After All

32

We're having our dinner in one of our favorite Italian restaurant in a mall near the office. "Lia, imposible talaga. 2 years ago lang kayo nag break ni Paul, so dapat nasa 1 year old lang si Leon dapat." sabi ni Kazel.

Hanggang sa matapos kaming kumain ay 'yon pa rin ang pinag uusapan namin. They're trying to stalk Paul pero wala silang makita. Single pa rin ang status niya sa social media accounts niya kaya hindi sila naniniwala.

We were inside a shoe store when Paul came in pushing a stroller that carries Leon. "Paul? Is that your baby? Ang gwapo naman!" natutuwang sabi ni Kazel habang nilalaro si Leon. Paul smiled at them and gave her a nod.

"Grabe, may kilala ako ang tagal nilang mag jowa di nagkababy. Tapos ikaw ang bilis. Congrats!" tinapik ko si Miles dahil sa sinabi niya. "Anyway, Paul birthday ni Lia next week. Punta ka ha! Imessage niya sayo location." pag iimbita niya kay Paul.

"Oo nga. Diba Lia? Iinvite mo si Paul?" Ganiel added.

"Okay." he said. "Just message me the venue. Also, Leon's dedication will be next week. I need some ninang."

"Ouch. Ninang ka na lang." bulong ni Valerie sakin.

"Sure. Let us know the venue. I would be glad to be a ninang to this cute little boy." Kazel told him. I sat on the chair while waiting for my friends to finish their shopping. Si Paul din, kaya naiwan sa amin ni Kazel si Leon. "He's really cute Lia. Are you having regrets?"

"Ano ka ba, nasabihan ko na yan na ako dapat mommy niya." Leon looked at me and I held his hand. "You're so gwapo, Leon. I wanna kiss you." the child gave me a big smile. He really looks like his dad.

"Si Leon ba talaga ang gusto ikiss?" natatawang sabi ni Kazel.

"As if magpa kiss ang daddy." I told her.

Umalis na si Paul kasama si Leon, naghiwa-hiwalay na rin kami ng mga kaibigan ko. Uuwi na ako sa condo dahil gusto ko ng magpahinga. It's a busy week for all of us. Hindi na namin namalayan ang araw, Friday na pala. Hindi ko pa namemessage si Paul kung saan ang celebration ko. Ayaw ko naman talaga mag party, inipit lang ako nila Miles sa situation.

liazamora: Hi, Paul! My birthday is tomorrow. Sa condo na lang, it's just a simple dinner with a little bit of inuman.

pdsebastian: Okay. Thank you.

I went home early and have my unit cleaned. I ordered food for my friends and my few visitors kaya di ako gaano busy. I asked my friends to buy drinks for me I'll just pay them. Maaga silang dumating. Kasama rin nila si Nicole at Lawrence. Dom is also here, si Paul na lang ang wala pa.

It's past 7pm ng dumating si Paul. "Sorry, I'm late. Leon is having tantrums." he said.

"It's okay, sana sinabi mo agad. Okay lang naman." I assisted him to get some foods. Lasing na ang mga kaibigan ko at si Nicole. Paul is at the countertop enjoying his glass of whisky with Dom.

"Paul, where's your wife? Sobrang cute ng baby niyo." tanong sa kanya ni Valerie. Dom and Paul looked at each other as they were shocked about the question.

"Engr. may asawa ka na? Akala ko-" hirit ni Lawrence. Paul gestured to him na tumahimik na lang siya. Tumawa si Dom dahil sa topic namin.

"Bro, you have a wife remember? Uwi ka maaga ha?" natatawang sabi ni Dom. "Ooopps, natawag si Dra. Yao aka the Wife."

Paul took his phone and answeres the call, "Yes Mara? No, I'm currently out. It's a friend's... Lia's birthday." he looked at Dom smiling. "Yeah sure will check him out on my way home. Bye."