Hands all over (Published)

23. A loud bang

"We're done?"

I asked Lukas after signing the papers about a business transaction we were working on. Luke was planning on building a Security Company at ako ang kinuha niyang business partner para sa venture niyang ito. Wala namang problema because I really wanna help him.

"Yup. Teka may lakad ka ba?" Tanong niya sa akin.

"Operation ng dad ni Aura ngayon. I need to be there before it starts." Sabi ko sa kanya. I checked the time. I still have thirty minutes before the operation starts. Tiningnan ko si Lukas, I was about to say goodbye when the door opened and Laide came in, she had this bored look on her face and she was pouting her lips.

"Luke, I'm bored. Hi Adam!" She greeted me. Hinalikan niya ako sa pisngi tapos ay humilig siya sa balikat ko. "I haven't seen you in a while. Do you wanna hang?"

Napangiti ako. Natutuwa talaga ako sa kanya. Laide is sweet and warm. Kahit noong isang buwan lang kami nagkakilala ay hindi ko naman naramdaman na itinuturing niya akong iba. Minsan kapag kausap niya ako, pakiramdam ko matagal na kaming magkasama and I appreciate her for that.

"Rain check muna, baby." I told her off. "I need to be in the hospital later." I smiled at her. Kumunot naman ang noo niya.

"Ay bakit? Are you sick? Lukas, is he sick? Why didn't you tell me?" Binalingan niya ako at saka hinaplos sa mukha. "Saan masakit, Adam? Do you have a fever?"

"Hindi ako. My father-in-law will be having his operation later this afternoon." Natatawang paliwanag ko. Lalong kumunot ang noo niya.

"As in? May asawa ka na?" Binalingan niya si Lukas at saka hinampas sa balikat. He seems appalled. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"What? Hindi ka naman nagtatanong saka isa pa, I didn't think it mattered!" Sigaw ni Lukas. Natatawa naman ako.

"Sabi ko sa'yo, Luke diba? I need to know everything that happened while I was gone at kapatid natin si Adam so that matters! Kainis! Di kita bati!"

"Brat!" Tudyo ni Lukas.

"May reklamo?" Tanong niya, nakataas ang kilay.

"I love you, baby." Napabuntong hininga na lang na wika ni Lukas. He lost the argument again. Laide looked at me.

"Can I come with you to the hospital, Adam? I wanna meet your wife!" Napapalakpak pa siya.

"Sure."

Sumama rin si Lukas sa akin. Convoy kaming tatlo. Laide was on Luke's car while I drive my own car to the hospital. I was texting Aura pero hindi siya nagre-reply. Naisip ko na baka busy siya sa daddy niya.

After fifteen minutes, narrating namin ang hospital. Laide walked by with me habang kausap naman ni Lukas si Apollo sa phone.

"He's just so in love with Apollo. I mean, have you seen them? It's like they couldn't get enough of each other." Humahagikgik sa sabi niya.

"Ganoon talaga kapag mahal na mahal mo." Bulong ko sa kanya. I was looking at Lukas too, namumula pa ang pisngi nito. I wonder kung ganoon din ako kay Aura kapag magkausap kami. Natutuwa nga ako sa mga nangyayari sa amin nitong mga nakaraang araw. It's as if I fell in love with her more – at talagang desedido akong pakasalan siya ulit. Iniisip ko nga na gusto ko na ng baby.