the bed and let her eyes roamed around Luke's room. Then she closed her eyes. What the hell am I doing? Before she can stand up, she heard the knocked at the door.

   "Come in"sabi ni Camille and straightened herself.

   Bumukas ang pinto. Pumasok si Tita Elise. Lumapit sa kanya at umupo sa tabi niya.

  "Can I talk to you Elle?"she asked quietly.

  She tensed pero hindi ito nagpahalat.Now what? " Sure Mom"sagot niya.

  She took a deep breath." I am happy na pinakilala mo sa amin si Aj.  And I am thankful for that l, Elle. I don't know exactly what happened between you and Luke but I know he was devastated when you left. I tried asking him but he wont tell me, he wont tell any of us........I know how much you love him so there must  be a good reason that you ........left,"she said softly." I-....I-I w-anted to ask you something. It is okay if you refuse, I would understand........'but tears were forming in her eyes and Camille felt like her heart is being squeezed.

  "What is it Mom?'tanong ni Camille.

" Elle, why don't you and Aj stay here habang nandito kayo sa Pilipinas para naman kahit man lang sandali ay makasama naman namin si Aj," biglang sabi ni Tita Elise.

      Nagulat si Camille. Hindi agad ito makapagsalita. "We didn't know about Aj. Nakikiusap ako, kami...... if you can give us a chance to get to know him before you leave. We have extra rooms here, now that Issa and Tee had move out, "she said almost close to tears.

     Camille is torn.She is trapped. She hated seeing Tita Elise like this. She always had love her and Tito Andrew. And does know how to answer her.

     "Will you at least think about it?"tanong nito.

     She found herself saying," I will think about it, Mom."

Nasa office si Luke at nagmamadaling matapos ang ginagawa niya ng mag ring ang kanyang phone.Kinuha niya ito sa lamesa ang tiningnan kung sino ang tumatawag. Ang mommy niya! Bakit kaya? Hindi naman usually tumatawag ito eh.

    " Hello Mom?"bati agad ni Luke sa ina.

    " Hello Luke! I called you because I talked to Camille and she said yes. Dito daw sila magsi-stay ni Aj. I told her that I will call you to let you know to pick her up later,"sabi ng Mommy niya.

   Really! Elle will be staying in her parents house. Kung sabagay, mahirap tanggihan ang mommy niya pag nagrequest ito.

   " And Lu, I want to ask you something,"pahabol ng mommy niya.

  Oh, oh. Hindi niya gusto ang tuno ng mommy niya. Kilala niya ito. This must be something he doesn't want to hear or  talk about.

  "Ano yon,Mom?"

  " Are you serious with your girlfriend, Annette? Do you love her? Or do you still love Elle?"dire-diretsong tanong ng Mommy niya.

   What the freak! Ano naman itong tinatanong ni Mommy. Never naman itong nakialam sa mga naging girlfriend niya or ka date. Bat nagtatanong ito ngayon.

   "Mom!' reklamo nito.

  " Luke, I am not kidding right now,"sabi nito na mukhang magagalit pa kung hindi sagutin.

"Ang dami mong tinanong. Which one do you want me to answer?'sagot ni Luke to lighten the mood.

His mom was deadly serious." I am going to ask you one and the most important question. And I want you to answer me honestly," she paused." Do you still love Elle?"

   Natigilan si Luke. Why is she asking me this? Do I still love Elle? He had never stop loving Elle. He thought he had moved on, but seeing her, niloloko lang pala niya ang sarili niya.

  " Luke!' naiinis nang sabi ng Mommy niya.

"What does it matter Mom? She is married,"sabi ni Luke.

" No she is not and she is not seeing anybody either. Melissa talked to her casually while she was in the house that Saturday. She is not seeing anybody.  Elle doesn't have a wedding ring on her finger, not even in the necklace that she is wearing. If you still love her, you need to do something about Annette and you need to stay here in the house while she is here. Do everything you can to win her back before you lose her again and your son,"sabi ng Mommy niya.

    When he hang up the phone, his mind was reeling on what his Mom had just said. She is still unattached! Before he left the house to pick Camille, Luke made a mental note to call Annette and call it quits.