CJ was supposed to be home by thursday pero Sabado na ng umaga, hindi pa rin ito dumadating. She kept on calling him but his phone is dead, he's avoiding her and that hurts her even more. Wala siyang ginawa ng mga nagdaang gabi kung hindi ang umiyak. Pati iyong mga review session niya, nawalan na siya ng ganang puntahan.
She kept on coming to Van's pent house and savour the amazing view of the city. Sa ganoong paraan kasi, medyo naiibsan ang lungkot niya. Lagi naman itong wala kaya nakakapagsolo siya. It somehow felt sad because she's longing for company but relieved at the same time because she don't want to cause him further hassle. Nag iiwan na lang siya ng pasta sa counter top ng kitchen nito para iparating na nanggaling siya doon at para na rin magpasalamat.
The door bell blings. Natigil siya sa paglalaba at nagtatakang sinilip sa peephole kung sino man ang nasa labas ng unit nila. Hindi naman kasi magdodoorbell si CJ at hindi niya na rin inaasahan na uuwi ito ng araw na iyon.
Van was outside her unit. May dala itong malaking floral printed na eco bag. She opened the door abruptly, suddenly felt the hunger for company.
"Hi." He was all smiles when she took him in. Dire diretso ito sa counter top at ipinatong doon ang dalang eco bag. Hindi niya na pinuna dahil ganoon din naman siya sa unit nito, he even gave him the codes to enter his home. Besides, there's something about Van that makes her loosen up. Para itong si Alex na kinanya na lahat ng good vibes. There's something about him that makes her comfortable and she's sure she's not the only one who felt that about him, sa dami ba naman ng babaeng nakasama nito.
Inilabas nito sa eco bag ang mga food container na iniwan niya sa unit nito para paglagyan ng mga niluto niya. May laman iyon, mukang mainit init pa. Isa isa nitong binuksan iyon sa harap niya. May puchero, tapa, menudo at caldereta.
"Wow. Fiesta ba?" Sabi niya habang isa isang inaamoy ang mga iyon. Ang bango bango, amoy lutong bahay. "Birthday mo?" She looked at him but he just shook his head.
"Gagi, eh di sana may dala akong cake." Ginulo nito ang buhok niya. "Pambawi ito sa mga luto mo. Thank you for cooking me dinner. Sawang sawa na kasi talaga ako sa fast food."
"San galing ito?"
"Padala ng Mama ko. Straight from Pampanga pa iyan. May kanin ka ba dito?"
"Meron, kakasaing ko lang." She rummage through the cupboard and get the utensils. Naglagay siya ng kanin sa serving plate mula sa rice cooker pagkatapos ay pinagsaluhan nila ni Vancouver ang mga pagkain. Magagaling nga magluto ang mga Cabalen.
"Papa mo iyong mayor diba?" Biglang tanong niya. Ayaw na niyang pag usapan ang buhay niya. Panay lungkot naman kasi iyon nitong nakaraan. Besides, she really wants to know him better. Kahit pa kasi playfull si Van kitang kita niya ang nagtatagong lungkot sa mga nito. Parang iyong kay Connor noon.
"Yeah. Tapos iyong Governor naman Lolo ko." Sunud sunod ang subo nito. Parang biglang natense.
"Ang mommy mo? What does she do?"
"Nasa heaven na." Van looked down. Nasa boses nito ang lungkot.
"Ha?" Laglag ang panga niya. "Anong nasa heaven e napanood ko pa siya sa Battle of the First Ladies kahapon." Tukoy niya sa documentary sa isang tv network. Special telecast iyon dahil halalan na naman six months from now.
"Anak ako sa labas ng Papa ko." He tried to cover the sadness with a smile on his face but then again, his eyes says the otherwise, it always does. "He had an affair with his first love and that happened to be my biological mom. Ako ang bunga. My mom died when I was two."
She cajoled him to go on. Mukha kasing kailangan nitong ilabas ang kung ano mang nasa loob nito. He looked like he needed to confide to someone.
"My dad said it's a one time thing. He said they met again when he was out of town. He thought there's a spark but when he remembered about his wife, sinabi niya sa nanay ko na hindi na daw mauulit iyon at pinagsisihan niya. My real mom never bothered him since then. Kahitnpa noong nabuntis na siya sa akin, kaya lang noong nalaman niya na may sakit siya, wala siyang nagawa kundi sabihin kay Papa ang tungkol sa akin. When she died, my father took me. To make the story short, his wife accepted me and treat me as her own. I owe her everything I have."
BINABASA MO ANG
Leave Your Lover
Romance"Set my midnight sorrow free. I will give you all of me, just leave your lover. Leave him for me." -Sam Smith Connor Young's Story.