Tamed by Noah

33: Pride and Prejudice

Melanie's knees just turn to jelly as soon as she saw Noah in front of her, nakatingin sa kanilang anak na para bang nagtatanong kung sino si Zaiden. Mabilis na pinatalikod ni Melanie ang anak para hindi makita ni Noah ang mukha ni Zaiden.

Her heart, it's pumping hard against her rib cage. It's acting violently fahil sa kaba. Her palm is also sweating. Malamig ang kaniyang pawis sa kamay, pati kaniyang palad ay malamig.

None of them speak. Hindi kasi nila alam kung papaano uumpisahan ang usapan. And besides, hindi lang ang bats ang nasa isip ni Noah. Nasa isip din nya si Paul. He have too many questions. Si Paul ba ang lalaking hinalikan ni Melanie nang gabing sinusuyo nya ito? Si Paul ba ang asawa nya? Nagkabalikan na ba sila? Iyon ang mga uri ng tanong na gumagambala kay Noah.

"Mum... I want to see the monkey over there." Ani Zaiden na nakalimutan na ang tanong nya sa Ina kung kilala ba ang nabangga. As soon as he saw the monkeys that he'd been wanting to see, he gets distracted easily.

"You'll see it with daddy Paul." Bulong ni Melanie sa anak na narinig din naman ni Noah. Humarap si Melanie kay Paul and he get it. She transferred Zaiden to his arms.

"Aren't you coming with us, mum?" Zaiden asks then faces his mother. Noah can see the kid in side view. And strangely, pakiramdam nya ay may ilang katangian ang bata na nagpapaalala sa kaniyang ina at sa kaniyang sarili. Noah got his mother's traits na ngayon ay sumasalamin sa batang karga-karga ni Paul.

"Why don't you answer the kid's question first?" Biglang sabat ni Noah. "He's asking if you knew me, you will not lie in front of a kid, right?" Mejo malamig ang tono ni Noah. Seeing Melanie with kid and another man is beyond painful. Lalo pa't mukha na silang masayang pamilya.

Bumaling si Melanie kay Noah at nagtapon ng masamang tingin dito.

Zaiden noticed his mother's stare and says, "why are you looking at him like that, mum? You told me glaring at someone is bad."

Noah suddenly feel like nakahanap sya ng bagong kakampi. Ang gaan ng loob nya sa bata when he should be hating him dahil anak sya ni Melanie sa ibang lalaki. Pakiramdam ni Noah ay ang bata ang magpapaalala sa kaniya ng sakit, iyon ang expectations nya pero bakit gustong gusto nya ito?

"Why can't you answer his question? What? Cat got your tongue?" No matter how much he misses Melanie, syempre may pride din naman si Noah. And that forces him to be cold towards her.

"Dude, easy. Watch your words." Singit ni Paul.

"Shall I tell him myself?" Noah ignored Paul.

"He's no one, baby." Ani Melanie na direktang nakatingin sa mata ni Noah before looking at the replica of his eyes, Zaiden's. "He's someone who likes to play around and make fun of other people. He's a man without a heart."

Hindi alam ni Melanie kung bakit hindi mamukhaan ni Noah ang sariling anak. Should she be glad or offended? Hanggang ngayon ba ay hindi pa handa si Noah na maging ama kaya kahit obvious na magkadugo sila ay hindi nya into ina-acknowlege? Well, what Melanie expect? It's Noah. Isang lalaking walang bayag.

Noah was silent for a minute matapos syang ipakilala ni Melanie sa ganoong paraan.

"I don't make fun of other people, Melanie. You know that." Noah replied still emtionless. Papaano nasasabi ni Melanie iyon gayong bumalik sya just for her? For their love story na mukhang impossible na.

"I'm sorry, but I'm no longer the same naïve girl who can be fooled easily." Malamang mensahe ni Melanie.

"Mum? What's going on? Dadyy Paul?" Tanong ni Zaiden habang papalit palit ang kaniyang tanong.

Another moment of silence passed hanggang sa may isang pang boses ang namutawi.

"Noah!!" All of them has their heads on the right side.

Another set of dagger sliced Melanie's heart nang makita ang mukha ng babaeng karelasyon ni Noah. She will never forget that day and that woman's face. Arabel. There's a red luggage on her side, and a designer's bag.

Habang hila-hila ang bagahe ay tumakbo ang babae papalapit. She jump on Noah for a bear hug.

Melanie looked away nang magyakapan ang dalawa sa kaniyang harapan. Naririyan na naman ang kirot. Kailan ba maghihilom ang sugat sa kaniyang puso?

Noah crossed his arms around Arable's waist. He made it look like they're still lovers para sana man lamang ay magselos si Melanie. And also, to save his pride. Ang natitira nyang pride.

"How long have you been her'? Did I made you wâyt?" Tanong ni Arabel sa kaniyang British accent. She is looking up to Noah.

"No. Not at all." Noah says with gentleness. Complete opposite of how he speak with Melanie.

Then Arabel look at Melanie, Zaiden and Paul.

"Oh, hello ther'." Bati ni Arabel sa kanila. Then she look at Noah again, "are they your friends?" Her voice stays the same too. Nice and cheerful kagaya ng unang beses itong narinig ni Melanie.

"No." Sagot ni Noah and it damn hurt.

Paul noticed that Melanie's shoulder fell. Since natrapped na sila sa magulong sitwasyon na iyon, maybe his action will be a big help for Melanie.

Habang karga ni Paul si Zaiden sa kaniyang kanang braso ay ginamit niya ang kaliwa para yakapin si Melanie, it rested on her curvy waist. Pinanuod ni Noah na lumingkis ang may kakisigang braso ni Paul sa beywang ni Mel. Unconsciously, his jaw clenched and his hand turn to fists.

Arabel look closely at Melanie. Then she asked, "you look familiah'. Have we met befor'?

Mabilis na umiling si Melanie. "No. I don't think so."

"Really? I think I did saw you befor'. Just can't remembeh' wherê." Kunot noong saad ni Arabel. "By the way! May name's Arabel!" She offered her hand.

Melanie look at her fine hand, feminine and reddish. Halatang anak mayaman.

"Melanie." She accepted the shake hands.

"You're beautiful. Noah's right when he said Filipino wemen are beautiful." She complemented.

"Thanks." That was an awkward conversation and complement for Melanie. Imagine? Receiving that nice words from your ex-lover's current woman? Very unlikely.

"Ano Melanie, should we go?" Banat ni Paul. Melanie curved her lips a little then look up at him. She nod her head.

"Yeah." Bulong nya dahil Padang tinakasan na sya ng kaniyang boses.

"It's nice seeing you again, Noah. And Arabel, right? Please excuse us. Enjoy your date." Ani Paul.

"We're not in ey da—"

"Yeah, sure we will." Noah cut Arable off in her mid-sentence.

Melanie didn't dare to look at Noah again. She did her best para hindi na muling makita si Noah mata sa mata.

Paul kept his arms rested on her waist as they started walking away.

"Thank you, Paul." Bulong ni Melanie nang makalayo sila ng ilang dipa.

"That's not a big deal." Sagot ni Pul.

Zaiden's eyes remained at Noah's way at si Noah naman ay nakatingin sa kanilang tatlo na lumalakad papalayo.

Habang karga ng kinagisnang ama ay ngumiti si Zaiden showing his first two teeth at the upper gum. Then he raised his small right hand in the air and waved goodbye to his unacknowledged biological father.

Hindi alam ni Noah kung bakit. But when he saw the little kid did that, his heart flutter in joy.