Second Guessing

Chapter 26

"Khali anak, That's bad." Pagbabawal ko sa anak ko na kinurot ang aso ni Aya. He looked at me and pouted his lips.

"Sorry." Mangiyak-ngiyak niyang tugon. Ayaw na ayaw niya yung napapagalitan siya.

"Hey. Don't cry." Tita Jo comforted my son and told him that it's okay. At the same time, She made him promise to not do it again. My son nodded, kissed her cheek and sat beside me.

We're having lunch at Aya's family house. We decided to visit here because Tita and Tito said that they already missed their grandson, my son. Though, Sila nalang ang nakatira dito dahil si Aya ay may sarili ng condo kasama ang fiancé niya.

"Ano hija? Nagkita ba kayo ng tatay ni Khali?" Tito said at the table while we were eating.

I fed Khali broccoli and he was smiling widely as he chew on it then I looked at Tito and smiled sadly. "Yes po Tito."

"Then?" He hoped for Khali to meet his dad. Isa din yun sa hinihiling nila lalo na nagtatanong yung bata.

"He left before I got the chance to tell him pero tinawagan ko naman din po tungkol sa anak niya." I bitterly smiled when I remembered our meeting yesterday.

"And?" Tita was the one who asked this time.

"Tumatawag po pero hindi ko sinasagot. Parang ayoko nalang po ipakita pa si Khalil sakanya." I sighed and fed my son again.

"Gaga!" Aya threw a tissue at me. Agad naman siyang sinuway nina Tita. "Sasabihin mong may anak siya tapos ig-ghost mo??" Natawa naman si Evan na tahimik na kumakain sa tabi ni Saraiah.

Evan was the guy Aya was telling me about before Kai and I broke up years ago. He was the one who wanted to be committed with her. Aya tried to pushed him away but this guy is just something. Ilang beses na atang na-basted pero tuloy lang sa pagsuyo sa kaibigan ko. In the end, sila yung engaged ngayon. Si Aya pa ang unang matatali sa aming tatlo nina Mavy.

"Mommy, ghost??" Khali covered his face and acted like he was scared. He's just three but he can already understand things. Minsan mabibigla nalang kami dahil bigla nalang siyang magpapacute kapag alam niyang siya ang pinag-uusapan eh. "I don't like ghost, Tinang!" He said to Aya.

We all laughed because of him. He can pronounce words pero nahihirapan parin siya kapag sentences kaya madalas nabubulol.

"No baby. No Ghost." Aya convinced him then looked at me, "Ano, palag!" Nanghahamon niyang sambit.

"Aya." I sighed. "I already told you, sa asta niya kahapon ay hindi malayong hihindian niya si Khali. You know my son, alam nating pareho na nakakaintindi na 'to and I don't want him to feel rejected." I finished my food and sipped water
through my glass.

"If he doesn't want our Khalil, then shame on him. Siya ang mawawalan" Tito looked stern.

"We're always here for you, Avi" Tita Jo smiled at me.

"Salamat po Tita at Tito. Kung wala ho kayo ay baka nasiraan na ako ng bait noong panahon na yon" My voice cracked when I remembered all the things that I've been through.

They smiled at me and mumbled their 'welcomes'

"No offense Avi ah." Evan said after awhile. "I'm with Aya in this. Hindi ba parang mali na hindi ka nalang magparamdam pagkatapos mong sabihin na may anak kayo?" He asked, curious. Evan also has inputs in my life so I don't take offense with his opinions. Bakit naman ako mao-offend sa opinion ng kaibigan ko?

"Sa tingin mo ba mababaliw siya nun?" I asked after wiping my son's mouth.

"Honestly? Yes" Evan answered me.