A Walk For You and Me (Friends Series #1)

Chapter 23

"We heard what happened." Ayan agad ang salubong nila Aki saakin.

Nagkita-kita kasi kami ngayon dito sa condo unit ni Aki. Kasama ko rin si Zoe ngayon pero kasama niya iyong pamangkin ni Leila.

"At saan niyo naman narinig iyong kwento? Aber?" Hinahamon ko silang sabihin nila pero alam ko naman kung sino yung binabanggit nila.

Isa lang naman ang may alam kung anong nangyari kaya siya lang din naman ang maaring mag-kwento kala Aki.

"Ang kinuha mo pa kasing assistant ay madaldal." Natatawang saad ni Leila. Sabay-sabay silang nag-tawanan because of what Leila said. 

Well, that is true. I do not even know why I hired Riya pero she is already working in the firm when I started and she was transferred to me. 

"Kung hindi pa nag-kwento si Riya sa amin dun sa encounter mo kay Connor ay hindi pa namin malalaman. One thing is for sure, you wouldn't even tell us what happened." Totoo naman ang sinabi ni Aki na hindi ko sasabihin sakanila kung ano yung nangyari. I do not want them to concern themselves just because of that. 

"Actually she already told that to Macie and I that she met Connor." Pag-amin ni Alice. Pare-parehas na napatingin sila Leila kay Alice because of what they heard. 

Nanlilisik ang mga mata ni Aki and by that ay alam ko na agad na naiinis siya na hindi niya alam yung nangyayari. Isa kasi si Aki sa talagang may ayaw na ma-associate ako kay Connor. She is always mad wheneve Connor was being mentioned. 

"First of all, wala na siyang karapatan na kausapin pa si Chi. For what he did. Mahiya naman siya, he do not have the rights to even talk to our dear friend." Galit na tugon ni Aki. 

"Did he explained what happened? His reason why he left?" Always the rational one talaga si Corrine. Alam ko naman masakit for both Gavin and Corrine yung nangyari since they needed to choose between Connor and I. 

Corrine always felt guilty na siya ang naging reason kung bakit nasira yung relationship ko with Connor. Pero I always tell her na it is not her fault na ganun ang nangyari. Because if things are supposed to that way ay ganun talaga. 

I am hesitating to answer the question she gave me because alam ko na ang reaction na ibibigay nila.

"Well, he said he wants to explain his side pero hindi narin siya nakapag-paliwanag kasi bigla nalang akong nag-blow up. He was pleading pero hindi kasi ako rational nung time na yun because of all the emotions." Sagot ko. Hindi ko sila matingnan kasi ayaw kong makita ang mga reactions nila.

"Do you think he will try to talk to you again?" Mahinang tanong ni Alice. Hindi ko rin alam if he will be trying to contact me again. 

Sumingit naman saakin si Corrine. "Well, knowing Connor he will try to talk with you in the next days." 

Bigla kong naalala na narinig nga pala ni Connor na may anak na ako.

"Connor knows that I have a child. Pero hindi niya alam na adopted si Zoe." Bulong ko sakanila. 

Sabay-sabay silang napatingin saakin. 

"He knows you have a child?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Aki. 

Tumango naman ako. "Yeah, narinig niya kasi si Riya na sinabi saakin na dadating yung social worker." 

Natahimik kaming lahat at ang mga ingay lang nung mga bata galing sa kwarto ang rinig namin. 

"Mommy!!! Mommy!!!" Rinig kong tawag saakin ni Zoe. Halos nag-tatakbo ako papasok ng kwarto. Kasunod ko narin sila Aki. 

Pero ang nadatnan namin ay ang dalawang bata na nagtatawanan. 

"ZOE! What Happened?" Nagpapanic kong tanong sakanya. Baka kasi may masakit o kaya naman may nangyari sakanya. 

"Mommy! Gusto namin pumunta sa mall mamaya." Nakangiti niyang saad. Nagulantang ako sa sinabi niya at maski silla Aki ay ganun din.

Pinag-sabihan ko si Zoe na never do that ahain kasi madali ako kinakabahan. Na if ever she needs something she can always calmly ask for me. Ginawaran lang niya ako ng malaking ngiti. 

Since both children wanted to go to the mall and have fun there. We decided to take them and have fun since they had been a good girl since this morning. 

We used my car since it is bigger and spacious compare to my friends' cars. Hindi naman ako nahirapan na i-strap sa car seat niya because sanay narin siya dito. People usually asked me why am I still using a carseat for my daughter when she was passed 4 years old pero it is still recommended by the doctors and the law to use it. 

"Sa MOA nalang tayo since there is a big play area there. We can just sit back and watch them." Bulong ni Aki na naka-upo sa passenger seat. 

Yung play area na pinuntahan namin ay pwedeng pumasok yung guardian or they can choose to wait at the waiting area. We decided to wait outside nalang since they also have marshals inside and they can look after the children there. 

One hour kaming naghintay dun sa mga bata and we are just talking what the hell is happening with our lives. We are all so busy na hindi na kami masyadong nakakapag-kita like we used to in College. 

Nung palabas na ang mga bata mula sa play area ay biglang tumawag si Riya.

"[Miss, Sorry for this call pero kailangan niyo daw pong pumunta sa office ngayon.]" Nauna na ang paumanhin ni Riya because she knows weekends is reserve for Zoe. Alam ko namang walang kasalanan si Riya kaya sinabihan ko siya na pupunta na ako pero kasama ko si Zoe. Since wala itong kasama sa bahay. 

Lumapit ako kala Aki upang magpaalam. "Girls, I'm sorry but I really need to go right now."

Napatingin saakin sila. "Work?" Sabay-sabay nilang saad.

Malungkot naman akong tumango kasi totoo naman na dahil sa trabaho ko ay yung bonding namin ay nasira. 

"Don't worry pupunta kami bukas sa unit mo. We'll support you from the visit." Alam ko naman na maasahan ko sila Leila. They are always like that.

Nagpaalam nalang kami sakanila para makaalis narin kami at magawa ko yung work ko.

"Mommy why do we need to go to your work?" Maliit na boses na saad ni Zoe. She is asking while I am driving through the highway. 

Napatingin ako sakanya mula sa rear view mirror. 

"Mommy just need to do something in the office. And you need to behave there with Tita Riya okay?" Tumango naman siya bilang sagot. 

Mabilis lang kami nakarating sa office from MOA because wala masyadong traffic and malapit lang naman ito. Mabilis ko siyang iniwan kay Riya para tingnan kung ano iyong trabaho na sinasabi niya. 

It looks like kailangan ko lang naman pala siyang pirmahan pero kailangan narin siya ipasa kaya siya urgent. Mabilis ko naman itong ni-review and after that ay umalis narin kami ni Zoe. Ayaw ko na kasing mag-luto kaya I planned on eating out. 

Since lunch time palang naman ay mamayang mga 3 ay pupunta kami sa bahay ng parents ko at doon muna kami matutulog. Okay lang naman din because Zoe is close with my parents and siblings.