Sold and Reclaimed

Chapter Thirty-four

34-Nicho and Sin

"MOM, I'LL just pay Saint a visit."

"Anak, magtatanghalian na," pigil niya sa anak na may bitbit na laruang remote race car.

"I'll just eat at tito Rapha's. Love you, mom." Sigaw nalang ng walong taong gulang niyang bunso at tumakbo na ito papunta sa kapitbahay.

After their European cruise ten years ago ay napag desisyonan din nilang manatili sa Pilipinas. Luci's cousin Vittorius is managing their Russian Empire kaya sa Pilipinas nalang ang hahawakan ng asawa. She loves staying here in the Philippines. Pero syempre hindi naman nila maiiwasan ang pag-alis evry now and then.

They go back to Russia twice a year, but Luci never asked her to stay there. Siguro ay nararamdaman din nitong panatag siya sa Pilipinas.

She still works for Winston hanggang ngayon pero lahat ay take home nalang since she only designs landscape for him. Even though her husband is easily jealous he didn't stop her from doing what she wants. Minsan din naman ay tumutulong siya sa trabaho ng asawa.

Jane decided to stay in the US. She even got her parents their residency. She would call every now and then. And surprisingly she married Winston. Oo naging sila, she feels like cupid.

"Mom, where's Sin?" takang tanong ng panganay niyang anak ng hindi nito nakita ang kapatid. They would always fight, but she made sure na lalaking maganda ang relasyon ng dalawa.

"He went to play with Saint. Do you have plans for today?"

Umakto naman itong parang nag-iisip. He really looks and acts like his dad. Parehas din sila ng ugali. She even had a hard time ng una nitong makita ang kapatid. He doesn't want Sin before, dahil ayaw niya ng may kaagaw ng atensiyon. But in the end, he still ends up playing with his brother.

"Can we go visit dad? I need more templates for my mini village."

Nicho is an aspiring engineer, at gumagawa ito ng miniature villages sa tulong na din ng ama. It's their form of bonding. Luci would draw models and Nicho would build it.

Napangiti naman siya sa naisip ng anak. Why not bring Luci his lunch para hindi na ito kumain sa restaurant?

"Okay honey. Let's bring daddy some food. Dun na din tayo maglunch."

Matapos niyang tawagan si Rapha na bantayan na muna ang anak na si Sin dahil aalis sila ni Nicho ay agad na din niyang hinanda ang pagkaing dadalhin.

A couple more minutes ay nakarating na din sila sa office ng asawa.

"Ma'am may kausap po si sir eh. Thirty minutes na nga po sila sa loob. Mukhang model," nakakunot noong bungad ng sekretarya ng itanong niya kung nasa loob ba ng office ang asawa.

She's gone pass with the feeling of insecurity sa relationship nila ni Luci. Hindi na siya nagseselos kung may kausap itong babae. She has developed strong trust for him, and that's the reason to their beautiful marriage.

"Nicho, honey. Stay here with tita Dana. I'll check on daddy first."

Tumango naman ang anak at naupo sa upuan sa harap ng table ng sekretarya ni Luci.

She opened the wide wooden door at laking pasasalamat nalang niya na iniwan niya sa labas ang anak. Naabutan niya lang naman kasi ang tinutukoy ni Dana na babaeng mukhang model na nakalingkis sa asawa.

Luci is already in his forty-two pero hindi parin kumukupas ang karisma nito sa kababaihan. Napailing nalang siya ng tuluyan ng makapasok. Hindi siya napansin ng mga ito kasi busy ang asawa sa pagtaboy sa babae, but at the same time maingat ito dahil ayaw nitong makapanakit ng babae.