Loving a Believer

Chapter 12: Together Again

S T O R M

"I'm really sorry, Storm, but Fara needs you here. She doesn't want to eat and to sleep again," Tyler told me when he called me at work.

I stopped working on my laptop and looked at the tons of paperwork on my table. I'm worried about Fara but I didn't know if I could finish all of this today.

"I'll try to visit her later," I promised.

"Okay. I'll just tell her. Thank you."

Napasandal ako sa backrest ng swivel chair ko at napahilot ng sintido habang nakatitig ako sa tambak na trabaho na naiwan sa office ko. I'm sure Fara is mad at me right now.

Ipinagpatuloy ko ang trabaho at gabi na nang matapos ako. I felt dizzy and feverish when I hopped into my car.

This is not good, I thought.

Medyo malayo-layo ang bahay nina Fara mula rito. Lalo akong nag-alala nang halos hindi na umaabante ang sasakyan ko dahil sa traffic. Sumabay pa ang napakalakas na ulan.

I texted Tyler that I will not be able to make it to Fara tonight. I couldn't drive any longer. I turned off the air conditioner of my car because I felt so cold. I hoped this fever would be gone tomorrow.

Tumuloy ako sa bahay ng parents ko at nakarating ako nang halos kalahating oras. Malakas ang hangin at ulan kaya nang bumaba ako sa sasakyan ay halos mabasa na ako.

Kaagad akong sinalubong ni Peachy. "Storm!" aniya.

"Where's my dad?" I asked as I walked into the house.

"In his room."

I removed my jacket and threw it on the sofa before sitting and leaning against the backrest. "I'm not feeling well," I said, barely opening my eyes.

"You need to take a rest, pero kumain ka muna ng hapunan bago uminom ng gamot."

"Daddy!" I heard Mark's voice and his footsteps coming toward me so I forced my eyes to open and look at him. "We have a family day on Thursday!" he said. "Kiko wants to see you. He is my best friend."

"Really?" I gave him a weary smile.

My schedule was already full, and I had lots to work on. I wasn't sure if I could be with him on Thursday, which will be a day after tomorrow. I would be meeting the board and planned to visit Fara tomorrow, and then on Thursday, I will be on a business trip. I didn't want to disappoint this kid but I really couldn't be with him.

"I'll talk to your Mommy first," sabi ko rito bago pumunta sa kusina kung saan nag-aayos si Peachy ng hapag-kainan.

"Peach," I called.

She stopped fixing the table and looked at me. "Yes?"

"Can we talk?"

I led her outside the porch where Mark couldn't hear us. I told her about Mark's event this Thursday. "I am not available on Thursday. I have a business trip in Paris."

"What should I do?" nag-aalalang tanong niya.

"Peachy, Mark is growing up, and I will not always be with him to act as his father."

Natahimik siya at napasandal sa beam ng balkonahe.

Bumuntonghininga ako bago muling nagsalita. "Peachy, it's time to tell me who his father was," madiin na sabi ko.

I didn't want to pressure her, but I thought Mark had a right to know his father. I treated Mark as my own child, so I didn't want to see him grow up with incompleteness in his life.