CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

THERESIA'S POV

What is he doing?

What am I doing?

Why is this even happening?

"Hey, calm down," rinig kong sabi ni Coffee kaya napatingin ako sa kanya. We're currently driving to the mall and I can see Martina tailing on us.

I let out a sigh. "I am calm," I said, not even convinced myself. I laid my back on the seat.

"It doesn't look to me like that." His words caused me to take a deep breath before releasing it.

Tumingin na lang ako sa labas ng bintana saka napatingin ulit sa side mirror kung saan kitang-kita ang sasakyan ni Martina.

The world really is getting smaller for me, Martina, and our daughter. Now the question is how long would I be able to keep the lie I told him?

Tahimik lang kaming lahat buong byahe hanggang sa makarating sa mall. Once parked, we all met up at the fountain na bubungad sa mga tao pagkapasok sa mall.

Martha's face lit up when she saw Martina. She even ran towards him and hugged his leg. Nakita ko namang natawa si Martina saka ginulo at inayos ang buhok ni Martha.

Just by looking at them, I felt happy and nervous. Mukha talaga silang mag-ama. Nakatitig lang ako sa kanila hanggang sa namalayan ko na lang na nakalapit na pala sila sa harapan ko.

Martha was the first one to speak. "Mommy, let's go na po." She held my hand.

Nasa kaliwa ko naman si Coffee habang naglalakad kami. Napansin ko namang lumapit ang mukha ni Coffee sa tenga ko para bumulong. "You look like a family."

Kumunot naman ang noo ko nang mapansin kong medyo lumayo siya sa amin ni Martha. Sinenyasan siya akong lumingon kay Martha kaya iyon ang ginawa ko. What I saw shocked me.

Martha was holding my right hand at the same time she held Martina's left hand.

W-We definitely look like a family.

Gulat pa rin akong napatingin kay Martina. He was smiling brightly and he looked at me and smiled even more before he caressed Martha's hair and went back to looking ahead, still with that smile.

Napansin ko ring napapatingin sa amin ang ibang tao. So this is what it feels like to go out with my own family. I let out a small smile. It feels good.

Pumunta muna kami sa arcade dahil 'yun ang unang gustong puntahan ni Martha. Paborito niya kasi 'yung basketball game roon, just like me. All four of us played and had fun. Sumunod naman ang isang dance game na sila Coffee at Martha lang ang sumayaw at magkatabi lang kami ni Martina habang pinapanood sila.

"So, saan na tayo after this one?" Martina asked me as the two continued to dance.

"Hmm... Martha would probably want to eat," I answered.

"Does she have any food allergies?" tanong niya na nagpaisip sa akin.

"Sesame seeds." Bigla naman siyang natahimik kaya ako tumingin sa kanya. Tulala lang siya so I waved my hand in front of him. "Huy, okay ka lang?"

He nodded his head before he looked at me. "I umm... I'm fine. It's just that... Allergic din ako sa sesame seeds."

It's now my turn to still. Oo nga pala. Allergies can often develop due to hereditary. I'm not allergic to anything, kahit sina mommy at daddy, kaya nagulat kami nang maospital noon si Martha saka lang namin nalaman na allergic siya sa sesame seeds or even sesame oil.

So sa kanya pala nakuha.

I tried to change the topic. "So, umm... after kumain, pwede ka nang umuwi kasi baka naaabala ka na namin. I know Martha would understand." I hope she will.

Unti-unti namang ngumiti si Martina saka tumingin kay Martha. "Nah, I'll stay. The little girl will get sad. I don't feel like I can let that happen."

Malalaman niya kaya kaagad? Hindi pa pwede. May Noah siya. Magugulo ang buhay nila kapag nalaman niyang sa kanya si Martha.

"By the way," pagkuha niya ng atensyon ko. "pwede bang sagot ko na ang para sa lunch natin? Pero babayaran nung kape yung sa kanya."

Medyo natawa naman ako sa sinabi niya. "Baliw ka. Kahit hindi na. Nakakahiya sayo, ikaw na nga naistorbo eh—"

"Hey, stop saying that. Hindi niyo ko naistorbo. It was my choice to come here, okay?" he said while smiling kaya naman napatango na lang ako. "Ayy, CR muna ako bago tayo tumuloy sa pagkain." Tumango ulit ako saka siya umalis.

Seconds later, lumapit na sa akin sina Martha at Coffee na pawisang-pawisan. Inilabas ko naman kaagad ang towels sa bag ko. Tig-isa sila pero ako na ang nagpunas ng pawis ni Martha.

"Where's Tito Martin, mommy?" agad na tanong ni Martha habang naghahanap ang tingin.

"Nag-CR lang, baby. Sit down ka muna while we wait for Tito." Ngumiti naman siya saka umupo at uminom ng tubig na inabot ko kanina.

"So..." panimula ni Coffee sa tabi ko.

Napakunot naman ang noo ko. "Anong so?"

"He's the guy, am I right?" tanong niya habang nakangiti. Agad nanlaki ang mga mata ko. "Don't even try to lie. His eyes and Martha's are the same. Even the attitude that Martha has sometimes. And don't forget the fashion designs."

I sighed. Buti na lang hindi gaano kalakas ang boses niya kaya hindi naririnig ni Martha. I slowly nodded. "Yeah. That's him."

Coffee let out a soft chuckle. "I knew it. I'm not going to tell you to tell him the truth or to tell it to Martha, but here's my advice, Theresia." He looked at me seriously. "Spend the rest of the day as a family. Kahit ikaw lang ang may alam nun. I don't think Martha nor Mr. Gill would feel awkward about that."

Medyo natigilan naman ako. Spend the day as a family? Would that be okay? I mean it'll only be for a day. Baka hindi na rin naman maulit 'to. Mukhang tama si Coffee. Sulitin ko na lang din. "How about you?" tanong ko. "Papunta na ba siya?"

He smiled. "Yeah, but she wants to keep it a secret. Para daw ma-surprise niya si Martha."

Napangiti rin naman ako. Finally. Martha misses her.

Dumating naman na rin si Martina nang matapos kami mag-usap. Naguluhan naman ako nang makita kong masama ang tingin niya sa amin ni Kape. If I didn't know better, I'd say he's jealous.

Baka gusto niya niya si Coffee for him. Napailing naman ako.

Saktong paglingon ko kay Martha ay napansin ko ang babaeng nagtatago sa isa sa mga claw machine sa likod ni Martha. Natawa naman ako.

"Boo!" she shouted as she held Martha's shoulder.

Martha shrieked before looking at the person. "Tita Pretty!" she exclaimed then hugged her.

"My little princess! Tita Pretty missed you a lot." Binuhat niya si Martha saka pinupog ng halik sa pisngi ang anak ko.

Napangiti na lang kami ni Coffee. "Hey, Juliana. How's your flight?" tanong ko nang tumingin siya sa akin. I saw Coffee took her shoulder bag and placed it on his shoulder.

"Tere!" She ran towards me and hugged me habang karga-karga pa rin ang anak ko. "Ayos naman. Nakakaloka pero at least nakapunta ako rito. Kayo? Kumusta?" she asked as she smiled at me. Napansin ko naman siyang natigilan nang mapatingin sa may likod ko. "Oh my! Is that Martina Gill? As in MG Styles?"

Napalingon naman ako kay Martina na naguguluhan sa nangyayari. Ibinaba ni Juliana si Martha saka lumapit kay Martina para makipagkamay. I didn't like the fact that she's holding his hand kaya naman tumikhim ako, kasabay ko pala ni Coffee.

Mabilis namang binitawan ni Juliana ang kamay ni Martina. "I'm Juliana Harris. Nice to meet the designer of almost half of my clothes in my closet," nakangiting sabi ni Juliana.

Tumikhim naman si Martina bago nagsalita. "Ahm... Nice to meet you too. I don't think I need to introduce myself but for formality, I'm John Martin Gill. Again, nice to meet you too."

Halata naman ang excitement ni Juliana habang nakatingin kay Martina. I could also see adoration. And for some reason, I don't like it.

Pumagitna naman na ako sa kanila. "So, Harris ka pa rin?" loko ko kay Juliana.

Itinaas niya ang kamay niyang may singsing saka sumimangot. "Ghorl, isang taon pa lang akong kasal sa taong 'to—" Itinuro niya si Coffee. "—pero stressed na stressed na agad ako." She sighed. "Welp, mas okay naman na sigurong makasal sa bestfriend mo kesa sa total stranger, diba?"

Natawa na lang ako. Inakbayan naman ni Coffee si Juliana. "Hey, don't make it sound like being married to me sucks," nagkunwaring malungkot si Coffee.

"Oh, it really sucks being called, wife by my best friend," Juliana scoffed.

Natawa na lang ako. Juliana and Coffee's marriage was arranged by their parents. At first, pareho silang against doon but later on, they both agreed. Reason? It's better to live under a roof with someone you trust than with someone you don't know. Uso naman daw kasi ang divorce.

Napansin ko namang nagpakarga si Martha kay Martina, and Juliana noticed it too. "Aww... they look like a real father and daughter," she commented, which made me still.

Napangiti naman si Martina. "You think so?"

Sasagot pa sana ulit si Juliana nang bigla siyang yayain ni Coffee. "Tara na. Let's eat somewhere else."

"Pero how about ang princess ko? I went here for her, not for you. Sawang-sawa na kaya ako sa face mo," angal ni Juliana.

"Bisita na lang kayo sa bahay bukas," suggest ko. Mas okay na munang palayuin si Juliana. Hindi niya nga pala siya aware sa nangyareng usapan namin ni Coffee at baka may masabi pa siyang magpa-isip kay Martina ng kung ano-ano.

"Aww... but—"

"No buts, wifey." Hinila ni Coffee si Juliana habang nakaakbay pa rin. Tumingin naman siya sa amin ni Martina. "We'll go ahead. Enjoy, Theresia, Mr. Gill, Martha."

"Babye, Tito Pogi and Tita Pretty!" sigaw ni Martha habang kumakaway.

Pansin ko lang. Noon eh ayaw na ayaw ni Martha na napapalayo kela Coffee at Jester, pero ngayon ayos lang sa kanya na paalis na si Kape. It's weird.

Nang mawala na ang mag-asawa sa paningin ko, medyo kinakabahan naman akong lumingon kay Martina na bitbit pa rin si Martha na tumatawa.

"After eating lunch, uwi na tayo?" tanong ko sa kanilang dalawa.

Tumingin naman silang dalawa sa akin. Si Martha ang unang nagsalita. "No, Mommy. We'll buy dresses pa and art materials, Mommy."

Bigla naman itong sinundan ni Martina. "Oo nga. Martha still wants to buy clothes and draw kaya 'di pa pwedeng umuwi."

Spend the rest of the day as a family. Naalala kong advice ni Coffee. I sighed saka tumingin sa mag-amang hinihintay ang sasabihin ko.

"Fine. We'll buy them after we eat," I said in defeat.

Pareho naman silang ngumiti. Nagsimula na kaming maglakad papunta sa kakainan namin.

A family it is.