Definitely Out of his League | published under Ukiyoto Publishing

44th League: Sleepless Solitude

44th League: Sleepless Solitude

PAGKATAPOS MAAYOS ni Iris ang kaniyang mga gamit sa opisina ay nanatili muna siya sa kaniyang upuan. She looked at her wristwatch finding out that it was too early to go home. Sandali muna siyang tumulala at nag-isip ng puwedeng gawin.

Dumapo ang kaniyang paningin sa picture frame na nasa lamesa niya. It was a photo of her with her nephew and niece. Ngumiti ang dalaga at lumabas na ng kaniyang opisina.

Mabilis siyang nagmaneho patungo sa bahay ng kuya niya. She once again caught a glimpse of her brother's house. It was a small and cozy two-storey house with a large garden at the front.

Nang makababa siya ng kotse ay agad siyang sinalubong ng mga pamangkin niyang sina Georgianne at Franco.

"Mom, Tita Iris is here!" sigaw ni Georgianne.

"Ang lalaki n'yo na! I missed you two," ani Iris sabay halik sa mga noo ng kaniyang dalawang pamangkin.

"Iris, mabuti't napadalaw ka. Hindi ka na ba busy sa work?" tanong ni Sapphire bago pinapasok ang kaniyang hipag.

"Wala naman masyadong gawain sa office ngayon and it's still too early to go home. How are you, Ate Sapphire?"

"Oh, I'm doing fine. Wala naman akong ibang inaatupag kung 'di ang magbantay ng mga pamangkin mo. Ikaw ang kamusta na?" masayang saad ni Sapphire.

"I'm doing good as well."

Hindi lingid sa kaalaman ni Sapphire ang nangyari noon sa relasyon ni Iris at Travis pero kahit kailan ay hindi siya nagtanong tungkol dito. She was happy to see Iris being fine but she knew for sure that Iris wasn't completely over it.

"If you're fine then how's your heart doing now? Is she also fine?" Sapphire asked.

Natigilan si Iris sa tanong ng kaniyang ate.

"Ate Iris, just one quick question."

"Go ahead."

"That time when you left Kuya Carlisle and raised Franco all by yourself, how did you manage to do it?" Iris asked curiously.

"Hmm... That's a good question. Well, I must say that it wasn't easy. I love your kuya so much and there was never a day that I didn't think about him. Leaving him was the hardest decision that I've ever made. Pero kung hindi ko ginawa 'yon, do you think we'll be who we are now?

"What I'm trying to say is even though I left Carlisle, it didn't mean that I wanted to. I had no other choice. And that answers your question, Iris. It's about the choices that we make. Our choices are the representation of the person we want ourselves to be."

"I still don't get it, Ate Sapphire," naguguluhang tanong ni Iris.

"When I came back from America, I wasn't expecting your brother to take me back or forgive me at least. I chose not to expect anything. Our choices lead us to the most uncertain outcomes. And the outcomes will contribute a lesson that you need to learn. And after learning, you'll improve.

"At kapag dumating na ang tamang oras, no matter if the situation will be easy or even harder, you will know that you'll never make the same mistake again. Step by step, you'll be able to pull yourself together," Sapphire explained genuinely.

"I'm glad that you're my brother's wife, Ate Sapphire," ani Iris. "Paano kung hindi ka pa rin tinanggap ni Kuya?"

"Again, it's the choice we make, Iris. I chose to give up. I got tired. I knew your brother was also tired. But then when I gave up, guess who was coming after me?" tanong ni Sapphire nang may pilyang ngiti. Natawa naman si Iris.