Play Pretend

Chapter 52

Xaiver Vincent Dela Vega
PH's Greatest Entrepreneur

From being the next game-changer, he has now become our country's greatest entrepreneur. I knew it wasn't an easy title to achieve. Ever since I left the country, I was aware that DVH has gone through several controversies, and their competitors tried to take advantage of that. Nabasa ko 'yon sa mga balita at napag-uusapan din namin ni Macy. But despite all that, they still managed to stay on top. Xaiver has sealed his position in the business industry. Wala nang makakahila sa kanya pababa.

He did all that after losing me. Mas lalo kong nakumbinsi ang sarili na tama ang desisyong ginawa ko. I was glad and content to know he was thriving and doing well.

"Cami..." Niyakap ko ang anak at hinalikan ang buhok niya. "Baby, he's your daddy..."

"D-dada?" my daughter innocently asked when she finally turned to me again.

Kinagat ko ang aking ibabang labi. Tears pooled in my eyes. I nodded and corrected her, "It's daddy, baby. Daddy."

She tilted her head and pouted. "Da... Daddy?"

I smiled. Hindi ako tumigil sa pagtango. Niyakap ko siya ulit. "That's right, baby. He's your daddy."

"Meet Daddy, Mommy! Meet!"

Parang pinipiga ang puso ko. Ni hindi ko alam kung alam niya ba ang ibig kong sabihin, but the eagerness in her voice to meet her father was very evident. She wanted to meet him.

Bahagya akong humiwalay. I cupped her cheeks and gently pressed my forehead against hers. "You will meet him soon. Don't worry," I said to assure her. "Mommy will do everything to make sure it happens."

Pagkalabas namin sa billboard ni Xaiver, mukhang tinamaan na ng antok at pagod si Cami. Her weight got heavy as she fell asleep beside me. Dahan-dahan akong umayos ng upo at inihiga siya sa tabi ko. Inunan niya ang mga hita ko.

Cami slept peacefully. I combed her head and kissed her forehead every time I had the urge to do it.

Traffic din pauwi kaya halos dalawang oras din ang nagdaan bago kami makarating sa bahay. Ayaw ko man siyang gisingin para paglakarin, pero kailangan ko pang bitbitin ang dala naming gamit.

She was half-asleep while heading towards our house. Nang maipasok ko siya sa aking kwarto at humiga sa kama ay muli siyang nakatulog. I didn't bother changing her clothes dahil ayaw kong magising siya. She needed rest because she didn't get enough of it while on the flight.

Tahimik at maingat kong inayos ang aming mga gamit. Naligo na rin ako at nagpalit ng damit pagkatapos. Seeing Cami still fast asleep, I went out of our room to check the house. Dahil sa pagod, alam kong hindi siya magigising agad.

Wala namang nagbago. It was still the same as when we left it. Napangalagaan ito nang mabuti ng aming kapitbahay na matalik na kaibigan ni Mama. May dala nga akong mga pasalubong bilang pasasalamat at balak ko ring magbayad kahit na wala naman siyang hinihinging kapalit. She willingly did it for my mother.

Napabuntonghininga ako nang makarating sa kusina. I already expected na walang laman ang ref at mga kabinet dahil matagal na kaming wala. Kahit na gusto kong mag-grocery at magluto na lang ng makakain naming mag-ina, I couldn't leave Cami alone. Ayaw ko namang humingi agad ng tulong kay Macy. I wanted them to settle first dahil bukas ang meeting ko sa lawyer na kumontak sa akin.

Siguro ay o-order na lang ako ng makakain. I'd have it delivered. Bukas na lang ako mag-go-grocery ng makakain at ibang daily necessities bago umuwi.

Habang tinitingnan ang bahay, huli kong pinuntahan ang kwarto ni Mama. I was preparing myself for it. Ilang minuto rin akong nakatayo lang sa labas ng pinto at nakahawak lang sa doorknob bago tuluyang pumasok.