“Uncle, you bought all these for me and Mommy?” Rinig ni Venus ang saya sa boses ng Anak, pagkapasok sa hotel room.
Her once pre-occupied mind, suddenly cleared up. Venus tiptoed to peak at the living room, at nakita ang nakangiting mukha ni Theo at ang isang likod ng lalaki.
“Mommy!” Bulalas ni Theo ng napansin siya. Agad na tumakbo ang bata papalapit sakaniya, at hinawakan ang kamay niya. “Uncle Liam is here!”
Napatingin siya rito, only to see that Liam was already staring at her.
“Babe!” Liam grins cheekily, at humakbang upang yapusin siya. “I missed you! Ni hindi ka tumawag sa akin.”
Mangha pa rin siyang nakatingin rito. The man was half filipino and half german, with brown hair and hazel colored eyes. Matangkad ito, with model proportions. He was handsome, like the prince-ly type. Well, he's an internationally renowned model afterall.
“Oh! Why are you looking at me like that? Did you see a ghost? Sa gwapo kong to!?” Pagmamaktol nito ng parang bata.
“Mommy, let's go! Look how many presents Uncle Liam bought!” Hinila siya pareho ni Theo at ni Liam. There were stacks of shopping bags from famous brands, and like Theo said, marami.
“Why are you here?” Tanong niya ng naka-recover sa pagkabigla. “Aren't you supposed to be in France?”
“But you are more important.” Kinindatan siya nito, na ginawaran niya ng malutong na hampas. “Aray! Why do you even like hurting me? Una sa heart, ngayon sa katawan? Ahhhh!” Daing nito.
Venus had to roll her pretty eyes. “Tigilan mo ako, Mr. Primadonna!”
Ngumiti ng pilyo si Liam, at inakbayan siya. “That's why i like you, babe. You know me so well!”
Venus rolled her eyes again. Liam, is one of her model friends. Dahil sa Fashion, at design ang Company niya marami siyang kakilalang tanyag na tao. Liam happens to be one of them— the Heartthrob of the catwalk.
Nakilala niya si Liam noong buntis pa lamang siya kay Theo. He has been present even when she gave birth, at naging immediate Uncle ni Theo. He was a very nice man, but she couldn't get herself to like him. Kaya tuwing magpapakita ng motibo si Liam ay binabalewala niya. They eventually had an understanding, that their friendship is more important than a supposed realtionship.
“Oh, Hija! Dumating ka na pala. Tatawagan sana kita, at dumating si Liam.” Si Lily, ng pumasok ito mula sa kitchen na may dalang inumin. “Mainom muna kayo.”
“Thankyou Auntie.” Ngumiti si Liam rito, at uminom.
“You still haven't answered my question— bat ka andito? How did you even know our hotel room?” sunod sunod na tanong niya.
“I have my ways.” Makabuluhang sabi nito.
“You must have called Theo. Baby, if Uncle Liam calls you again, huwag mo ng sasagutin.” Pagbaling niya sa Anak, at pinaseryoso ang Ekspresyon. Theo has a smart watch, at iilan sa numero nito ay kanya, sa lola nito, at kay Liam.
“Hey! Parang hindi ka masayang nandito ako ah.” Nagmaktol uli ang batang isip. “Theo, don't listen to your mommy. Answer Uncle's call, always.”
“Sorry uncle, happy mommy; happy life.” Theo shrugs, grinning at his sulking Uncle.
Dinilaan ni Venus si Liam, kung kaya't napangisi ang huli. How childish.. Cute.
“Alright! Alam ko namang your Mommy is always right. I give, babe.” Akmang hahalikan ni Liam si Venus sa pisngi, ngunit umiwas siya. “I rushed here to act as your bodyguard, tapos kiss lang.. Hmph!”
Ng tinawagan niya kasi ang Mommy ni Venus, upang kamustahin ang mag-ina, ay nadulas si Lily rito. Nabanggit niyang nagkita muli si Venus at ang dati nitong Asawa na si Cloud. Liam, knows the real score between them. Ngunit hindi niya mapigilang magaalala tungkol sa mga ito— that's why, napasugod siya ng disoras.
He slowly lost his smile when staring at the mother and son pair. Ngumingiti si Venus, ngunit hindi lubusang abot sa mata nito. She was still as beautiful as the last time he had seen her, only now.. She had an air of melancholy.
How could anyone stand to make you sad..
