CHAPTER THIRTY

DANIEL STARED at his son, confused at what he was going to do next. Emy saw him. Ano na lang ang iisipin nito sa kanya? Daniel's mind was bombarded with tons of thoughts and questions when all of a sudden, he felt Damien's hand holding his.

"Daddy, I asked Miss Wynter if I can marry her," sabi nito sa kanyang nagpatigil sa kanya sa pag-iisip ng malalim.

He went back to staring at his son but with his full attention this time. "You talked to her, Dam?" His son nodded with a smile on his face. "Anong pinag-usapan niyo? Paano siya nakapasok dito?"

"Nakita ko po siya nung lalabas po sana ako ng room, tapos po she looked really familiar po. Diba, Daddy, siya po yung nasa picture sa phone mo po?" Daniel nodded. "Ayun po, I asked her if she knows how to make juice and she's really pretty, Daddy. I told her I like her and she likes me too po."

Lumipad na naman sa ulap ang isip ni Dan. "I'll be at my unit if you need clarifications... or have some explaining to do." Bigla niyang naalala ang sinabi ng dalaga bago ito tuluyang umalis ng unit niiya.

Daniel gave his son the milk he asked for and told him to stay in the unit, he'll just go and talk to Emerald. "Daddy, don't like her, okay? I'll marry her when I grow up," huling sabi sa kanya ng anak bago siya lumabas ng unit at kumatok sa pinto ni Emy.

Ilang segundo lang ang binilang nang bumukas ang pintuan at bumungad sa kanya ang babaeng hinding-hindi niya makakalimutan. He can still remember what she looked like back when they're still in high school. He can say that she grew up as a fine looking lady that stole his heart many years ago.

"Tutulala ka lang ba riyan?" pagtataray sa kanya ng dalaga.

Saka lang siya nakabalik sa tamang wisyo at napailing. "Can I come inside?"

Emerald stared at him for a moment before widening the gap and letting him enter her unit.

"Thanks." He looked back at her and saw her motion at the sofa, telling him to take a seat and so he did. "Bago ko simulan ang pagpapaliwanag ko, ito lang muna ang sasabihin ko." Huminga siya nang malalim saka nagsalita. "You're not saying yes to Damien's proposal," seryoso niyang saad.

Wynter flatly looked at him. "Seriously?" He nodded. "Nasisiraan ka na ba ng utak, Dan? Jusmiyo. Gusto mo ba akong makulong? Baliw ka rin eh."

Saka lang natawa si Daniel sa pinagsasasabi niya. Emerald also chuckled, making the atmosphere a little less serious than it was minutes ago.

After exchanging laughs, Daniel once again took a deep breath before telling his story from the moment he knew about Damien.

LOADS OF work. Ganyan naman palagi sa presinto nila. Sa hindi kasi malamang dahilan ay hindi umaayos ang sistema ng bansa. Instead of seeing the crime rate get lower everyday, it gets higher.

Napailing na lamang si Dan saka ibinigay ang buong atensyon sa trabaho. He was reading files after files, looking for a criminal that was an alliance of one of his latest caught. Nang makuha na niya ang pangalawang set ng records sa tambakan nila ay bumalik na siya sa opisina niya.

Nasa kalagitnaan siya ng pagbabasa nang biglang tumunog ang telepono niya. "Nakalimutan ko na namang patayin," saway niya sa sarili. Nang makitang ina niya ang tumawag ay agad niya itong sinagot. "Ma, napatawag ka."

(Daniel, kailangan mong umuwi.)

Kumunot ang noo niya nang mapansing seryoso ang tono ng ina. "Pero Ma, naka-duty ako ngayon—"

(Wala akong pakialam. Basta umuwi ka, ngayon din.)

Inilayo niya ang telepono sa tenga nang marinig na binabaan siya ng ina ng tawag. "Anong meron?"

Kahit naguguluhan ay sinunod pa rin ni Dan ang utos ng ina. Buti na lamang at madaling kausap ang Hepe nila. Mukhang nagmamadali ang ina niya kaya naman binilisan din ni Dan ang pagpapatakbo.

Ilang saglit lang ay nakarating na siya sa bahay nila. Mabigat ang atmosperang bumungad sa kanya nang makapasok sa sala nila. His parents were on the couch and... and a baby was lying peacefully on the single sofa.

Malalaki ang mga matang tiningnan ni Dan ang mga magulang. "M-May kapatid na ako?" papalit-palit ang tingin niya sa nanay at tatay niya.

"Daniel Marquez! Explain!" galit na galit na sigaw ng kanyang ina.

Ilang beses napakurap si Dan bago nakakuha ng mga salita. "B-Ba't ako? Anong..." Muli siyang napatingin sa sanggol na nasa sofa. "D-Don't tell me..."

Daniel's father stood up. "Tinawagan kami ng security ng condominium na tinitirahan mo ngayon. The baby was lying down on your doorsteps. They tried calling you but you didn't pick up."

Lumapit sa kanya ang ina saka may iniabot na sobre. "That letter was with the baby. Hindi na nila nahabol pa ang babae at hindi rin nila makilala dahil nakatakip ang mukha nito." Daniel took the envelope and carefully read the letter.

~~~~~

Daniel,

I believe that you can no longer remember me but we had fun together that night. We enjoyed each other, and I never regretted what happened. Not until now.

My parents wanted me to abort the child but I couldn't, so I made a deal with them saying I'll leave this baby to you. Unfortunately, after a couple of months of bringing him to this world, I couldn't let him go. But I had to, Daniel.

My parents still did not want him so I did what I had to. Please take care of my Damien. He means the world to me but I wouldn't be able to provide for his needs if my parents disown me.

Don't ever search for me. But I'll watch my baby grow from afar when given a chance. I hope you'll let him grow as a gentleman. I'll always love him.

~ Damien's Mother

~~~~~

Ilang beses pa ulit niyang binasa ang sulat ng ina ng bata, bago tiningnan ang sanggol. "H-How is she sure that he's mine?" naguguluhan na tanong ni Dan.

"That's why I asked a doctor to come and confirm," sagot ng ama niya. Sakto namang may pumasok na doktor sa sala nila.

They did all the processes they needed to do in order to confirm that the baby was indeed Daniel's. After hours of waiting, the doctor called his father and confirmed his relationship with the baby.

As Dixie taught him how to carry a baby, Dan couldn't help but stare at the boy. He really does have a child now. At sa hindi malamang dahilan ay habang mas tumatagal ang pagtitig niya sa sanggol ay siyang paglambot ng puso niya.

"Your mom wanted to protect you. I may not remember her, but I promise I'll protect you and take good care of you. For her, and for you."

Weeks turned to months then turned to years, Daniel kept his promise but unfortunately due to the promotion he got, his responsibilities came bigger in numbers. Nagkasundo na lang silang pamilya na mananatili pansamantala si Damien kasama ang ina niya sa States habang nasa Pilipinas siya at nagta-trabaho.

Napag-usapan din nilang kada pasko, bagong taon, at kaarawan ni Damien ay pupunta si Dan sa States para ipagdiriwang ang mga ito kasama ang anak.

Daniel never failed as a father. Nagkaroon nga lang ng maliit na adjustments nang muli niyang makita si Emerald. Ang babaeng pinakawalan niya noon nang malamang may relasyon na ito at ang kaibigan niyang si Mike.

He did everything he can to get her attention. To maybe finally have a chance to be with her after knowing that Emerald and Mike broke up. Nakalimutan niya saglit ang totoong sitwasyon niya. Na may anak na siya at hindi na sila pwede ng dalaga dahil malamang sa malamang ay ayawan siya nito.

And then one day, his mom called him. (Damien got sick. He's in the hospital. Stable naman na ang lagay niya sa ngayon pero kailangan ka ng anak mo, Daniel.)

"By the way, I'll be gone for a month at least." Daniel brought up after tons of deciding whether to inform his friends, especially Emerald, or not.

"Bakit?" Mike asked.

He hid his worry through his smiles. "I have to fix something." Naalala na naman niya ang rason kung bakit niya kailangang umalis. Damien needs him.

"Take care, then." Narinig niyang sabi ni Emerald na nagpabawas sa kaba niya kahit papaano.

"Saan ka pupunta?" tanong na naman ni Mike.

"Secret, pero rito lang din naman sa Pilipinas," pagsisinungaling niya. Alam kasi niyang mas hahaba pa ang paliwanagan kapag sinabi niya ang totoo.

Ilang saglit lang ay narinig niyang bumuntong hininga si Emy. "Are you guys leaving? I'm already full. I wanna sleep now."

Napatango naman siya. Tama iyon para mas mapaaga ang pag-alis niya. "I can go back to my unit now—"

"Great. I'll sleep here if you don't mind, Wyn," nakangiting sabi ni Mike. Kakaiba ang ngiti nito na nagpa-isip kay Daniel kung tama bang umalis siya ngayong gabi.

Pero anak niya naman ang pinag-uusapan dito. Kailangan siya ng anak niya. Kapag bumalik na lang siya, saka siya babawi kay Emerald.

Nang tuluyan nang nakapagpaalam si Emy at pumasok na sa kwarto nito ay tiningnan siya ni Mike. Gone with the smile on his lips and replaced with a serious expression. "Kung saan ka man pupunta, mag-iingat ka, pre. But do know that once you come back, you can no longer touch Wynter."

Sumeryoso rin ang mukha ni Dan. "At sino ka para pagbawalan ako?"

Mike smirked. "I'll be her boyfriend once again. Kung naagaw ko na siya sayo noon, imposibleng hindi ko magawa ulit 'yun ngayon."

Agad nandilim ang paningin ni Daniel. He wanted to punch Mike, but he shouldn't. Wala siya sa lugar para gumawa ng eksena. So he did his best to suppress his anger.

Ngumisi naman sa kanya ang itinuring niyang kaibigan. "Hindi ba't babalik ka na sa unit mo? Go ahead and make it quick. Nang makahiga na ako sa tabi ni Wyn," pang-aasar pa nito.

Pinilit ni Dan na umalis na at hindi basagin ang pagmumukha ng lalake nang muli itong magsalita.

"Another thing before you go," Dan stopped walking but he didn't face him. "Tita Dixie called. You better move fast. Kailangan ni Damien ang daddy niya." Napabuga na lang ng hangin si Dan. Of course, Mike knew about his son. "'Wag mo ring ipapaalam kay Wyn na may anak ka. Baka mas lalong mawalan ka ng chance sa kanya. You know Wynter deserves the best."

Hindi na niya kaya ang mga pinagsasasabi ng lalake kaya tuluyan na siyang lumabas ng unit ni Emerald at nag-ayos ng gamit papunta sa anak niya. Mike's words never left his mind. She deserves the best... at sa sitwasyon kong ito. Emy would never choose me.