HUEY'S POV
Alara
3:15pm
Sorry, emergency. Dad wants me to go to the office. I had to go back. Di na ako makakapunta, he wanted me to sign some papers dahil hindi ako nakapasok ng dalawang araw. It's urgent. You and Zayden take care. I'll see you when you get home.
Panlulumo ang tanging naramdaman ko the moment I read her message. But ofcourse it's her Dad, and her reason is valid. Kaya kahit nalungkot ako, I had to accept the fact na hindi siya makakasunod dito.
It's 4:30pm at saka palang kami ni Zayden humababa ulit sa beach para makapag swimming at laro siya. I sat on the spot where I was earlier at pinagpatuloy ang pagbabasa ko to clear off my mind from my thoughts.
Di ko namalayan, nagangat ako ng tingin sa langit na naghahalo halo na ang kulay. It's almost sunset. I called Zayden again to make him wash up and prepare for our dinner. Mabilis niya akong sinunod.
Nung makalabas kami ulit, Sandrine was already sitting by their beach side waiting for us, with his son.
Ngumiti lang ako at inalalayan si Zayden umupo sa tabi ko. The table was only made for four people kaya silang dalawa ang nasa harap namin.
She was not joking when she said that manang prepared a set up by the beach. Puno ng bulb lights sa ibabaw namin hangged over a piece of thick wood on the corners. Napaghandaan din ang table set up na aakalain mong may espesyal talagang okasyon ngayon.
"Thanks for inviting us." Ngumiti ako at tumango.
"It's nothing.. palabas na si manang with our food." Bumaling siya sa likod, at kagaya ng sabi niya at ayun na nga si Manang na dala dala nag tray kung nasaan ang pagkain namin.
Isa isa niyang nilapag ang ulam na niluto sa harap namin at hindi ko napigilang natakam sa seafoods na kaharap namin.
Napatawa si Sandrine when he saw my reaction. "You still love seafoods, huh?"
Ngumit lang ako at tumango. Agad akong umabot ng crabs at pinaghimay si Zayden. Ganun din ang ginawa ni Sandrine para sa anak.
Payapa kaming kumain sa gabing eto. Nung matapos ay naiwan kami ni Sandrine sa mesa habang ang mga bata ay nasa di kalayuan naglalaro nanaman ng buhagin.
"May I ask why your wife is not here?" Pinutol niya ang pagmamasid ko sa mga bata sa tanong niya.
Tumikhim ako. "Her Dad called her sa office, she was supposed to come pero dahil baka matagalan siya doon, di na siya tumuloy."
"Oh.." ngumiti lamang siya.
Natahamik muli kami at tinanaw ang mga batang naglalaro.
"If you're not married I might think that were a happy family here.. having dinner by the beach while our kids our playing in the sand." Inagaw nanaman niya ang atensyon ko. She chuckled like it was a good joke.
But for me, it was not. Di ko napigilan ang sarili na sumama ang mukha.
Bumalik ang tingin ko sa anak ko.
"But sad.." i thought it was her taking again at nagpatantong hindi sakanya ang boses na iyon.
I saw how her eyes were firing behind me. Kaya napalingon din ako sa likuran ko.
"What a lovely set up you have here?" Sarkasmo ang bumalot sa boses ni Alara nung magkatinginan kami. "Oh?" Natawa siya pero bakat ang pagpipigil ng inis.
"Love.." napatayo ako ng wala sa sarili at lumapit sakanya.
She ignored me and put her eyes on Sandrine this time. "It's so sad that you're only living in your illusions now, Sandrine. A happy family?" inis na napatawa siya muli
"Alara.." i grabbed her arm to stop her.
"Oh? Did I ruin your family dinner?" Mariin niyang sinabi ang family. "I'm sorry for that." ngumisi siya with nothing but coldness in her eyes.
"You can have my husband all night all you want Sandrine, but not my son." ngumiti siya at lumapit kay Zayden.
Napasunod ako ng tingin sakanya when he carried Zayden at went back to where we are. "I didn't mean to ruin your precious dinner." She looked at me with disappointment in her eyes. "But I'm afraid I have to take my son with me." Pilit siyang ngumiti at umiling.
I was frozen standing in my spot. What the hell happened? Akala ko hindi siya makakahabol? But who fucking cares? She heard Sandrine say all those things. I watched her go up the boarwalk nearby while carrying Zayden.
Binalingan ko ng tingin si Sandrine, she didn't even look apologetic at all. It's as if— fuck!!
"What are you trying to do?!" Mabilis kong kinuha ang braso niya at napahigpit ng hawak doon dahilan para magpumiglas siya sa sakit.
"H-huey! Ano ba! Na-nasasaktan ako!" Marahas niyang binawi ang braso niya.
"Ate you crazy?!" naghihisterya kong tanong. "Did you know she was behind me?!" I was fuming mad that I managed to stare at her this long.
Tumawa siya. And that's where it hit me. She did that on purpose!
"I'm crazy?!" tumawa siya ulit. "Maybe? Maybe I am!"
Umiling ako at napakuyom ng palad. She is a lady and I don't want to lay my hands on her lalo na't galit ako. I wanted to hurt her so bad but that would be wrong.
"She was obviously with Lucas for days right?" Tumaas ang kilay niya. "And yet here you are miserable again because of what she is doing! Can't you see?! She still clearly loves him! He wouldn't be there everyday with him if she didn't love him!" pasigaw niyang binato sa akin. "You are stupid to think that she still loves you after what you did?! She is just doing her revenge! Lucas told me about her plan to leave you! She knows what happened to us that night! She was even thinking that my son is yours!"
Nanlaki ang mata ko habang nakalaglag ang panga sa gulat.
"What are you talking about?" I am mad and confused as hell right now!
Muling sumilaw ang ngisi sakanya. "You and I had sex right after your proposal! Do think she can forgive you that easy? You dumped and threw her away the moment you found out that Zayden might be Lucas' son! Kung hindi ka nagka amnesia you think she'd still put up with all of these?! You have been separated for years! She lived with a peaceful life after you threw her out of your goddamn house! Lucas was there standing as a father as Zayden! At dahil sa amnesia mo, clearly you don't remember you shitty life!"
Sa dami ng sinabi niya hindi lahat eto tinatanggap ng utak ko.
"Wait— he's my son?!" Pagturo ko sa batang nasa tabi niya na ngayon. Halatang nalilito sa pinag uusapan namin.
She glanced at her son and her eyes returned to me after. "So what if he really is your son Hue? Would you accept him and be with me instead?" nawala na ang sarkasmo sa boses, at biglang naging seryoso.
"And why would I believe you?"
"Why would I lie?" She fired back fiercely.
I looked at the innocent kid in front of me, still confused. He can't be mine. This can't be.
"Your life is will continue to be a hell pag pinilit pa ninyong magsama Huey. Kahit gaano niyo kagusto talikuran ang problem it would always come back creeping on your souls! Na delay lang dahil sa amnesia mo." Hingal niyang sabi. "Nung naaksidente ka, she was already planning to leave you. Siguro naawa siya sa'yo dahil sa kalagayan mo, and even Lucas knows it."
I furiously held my head dahil sa sakit. My mind can't take all of this! Hindi to' totoo!
I shouted so loud which made them jump in scare. Sinipa ko ang upuang nasa harap ko at patakbong pumunta sa direksyong tinahak nila Alara kanina.
I never thought that my life was this messy right before I had my accident.
Napanghilamos ako ng mukha nung matanaw ko ang sasakyang palayo. It was Alara and Zayden inside that car. Muli nanamn ako napasigaw dahil sa galit.
