His HEART

Chapter 18

Troy Adrian

Nandito ako sa park malapit sa bahay namin kasama ang mga bata. They make me laugh and their purity and innocence is  what makes me happy this days,  children have this amazing ability to just see the good, to say hello to everyone and everything, to sing randomly or to hear a song and break out in a spontaneous dance. 

After what happened, its a struggle to come back to being just my normal self. Claire is my first love, ang kauna unahang babaeng minahal ko, ang babaeng gusto kong pakasalan, tapos bigla nalang siyang mawawala. I was ready to marry her not to lose her. Kaya nahirapan talaga ako.

But now, I get to control my craving for alcohol, although sometimes I still into it, drinking makes me forget when I'm wasted. I do not need to think and worry too much.

" Tito Ian, you look sad again, are you thinking about Tita Claire?"  Maui sat down beside me.
" Mommy said it's okay to be sad."  she reminds me of her Mom, our little Chloe.

" I'm okay Mau.. I'm actually having fun. Ang kukulit nyo kasi.."  tanaw namin ang kapatid at pinsan niya na masayang naglalaro kasama si Nathan.

" I prayed for Tita Claire, to come back to us safely. I know you really likes her. Para maging happy kana ulit Tito Ian. " I failed to notice how I neglected them this past year, I'm barely home and Isha was right, apektado din ang mga bata.

" Thank you Maui and don't ever think na hindi ninyo napapasaya si Tito Ian, you guys makes me very happy, I hope you know that., but let's keep on praying para makabalik na kay Nate ang Ate niya." si Nate ang pinaka apektado lalo na at nagkakaisip na ito. The boy even asked kung iniwan daw ba siya ng Ate niya kasi hindi na siya mahal neto.

Umuwi nadin kami, Jacob is having a tantrum,  pagod na marahil ito. Manang mana sa ina niya.

Naabutan ko si Ate Chloe sa bahay. I never got the chance to properly thank her, nahihiya man nilapitan ko siya.

" Pinagod ka ba ng mga bubwit?"  nakangiting salubong ni Ate sa akin.

" Medyo lang Ate, ang kukulit kasi. Ate, I just want to say, I'm sorry, I was a mess and thank you for keeping Adrian Suits together while I'm being difficult.  I'll do my best from now on. I'm really sorry kung nahirapan kayong lahat dahil sakin."  niyakap niya ako. Saka tinapik ang pisngi ko when we broke the hug.

"  Ian, naiintindihan ka namin, I've been there, loosing someone you love wasn't easy, your situation might be different on what happened to me and your Kuya Zaide but trust me, I know exactly how you feel. And I'm glad you are able to somehow find strength to get up and face life without the certainty of Claire returning. " mapait akong ngumiti.

" Kayo ang nagbibigay sakin ng lakas na magpatuloy and I'm thankful for having the best family one could ever have." mabuti nalang matibay ang pamilyang nasasandalan ko.

"  I heard from Isha, about the news of that vessel. How do you feel about that? " nasabi na pala sa kanya ni Isabelle ang natanggap naming update the other day.

James, the private investigator hired by Isha told us that the boat where Claire was last seen heading, had a possible engine malfunction on the sea, nagkasunog at sumabog ito and it was completely destroyed.

"  Honestly Ate, I don't know anymore. Part of me do hope na hindi siya kasama sa barkong iyon although the cctv says otherwise. But as the days went by, na hindi siya bumabalik, nawawalan na ako ng pag-asa na babalik pa siya, na buhay pa siya. "  It was devastating but I can't lose control of myself again.  I've wasted a year of my life already.

"  Whatever it is that you are going through, wag mong kalimutan na nandito lang kami Ian. You always have us. Hindi ka mag isa, okay. And remember, Claire left you Nate. You have a part of her that will always be with you. Her brother, that boy needs you. " kaya din kailangan ko ayusin ang buhay ko dahil sa bata.

Because if ever Claire is alive somewhere she will come back for Nate.

Nagpaalan na si Ate. Hinatid ko sila ng mga anak niya sa sasakyan. They are going to spend the weekend kasama ang Pamilya ni Kuya Zaide.

The next day, I have an early meeting with Enzo,Isha's husband and the members of the board, regarding sa bagong project ng RGC. A client from Taiwan bought a land here in Cebu and they wanted to do a housing development.

" The client specifically wants houses which meets human needs and can improve their quality of life, with good water and electricity supply, waste recycling facility and a community park for families recreation."  Enzo is doing his presentation in front of the board.

Hindi naman masyadong mahirap ang mga request ng client kaya agad naman iyong naaprubahan. Nag assigned kami ng magsasite visit. Isa isa nading naglabasan ang mga board members,  naiwan kami ng asawa ni Isabelle.

"  I'm glad you're back, Ian. I'm really sorry about what happened to Claire."  si Enzo.

" Thank you brother, malaki ang kasalanan ko sa inyong mag asawa and I'm really sorry about everything." They even moved sa bahay para sa akin.

" We are family Ian. Isa pa, kilala mo naman ang kakambal mo. " iling na ngumiti ito.

I'm glad Isabelle ended marrying him honestly, wala naman kasing ibang makakatagal sa malditang yon.

We parted ways para sa mga trabaho namin. I was on my way to the Hotel when Isha messaged me. Nasa Hotel daw si Nate. Jacob caught a flu at ayaw niyang mahawa ang isa, knowing the two of them hindi mo sila basta mapaghihiwalay. They supposed to return to their own house but Jacob is throwing a fit about it. He wants to stay with Nate.

I was sure nasa daycare si Nate ng Hotel. We have the best people who cares about our employees children.

Malayo palang ako ay rinig ko na ang ang ingay ng mga bata. Nasa play area marahil ang mga ito. Hinanap ng mata ko si Nate. May kausap siyang isang magandang babae.

He's a friendly boy, bagay na hindi safe. Ilang beses na namin siyang pinagsabihan na huwag kausapin ang kung sino sino.

" Nathan.."  tawag ko sa kanya.

" Kuya Ian."  tuwang kinawayan niya ako. Pero muling ibinalik ang atensiyon sa kausap na babae. Mukhang chickboy ang isang ito paglaki, he knows how to choose them already.

Pero bago paman ako makalapit sa kanila, umalis na ang babaeng kausap niya.

" Who are you talking to Bud?"  ginulo ko ang buhok niya.

" A pwetty lady Kuya Ian."  and he knows she's pretty as well.

" Pero diba, anong bilin namin sayo about strangers?"  I firmly asked him.

" No talking to strangers Kuya. Sorry. "  his speech is improving, Isha did a great job by bringing him to therapy.

" Apology accepted' Nate."  ginulo ko ang buhok niya. " Are you hungry? Samahan mo si Kuya maglunch,  kain tayong fried chicken?"  agad namilog ang mata niya saka pumalakpak. Pinagpaalam ko muna ito sa staff ng daycare.

Dinala ko siya sa restaurant ng Hotel. I ordered us food at inasikaso ito ng dumating ang pagkain.

I felt someone's eyes on us. Pakiramdam ko ay may nakamasid sa amin. I look around and again nakita ko yong babaeng kausap ni Nate kanina,  I recognized the Hawaiian dress. But she's wearing sunglasses kaya hindi ko makita ang mata niya. Isa yata ito sa mga guest namin.

" More chicken please Kuya."  agaw ni Nate sa atensiyon ko.

" More pa? Gutom yata tayo Buddy ah." tukso ko sa kanya.

Nate is going to be under my care from now on. May kinausap na akong lawyer and malaki ang chance na ma approved ang petition ko for adoption.

Itutuloy.....