Claiming The Attendant

11

I did not realize I am sleeping peacefully next to Xinion and my head rested on his shoulder. His hands clinging on my waist resting on my stomach.

I heard the van engined shrieked. I fix my sitting and looked outside. I looked at the driver trying to fix it. Kumamot pa siya sa batok niya. Bumaba siya at pag katapos ay itinaas ang nguso ng sasakyan.

I looked at him curiously. Is there a problem?.

I rub my eyes and search for my phone.

10:23  in the evening.

I looked at my friends whose dumb awake.

"Anong nangyari?." Nag kibit ako ng balikat and saw Diego opened the van door and go outside. Helping the driver.

I looked at Xinion sleeping peacefully next to me. His head rested on the window. He has wear his facemask so only his closed eyes I can see.

"Bakit yun?." Mahinang tanong ni Santina. Dilat na dilat na ang mata at umuunat pa.

"Nasiraan tayo. I am trying to contact a taxi." Diego said sighing. "Even if I don't want to leave you guys here stranded. I need to flight in Manila tomorrow. Emergency." He said. We nodded understanding him.

I felt Xinion body move. He opened his eyes and looked at me. He place him palm on his eyes.

He shifted his sitting position and remove his mask.

"What happened?." He asked in his wake up voice. I avoid his gaze and looked at Nanaiah. Her eyes was focused on Xinion hands on my waist.

I awkwardly removed his hands but he's strong. Hindi ki man lang matnggal. I looked at him to say he should remove it but he is talking to Diego. I cannot focus on their conversation because my mind is in Xinion hands caressing my stomach.

I surrendered and sighed loudly.

"We need to find a hotel as soon as possible. Naka contact na ako ng taxi. Are you okay, Maggie?." Diego said and asking me. His eyes on Xinion hands resting on my waist. I nodded. His eyes look into my eyes again knowingly.

"It's okay." I said softly. Biting my lips.

"Pasensya na po Ma'am and Sir. Ipa service ko na lang po ito. Pasensya na po naabala pa po ang byahe niyo." We smiled at manong and say it's okay. At least we are safe.

He repeatedly said his sorry even if we already say we forgive him. He did nothing wrong. Siguro Hindi lang maayos na natignan ang Van.

"Kayong tatlo na lang sa isang sasakyan." Diego said started walking to the another taxi car. Mabilis na hinila ni Nanaiah si Diego.

"H-ha, samin ka na kang sumabay. At least may lalaki kaming kasama para safe. Saka mapoprotektahan naman siguro ni Xinion si Maggie." My eyes widened at what Nanaiah said. Ngumuso lang siya nag tatago ng ngisi.

"Is it okay?." Diego asked worriedly.

"I can protect her, Diego. She's okay with me." Mariing aniya ni Xinion hinawakan ang kamay ko.

"Is it okay?." He hopefully asking my permission. Wala sa sarili ng Napa tango nahihiptohismo sa mga matang nag mamakawa.

I feel like I am looking at my child, at Maxxie.

We ride the taxi. It was too quiet. I said he should sit next to the driver but he is too stubborn and sit next to me, again.

"How are you?." He said after a long time. I bit my Lips and looked outside the window.

"I am fine. Life not easy." I said shrugging my shoulders.

"H-how's y-your baby?." I froze at his question and my eyes glued outside. My breath hitched. I am not ready to this, I will never be.

My lips in a thin line and I grew my courage to answer his question.

"Sorry, I just want to ask if your b-baby is o-okay?." He said almost a whisper. I smiled remembering my baby Face.

"He's fine. He's so smart and bubbly. He is friends to everyone, if someday you'll meet him I think you could talk to him for straight 5 hours." I chuckled remembering when he is in question stage. He is still a lot of question at his age.

"He's going to turn 5 this year. He is only 4 and he is too excited to be 5 but I am not. I am happy too see him growing, but I am not happy because he is getting matured now. He is only 4." I chuckle.

"Your baby's a boy." I saw a glint of happiness in his eyes.

"C-can I meet him?." I froze on my sit and my eyes glued to his.

"I-its okay." He nod understanding. "It's okay i-if you d-dont want me to meet h-him. At least can you tell me his name? If i- it's okay?." He murmured.

"Maxxinion Elias." I said almost whispering. He smiled.

"Thank you. He's Ramirez? Joseph's son." He breath. I avoided his gaze and saw the other taxi stop.

"I think we are here." I said avoiding the topic we are talking. He nodded and guided me out. Carrying my bag and his.

Hinayaan ko na siya. Nagagalit pag kinukuha ko.

Nanaiah look at us knowingly. Teasing us. I give her a death glare.

"1 hotel room with 5 beddings, please. Pera niyo?." Singil ni Diego habang hawak ang key card.

"Pota nag lalakad tayo. Mamaya na singilan." Reklamo ni Santina. I chuckled. Parang Hindi mayayaman ang mga ito ah?.

May naipundar na sila ako si Maxxie palang. Ngumiwi ako at Napa nguso.

"What are you thinking?." He asked. His breath tingling my ears.

"My baby." He worriedly looked at me.

"Is it okay to you to stay here? Matatagalan pa tayo dito." He  worriedly said.

"I will call Maxxie later." I said.

"H-his nickname Maxxie?." I nod.

"Yes, doon siya nasanay. We've been leaving in London for 5 years. He's not that fluent in Tagalog but can understand some basic." He is listening silently  and I was touch because he asked a little thing about Maxxie.

I am happy to tell a story to him about Maxxie growing in his age now.

"Thank you." He said sighing.

"Thank you for letting me know about y-your son some basic details." Ngumiti ako magaan ang pakiramdam.

"Kulang pa nga." Sabi ko.

"Wala pa yun sa gitna." Pag patuloy ko. I heard him lowly chuckling.

"Really? He's so smart. I really hope I can meet you son, soon." His smile reach his eyes. I can help but to adore him.

Ang lapit lapit ko sa kaniya pero parang sobrang layo. Ang taas taas ng tingin ko sa kaniya.

Narating niya na yung pangarap niya habang ako palipat lipat sa nursing. Ngumiti ako ng maluwag.

So happy to know that he is happy and doing fine.