[ITNOL #3] The Promise of Forever (COMPLETED)

Chapter 30

#TPOFMeddled

A/N: And just like that, we're back po to Regine's point of view. Sorry for the grammatical errors and misspelled words. Thank you, enjoy reading!

-

"Nate, are you all set now? You're going to be late na!" sigaw ko mula sa kusina para marinig niya sa kuwarto sa taas. I heard his rubber shoes making some stepping sounds and with that I am certain that he's moving really fast. 

"I'm coming ma!" narinig ko ang mga yapak niya pababa. I saw him frowning. "Why did you really had to enroll me in a music school after I had all these hardships from my acads..."

"Stop whining already and let's go." I said authoritatively and he lazily responded by going behind me.

Marahan siyang sumunod sa akin at binuksan ang harapang upuan ng kotse. Umupo siya kasama ko at pinindot ko lang ang remote ng gate. Nilabas ko ang sasakyan sa garahe at nang sumakto na ang higpit ko sa steering wheel ay nagsimula na akong magmaneho papalayo ng subdivision. Nate, as usual, operated the FM radio of the car. Kinokonek niya sa mga kung ano ano, ewan ko ba sa batang to. Hinahayaan ko lang naman.

The radio was playing the song 2002, when my son broke the deafening silence between the two of us inside the car. "Ma, will you pick me up later?"

"Of course. Why'd you ask?" I asked him.

"I thought I'll be going with my friends using the carpool you enrolled me on." he replied.

"E, andito naman si Mommy para sunduin ka so no need." I still glued my sight on the road. Medyo nagkakatraffic na kaya napapatigil ako minsan.

"Sayang din kasi yung perang pinambayad mo dun buwan-buwan Ma, tapos di naman pala ako sasakay." I was shocked when he spoke in straight Tagalog. Whoever taught and practiced him to do so, I owe him or her a lot. I never had him practiced using vernacular language dahil mandatory sa international school to speak English, that's why hasang-hasa si Nate.

"You don't have to worry about money right now, baby. Sabi ko naman sa'yo, the carpool is just for emergency purposes if ever call in si Mama sa hospital then you can ride anytime with them." I said. "Why, ayaw mo ba akong makasama?"

"It's not that. I'm just wondering." he put his headphones on and that was my cue para hinaan ang radyo. Maybe he got bored, that's why. Medyo bumper to bumper pa ang traffic ngayon dito sa EDSA. Buti nalang we were an hour advance nang lumabas kami ng bahay kanina.

After exactly an hour, nakarating na kami sa music school ni Nate. He had his gadgets ready inside his bag and fixed himself. He kissed my cheek and said goodbye to me and finally went inside the gates of his school. Napangiti nalang ako dahil mukhang excited siyang pumasok. Bumalik na ako sa sasakyan at minaneho ito patungong ospital. I'll just catch some work up, and if wala namang gagawin, siguro gagala nalang ako kung san san.

I heard my phone rang and I immediately plugged in my earpods and answered the call. "Hello?"

"Regine. Where are you?"

Si Robin lang pala. "Hinatid ko lang si Nate. Papunta na ako dyan."

"Wag ka munang pumasok ngayon." he told me seriously.

"Ha? Bakit naman? A-ano bang nangyayari?" I asked thru the phone.

"Listen to me, please. Wag ka nang maraming tanong. Ipapaalam na kita kay Sir Pascual sakaling hanapin ka niya. Just don't go anywhere near here." seryosong saad niya. He really is commanding me for my good...bakit ba kasi? Ano bang meron?

"Fine. Sabi mo ikaw bahala ha." I frowned. "Tatanungin kita kung bakit ayaw mo naman sumagot. Sige na. Hang up."

"Trust me on this. Para rin to sa kabutihan mo." he uttered. "I'll call you later. Update me kung nasan ka." then he ended the call.

Uh, pulis from doctor real quick?

Imbes na lumiko pakanan papuntang St. Luke's, pinili ko nalang na dumiretso ng takbo. Siguro mag-mamall nalang ako, I need to pamper myself this time. Few minutes of driving, I arrived at the parking area getting through the parking fees and all. Hay nako, kailan ba kami bibigyan ni Lord ng isang benepisyong libre para sa lahat? Bayad dito, bayad doon, nakakaloka.

Lucky me, I found a spot near the entrance of the basement and there I parked. Bumaba ako at nilock ang pintuan ng sasakyan at naglakad papasok ng mall. I was just wearing a simple silver blouse and some slacks with a black two-inch sandals. Yes, I really look like going to work right now but suddenly Robin just shutted me out. Ugh. Lalo ko lang iniistress sarili ko kapag naiisip ko iyon.

Nabato ako sa aking paglalakad nang may makita akong isang pamilyar na babae.

I immediately switched my way from going straight to going right. I kept myself calm and tried not to feel instigated with that encounter. Did our eyes met? Did she see me? Holy frack, I don't even know. Lumingon-lingon ako sa likod sakaling nakasunod siya sa akin. I see no traces of her on the crowd. Napalabas ako ng isang malalim na hinga at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad ko. Well, bitches, napadpad lang naman ako sa gadgets area. Argh.

Finally, I went out on that little path where the latest and cool stuff. Wala naman akong masyadong napapansin at sana wala na akong weird na matatagpuan ngayong araw. Damn, I should not have listened to Robin, nagiging weird na tong lakad ko ngayon. Sana nanatili nalang ako sa ospital. Potek.

"Hindi nga ako nagkakamali."

What...

"Regine, ikaw na ba iyan?"

Hinay-hinay niya akong nilapitan at hinawak-hawakan ako kung saan saan. Her face was so overwhelmed by seeing me, at ako naman ay napaghahalataang hindi interesado at naguguluhan sa mga pinangagagawa niya sa'kin at ang biglaan niyang pagpapakita sa'kin. For so many years she has been gone...I don't know how to address her anymore.

She caressed my hair and cupped my face and hugged me so tight. "I'm sorry...I'm so so sorry..."

Those were the last words you said before you went away.

"I-it's nice to see you again, Ma." tanging naisambit ko.

I could never bring myself to talk about my husband with her dahil simula't sapul, kung hindi dahil sa desisyon ng ina niya ay hindi siya mawawala sa'kin. I am not blaming her but I am just stating the truth. I know, it was the situation but I can't help to think about...what if she risked to conduct the operation here? What if she decided to stay? Looking at the bright side, what if the operation was successful and I was able to bring back my husband?

"I went to the hospital kaso sabi ng kaibigan mo hindi niya alam kung nasaan ka. I nearly lost hope upon finding you again." she said.

Kaya pala.

"Ah, hinatid ko lang kasi si-"

No.

"Sinong hinatid mo?"

"S-si..." Should I tell her? Siguro naman may karapatan siyang malaman na buhay ang apo niya. "Si Nate."

"Was it..." she gasped, covering her mouth with her hand. She was in the verge of crying, tears formulating in her eyes.

My voice cracked up as I replied to her. "T-the moment the both of you left me...the baby lived. I made him lived." I gave her a thin smile.

"At sana Ma, wag niyo namang kunin ang kaligayahan ko, dahil si Nate na lang ang nagbibigay ng rason sa'kin para mabuhay sa mundong 'to." then suddenly, my tears began to fall.