Tamed by Noah

32: Unexpected Encounter

Mabilis namang humingi ng tawad si Melanie kay Paul nang gamitin nya ito para palayuin si Noah. Paul understands. He is willing to offer his help, especially kung si Melanie at Zaiden ang nangangailangan.

Sobrang lapit na ng loob niya sa anak ni Mel at ganoon din naman ang bata sa kaniya. Tuwing magkasama nga sila sa public ay mukha talaga silang buong pamilya.

Si Melanie, hindi nya alam kung dapat ba syang maging masaya na hindi na sya ginambala ni Noah sa loob ng isang linggo. O dapat ba syang malungkot dahil mukhang tuluyan nang lumayo si Noah sa kaniya. There are still times na naiiyak sya. But she keep on holding it back. She keep on reminding herself that Noah is just playing with her. That he belong to someone else.

Dahil Thursday pa lamang ay gaya ng nakagawian, Melanie is on her work sa hotel. Zaiden, Nanay Lurdes and Tatay Guryo are in Manila, sa bahay na pinatayo ni Melanie. During her lunch break, hindi nya inaasahan na biglang may makikita syang batang makulit na tumatakbo sa lobby ng hotel. And when the kid saw her, he rushed towards Melanie calling her, "mommy!!"

Sa likod ni Zaiden ay si Paul. Paul fetched him up from their house, as soon as he left the law firm para sa kaniyang 2 and half hours lunch break ay dumiretso sya sa bahay ni Melanie para sunduin si Zaiden.

"Mommy! Mommy! Mommyyy!!" Paulit-ulit na sigaw ni Zaiden na parang ilang taon silang hindi nagkita gayong iilang oras pa lang ang lumipas.

Melanie bend down on her knees at ibinuka niya ang kaniyang braso para salubungin ang anak.

"Mommy!" Muling sigaw ni Zaiden nang tuluyan syang makulong sa bisig ng ina. Then Melanie stands up still carrying her baby boy.

"You surprised mommy! What are you doing here?" Melanie asked after a kiss on Zaiden's cheeks.

"Daddy Paul said we will have lunch together!" Excited na sagot ng bata. "I like lunch together during weekdays." Suddenly, naguilty si Melanie. Napakabihira kasi nyang makasama sa pagtanghalian si Zaiden dahil sa trabaho. Nakakasabay nya lang sa tanghalian ang anak tuwing sabado't linggo.

Paul approached. There's a hint of pure smile on his face. Naka suit pa ito at halatang galing sa firm.

"Thank you... for bringing Zaiden here."

"My pleasure." Sagot ni Paul tapos ay kinindatan nya si Zaiden. The kid tried to wink at Paul but he ended up blinking. Hindi kasi nya kayang ipikit ang iisang mata.

"Mom? I like lunch at zoo." Zaiden locked his mom's cheeks on his small palms as he look straight at her eyes. Nakikita na naman ni Melanie ang mata ni Noah sa anak. When will she stop thinking of him?

Never. Papaano nya makakalimutan ang lalaki na nagbigay sa kaniya ng isang biyaya?

"Zoo? Malayo ang zoo baby. How about Public Park? There are animals in park, but they're very limited. Pag nagzoo kasi tayo, kuya Zaiden, mommy will be late at my afternoon schedule. And if mommy gets late, our ipon for our Disneyland will be delayed."