Have faith. Just have faith and everything will follow. –jazlykdat

Aubrey

Napapangiti siya habang sinusundan sina Vander at Dirran sa supermarket. Tulak-tulak ng dalawa ang cart na halos puno na. Hindi niya alam kung bakit naisipan ng asawa na mag-grocery para sa mga bata. Puwede naman nilang iutos na lang.

Kahapon pa ito nagpapaka-ama. Ipinag-drive pa sila hanggang Tagaytay. Kung hindi pa kinantiyawan ni Desiry na puwede naman silang mag-chopper pauwi ng Manila, pipiliin pa nitong mag-drive ulit.

"Heart, okay na ba talaga 'tong diapers ni Deshima? Dagdagan pa kaya natin ng dalawang packs?" Lumingon ito sa kanya at tumigil sa paglalakad. Dirran also stopped. He's been calling her heart since yesterday. Napapangiti pa rin siya kapag tinatawag siya nito ng gano'n

"Isang karton na lang kaya ang bilhin mo?" natatawa niyang tanong rito.

"Bakit hindi mo sinabi?" seryoso naman nitong tanong.

"Luko-luko ka talaga. Sige kuha ka pa ng isang pack para may reserba," tugon na lamang niya.

"Sige, hintayin niyo na lang ako dito." Saad nito at humalik pa sa pisngi niya. Agad itong bumalik sa diaper section. Napapangiti siya habang sinusundan ito ng tingin.

Dirran is quietly counting the cans on the rack. Napangiti siya. Kaya na nitong bigkasin ang mga salita ng normal.

"Aubrey?!"

Natigilan siya nang may tumawag sa pangalan niya.

She instantly recognized the man's voice.

"Charlie? Hi!" Alanganin niyang bati rito. Ngumiti naman ito.

"How are you? You look better than the last time," he said genuinely. Napangiti na lang siya.

"Sorry sa nangyari noon ha?" saad niya sa binata. Alam niyang may kasalanan siya rito. Pakiramdam niya ay niloko niya ito noon dahil nabuntis siya ni Vander at hindi niya magawang maituloy ang kaso dahil sa mga anak. Masama ang loob nito noong nakipaghiwalay siya. Sa kabila daw ng lahat ng kabutihang nagawa niya, si Vander pa rin pala ang pipiliin niya. It wasn't true that time but now it's like everything he said was real and had basis.

"Matagal na iyon. Huwag mo nang isipin." Tugon nito. Ngumiti ito. Maybe he really had accepted everything.

"Tito Charlie?" Dirran uttered when he saw him. Napatingin naman ito sa bata at napangiti.

"Hey, kiddo. I missed you!" yumakap ito kay Dirran.

"I miss you, too, Tito Charlie." Dirran muttered. Hindi makapaniwalang tumingin si Charlie sa kanya. He must be surprised to hear Dirran responding.

"He's improving," Charlie murmured as he got up. Napangiti na lang siya.

"Mommy, where's dad?" Dirran asked innocently.

"Nagkabalikan na kayo ni Vander?" nagtatakang baling ni Charlie sa kanya.

"Yes!"

Napatingin siya sa nagsalita. It was Vander. Inilagay nito ang hawak na diaper sa cart bago siya hinapit sa baywang. Umusal siya ng piping dasal. She knew how Vander is jealous with the guy noon pa man. Ito rin ang naging dahilan kaya nagawa nito ang nangyari noon sa hotel.

Yumakap siya sa baywang ng asawa. She has to let him get the signal that he has nothing to worry about Charlie.

"What were you telling my wife?" kalmado ngunit madiing tanong ni Vander kay Charlie.

"Nangungumusta lang," tugon naman ng isa.

"Sige, Aubrey. Mauna na ako." Paalam nito. "Vander," Charlie muttered nodding at him before he turned to Dirran and bade goodbye.

"Bye, Tito Charlie," Dirran said before he turned away.

Sinundan na lamang nila ng tingin ang lalaki. Bumitaw naman ang asawa sa kanya nang makaalis ang lalaki at itinulak na ang cart papunta sa cashier section.

He was so silent. Natatakot siyang magtanong. Baka ikinasama ng loob nito ang pakikipag-usap niya kay Charlie. Mabigat talaga ang loob nito sa isa.

Tahimik sila hanggang makauwi ng bahay. Napansin niya ang pag-iwas nito sa kanya lalo na nang makarating na sila ng bahay. Agad itong humiwalay sa kanilang mag-iina.

Hindi rin ito masyadong nagsasalita nang maghapunan sila at nauna pang umakyat.

When she entered their room, nakaligo na ito at nakabihis. Ni hindi siya pinansin. Parang gusto niyang maiyak nang binibihisan na si Deshima, kumukuha pa lang kasi siya ng lakas ng loob para kausapin ito pero bigla na lang itong lumabas ng kuwarto nang hindi nagsasalita.

Vander Lewis

He inhaled deeply as he went out of the room.

No matter how much he convinces himself that Aubrey loves him, he has fears.

A lot...

What if things screw up again?

Naghahagilap pa nga lang siya ng mga paraan kung paano ulit magsisimula kapiling si Aubrey, bigla na namang sumulpot ang lalaking 'yon.

Nakadagdag pa ang nakita niyang pagyakap ng anak sa lalaki. Naiinis siya na mas maraming taong nakasama ng anak niya ang lalaki kaysa sa kanya.

He knows how immature it is to get jealous over his son's closeness to the guy but he can't help it.

Ano ba ang dapat niyang gawin para hindi magsisi ang asawa sa desisyon nitong tanggapin siya ulit?

He never asked about what happened between her and Charlie.

Kailan ba naghiwalay ang dalawa?

The last time he saw them together two years ago they were hugging each other.

Paano kung nabibigla lang si Aubrey?      

Nilayuan ba ito ng lalaki nang malamang ipinagbubuntis nito ang anak nila ni Aubrey?

BUT he would be a lot happier if it was Aubrey's own decision to stay away from the guy.

He went down to their bar counter to have some drinks.

He already had three shots when his mother appeared at his side.

"May problema ba?" malumanay nitong tanong. She even taps his shoulder.

Nginitian niya ng tipid ang ina.

Bakit kaya alam lagi ng mga ina kapag may dinaramdam ang mga anak nila?

Alam na alam din lagi ng mga ina ang makabubuti para sa mga anak nila.

His mom for instance never made any bad decision for them. Kapag sinabi nitong hindi puwede at sinuway pa rin nila. Siguradong napapahamak sila sa huli. A good example was when she violently reacted on him marrying Aubrey at an early age.

"Bakit ikaw noon, 'my, bumalik para maging maayos kayo ulit ni dad?" tanong niya sa ina.

His mother smiled. Umupo ito sa stool sa tabi niya. She inhaled deeply before speaking.

"Ours was different, son. I left because I thought your dad was doing something bad. Umalis si Aubrey noon dahil ginawan mo siya ng masama."

Napatitig siya sa ina. He didn't have to explain that he was talking about Aubrey for her to understand. Naintindihan na agad nito ang gusto niyang sabihin.

"Mahal ko siya, 'my. Noong wala siya wala akong ibang minahal pero bakit nagmahal siya ng iba? Tanong niya sa ina.

"What did you do with that love?" She asked softly.

"For ten years hinayaan mo lang siya." She added looking straight at him. Napayuko siya sa pahayag ng ina.

"Parang ang hirap pa rin kasing tanggapin na nagmahal siya ng iba noon." Saad niya bago nilagok niya ang laman ng kopita.

"Kahit sinong babae, anak. Kung may magmamahal sa kanila ng higit, iyon ang pipiliin nila." Paliwanag ng ina.

"While I was away with your ate Vanna and kuya Liam. Your dad was discreetly following us kasi mahal niya kami at ayaw niya kaming malayo. Ikaw you were just there doing nothing."

His mom may be right. He did nothing to chase Aubrey. He was frustrated and scared. He had flings, too. A lot of them.

So, who is he to blame Aubrey?

"Dapat sinundo mo siya noon pa man. I was expecting that to you nang maka-graduate ka." Wika ng ina nito.

He actually started the hotel project in Dubai then hoping to see Aubrey but she was no longer there. Napailing siya. Nobody knew that. Nobody even suspected that he had hidden agenda for the Dubai project. Akala nila parte lang iyon ng hotel expansion ng kumpanya.

"Why didn't you advise me?" biro niya sa ina. He wants to divert the serious conversation. Ayaw niya ring balikan ang kapalpakan niya dati.

"I thought you already fell out of love...until she came back. Doon ko lang napatunayan na si Aubrey pa rin pala." Lianna smiled and tapped him on the nape. Napailing na lang siya sa sinambit nito.

There was a long silence before his mom spoke.

"You know after your dad and I got married for the second time. Isa na lang ang lagi naming pinag-aawayan."

"What was it, mom?" Napatingin siya sa ina.

"Ikaw." Natatawa naman nitong tugon.

He shrugged as he inhaled deeply.

"You were right, mom. I should have not rushed things. Dapat nakinig ako sa 'yo noong sinabi mong huwag muna kaming magpakasal. Minadali ko ang lahat." He felt like hugging his mother but that is not so manly. Napailing na lang siya.

"If you weren't stubborn and a little evil, Desiry and Ayder would have not existed. Dirran and Deshima, too." Lianna laughed. Napatawa rin siya.

"Kaysa naman sa nangyari they suffered a lot because of me." He played circles around the brink of his glass.

"No, son. Don't say that. They were meant to be born."

"For what, mom?" He asked smiling bitterly.

"Para ipaalala sa 'yo na walang forever." His mom said chuckling.

"Meron po. Yung sa inyo ni dad." Natatawa naman niyang sagot sa ina. His parents' relationship is one of a kind. Nakakainggit minsan.

"I was just kidding. Bakit give up ka na? Ngayon pang parang okay na kayo ni Aubrey?"

"Para po kasing gumugulo na naman ang sitwasyon."

His mom smiled at his answer.

"Wala namang gulo ang hindi naaayos basta mahal mo siya." Wika nito. Napangiti na lamang siya.

"But as I've told you, hindi sapat na sabihin mong mahal mo siya dapat ipakita mo." Dagdag nito. He listened intently as his mom spoke.

"Ipakita doesn't mean sex. There are a lot of ways to show your love." Nakangiti nitong dagdag.

"Like what ways, mom?"

"Ask your dad. He could help a lot." She answered smiling. Napatango na lamang siya.

"For the mean time, start by having faith on her love for you."