All or nothing

Chapter Eighteen

Minalas

Gerardo "Chewing Gum" Birada's

"YOU did a great job today, Atty."

Kinamayan ako ni Atty. Enriquez. Isa siya sa kasama ko sa Pro Bono case na hawak namin ngayon tungkol sa isang grupo ng mga magsasakang kinamkaman ng lupa sa isang lugar sa probinsya. Nakarating na sa amin ang kaso dagil idinulog niya ito sa opisina at sa amin naibigay ito. I am willing to do everything just to win this case. Nakakaawa naman kasi ang mga magsasaka, ang hirap ng buhay nila, hindi pa nila nakukuha ang lahat ng kinikita nila. It's just the preliminary hearing, marami pang susunod and I need to focus here than on my corporate job.

Speaking of corporate, I received a message from Gabriel Consunji's executive assistant saying that the tyrant wants to talk to me. Wala akong idea kung para saan ang pag-uusap na magaganap, hindi pa rin ako sumasagot, sa totoo lang, disappointed ako nang hindi mensahe ni Saina ang nabasa ko. I missed her all morning and while I am in court, I was looking forward on seeing her and the kids by the end of this day.

I miss her so much kaya nga heto, pagkatapos na pagkatapos ng hearing ay uuwi na ako – well it's nit my home, but Saina and the kids are there, and I would want to keep calling it my home kahit na hindi ako roon talaga nakatira. I said goodbye to my colleagues and went straight to the parking lot. Alas tres ng hapon natapos ang meeting. Naisip kong puntahan si Saina sa office niya para sabay na lang kaming pumunta sa mga bata, I know it's not the plan that we talked about this morning, but I really missed her and I really want to see her. Kung may ginagawa naman siya, pwede naman akong maghintay.

I was about to leave the parking lot when my phone rang. Agad kong sinagot iyon dahil nakita ko ang pangalan ni Mama. I sighed and said hello to her.

"Anak, busy ka ba? Nasiraan ako."

Napapalatak ako. "Ma, diba sabi naman namin sa'yo ikukuha ka na namin ng driver. Mabuti at maaga pa, paano kung hatinggabi na tapos nasa hiway ka pa." Napapailing na lang ako. "Sinabi ko rin naman sa'yo na ibibili kita ng bagong sasakyan, pero ikaw itong tumatanggi." Sigurado akong napapailing si Mama sa ngayon.

"Gerardo, I asked you one question." Wika niya sa kabilang linya. Napangiti naman ako.

"Alright, Ma, where are you?"

"Nasa clinic pa ako. I have to go the hospital, may kailangan akong kausapin roon, can you drive me? After that pwede mo na akong ihatid sa bahay. Alberto will be there."

"Sige, I'll be there in twenty – minutes." I spoke. I ended the call and drove away from the parking lot. I'll drive my mom first. I'll just stick to our original plan. Mamaya ko na lang ite-text si Saina kapag papunta na ako sa unit niya. Ngiting – ngiti ako, hindi ko mapigilan na hindi siya isipin. It's just so good whenever we're together.

Kagabi ay sa bahay sila natulog ni Haniel. It's a school night and we all decided to have dinner in our home. Saina makes everything better, hindi ko alam kung anong magic meron ang babaeng iyon pero kapag kasama ko siya palaging lahat ay nagiging makulay. I am always happy when I am with her. Nakikita ko kung paano niya tratuhin ang anak ko. Saina loves Joshua. Hindi naman sa ayoko kay Alona, I gave her a chance to make our son feel loved and cherished, pero iba kasi ang priority ng dati kong asawa.

It's unusual, but my son felt loved and cherished by a mere stranger - well she's not a stranger anymore, she's my girlfriend and I am the happiest with her.

"You're in love." Iyon ang unang mga katagang binitiwan ni Mama pagkasakay niya sa kotse ko. She was all smiles and I felt flustered. "It looks like she's taking care of you well."

"Ma..." Napapailing na wika ko.

"What? Are you in love with her?" Natigilan ako. Hindi ko pa naiisip ang bagay na iyon. Right now, I know that we're happy together and that I am committed in this relationship with her, that I want to keep on seeing her smile, that I love it when she giggles or when she calls my name. I know that I want to spend my mornings with her – I realized that this morning when I woke up and saw her face so close to mine. I know that I wanted to see her every waking moment of my life.