Whatever We Had

Twenty-eight

#WWH28
28
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"Baby, come here," I called and snapped my fingers across Vien.

Vien immediately barked and ran to me. He's still that same cute little puppy just like when we bought him. Nang pumunta kami sa Ferris at si Lisle naman ay sa Cuerva, naiwan si Vien kila Ari at Raven. Tuwang tuwa ang dalawang 'yon at ayaw pa ata pakawalan si Vien.

Nagulat ako nang makitang papalapit din si Lisle. Malawak ang ngiti niya at may halong pang aasar. I chuckled at that.

"Hindi kita tinatawag," natatawang sabi ko. He pouted like a cute puppy and sat beside me in the sofa bed. I carried Vien and gently ruffled his head.

"Why? I'm not your baby?" Pacute na tanong niya. Pumangalumbaba siya sa harap ko at nagtaas baba ang kilay. "Si Vienna lang ba baby mo dito, hmm?" Panunuya niya.

"Baby din naman kita." Lumawak naman ang ngiti niya doon. "Baby damulag." His smile swiftly transitioned into a frown.

His brows furrowed at first. He then crossed his arms and shifted on his seat to face the television. "Edi wow."

Nang manatili ang katahimikan ay naisipan kong magtanong.

"Aren't you planning to uh... visit Cuerva again? May 1 month ka pa naman... I'm fine alone, kung ako man ang iniisip mo. I can, uhh, entertain myself or visit our friends. Kaya ko ang sarili ko, Lisle, 'wag mo akong alalahin."

Lumipad siya patungong Ferris noon kasama ang aming mga kaibigan dahil sa nangyari sa akin. Mula noon, hindi na siya bumalik pa sa Cuerva. Dumoble pa nga ang pag-aalaga niya sa akin.

He shook his head profusely. "I went there because you're leaving. Hindi ko naman planong umuwi doon ngayong bakasyon kung hindi kayo aalis. Now that you're here, lalong hindi ako uuwi."

"Don't you think you're wasting too much of your time to me? I mean, kaya ko naman mag-isa, eh. Seriously, Lisle, do what you want to do."

"I'm not wasting my time on you, Wraie. I'm living the life I wanted ever since."

"Alright." Ani ko sa mababang boses at yumuko.

I heard him sigh. "Tinutulak mo ba 'ko palayo?" Tanong niya sabay marahang inangat ang baba ko.

"Hindi naman sa ganon, ayaw ko lang maging pabigat. Of course, your life shouldn't revolve around me all the time. May buhay ka rin at-" hindi ko na naipagpatuloy pa nang humikbi ako. Nagkagat labi ako doon. I contemplated whether to look up and face him or remain this way.

Bumuntong hininga siya sabay yakap sa akin. "You're not a burden, baby, okay?" He said as he held my face and kissed my forehead.

Two weeks after, I decided to finally visit daddy Vin. Sa tingin ko, handa na akong harapin siya not as my uncle but as my real father.

Napakapit ako nang mahigpit kay Lisle nang makababa kami sa kanyang sasakyan.

"Having second thoughts? We can always go home if you want."

I bit my lip. "I want to talk to him but I don't think I'm ready. Ang dami kong gustong itanong at sabihin."

"Take your time. We'll go there when you're ready, okay?" He then sat on the gutter and tapped the seat beside him.

I sighed beside him. Ilang araw ko ring pinag-isipan ang pagbisita. Sa bawat araw na iniisip ko iyon ay kinakabahan ako sa hindi malamang dahilan.