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#NY02 Chapter 02

Sammie wanted to go with Sean. It was Sunday. It was okay. She's with me the entire week... Weekends are with Sean. Although I miss Sammie on the weekends. I still work on weekdays and she goes to school on weekdays, and when she's at home, she's doing assignment or sometimes, she falls asleep because she's too tired. Or I fall asleep because I'm too tired.

Sometimes, I wanted the weekend, too.

"Where's Sammie?" Mom asked.

"With Sean," I replied. I groaned when I saw her grinning at me. "Can we please drop it? For life? It's not gonna happen, Mom."

If only she'd actually listen to the words that come out of my mouth.

"What? There's nothing wrong with hoping," she said, smiling at me.

"Just don't get your hopes up. It's not gonna happen," I repeated before I headed to my room. I was looking forward to eating, but I'd rather starve in my room than to entertain questions from my mom regarding Sean and how we'd 'continue' our love story.

It was far from a love story.

We were friends...

Then we were more than friends...

But never love.

That was clear to me.

Maybe that was why it was so easy for me to take a step back... because even when we got married, even when we got Sammie, it had always been clear to me that when it came to love, for Sean, it was only Isobel.

And I wasn't blind.

Nor stupid.

I knew Sean for a long time... Saw him with other women... But he was never like that with them.

Only with her.

That was why he married her so quickly.

Because sometimes, you just know.

But also, sometimes, things don't work out.

And you just have to live with that and move forward.

That's life... it sometimes sucks.

* * *

I fell asleep while I was reading. When I woke up, I was about to go to Sammie's room to check up on her when I heard her voice from downstairs. She was having a rather lively discussion with my parents. I heard her talking about how she and her daddy went to the mall and how her daddy bought her new books.

Sean's a great father, no doubt about that.

He deserved all the weekends.

I took a bath and prepared. Then I went downstairs and saw that Sammie's already ready for school.

"Good morning, mommy!" she greeted with a full smile on her face.

"Good morning," I replied, smiling.

I joined the breakfast. The main point of discussion that morning was what happened during the family day and what happened in the mall and how excited Sammie was to finish all the books her daddy bought her.

"I'll just brush my teeth!" Sammie said, running back to her room. I stayed and finished my coffee. I only want coffee for breakfast.

"It's Sean's birthday next week," Mom said.

"So?"

"Kelsey..." she said in a warning tone.

"I'm gonna greet him a happy birthday, okay?" I replied rather sarcastically. I saw the disapproval on her face. God, I couldn't wait to move out! I didn't like spending my mornings like this.

"You're not dating anyone naman, right?" Mom asked.

"Yes—"

"So, why not try it again with Sean? For Sammie's sake na rin?"

I remained quiet.

I sipped my coffee.

I wanted to tell them that I'd rather show my daughter that it's okay to be single—that life doesn't revolve around having someone. So what if I'm alone? It's not like I'll die.

And I'd rather show her that it's important to know your worth.

To not stay when there's no reason to stay.

To not beg for love—especially not for love.

"Kelsey—"

"Hon," Dad said, finally. "Let's just have breakfast, okay?"

"Fine..." Mom stubbornly replied.

I stood up when Sammie returned. I headed straight to the car and waited for her. She was all smiles when she was putting on her seatbelt.

"You're so happy," I commented.

"Because daddy bought me books!"

"I buy you books."

"I know!" she said, smiling widely. "I love books!"

I laughed. Good thing she likes books—but even if she wants barbie or robot, I'd be fine with it. The only thing I wasn't fine was her punching other kids.

"Your Teacher Eli said—"

"You know Teacher Eli?" she asked.

"Yeah. I met him last time, remember? When you punched—" I said, but paused when I saw her crossing her arms. She was pouting, too, this little boxer. "I met him there," I said, instead.

"Do you like him?" she asked.

I laughed. "What?"

"Will you date him? Will he be my new daddy?"

I almost hit the brake because of the questions I was hearing. I was almost tempted to pull over to ask her where the questions were coming from. I was pretty sure that I just merely mentioned her Teacher Eli.

"What's with the questions?" I asked. I waited for the answer, but she was just quiet. I was watching her every movement at the rearview mirror, but all I saw was her arms crossed over her chest like she was mad.

"I'm not dating anyone," I said.

She remained quiet.

"Don't you want me to date anyone?" I asked.

Everyone around me wanted me to find someone—most of them wanted me to be with Sean. But I just wasn't there. I was contented with Sammie and my work.

Sammie remained quiet. She was quiet when we reached her school. She just quietly unbuckled her seatbelt and got out of the car. I was just... confused. What the heck did just happen?

One second she was so happy... then she was sulky.

When did she become a teenager?

I was about to leave when I noticed that she left her baon. I unbuckled my seatbelt and got her lunchbox. That girl's so picky. She'd rather starve than eat food from the canteen. I wasn't that picky—she most definitely got that from Sean.

After signing in and giving my ID to the guard, I went inside and waited for the flag ceremony to end. I was sitting on the bench and just checking e-mails.

When I looked up, I saw Teacher Eli walking. He was carrying a big paper bag. It was full of colorful papers. I unconsciously smiled at the view.

"Need help?" I asked because he looked like he needed help.

He blinked. "May... event ba?" he asked like he was confused as to why I was here.

I shook my head. "Sammie forgot her lunchbox," I replied.

"Gusto mo iabot ko?" he asked.

I shook my head again. "But thank you for the offer," I said. Sammie's very picky with her food. She wouldn't eat it if she's not sure who handled the food. I think that that has something to do with that documentary that I accidentally let her watch about someone getting poisoned. Since then, she's been very vigilant. Even when eating outside, I'd still have to taste the food first. And if I did not drop dead, that's only when she'd start eating.

He nodded. "Medyo matagal pa iyong flag ceremony. May announcement kasi," he said.

"It's okay," I replied.

"Baka mainip ka."

I shrugged. I only had rounds today. It's still pretty early. "Why do you always carry papers?" I asked. I just had to ask.

"Ito?" he asked, looking inside the humungous paper bag he was holding. "Wala lang. Mas masaya kasi mag-aral kapag makulay."

"What subject do you teach exactly?" I asked.

"Nursery. Lahat," naka-tawa na sagot niya.

"You must be very patient," I said. I almost got into peds... but as much as I love kids, too much kids is too much kids... They're cute, alright, but too much... I'd rather deal with adults. Adults I could reason with. Kids? They're cute... but it's hard to talk to them.

"Medyo. Cute naman sila," he said.

"But annoying?"

"Lahat naman. Kahit naman matanda minsan annoying," he replied. "At least kapag bata cute pa rin. Kapag matanda nakaka-asar na lang."

I laughed. Like my mom. She's annoying when she pushes Sean and me together.

"Natawa ka? Totoo kasi, no?"

I shrugged. I didn't want to speak ill of my mom. I knew she meant well—but it's only well for her and for the people around us. It's not well for me and my sanity.

"What's the lesson for today?" I asked instead.

Teacher Eli proceeded to explain to me the topic for today. I was quite impressed. I thought that he'd just teach the basics, but he exerted so much effort in the planning of the lessons.

And the papers.

So colorful.

It's nice to know that Sammie has a teacher like him—someone who genuinely enjoys teaching.

"Tapos na pala," he said. That was when I noticed that the kids were already returning to their rooms. I saw some of the teachers looking at us. I just ignored them. Pretty sure this would reach Ramona... for some reason, for someone who hated me, she's updated with everything I do.

"Thanks for accompanying me," I said.

He smiled. "No problem, Ms. Fuentes."

"Kelsey," I said.

He stared at me. And then sighed. "Kelsey," he repeated.

I smiled one more time before I moved to the other side and waited for Sammie. When I saw her, she ran towards me. She thanked me for giving her her baon because she was apparently already worried that she'd starve the whole day.

This kid... so crazy.

* * *

The week was predictable.

I worked.

And made several follow ups with the interior designer, hoping that there's some way that we could move in by the end of the week because my mom was literally driving me insane!

"Please?" she asked.

"Mom," I groaned.

"It's not Sean naman!"

"Why are you so obsessed with my love life?"

"You don't have love life, anak, that's why I'm worried!" she said, shoving on my face yet again the picture of the son of her kumare that she wanted me to meet for dinner.

"Mom, I really won't die if I don't have love life!" I responded.

"I know naman, anak, but your dad and I will die in peace knowing that someone will take care of you when we're gone."

I groaned again. There she was, using the death card on me again! She knew I hated it whenever she pulled that!

"You two are healthy," I pointed out. "You're not dying anytime soon. Baka mas mauna pa ako, Mom, sa sobrang headache na binibigay mo."

"You never know, ha," she replied. "Your Dad and I might drop dead tomorrow... Will you be able to live with yourself knowing that you didn't grant my last wish to—"

I groaned again. "Fine! Just text me the info!" I said before walking away because she's really driving me insane!

* * *

Mom made me change 3 times before she 'allowed' me to leave the house. She wanted me to look professional... but also ready to mingle... whatever the heck that meant.

She's turning into my pimp.

I arrived at the mall early. I didn't like being late. It's like being disrespectful of the other person's time.

I was walking towards the resto when I stopped because there was a line before we could get in.

"I'll be there in an hour, I guess?" the guy in front of me said. "I just have to meet this woman my mom's been begging me to meet."

My eyes widened.

This was the guy.

Then he laughed. "What? No. I heard she already has a kid," he said and then laughed. "Segunda mano? Bro, that's harsh!"

I took a step back.

I felt my chest tightening.

"I'm—" I said when I bumped into someone.

"Tara," Eli said when he held my wrist and gently pulled me away with him.

*** 

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