IKAW LANG ANG MAMAHALIN (ASHRALD)

Chapter 22

Papunta sina Gerald and Sarah sa Anderson's residence. Birthday ni mommy Vangie.

Marami rami rin ang bisita kahit close friends and relatives lang nina Gerald. "Happy birthday mommy!" Humalik si Sarah at iniabot ang regalo nila ni Gerald. "Thank you anak. Halikayo, kumain na kayo." Sambit ni mommy Vangie. Habang kumukuha sila ng food sa dining, someone came and Gerald heard a familiar voice. Kinabahan siya. "Babe, sandali lang." Gerald went to the living room. Hindi siya nagkamali sa boses na iyon. It was Kim.

"Tita, talagang masama po pakiramdam ni mommy eh hindi niya talaga kayang pumunta." Kim said while holding mommy Vangie's hand. "Eto nga kakatext lang. Ikaw na lang nga daw ang pupunta." Kim saw Gerald and her face brightened up. Hindi napigilan ni Kim ang sarili. She immediately went to him and hugged him. Gerald was shocked and immediately removed Kim's arms. "Suplado ka talaga Gerald pagdating sakin." She said to herself.

"Gerald! How are you na?" She ignored Gerald's coldness. "Im good Kim. How's your mom?" Mabilis na sagot ni Gerald. "Ayun nahihilo pa rin. Pero she is much better than before. Especially when you changed her medicine dosages." Tinititigan niya si Gerald habang nagsasalita siya. "You are so good looking Gerald. You never fail to sweep me off my feet whenever I lay my eyes on you." Kim noticed that Gerald was a bit uneasy. "Ge, okay ka lang?" "Yeah Im okay. Siya nga pala my wife is here. Tawagin ko lang siya so you could meet her."

Natense bigla si Kim. Habang papalapit sa kanya ang magasawa, parang may kumurot sa puso niya. "Kim, I would like you to meet my wife, Sarah." Sarah stared at her. "Siya pala yung Kim. Pretty ah." Kim was wearing a sleeveless blouse tucked in skinny jeans and a super high heeled shoes. Halos mapantayan na niya ang height ni Gerald. Pinilit niyang ngumiti, "Hi." Matipid na bati ni Sarah. "Nice meeting you Sarah." Kim grabbed Sarah's arm at bumeso sa kanya. Nagulat si Sarah.

"So, this is Sarah? Okay, what's special about her? Yeah, she is beautiful, pero sobrang simple lang. Walang dating. Walang appeal. Why, Gerald? Why her?" Kim irritatingly told herself. "Kim, help yourself. Kain muna kami don. I'll ask Ken to join you ha." Gerald said and turned his back. Kim just nodded and glanced at them. Gerald was holding Sarah's elbow while walking. Hindi niya maipagkakailang matinding selos ang bumalot sa katauhan niya.

Panay ang sulyap ni Sarah kay Kim. Kim is noticeably at ease with Gerald's family. "She must be really close to mommy Vangie and Ken. She is a family friend, kaya ganun na lang siya kacomfortable sa kanila." Pilit niyang inaalis ang nararamdamang selos. Napatingin ulit si Kim kay Sarah. "Ano bang nakita ni Gerald sa kanya?" Kim asked herself. But at the back of her mind, alam niyang si Sarah ang mga tipong babae ni Gerald, even before. Beautiful but simple. Enticing but charming.

After nila kumain, umakyat sa kwarto sina Sarah at Gerald. "Babe, ano bang hinahanap mo?" "Yung isang med book ko. I need that book para sa conference na aattendan ko next month." "Yun ba yung sa India?" "Yes babe. I told you na di ba? 2 weeks?" Gerald replied. "Tagal naman babe, ngayon pa lang mamimiss na kita." Sambit ni Sarah and she went closer to him. "Babe, 2 weeks lang yon, mabilis lang yon." Gerald held her face. "Bakit di ka na lng sumama sakin? Stay with me for a week, tour tayo don?" Dagdag niya. "Huwag na, Ge. Makakistorbo lang ako sayo don." Sarah paused. "Uhmm Ge, matagal niyo na bang family friend sina Kim?"

"Medyo, we have known their family since I was a kid pero naging close lang kami after they got back from the states, siguro mga 12 years old ako non." "Ah okay. So everytime pala na may occasion sainyo lagi silang invited?" "Yeah. Most of the time. Pero nung.." Gerald looked at Sarah then he continued "Nung magbreak kami ni Kim, hindi na siya masyadong sumasama. Nagkikita lang kami when her mom needs check-ups lang. Kaya nga I was surprised na pumunta siya today."

May kumatok sa pinto ng kwarto. "Ge." Mommy Vangie called. He opened the door. "Yes ma?" "Ge, Maari mo bang ihatid si Kim?" Nagulat si Gerald. "Why?" "Yung driver kasi nila ay nasa Marikina pa, may pinapick-up ang tita mo don at matatagalan pa daw. May pasok pa si Kim bukas kaya gusto ng umuwi." "Bakit hindi si Ken?" Gerald asked. "Kaaalis lang hinatid ang girlfriend." Lumingon si Gerald kay Sarah. "Sige ma. Sunod ako sa baba." "Babe, okay lang ba ihahatid ko lang si Kim?" Hindi makasagot si Sarah. "Babe, you don't have to worry. Mabilis lang ito, malapit lang bahay nila from here." Gerald held her hand. Sarah just nodded. "Babe? Huwag ka na magtampo okay? Wala na yun" "Oo na, oo na. Sige na. Dito lang muna ko sa kwarto mo." Sarah cut him.