Play Pretend

Chapter 53

#OLAPlayPretend

Chapter 53
Crime

"Where are you going?" Xaiver asked in a flat tone.

"I..." Napalunok ako. It was a simple question, but I couldn't answer it. "I was—"

"Are you going to run away?" Nagtaas siya ng kilay, as if he was mocking me.

My lips parted. Hindi ko na nagawang magsalita. Bahagya akong nag-iwas ng tingin sa kanya. I didn't try to defend myself against his accusation. Tama naman ang sinabi niya. I was really trying to run away. He caught me doing so.

"S-Sorry," I croaked.

Xaiver's jaw clenched repeatedly before he turned away. "Let's sit."

Nilagpasan niya ako para makapunta sa lamesa. Hindi ako nakagalaw kaagad para sumunod sa kanya. I was still processing the fact that Xaiver had just entered the room. Isang araw pa lang ako nakakabalik sa Pilipinas at siya agad ang bumungad sa akin. It was the least I expected. I thought I would have to rely on luck for a chance to meet him.

However, as I recalled my reason for coming here, I got slightly confused. I was supposed to meet with the lawyer, which I did for a few minutes, pero may mga dapat pa kaming pag-usapan na hindi natuloy. She opened up about her client, who happened to be... Xaiver!

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. I turned my heel to see if I wasn't just imagining things. Baka sa kagustuhan kong makita si Xaiver para ipakilala sa kanya ang anak namin ay nagha-hallucinate na ako. Ngunit nang makita ko siyang nakaupo kung nasaan kanina si Atty. De Alban, reality hit me. Totoong nandito nga siya!

Pero bakit? Totoo bang may bago silang nadiskubre sa kaso ni Papa o isang patibong lang ang lahat para magpakita ako?

But I wasn't really hiding... Kayang-kaya niyang puntahan ako sa Amerika kung gusto niya akong makausap. Hindi na kailangang pauwiin pa ako ng Pilipinas.

"Tatayo ka na lang ba riyan?" His cold baritone almost gave me chills.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and decided to stop running away. Wala naman nang dahilan para tumakas ako.

Despite everything that happened between us, I trust Xaiver. I trust the father of my daughter. I trust the man I once loved. He won't do anything that would harm me.

Dahan-dahan akong bumalik sa lamesa. Umupo ako sa harapan niya. Hindi ko maiwasang magtagal ang tingin sa suot niya, lalo na nang maalala ang anak.

Cami is very fond of the color pink. I don't know if she already knows the idea of having favorites, but she would always choose pink out of all colors. Kapag pinapapili ko siya ng damit, laging pink ang kinukuha niya. I also decorated her own room with a pink palette.

I'm sure Xaiver is not aware of her daughter's favorite, and it was all a coincidence, but that thought still amazes me. Pakiramdam ko'y muling nalapit si Xaiver kay Cami just because he chose to wear her favorite color.

"Kumusta ka?" Hindi ko alam kung saan ko hinugot ang lakas na magsalita. Kita kong bahagyang natigilan si Xaiver sa pagkuha ng pagkain bago ibinaba ang serving spoon at nag-angat ng tingin sa akin.

"What do you think?" Xaiver asked instead of simply answering my question.

"Nadaanan ko 'yung billboard mo kahapon galing airport..." Nagsumikap akong ngumiti upang ipakitang masaya ako para sa kanya. "May mga napanood at nabasa rin akong balita tungkol sa 'yo at sa DVH. You were already successful before, but you're even more successful now. Ang layo na ng narating mo."

Tinitigan lang ako ni Xaiver at hindi agad nagsalita. He didn't seem impressed with my answer. Nabura ang ngiting suot ko. I felt slightly embarrassed because of that. Parang ako lang ang may ganang makipag-usap sa kanya.