An Inconvenient Attachment

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Eirene

GIVE this love a chance just like what Cashmere said to you, Eirene. Baka nga kaya hindi nag-work kay Riggs dahil una pa lang ako na iyong problema. Ito iyong gusto ko talaga mangyari at si Cashmere ang lalaking mahal ko. I was blinded by the whirlwind romance I had with Riggs but I did tried. Sinubukan ko pero sa bandang huli ang dating asawa ko na ang napagod sa akin.

“I still have time to spend with Mara before I bring them to the airport, Eirene.” Iyon ang sabi ni Riggs sa akin na pakiramdam ko'y nababalutan ng dalawang klase ng emosyon - masaya na malungkot.

“Did you talk to Claudia? Ayos na ba kayong dalawa?” Tumango si Riggs at napanatag naman ako agad. “I'm glad to hear that. Please do enjoy your time with Mara. Huwag ka mag-alala, during school breaks pupuntahan ka niya sa Baltimore. You know how much our daughter loves beaches.”

“Maraming beach diyan sa London, Eirene,” ani Riggs.

“Riggs, I know that promises can be broken but mine will be intact. You don't have to worry about Mara being away from you, hm? I'm not that kind of woman who talk ill to their ex-husbands.”

Tumawa si Riggs. “Hindi mo na lang sinabi na gaya ni Mommy,” sambit niya sa akin na dahilan nang malakas ko na pagtawa. Kanina pa kami magka-usap ni Riggs at kaya lang naman ako napatawag ay para ipaalala iyong maaari niya makalimutan. “Eirene, you don't need to remind me. Mara is here and she's like you, talks a lot and reminding me always.”

“Baka may makalimutan din siya na ipaalala sa 'yo.”

“Mama is here,” he said.

“All right. I guess, I have to end this call now.”

“You should before Cashmere get jealous. Dapat nag-e-enjoy ka diyan. Matagal ka nawala sa London, Eirene. Go and explore there.”

Ngumiti ako. “Thank you, Riggs.”

“Thanks to you too. You gave me a chance to be a father to a beautiful child and husband to the most difficult woman I ever met. You don't need to be feel sorry. It happened because we're not meant for each other. Maybe we're just the hard lesson to each other. I learned a lot from you, Eirene.”

Parang gusto ko maiyak. Riggs never became a bad guy. Nagtatalo kami pero hindi naman kasing tindi na kailangan pa namin magsiraang dalawa. We keep it that way because of Mara and she's growing so fast. Ayaw namin na maging toxic ang environment para sa kanya kaya iniiwasan namin ni Riggs ang magtalo kahit noon magkasama kami.

“Be happy and well with the one you really love, Eirene.”

“Ikaw rin. Keep her although she's a little paranoid.”

“That's makes her special,”

“Sige na. Matutulog na ako. Tell Mara, I'm excited to meet her here.”

Tumango si Riggs at tinapos na ang tawag namin. Napalinga ako sa kabuuan ng bahay ni Cashmere saka malalim na huminga. Isinara ko ang laptop saka tumayo at bumalik na sa kwarto kung saan naabutan ko na gising si Cashmere.

“Have you reminded him about the flight schedule?” tanong niya sa akin.

“Yeah and he's a little pissed off because I talk a lot.” Ngumiti si Cashmere pagkarinig sa sinabi ko. Agad ako tumabi sa kanya at siniksik ang mukha ko sa may leeg niya. “Alam ko na sasabihin mo.”

“I have nothing to say, Eirene,”

“You do have because you know how to shut me up.” Pagkasabi ko noon ay mabilis siyang kumilos at umibabaw sa akin. Tumitig lang ako sa kanya ng ilang sandali bago hinaplos ang kanyang pisngi. “I'm yours now, Kien Cashmere Gridley.”