Chapter 3

Desmond Pov

"Go there Desmond. You idiòt, ako ang tinawagan kasi wala kang iniwan na contact doon. And the child is looking for your dàmn face. He's looking for DESMOND!" Huling sigaw ni Rap sa akin bago niya pinatay ang tawag nang walang paalam.

Bigla tuloy akong nahiya kay Andrea sa harap ko. I bowed my head then I mentally sighed. I held my head up and look at Andrea. Andrea is just wandering her eyes around. I bet she really did heard Rap's yelled.

I shoved my phone inside my pocket and put my hands on the table. I cough to get her attention. I cannot help it but to raise my brows when I saw Andrea could not stop grinning from ear to ear. The hèck?

Wide smile across her face and Andrea lean her body on the table then asked me a question that makes my mouth dropped open. "You already have a child?" she looked so excited upon questioning and she look so eager to hear my answer.

I waved my hands on her and lean on my chair. "What the hèll Andrea. Of course, I don't have."

She lean back with on her chair too and the wide smile plastered on her face gone immediately as she leaned.

"Eh? What about that emergency call of your friend?"

I rolled my eyes. I didn't know this girl would love to gossip too. She also loved to simp on someone's business.

"It's... it's just someone I help and is looking for me." I plainly answered.

"So you'll be leaving now?"

"Yeah." I said and gathered myself up but Andrea stop me from doing so. "What?"

I sit back.

Andrea take a sighed under her breath. "Ayaw ko nang makipagkita pa sayo ulit Desmond." diretsong saad niya sa akin.

I feel relieved at what she said. Yeah, I like Andrea's company pero ayaw ko naman na mas palalimin pa namin ito. Iyan sana ang gusto kong sabihin sa kanya pero nawala na nang dahil sa tawag ni Rap sa akin. Nakaka-distract din talaga. Baka tuloy iniisip ni Andrea na gusto ko pa siyang makita o makipag-date sa kanya.

Tsk!

"Ayaw ko rin naman."

"Okay, that's good basta sabihin lang natin sa parents na okay tayo and we're now friends." she suggested.

"Hmm, I know."

"If only I didn't know that you're a philandering asśhole Desmond. Maybe, I'll like you by now."

I laughed. "Really?"

"Yes, yet I didn't like boys. I like girls."

My eyes popped open on her sudden confession. Kanina ayos lang noong sinabi niya na magugustuhan niya ako pero itong gusto niya rin ay babae? The fùck that was just out of this world. Hindi ko lubos maisip na ang babaeng tulad ni Andrea ay babae rin ang gusto.

Well, Andrea is a bit boyish when she speaks and there are also mannerism that she acted like a guy. But the way she dressed and looked. Dàmn fùck! She's hot. Her talkativeness is also her asset that makes a guy can't help but to look at her when she started talking. Many boys would worship for her.

"Surprised?"

I scoffed. "Who would think that a woman like you would also like a dàmn woman. You're hot Andrea."

"I knew." She confidently agreed. "I like hot ladies too and I'm already in a relationship with someone who's hot." Andrea proudly added.

I almost fell on my chair. "For a fùcking real?" This woman is very unbelievable.

She nodded.

"Yet we're secretly dating, secretly meeting each other... everything about us is a secret and it sucks you know. I want to hold her hands on public. I want to date her on public. But we cannot do that because of her job and mine, too."

"Wow!" I gasped.

"Tsk! Anyway, you don't have my number right? So here's my personal number," she slid a business like card on the table. "I don't usually give my number on someone. I usually give my business number but you see, you're a special case Desmond."

I took her card. "Thank you. I'll be leaving for real now."

Tumayo na ako.

"Yeah, just go to your child now, Bunsen." she teased me.

I shook my head. "Call me when you need someone to talk to... dude."

"Likewise."

While driving to LCL Hospital I cannot help it but to think on Andrea's situation. When I first saw her, in all honesty, I'm attracted to her. Well, who wouldn't be attracted to a nice boobs, big butt, and a slim waist? And her natural beautiful face. I also like her as a woman coz she's not like the other woman I've been with that talks about this brand of clothes, this brand of bags, this brand of shoes. And lastly Andrea is not a woman who loves to lure themselves in leons den. Her partner would be very lucky to have her as her lover.

I stopped when the traffic light turns to red. Tapping my fingers on the stearing wheel while waiting for the light to turn to green.

Kanina habang sinasabi ni Andrea na may partner na siya at sekreto lang iyon. The sadness in her eyes were very evident. Through her eyes I can see how much she wanted to come out. I saw how she's eager to show her loves to her partner not in discreet way.

I don't understand what Andrea's situation is since I'm not hiding myself in a closet. Hindi ko naman tinatago ang totoong ako at napaka-public na nga ng buhay ko. Kaya iyong pinagdaanan ni Andrea at nang partner niya di ko maintindihan pero nakikisampatya ako sa kanila. Maybe she want it secret too because of her work and of course she considering her partners career, too. Secret is way too far from being private.

My car started to move when the red light switched to green one.

If ever I would be in a relationship. I will not keep it as secret relationship may it be a man or a woman. Pero nga lang siguro si Andrea di pa niya nasasabi sa mga magulang niya kung ano ba siya. Ako kasi alam na ng mga magulang ko kaya siguro ganito ako. Hindi na takot.

I got off from the car when my phone rings. Tumigil ako saglit upang kunin ang cell phone ko sa bulsa ko. Nakita kong tumatawag si Mommy.

Taking a deep breath then I press the green button.

"Mom."

"Son, Michael how's your date?" Mommy sounds so excited upon asking me.

"It went... well."

"Really?"

Nagpatuloy ako sa paglalakad habang ang cell phone ay nasa tainga ko. Mommy sounds so happy. Unlike kasi sa mga nagdaang blind date ay wala akong masasabi sa kanya kung hindi 'it's fine' at napipilitan pa 'yan. Kaya nang marinig ni Mommy ang sagot ko ay na-excite siya lalo. Akala niya siguro may nangyari ng pagkakaintindihan. Tssk!

"Hmm, Andrea's nice."

"I thought so. Oh my god! I cannot wait to chika with my amiga." I guessed she's talking to Andrea's mother.

"So when's the next date?" Mommy asked.

My brow arc. There would be no next date mom.

"Ahm, Andrea and I will... talk about it." I lied.

"That's great."

"Sige mom ibaba ko na ito."

"Wait, where are you? Bakit maingay ang background mo?"

"I'm in LCL Hospital."

"What?!" napapikit ako sa mata ko at inilayo ang cell phone sa tainga ko.

Shìt!

"I'm just here for someone mom."

"Oh my god! Thank goodness."

Pinatay ko ang tawag matapos makapagpaalam ni Mommy. Rap's name pop-up when I was about to slid my phone in my pocket. He texted the kid's room number. Tinago ko ulit ang cell phone ko sa bulsa.

Nang makarating ako sa room na tinext ni Rap ay kakatok na sana ako nang marinig ko ang boses ng isang babae.

"Finn! Please come here. Di kita sasaktan ako ito si ate Charm."

Binuksan ko ang pintuan at nakita ko na may dalawang nurse doon isang lalaki at isang babae na sinusubukang lapitan ang tao na nandun sa isang sulok. At nagkatulakbong sa kumot. Nailibot ko ang tingin ko sa buong silid dahil ang gulo! May unan pa sa paanan ko ngayon.

"No! I wanna see Desmond."

I was stunned when I heard him call my name. Nakilala ko ang boses at boses iyon ng bata na tinulungan ko doon sa barko.

"Sino ba kasing Desmond iyan?"

Di siguro nila namalayan na may pumasok na tao kasi abala sila doon sa pagpaamo sa bata.

"Excuse me." I called out their attention. The two nurse twirled.

"Oh, sir ano pong ginagawa ninyo dito?" The guy nurse said.

"I'm... I'm here for that kid."

"Hala Desmond. D-desmond Bunsen pala... ang tinutukoy nitong si Finn?" The girl nurse muttered.

"Bakit nagtatago sa kumot iyang bata?" tanong ko.

"Sir kasi may i-inject kasi kaming gamot sa kanya kaso lang nagwala at iyan na di nagpapalapit."

"Wala bang ibang nurse na tumulong sa inyo?"

"Ako po kasi ang nautusan ni Doc kasi nakilala na po ako na Finn kaya akala namin, ayos lang siya at di magwawala kaso iyan na."

Tumango ako sa nurse. "Okay, ako nag bahala." Ako saka humakbang ako upang lapitan iyong bata... si Finn pala.

I squat in front of him.

"Finn." I spoke.

Si Finn na nakatulakbong sa buong katawan niya ang kumot ay unti-unti siyang sumilip.

"Hey, it's me."

Tuluyan na niyang inalis ang kumot sa ulo niya at biglang akong sinunggab ng yakap. Na-out of balance ako mabuti na lang at mabilis ang galaw ko at naitungkod ko ang isa kong kamay sa sahig at ang isa ko namang kamay ay sa maliit niyang katawan.

"Natatakot ako. Sasaktan nila ako." Usal niya at humihigpit ang pagkakayakap niya sa leeg ko.

I wrapped my hands around him and carried him to his bed. I put him down but he is still hugging me. I look at the nurses. Their mouth dropped and eyes wide open.

Hindi ko alam na sa pagtulong ko dito sa bata na ito ay magiging ganito pala ka komplikado. Where the fùck is his parents? Ngayon kargo ko pa siya. This is really bullshìt sa totoo lang.

Siguro mali talaga na tinulungan ko siya. Sana pala hindi ko na lang siya dinala dito. Sana nasa opisina na ako ngayon. Pero kakayanin ba ng konsensya ko na isang bata na nasa kawawang sitwasyon tapos iiwan ko lang? Dammìt!

"Finn, di ka nila sasaktan okay?" Sinubukan ko siyang kausapin sa mahinahon na boses.

Umiling siya at niyakap ang kamay niya sa katawan ko. My lips turned into thin line. Kailan pa ako naging ganito ka pasensyoso?

Tumingin ako sa nurse and gave them a sign to inject Finn his meds while I'm trying to distract him.

Dahan-dahan na lumapit ang babae na nurse at hinanda na ang syringe. I hugged Finn and hold him tight dahil baka gumalaw at maiwan na ang karayom dagdag problema pa.

"Ahhw!" si Finn nang matanggal na ang injection.

Binitawan ko siya at kinalas ko ang kamay niya sa akin. Tumingala sa akin si Finn.

"Iiwan mo ako?" tanong niya sa akin.

I clenched my jaw. "No... I will not."

Pinahiga ko siya at inutusan ko ang usang nurse na kumuha ng ibang blanket. Ang babaeng nurse naman ay lumabas tutal naman ay tapos na sa pag-iinject.

Umupo ako sa upuan na nasa tabi ng hospital bed ni Finn.

"Bakit wala ka dito nang magising ako?"

"I was..." napatigil ako. Bakit ko sasabihin sa kanya? Who the hèll is this kid para sabihin ko sa kanya kung bakit wala ako dito pagkagising niya? He is not my relative. I don't have any connection with him. So why would I tell him? Tssk! "I went home." I said instead of telling him what exactly I did earlier before I went here. But there's something in my mind to tell him what really happened. "Then... I went on a blind date." I added eventually.

Finn eyes blinked. Kumunot ang noo niya. I studied his face at masasabi ko na ngayon na maayos na ang mukha niya, na malinis na siya at maaliwalas na ang mukha niya. His face is really small with a thick eyebrow and an amber colored eyes.

"Blind date? What is that is it a place?"

Muntik na akong matawa dahil sa tanong niya sa akin. I laughed under my throat.

"No, it's not a place Finn."

"Then what is it."

"Ahm, how to do describe it... hmm, it's when you go out with someone you didn't know yet."

Finn nodded his head. After a while he doze off.

Finn went asleep and I stand to go out because I've been sitting for a while. Binuksan ko ang pintuan at pagbukas ko ay may nakita akong isang madre. Napaatras sa pagkabigla ko.

"Oh."

"You're the one who look for Finn?" tanong ng madre sa akin.

"Oo po s-sister."

"Hmm, halika ka dito." Siya at lumabas ako.

Nanatili lang kami sa labas mismo ng room ni Finn.

"Ako si Sister Virgie. Kita mo naman siguro sa suot ko na isa akong madre." Tumango ako sa kanya at walang sinabi. "Isa akong madre sa Saint Augustine Parish at si Finn ay isa sa mga bata na doon lumaki sa Parish namin."

"Ohh." Napatango-tango ako kay Sister Virgie. "I'm Desmond sister." Pakilala ko at nagmano ako sa kanya.

Ngumiti siya

"Nalaman ko kay nurse Charm na ikaw daw ang nagpakalma kay Finn at ngayon na naabutan kita gusto kong magsalamat sayo Desmond."

"Mmm, no problem sister..." even if he's really a bit trouble for me. "So... sister you're here to take Finn back to the Parish?"

"Oo, pasensya na at matagal akong nakarating dito. Salamat sa abala mo Desmond."