Utmost Feeling

Chapter 45

"Mama who?"

Tanong ni Juel kay Julie habang tinitingala ang inang kinakalungan.

Hindi kaagad nakasagot si Julie sa anak dahil naglalakad na palapit si Whitney.

Kanina ay nasa may kalsada pa ito pero ngayon ay naglalakad na palapit sa pwesto nila ni Juel sa swing.

Nagtaka si Julie kung bakit nandun si Whitney pero naalala niya na childhood home din nga pala ng babae ang lugar.

There was an uneasy smile evident on Whitney's face. As if she was treading very carefully on what to tell Julie.

She opened her mouth to say something when she looked down and saw Juel.

"Oh my god." Napabulong ang babae.

Julie smiled. Alam niya na nakita ng babae ang muhka ni Elmo sa bata. Who wouldn't?

Muhkang pinagbiyak na kamatis si Elmo at si Juel.

"Hi Whitney." She greeted.

And then Juel grinned back. "Heyow po." Nakatingala din ito kay Whitney.

Napangiti si Whitney sa batang lalaki.

"Hello there. What's your name?"

"Wan Edekel San Hose." Juel said giving a toothy grin.

Mahinang natawa si Julie at hinaplos ang buhok ng anak. "We call him Juel."

Whitney smiled back. She then shook her head as she was looking at them. "I'm sorry this is all so much. Does Elmo know?"

Julie nodded her head. "Yes we've talked." She explained. Ayaw na niya sabihin pa kay Whitney na nagsasama na din naman talaga sila ni Elmo.

Ayaw na niya pahabain pa ang usapan.

And it seemed like Whitney had no idea whatsoever that Elmo knew he had a son.

Muhkang hindi sinabi ng lalaki.

Although alam din naman niya na hindi naman kailangan ni Elmo ipagkalat ang relasyon nila.

Whitney nodded her head, her expression almost looking impressed. "I'm happy to hear that."

Saka nito muling tiningnan si Julie Anne. "Okay lang ba na makausap ka some time? Maybe over dinner?" She asked.

Nagulat si Julie sa sinabi ng babae.

Whitney sighed. "I just want to talk to you."

Julie nodded her head. "Kunin ko na lang number mo kay Elmo or pwede mo kunin number ko sa kanya." She said, giving a small smile.

Whitney smiled and nodded her head. "Well, I have to head on out I have to run some errands. Bye little boy." Sabi naman nito kay Juel na nagwave lang sa kanya.

Pinanuod ni Julie na maglakad palayo ang babae.

"Mama who dat?" Tanong ni Juel sa nanay niya.

Julie gave her son a small smile as she looked at him. "Just a...friend, anak. You hungry na? Want to go back home?"

"Mama pancakes plis."

Kinarga na ni Julie ang anak at sinakay na ito sa stroller bago dalhin pabalik sa bahay.

Nakita nila si Lola Gloria na nagdidilig ng halaman sa labas.

"O apo ang aga mo naman namasyal?"

"Magjojogging po sana lola pero sumama kasi ito si kulit." Julie chuckled as she carried Juel in one arm and lifted the stroller up with the other. Macho siya eh.