Stonehearts 6: Alexandrite

Twenty Six

Napaupo ako sa tabi ni Clyde, hindi naman niya ako pinansin dahil busy siyang kalikutin ang robot na bigay ng Tita Ninang niya sa kanya.

Naupo naman si Mitch sa tabi ko. She placed her arm on my shoulder and pulled me close to her, "I'm sorry, I didn't know. Shit. I'm sorry, Lex."

"Tita Ninang, bad word po 'yon." Suway sa kanya ni Clyde.

"Sorry, baby. Sige na, fix mo muna 'yong toys mo upstairs saka ka magbihis, okay?" agad naman siyang sinunod ni Clyde, hinabol ko pa nga ang paalala ko na mag-ingat siya sa pag-akyat sa hagdan.

"A-anong nangyari?" tanong ko ng naiwan kaming dalawa.

"Dumating flight ko from San Francisco alas-tres ng hapon. Iniwan ko lang mga bagahe ko sa condo saka ako dumiretso sa school ni Taba. Syempre, alam mo naman ang lagay ng traffic dito kaya nakarating ako doon pasado alas-kwatro. Sakto nadatnan ko si Clyde na pasakay sa puting sasakyan kaya tinawag ko siya. Kinabahan pa nga ako dahil sa mga nakikita kong news na kidnap, kidnap ano!"

Natawa akong bahagya kaya natapik ko siya sa hita, "Tapos?"

"Tapos na-realize kong wala naman atang mangingidnap na naka-Aston Martin. Nang nakita ako ni Taba, dali-dali naman siyang tumakbo para umakap sa akin. Kaya agad kong tinanong kung sino 'yong sumusundo sa kanya, ang sabi naman ng cute na cute kong inaanak, 'Si Taytay Gio ko po.'. Gulat ako, isang Gio lang ang pumasok sa isipan ko at agad ko naman na-confirm nang nilapitan niya kami."

"And then?"

"He was quite surprised to see me too. Nahiya ako na ewan nang nakita ko siya, naguluhan din. Nahiya, kasi mura ang huli niyang natanggap sa akin at College pa tayo non. Naguluhan kasi, paanong naging ganito ang sitwasyon niyo. Wala ka namang kwinekwento sa akin."

"Ayoko pa sanang magkwento nang hindi ko pa naayos ang lahat."

"Lex, you should know by now that not all things should be planned. 'Diba? We talked about his when you had Clyde. Pag-uusapan nanaman ba natin ulit? Sometimes, the unexpected is the most beautiful thing that will ever happen to you."

She was right. Clyde became my forever ever since I saw his cherub face and carried him into my arms. Hindi ako nagdalawang isip noon, wala akong plano. Walang kahit na ano. But it went well. So why am I beating myself up for planning everything between me and Gio?

"You're right. If I haven't been delaying this, sana hindi ito nangyayari." I whispered.

She gave me a tight squeeze before rubbing my arms. "It's my fault, Lex."

I shook my head, "No, it's mine for not telling him soon enough." I paused before I asked her what happened next.

"Una, tinanong niya kung galit pa ako sa kanya. Sabi ko hindi na at kinalimutan ko na 'yon. Then I asked him bakit ganoon ang tawag sa kanya ni Taba. But he just smiled and told me that it is better if the story came from your mouth. He asked me where I was going so I said to your apartment after I got Clyde from school. Then he said you're living in a different place and that he can give me a ride going there. Sa sasakyan nalaman ko na nakatira na pala kayo sa bahay niya, sinabi niya rin sa akin 'yong tungkol sa nangyari sa apartment niyo, may mga nakwento rin siya kung paano ka niya nahanap. Ako naman si tanga na tuwang-tuwa para sa bestfriend ko at sa mahal kong inaanak nasabi ko na, "Buti na lang mahal na mahal mo si Clyde kahit hindi siya talaga anak ni Lex." Alam mo 'yon, I made sure that Clyde was taking a nap before I said that pero pati pala si Gio hindi alam ang sikreto."

"A-anong sinabi niya pagkatapos mong sabihin 'yon?"

"Wala. His demeanor never changed. Kaya akala ko alam na niya. He acted so cool until we arrived. He served some snacks saka nagpaalam kay Taba at sa akin na may pupuntahan lang daw. Kaya nga akala ko susunduin ka."

I untangled myself from our half-hug then buried my face on my palms. "Shit. Kasalanan ko 'to, Mitch. Bakit ko pa kasi tinago? I should have come clean on the first place."

Mitch gave me a soft pat on the back, "Hey, no reasons to cry because nothing ended, okay? Baka naman bumili lang sa labas o may nakalimutan sa opisina. Bakit 'di mo kaya i-text or tawagan?"

I raised my head and looked at her, "Anong sasabihin ko?"

"Edi 'yong mga dapat na sinabi mo noon pa, Alexandrite. Ikaw ang nanay sa ating dalawa pero feeling ko this time parang ako."

I playfully punched her on the arm and laughed with her despite of the impending doom my relationship with Gio might suffer.

"Tita Ninang, tapos na po ako!" tawag ni Clyde sabay talon sa huling palapag ng hagdan at tumakbo papunta sa aming nakaupo pa rin sa sofa sa receiving area.

"I'll take Clyde with me for the night while you sort your problems with him." Mitch said while hugging my son, delivering it in pure English so Clyde can't follow the conversation.

Tinignan ko ang anak ko. Hindi ko kayang malayo sa kanya kahit isang gabi lang pero kailangan kong gawin para maayos ko ang sa amin ni Gio. I can't lose him. I just can't.

"Anak, halika nga." I called, pulling him into a hug while trapping him in between my legs. "Gusto mo bang mag-sleep over kila Tita Ninang?"

He bobbed his head in rapid movements clearly showing me that he approved the idea.

"Okay, sige. Kila Tita Ninang Mitch ka muna ngayong gabi. Balita ko marami siyang pasalubong sa'yo."

"Syempre naman, no! Siya lang kaya pinaggagastusan ko." Natatawa namang dagdag ni Mitch.

"Pero paano po si Taytay Gio ko?"

"Ah-eh. Ako na bahala magsabi sa kanya na nakitulog ka kay Tita Ninang, hindi naman 'yon magagalit. Tapos bukas, susunduin ka na namin."

I said that with all the positivity I can muster even though I am not sure what tomorrow holds for us both.

"Okay po, naynay!" my son exclaimed with glee before pulling Mitch and me up so we can fix the things he'll bring to his sleep over.

Before they left, Mitch hugged me and reminded me that I should call Gio and that everything will be alright.

I hope so to. Because if not, I don't know what to do.

--

paano ba 'yan? 14 chapters na lang matatapos na? CHAROT akala ko naman kaonti ang 14 hahahahahaha

It's February 4, 2020!!! The release of Tempting Mr. Perfect is here!!! AHHHHHH. Plus, it's also Precious Pages 28th Anniversary, so don't forget to visit their physical shop and online shops (precious pages site, Lazada, & Shopee) to score some deals when buying your favorite books. I heard they offer up to 50%. So gora na mga mahals!

All the love

- B <3