Chapter 24

I paid Shaira a share for her bills, she took it and eventually gave it back to me saying she could've helped me at first, but failed to do so. Pinilit ko pa siyang kunin ang pera ko, instead she'd let me keep them. Wala naman daw problema sa kanya ang pera at this moment and all the necessities for me and my baby ay ako pa rin naman ang sumasagot sa bayarin.

I'm still thankful that even though we haven't talked for months, she let me stay here. Kung iba 'yon, she would already be saying something behind my back. I know it, I've been through those times.

It has been a month already and seems like the man who said he was a changed man never looked for us. Maybe things didn't change at all for him. It was just a word telling lies to make me believe—and I did. Kinda sucks.

As those days went by, Shaira helped me get back on my feet. It was a small gesture, but it means a lot to me. Si Fabrizio ba kamo? He wouldn't even get to relate to it.

"Don't you want to see your parents?" tanong ni Shaira sa akin.

Wala akong sinagot kaya nilingon niya ako. Kumunot ang kanyang noo at tila ba'y nag-aabang ng sagot mula sa akin.

Napakibit-balikat ako. "Hindi ko alam... kung kikitain ko sila, would they be happy? Gayong inisip nila no'n na naging pabigat ako. I wasn't able to finish college because of that. I had to work and work, and work, just to make them see I am a hard-working person, but that doesn't seem to work. Tiniis ko na lang din 'yon kaya nga no'ng nagkaroon ako ng chance to go to Italy, I didn't tell anyone..."

She gave me a nod, something that somehow enlightened her head about my situation.

"I get you, and I wouldn't push you to do anything na against naman on your will. But I just don't understand how they ignored you like they don't really care at all..."

I shrugged off again in response that I don't have the answer to it.

"Well, I'm a family to you now kahit ayaw mo o hindi," she said, giggling.

"Of course, ikaw pa ba?" I smiled. "Even back then, you were the one who stayed by my side and I was wrong to cut you out of my life."

She pursed her lips, shaking he head. "I had my fault, too. I didn't check up on you... well because I thought you hated me after what happened at the club back then? Tandaan mo ba 'yon?"

I chuckled, nodding my head as it went through clearly in my head. "Yup, we both liked that Briton then ended up hitting on you when I've had the intention of pulling him to talk. But that was over. Nakakaloka lang."

"True!" she said. "But that was almost my worse experience with an afam. He kissed good, his smiles are charming, smells so nice, but he's really into just sex and that's terrible. Hindi mo alam, after that night, binayagan ko 'yyong Briton na 'yon and never showed up at the bar again. I hope I'll never get to see him again."

"Ay, hindi mo 'yan sure." Napangisi pa ako. "Nothing's certain, bet he's waiting for you to get his revenge back."

She rolled her eyes. "I'll prepare my hedge shears to cut his dick out!"

"Grabe 'yon. Lala no'n, Shai."

Nanlaki naman kaagad ang mata niya na ikipinagtaka ko. "Oh my gosh."

"Ano 'yon? Napaano ka?" alala kong tanong.

"Nakalimutan kong 'yong white wine! I needed it sana sa lulutuin ko mamaya. Okay lang naman sa 'yo may wine, 'di ba?"

I nodded. "Ayos lang naman, and I think if you add wine to your dishes, it will make additional flavors to it and cooking lessens the alcohol content of it."

"Oooh, you're right. Ikaw ha? Mukhang napapadami na ang alam mo sa mga alak." Tawa pa nito.

"Remember, I've worked at a vineyard sa Sicily. At kung pwede pa ngang magtrabaho ro'n, I would. I love the peacefulness there."

"Sure you do..." Ngiti pa niya.

"Anyway, if you still need it, ako na pupunta sa store to get it for you," suhestiyon ko.

Agad naman siyang umiling. "No. Hindi na lang. I'll try to use some alternative ingredients na lang."

Umiling din ako sa suggestion niya. "No. Kilala kita. You wouldn't like it when you weren't able to get what you want. Sige na, ako na bibili for you. Isasama ko na lang si Matteo so he can go out na rin."

"Are you really sure?"

I nodded confidently. "Yup. I'll just prepare and will go na."

Mabilis naman akong nag-ayos pati na rin si Matteo ay sinuotan ko ng komportableng damit. Hindi naman nalalayo ang store dito. Meron din naman sa baba at malapit sa lobby, but I don't think they sell alcohol there.

Before I left, Shai gave me what I need to buy for the wine. I went out of her unit. She even asked if I'd be alright going alone with Matteo there.

I'm fine. Fabio's not here to be a bother.

I went to the elevator and people entered the elevator as we went down all the way to the lobby. I checked on Matteo and he was just quiet and seemed like watching his surroundings. I checked the store down the condo and they don't really sell alcohol there so I went to the nearest store and I found one that Shai was looking for.

I was about to pay for it at the counter when someone entered the premises suspiciously. Napatingin ako sa kanya pero mabilis ko lang iniwas palayo ang tingin ko. Maybe I was just paranoid, but that guy seems normal. Hindi naman lahat dito kilala si Fabio. As if naman that Sicilian would befriend anyone else.

But wearing shades at night time doesn't seem to be so weird? That guy does it naturally though.

The cashier gave me a judging look when she handed over the plastic to me. Siguro iniisip niyang lasinggera ako tapos sinasama ko pa 'tong anak ko sa kalokohan ko? If she knew... she wouldn't want to say anything. I also didn't say anything. Maybe it was just a misunderstanding and I don't want to start a fight.

I left the store and walked back to the condo. May nadaan akong isang clothing store at nahagip ng mata ko ang displayed model sa harap nito. I stare at it for so long that I didn't realize it was someone I met back in Sicily.

I literally gasped when I figured out it was Caiden. He was the model I scouted to model for Andre's wine brand. We kept in contact when his work was is done with us. He's such a good person and I hope to meet him soon once again.

But as I look longer into it, I saw an image of a reflection in the mirror. Hindi ako nagpalahata, but I kept watching his image. It was the same man from the convenience store earlier. Napalunok na lamang ako ng laway trying to evade this thought out of my head.

"We'll be fine, Matty..."

Huminga ako nang malalim saka ko inihanda ang sarili ko. I quickly turned around and look in the direction where this man could have been standing, but I was freaking out a little inside when he was not there anymore.

He couldn't run that fast. He couldn't hide from me so easily.

But before he could even follow me elsewhere, I went back to the condo. With a rush, I could feel the fast-paced beating of my heart off of my chest when I safely got inside the premises. I checked the surroundings, there was a moment of relief when I found out no one followed me there.

I went to the elevator and push the button floor where Shai's unit is. My legs are shaking so when I finally got inside her unit, I let out a big sigh.

"Shai, we're here na!" I announced instantly shaking the fear off of me.

Shai met me and grabbed the plastic bag from me and open the bottle of wine as she walked toward the kitchen. While she was busy in the kitchen cooking dinner, I sat on the couch in the living room entertaining my son.

I've been thinking about the man who seemingly followed me from the store back to the condo. I'm not sure if he followed me. Maybe he figured out I already had an idea he was following me so he ditched his own plan.

Things could have gone wrong at that moment. Gladly, I arrive safely back home.

"Jace?" pagtawag sa akin ni Shai na nagpabalik sa ulirat ko. "Kanina pa kita tinatawag." Tawa pa nito.

"Ah, bakit? Ano 'yon?" Napangiwi ako.

"Patitikim ko sana sa 'yo 'yong niluluto ko, baka kasi nasobrahan ko sa pampalasa."

"Ah, sure... not a problem..."

I went to her and directed me to it. Kumuha siya ng kutsarita at nagsandok upang ipatikim sa akin. I tried it and tasted it and with a nod, she knows that I like it.

"Swak ba?" she asked with a huge smile on her face.

"Yes," sagot ko sabay sa pagtango.

"O, 'di ba, sabi ko sa 'yo, the wine will make it even good!"

"At mabuti na lang din ay pinilit kitang bumili na."

"Correct ka riyan, bes," aniya. "Anyway, tomorrow yayayain sana kita na sumama sa birthday ng kaibigan ko?"

"Oh, walang problema. Saan naman ba 'yon?"

"Sa BGC 'yon, I think," aniya. "Confirm ko later 'yong location sa kanya. And nando'n din 'yong ibang kakilala natin so hindi ka rin ma-o-op."

"Sure... but the only problem I had is who will look after Matty?"

"Papapuntahin ko rito kapatid ko then siya magbabantay," suggestion pa nito. "Would that be fine? Pwede rin naman si mama kasi bet na bet din no'n mag-alaga ng baby."

"If it's okay with you then I'll be good with it," sagot ko.

"Perfect! Tatawagan ko rin sila later. Just a night lang naman tomorrow. And you know, it's been so long since you've had fun."

I smirked. "Well, those hands passed by. May anak na ako ngayon and I feel like I'm rusty enough to do those things."

"You can never be rusty at 25, Jacinta."

I chuckled at what she said. It was like she was tempted and pushing me to be so daring, but I know Shaira, may pagkaharot man 'to, she's not the kind of person people would think.

I placed Matteo on his carrier nearby us while we were eating. He was drinking his milk. Malakas sa gatas sa Matteo kaya halos lahat ng gastos ko ay napupunta s agatas pati na rin sa diaper. We'll have our check-up sa darating na sabado and I hope it won't be expensive.

After dinner, Shai continued drinking wine. Ako na ang pumipigil na uminom nang uminom siya dahil nagsisimula na rin siyang mamula. When she did, she get her phone and started using a dating app. She swiped right, right, and right to strangers who she ended up getting a match.

Ang sabi pa niya may kikitain pa siya kaya pinigilan ko siyang gawin 'yon at hinablot ang phone niya. When she was trying to get it up, hindi ko naman maiwasang mapansin iyong lalaking nasa-screen ng phone niya.

Napatitig ako ro'n kaya nagtaka rin si Shai.

"Bakit? May nakita ka bang titi riyan sa screen ng phone ko?" tanong nito.

Wala. I swiped the guy left before she could have her phone back. She didn't notice it. But at the back of my mind, it seems like it was the guy who was following me earlier. Was he a stalker or something?

That thought freaks me out. I haven't been going out lately at taong bahay lang ako rito sa condo ni Shai so it would be hardly to believe that I've got a stalker, but if ever I got to see that person once again ay sa barangay na ang takbo ko para magpa-blotter.

I didn't tell it Shai yet, as I know she'll freak out. I can take care of this one. Well, trying to be.

#BirthOfLiesInSicily #BOLISChapter24 #WTS9