Chapter 29

Watch Out

"So, mag-iisang linggo na kayo ni Mikel dito sa Angeles?" Jess said and then she crossed his legs.

Tumango ako bago ko isinubo ang kutsara na hawak ko na mayroong sansrival.

"Kina mama kayo tumutuloy?" Tanong pa niya.

"Yeah... Namiss ko na nga sa HTO, ang tagal ko nang hindi nasisilayan ang Clark!"

I miss the wide roads and the colorful lights of the buildings there during night time. Clark is one of the most beautiful area that you could visit here in Angeles. It's also one of the busiest dahil kabi-kabilaan ang mga buildings pero malinis, para kang nasa ibang bansa. There's no reason for me to stay in New York because my life is in between here in Angeles and Manila.

"Syempre, it all started there 'di ba? Doon kayo naging close ni Yael." Ani Kaye sabay ngisi bago sumimsim sa baso niyang may orange juice. Namiss ko itong babaeng 'to. It's been awhile.

Tsaka alam rin kasi ni Kaye ang mga nangyari sa amin ni Yael noon. Silang dalawa ni Nick ang naging saksi mula sa paghatid-sundo sa akin ni Yael noon sa TMC.

Umangat ang isang sulok ng labi ko. "That was unexpected... He's too discreet. Hindi mo nga malalaman na may gusto na pala siya sa'yo... or maybe I'm just too dense that time."

Jess chuckled. "You're not dense, you're just afraid to assume when it comes to him because you know how enormous his impact is to you... mas masakit kasing ma-disappoint kapag sobrang gusto mo na ang isang tao."

"True dat." I sigh dreamily. "Parang kailan lang... Ang daming nangyari sa'min pero ngayon ay okay na ulit kami. Akala ko talaga mauuwi lang kami sa hiwalayan kasi ako naman ang namilit sa kanya na pakasalan ako."

Well, I guess that's what love is. It always has its own way to surprise you. Things happen the way you don't expect them to happen and I think that's exciting. Yes, love is an exciting game and full of risks, but you have to be venturesome in order for you to win.

"Ano pa't naging kapatid mo si Colton." Jess comment sucked me back in reality.

Natawa ako sa sinabi niya saka tumango. "Guess it runs in the blood." Sabi ko at uminom ng juice.

"Pero mabuti at naging okay na uli kayo ni papa Yael? I mean, since when?" Kaye asks and she even gave an emphasis to the word 'papa'. Napahagikgik pa ako nang maalala ko ang mga dati. That's how they address Yael before, lalo na si Nick! Ang karibal ko.

I wet my bottom lip and my brow ceases as I try to recall what happened in the past months of being married with him.

"I don't know... Siguro no'ng napagsabihan niya ako dahil napikon yata siya sa pagiging nagger ko. Sobrang dinamdam ko talaga 'yon! It felt like I was being tear into two nang sinabi niya 'yon! He said that everything is not about me, hindi na daw sa'kin umiikot ang mundo niya." Pagkikwento ko and my best friends gasps as they clutch their chests.

"Tang ina! Tagos!" Ani Kaye.

"Shit! Kung ako ang ginanyan hindi ko na siya kakausapin." Ani Jess.

I smiled. "Ganoon nga ang ginawa ko. I avoided him the whole day. I was just crying silently in our room tapos nawindang ako nung puntahan niya 'ko, he even brought me a dinner kasi ayaw kong kumain. Nag-sorry din siya. Parang lahat ng sakit na nararadaman ko nawala dahil sa paglalambing niyang 'yon."

Both of them are just looking at me and listening attentively to my story like it's the most juicest gossip of the year.

"Syempre gumawa na kayo ng baby diyan. Make up sex na ba 'to?" Kinikilig na sabi ni Kaye. Maging siya Jess ay parang nabuhayan ng dugo at inilapit pa ang upuaan sa amin.

"Kwento mo naman!" Sabi pa ni Jess.

I looked at them ridiculously. "Ano ba kayo! Hindi! Nothing happened that night."

"Really? Ilang buwang natiis ni Yael 'yon?" Jess said.

"Let's not talk about my sex life, please."

"Come on! We're all nurses here, there's no reason for you to feel embarrassed." Kaye snorted.

"Correction, ikaw na lang ang nurse dito. Jess and I both have kids to take care of." Sabi ko para mailigaw ang usapan pero sa totoo lang ay namiss ko bigla ang trabaho ko. I missed working at the hospital.

I miss the way how my heart throbbed fast in excitement everytime I get assigned to the ER. I miss the feeling of getting attached to my patients, I miss how they treat me like a family, at pati iyong mga grumpy kong pasyente ay namimiss ko rin.

Kaye made a face. "Edi kayo na mga ulirang ina! Pero ikaw, h'wag mong nililigaw ang usapan. Spill! Imposibleng wala kang sex life ngayon, lalo na't okay na kayo."

Natawa si Jess nang bahagya sabay iling sa pagiging curious ni Kaye. Bakit ba ako ang nasa hot seat parati? Dahil ba complicated ang love story ko? But now I can proudly say that it's far from being complicated because everything is slowly falling into their places.

"Fine... My dry spell had officially ended. Happy?" I felt my cheeks blushed after confessing.

Both of them looked at me with wide eyes and their mouths formed a small 'o' in amusement.

"When and how?" Excited na tanong ni Jess.

I looked at them ridiculously for a few seconds but they didn't even flinch, mukhang interisadong-intersado talaga silang malaman so I just sigh before deciding to spill the truth.

They're my best girl friends! We tell each other everything!

I grinned at Jess. "In this mansion... the day we celebrated Nice-Nice's 10 month-old, that was the first time that we did it after almost two freaking years."

Mas lalong napanganga ang dalawa lalong-lalo na si Jess. "You gotta be fucking kidding me!" she said trying to hide her smile but couldn't.

"Wow... this mansion is like the alternative for the lucky baby maker blanket." Ani Kaye.

"Gaga!"

"Buti? How? I mean, bakit?" Jess can't find the right words to say but luckily, I do understand what she's trying to ask.

I shrugged. "I don't know... he was angry and pissed off at me for some stupid reason and then we fought—inside the small bathroom. And then that's how it happened, folks."

Kaye gasped in amusement. "Shit! A combination of bathroom and angry sex, pangarap ko 'yan!"

Natawa kami parehas ni Kaye. Mabuti na lang talaga nasa may playroom sina Nice-Nice at Mikel! Masyadong explicit 'tong mga pinag-uusapan namin.

The three of us just talked because we rarely do it. Yael, Colton, and Matthias are all gone for work.

"Ikaw naman ang magkwento, Kaye. How is it going between you two and Matt?" Tanong ko.

Her mood changes. I noticed the sadness in her eyes but she quickly pushed it away.

"We're okay..." She replied quietly.

"It doesn't look like it." Jess commented with a cough.

Kaye let out a deep sigh as she looks away. I saw tears building up on the corner of her eyes.

Jess and I stayed silent and just waiting for her to talk with sympathy in our eyes.

She licked his bottom lip. "I think... He's cheating on me." She whispered and then she let out a cracked laugh before looking back at us.

Jess and I were taken aback.

I felt a squeeze on my chest.

There she is looking so happy and jolly pero may pinagdadaanan na pala siya. You won't even notice it because she had never talked about it. It breaks my heart to see my best friend like this.

Lumapit kaming dalawa ni Jess at niyakap siya and there her shoulder began to shake as she silently cried in our embrace.

"Oh, Kaye, you don't deserve this." Jess breathes.

Biglang pumasok sa isip ko iyong araw na nasa supermarket kami ni Yael. Nakita ko si Matt no'n na may kasamang babae!

"Kaye... I saw Matt in the supermarket a few months ago. Sinabi ko iyon kay Yael at sinabi niya na pag-isipan ko daw muna bago ko sabihin sa'yo, dahil baka mag-away pa daw kayo tapos hindi naman pala totoo ang hinala ko."

Jess eyes narrowed and mouthed 'really?' to me. I just nod.

Natawa nang pagak si Kaye. "Wow, so the bastard has been cheating on me for a few months and yet I just found out lately... Am I that stupid or he's just good at this? This is his game after all. The Jackass Legends game."

"I'm sorry..." sabi ko.

Umiling siya. "It's not your fault that he's a cheating bastard. When he gets back from work, I will end everything between us. May pinag-aralan ako, hindi ako magpapakatanga para sa isang lalaki lang. I know when to stay and when to walk away... I know my worth and I hope the other girls out there know theirs, too."

"Hindi ako magbubulag-bulagan sa mga kagaguhan niya just to save our relationship. I will never try to save a relationship that I didn't fuck up. Ano 'yon? Siya na ang nanggago ako pa mag a-adjust? Tangina niya! Daks nga wala namang bayag!"

That's Kayeleen Contreras, everyone. Hindi namin alam ni Jess kung matatawa ba kami o ano but here's one thing for sure, she's a strong woman who knows her worth.

In this game called love, sometimes, walking away is the best thing to do to prevent yourself from falling apart.

--

"Lolaaaaa!" My son greeted my mother, smiling as soon as we step inside the house. Kaagad siyang kinuha sa akin ni si Mikel at pinualanan siya ng halik. My son giggled.

"Bango-bago naman ng apo ko! Did you play with your cousin, huh? Hmm... Kiss lolo nga!" My son kissed her on the cheek and I smiled.

"Hindi pa nga naliligo 'yan. Pawis na pawis kanina." Natatawa kong sabi kay mama.

"But he still smells good!" aniya at pinangigilan si Mikel. "Mabuti na lang talaga at pumayag si Yael na dumito muna kayo... Namimiss ko na kayo ng apo ko."

"Oo nga, ma, e. Gusto niya three weeks pa kami dito para daw h'wag akong ma homesick dahil matagal siyang mawawala." Pagkikwento ko.

Noong unang gabing wala si Yael ay doon ako nakaramdam ng homesick. Pati si Mikel ay umiiyak, hinahanap si ang daddy niya sa akin. I tried to coax him by giving him his airplane toy ngunit ayaw niya pa ring tumigil. He still wants his Dada. Tumigil lang siya nang tumawag na sa skype si Yael.

I still remember how my poor son touched the screen of my laptop while saying "Dada..."

"Ayon naman pala, e. Dumito na kayo ng tatlong linggo." Pagkukumbinsi sa akin ni mama.

I smiled politely. "Para na rin masanay kami... Tsaka baka biglang umuwi si Yael, gusto ko kami ang una niyang datnan."

Napangiti siya nang malapad. "It's good to see how you two try to make your marriage work."

I sigh. "Mahal ko si Yael, ma. Ayokong maghiwalay kami... And he promised me that we're not going to separate."

She smiled sweetly before looking at Mikel softly. "Tama 'yan... Kawawa naman itong apo ko kung maghihiwalay kayo. Isa pa, alam ko naman na noon pa ay mahal niyo na ang isa't-isa. Things just didn't work out the way they we want it to be. Marami din kayong pinagdaanan and I think the happy ending that you both deserve is now approaching..."

"Thanks, ma..." Nakangiti kong sabi. There's a short pause between the two of us. "You think papa will like Yael again the way he used to?"

She brushed Mikel's hair using her fingers. "Oo naman... Masakit lang ang loob ng papa mo, of course, he trusted Yael. At ayaw ka niyang nakikitang nasasaktan, alam mo naman na para sa kanya ikaw pa rin iyong little Beatrix na wagas kung maglambing sa kanya, lalo na sa tuwing may kailangan ka."

I felt something fuzzy and warm inside me. I suddenly missed being his princess... Those times when I'd just bat my lashes and then the next day, nandiyan na ang hinihingi ko sa kanya.

I'm a papa's girl ever since. I may have my own Captain now but my papa will always be my King. He's the first ever guy who wiped my tears when I cried. He's the first ever guy who held me when I was so down.

"H'wag ka nang mag-alala. Your papa will loosen up with Yael soon. Lalo na't ngayong maayos na ang lahat sa pagitan niyo ni Yael."

"Sana nga, ma. Sana nga." I sigh.

--

Tiningnan ko ang wrist watch ko. It's only 8 o'clock in the morning and I'm on my way to Manila with my papa. Magkatabi kami dito sa backseat.

Sumabay ako sa kanya dahil gusto kong dalawin ang puntod ni Ariana. I didn't get the chance to visit her grave because we stayed in New York for a year and a few months. I just want to tell her the good news about Yael and I. Gusto kong ikwento sa kanya na okay na kami ng kuya niya at ikinasal na kami sa wakas.

She deserves to know that na galing mismo sa akin. I still remember how supportive she was with my relationship with Yael. Naikwento nga sa'kin ni Captain Salcedo na madalas siyang guluhin noon ni Ariana para ipakilala na ako sa kanila.

At nang sa wakas na makilala ko na sila ay naging magkasundo kami kaagad. I felt a tight squeeze on my lungs. Gusto ko pang maging close si Ari.

This may sound crazy pero noon ay pinangarap ko na kapag nag-away kami ni Yael ay tatakbo ako kay Ariana at sasabihing "I really, really hate your brother!" out of my frustration and she will listen to me and give me her mature advices.

Gusto ko 'yon. Gusto ko nang gano'n. I want us to have a strong bond, too but unfortunately we didn't get the chance to.

I was wondering sometimes, why do good people always have to go first? Bakit hindi na lang 'yung mga masasama ang mamatay? Why not just those men who sexually harassed women mercilessly? Those corrupt

I didn't know that with that simple wonder, I was beginning to question God and His capabilities.

"Pagkahatid ko sa opisina ko ipapasama ko na muna sa'yo si Ram at ang driver ko para masamahan ka pabalik sa Angeles."

I was sucked back in reality when I heard my papa talk.

Tiningnan ko siya. "Papa, I don't need a bodyguard. Sa sementeryo lang ang punta ko." May lambing sa aking boses.

"I just want to make sure that you'll go back to Angeles safe... Isa pa, umuwi ka kaagad dahil baka hanapin ka ni Mikel."

"It's fine, pa. The driver will do. Sa'yo na sasama si Ram, kawawa naman baka malusaw na ang mga muscles niya dahil pabalik-balik siya nang Angeles at Manila sa isang araw lang." I joked.

Bahagya siyang natawa. "It's your call. Basta, umuwi ka kaagad. Tinakasan mo lang si Mikel kanina, hahanapin ka ng apo ko." Concern is visible in his voice. Ayaw niya talagang umiiyak ang mga apo niya.

He's treating them the way he treats me and Colton before.

I chuckled. "Yes, sir. Kailangan ko talagang makauwi kaagad dahil baka tumawag si Yael, hindi kasi ako nagpaalam sa kanya."

Isa pa kasing OA ang lalaking iyon. Baka mamaya ipasundo pa ako kay Lando na nanahimik sa bahay namin sa Makati. Mapapagod lang ang tao at baka maudlot pa ang panliligaw ni Linda sa kanya.

I noticed a slight frown on my papa's face. "Bakit kailangan mong magpaalam sa kanya? Hindi naman siya ang papa mo... ako ang papa mo at pinayagan na kitang umalis. Hinahatid pa nga kita ngayon."

Imbes na mainis ay natawa ako kay papa. "Papa naman... Syempre asawa ko si Yael. Kapag ikaw nga noon nagtatampo ka kay mama kapag hindi siya nagpapaalam sa'yo."

Umigting ang bagang niya at isinandal ang likod niya sa upuan. "It's because I'm worried with your mother..." He breathes.

"Exactly, pa. Syempre mag-aalala sa'kin si Yael kapag umaalis-alis ako lalo na't malayo siya. Dapat naiintindihan mo siya, pa kasi parehas kayo."

"No, we're not... Hindi ko pinasakit ang puso ng mama mo noon, I even ask the sweetest and proper way for her to marry me at talagang pinaghandaan ko ang kasal namin ng mama mo noon. So, no, sweetheart, that bastard and I are not the same." Naningkit ang kanyang mga mata.

Bumuntong hininga ako at ngumuso. "Gusto mo ba talagang maghiwalay kami, pa? Mas gusto mo ba talaga si Brody para sa'kin kaysa kay Yael?" malungkot kong tanong.

Kaagad siyang napatingin sa akin. "I'm... I'm not saying that! Kawawa ang apo ko. And yes, I might like Brody for you but I will never push you to be with him intentionally knowing that you're married with that bastard... I only did that purposely to threatened Yael, para kahit papaano ay makaramdam naman siya nang takot na baka pakinggan mo ang mga sinasabi ko at iiwanan mo siya pero parang wala naman yatang talab sa kanya! The bastard was just quiet the whole time, parang nakalunok ng tutubi! He wouldn't even defend his right for you."

"Ayaw ka lang niyang sagutin, pa. You know Yael respects you a lot. He looks up to you."

He sneered. "Mas matutuwa pa 'ko kung sinagot niya 'ko nang araw na 'yon."

I paused for awhile.

"But could you please at least be nice to him?"

I looked at him softly while batting my lashes with a slight pout on my mouth.

Naningkit ang kanyang mga mata at umiling sa akin. "Nope. That's not going to work this time."

I just sigh in defeat. Wala na talaga akong magagawa tungkol dito. Kung kailan maisipan ni papa na magkaayos silang dalawa ni Yael ay saka lang mangyayari 'yon but I doubt that that will happen.

Pagkatapos maihatid si papa sa kompanya niya ay ibinilin niya ako sa driver. Hindi na ako bumaba pa, I just gave him a goodbye kiss on the cheek tapos ay nagpahatid na 'ko sa memorial kung saan nandon ang puntod ni Ariana.

It took us half an hour bago kami tuluyang makarating. Nage-expect ako na walang katao-tao ngunit may isang itim na sasakyan na kaming nadatnan. Napatingin ako sa may kabilang pavement, may isang babaeng nakatayo at nakatilikod mula sa akin at nakayuko ito habang pinagmamasdan ang puntod na nasa paanan niya.

Mukhang kanina pa siya dito kaya mukhang paalis na rin siya. It looks like she's giving a final glance and saying her final prayer before finally turning away.

The woman's back and posture looks familiar to me... I stared at her, hard. Trying to figure who she but I thought that it would be rude to stare at her.

Akmang tatalikod na sana ako nang bigla kong mapansin ang panginginig nang mga balikat niya hanggang sa mapaupo na lang ito sa may damuhan.

"I miss you, Trev. I miss you so much it hurts... I'm tearing apart, Trev. I don't know what to do anymore... you're... you're everywhere, especially in my heart. Bakit mo kinailangang umalis? Why did you have to leave me unprepared? It's so unfair, Trevor!" She said between her sobs. Para akong binuhusan nang malamig na tubig nang marinig ko ang pamilyar na boses na iyon.

Vien! It belongs to Vien!

"Kawawa naman ho siya 'no, ma'am? Boyfriend niya siguro ang nasa puntod." Mahinang sabi ng kasama ko na kanina pa rin pala nakamasid sa babaeng tinitingnan ko.

Tiningnan ko siya at napakamot siya sa batok niya dahil sa hiya sa bigla-bigla niyang pagsasalita.

"Ma'am kunin ko na po yung mga bulaklak at kandila sa likod?" Tanong na lamang niya upang mapagtakpan ang pagkahiya.

Umiling ako. "Mamaya na..." I frantically replied and then I found myself walking towards the other side of the pavement.

My mind is hesitating but my feet won't stop from walking. I can feel my heart thumping loud on my chest.

Parang tatalon na nga iyon lalo na nang matigilan ako sa may likuran niya. I glanced at the grave...

Trevor S. Romanova

1991- 2016

From a loving family.

Parang ramdam niya na may tao sa likod niya kaya dahan-dahan siyang lumingon.

Her filled with tears eyes widened when she saw me pero ilang sandali lang ay muli na niyang ibinalik ang tingin niya sa puntod na para bang hindi niya ako nakita.

"A-Are you alright?"

I wanted to take it back the moment I said it. I shut my eyes, expecting a sarcastic retort from her but as seconds pass I didn't get any word from her.

I just let out a deep sigh. I shouldn't be here. Dapat hindi ko na siya pinuntahan, she needs some time alone at heto ako ginagambala siya.

I was about to walk away but then I heard her talk so I froze.

"You are so lucky, you know?"

Hindi ako nakasagot. I don't know who she's talking to. Sa akin ba o kay Trevor?

"Ang swerte-swerte mo kasi nakakasama mo pa 'yung taong mahal mo. You even get the chance to carry his child and then marry him afterwards. I know, the process on how you got married with Yael isn't something sweet or memorable but you know what? I'd kill just to experience that..."

At first I thought she's talking about Yael. Hindi ko alam kung anong mararamdaman ko habang pinakikinggan siya.

"Kahit na ako pa ang pumilit na magpakasal kay Trevor ay ayos lang. At least ikinasal ako sa kanya... I'd be the happiest woman alive."

But then she's not talking about Yael... She's talking about Trevor. May pagkagulo pa rin akong nararamdaman sa aking isip. Akala ko ay naka move on na siya dahil ayaw niya pa ring bitawan si Yael kahit na kasal na kami.

She let out a harsh exhale before getting up. Hinarap niya ako, her posh demeanor is still there from her posture to her aura.

Tiningnan ko siya sa mga mata and I saw her brokenness in there.

"Naiinggit ako sa'yo... Inggit na inggit ako sa'yo kasi kahit ilang beses mong sinaktan si Yael ay bumabalik-balik pa rin siya sa'yo. I envy you because you almost have everything in life that a woman could ask for. You're one hell of a lucky bitch. You have a lover that every woman dreamed of and gorgeous son with him. Maybe that's why I hated you so much... because you have all the things that I can't have."

Nagulat ako sa sinabi niya. All this time that I feel threatened with her hindi ako alam na naiinggit pala siya sa akin? Kung tutuusin siya dapat ang kinaiinggitan ko, she have everything in life—or so I thought.

I didn't know that she's feeling the same with me, too.

Envy is a dangerous feeling that can make us go blind with the things that we have because we are busy getting jealous with someone's achievement to the point where we tend forget that we have our very own achievements, too.

"I'm sorry, Vien..." I found myself apologizing to her. I really do feel sorry for her; for all the things that happened to her.

"Don't be... You don't know how many times I have plotted to ruin your life in my mind. Pero hindi ka matuloy-tuloy... you know why? Because Yael loves you so much and I can't bear to see him getting hurt again. He doesn't deserve it, Beatrix. He's too good to be true."

"He deserves to be happy and you and Mikel are the only people that can give him that... So, I'm giving up... because that's the right and fair thing to do. Isa pa, kahit naman ako ang manalo at maging kami ni Yael ay huli ay hindi rin kami magiging masaya."

"Vien..." I tried to speak but the only thing that I managed to say is her name. I don't know what to response, I'm too mindblowned.

Ngumisi siya nang mapait. "Yael and I have been together for a year... this one is a tough pill to swallow for me but I must admit that we lasted for a year not because we love each other. But we both stayed because that's the only thing left for us to do. We're both caged because of the responsibilities that we thought we must take to cover up for the wounds that will never heal."

I remained quiet, listening and absorbing to all she's saying even though it's too much to take.

"We've been fooling ourselves for the entire year of our relationship. We just dated because he pity me and I'm desperate to bring back the love that I lost... Unfair para saming dalawa kasi naawa lang siya sa akin at nakikita ko naman sa kanya ang taong mahal ko na nawala sa'kin kaya kahit anong mangyari ay mauuwi at mauuwi lang kami sa hiwalayan. A relationship that consists of pity and desperation is never going to work out."

Her voice is full of pain that she's been hiding to herself.

She let out a deep sigh. "So, that's all what I have to say... Wipe the guilt off your face, will you? I'm not used to see you like that. It's giving me chills."
She managed to put a light scowl on her face and that made me laugh. How can she still remain sassy after all those painful confessions that she confessed?

She rolled her eyes but she laughed along with me anyway.

"Whatever, Beatrix. I have to go, I have so many things to do at wala sa schedule ko ang makipagtawanan sa'yo..." She paused and gave me a grin.

"Pero hahanap ako ng paraan para maisingit 'yon..." She continued with her grin still plastered on her face before finally turning her back on me.

"Vien!"

She looked at me over her shoulders.

"May you also find the happiness that you deserve." I smiled sweetly at her.

She rolled her eyes while smiling. "Whatever." Aniya at tuluyan na akong tinalikuran. I watched her as her bodyguards approach her and opens the door for her.

Nang makaalis na ang sasakyan niya ay may ngiti sa mga labi akong naglakad papunta sa puntod ni Ari.

"So, Ariana—my sissy,  I'm about to tell you a wonderful story today..."

--

"Mikey, say hi to daddy!" Sabi ko sa anak ko na masayang tumatakbo sa playground dito sa village. I never really often go here when I was a kid... Buti pa sa bahay nila Jess ay mas madalas akong magpunta pero dito ay hindi masyado kaya ngayon ko lang ito sobrang na-appreciate dahil nakikita kong enjoy na enjoy si Mikel.

"Hi, Dada!" He happily said at the camera. I'm taking a video of him para ise-send ko mamaya kay Yael. It's just 5 in the afternoon at mamayang mga 9 nang gabi ang pagtawag ni Yael, I assume.

He ran again and this time papunta siya doon sa may sandbox dahil may nakita siyang ilang bucket at shovel na naiwan doon.

"Careful, Mikey— oh my God!" parang nahulog ang puso ko nang madapa siya at bago pa man ako makalapit sa kanya ay mabilis siyang tumayo at ipinunas ang kamay niya sa damit niya at muling tumakbo papunta sa sandbox.

Napangiti ako at unti-unti akong nakalma. I'm still recording at ang camera ay na kay Mikel pa rin.

Sana mai-apply ni Mikel sa buhay niya ang nangyari ngayon sa kanya kapag lumaki na siya. I hope that when he falls, he'll stand up immediately to keep going for his goals.

Lumapit ako sa kanya. "Oh, anak hindi sa'tin 'yan ah? Borrow lang 'yan, hindi natin iuuwi mamaya."

"Um-hmm, my-my..." He nodded while attention is still on the bucket and shovel. Nilalagyan niya ng buhagin ang bucket gamit ang shovel.

"Flying kiss daddy muna." Sabi ko. Nag-angat siya nang tingin at nag flying kiss sa camera tapos ay muli na namang nagbaba nang tingin sa ginagawa niya.

"Say I miss so much you, daddy."

"I m-mith yu sow sow..." He struggle to say the sentence.

"What is it again, Mikey?"

His face scrunched. "No..." Aniya.

Natawa ako sa reaksyon niya ngunit natigilan ako nang may tumawag sa akin. Tiningnan ko ang phone ko.

Si mama.

Tumalikod ako kay Mikel at lumakad ng ilang hakbang palayo bago sinagot ang tawag.

"Oh, ma? Bakit?"

"Hindi pa ba kayo uuwi? Magdidilim na, Beatrix."

"Ma, nasa may playground lang kami ni Mikel. Your grandson is having the time of his life..." I chuckled.

"Hay nako... Basta, h'wag na kayong pagabi. I already cooked for dinner gusto ko sabay-sabay tayong kumain."

Napangiti ako. "Alright, ma. Uuwi na kami ng saktong six ni Mikey..."

"Sige. You go carefully watch out for him, Beatrix. Baka kapag nadulas siya ay tumama ang ulo niya kung saan! Don't get your eyes off him..." Puno nang pag-alala ang bilin sa akin ni mama.

Natawa ako nang bahagya bago sulyapan si Mikel sa may likod ko.

My eyes narrowed and I blinked a couple of times. Panic started to rose on my chest when I didn't see Mikel on the sandbox. Tanging yung shovel at bucket na nilalaro niya kanina ang nandoon!

Naibaba ko ang phone na hawak ko at inikot ang buo kong paningin sa paligid ngunit ni anino ng anak ko ay hindi ko nakita. My heart is beating fast on my chest at nanlalamig ang buo kong katawan.

"Mikel? Where are you?!"