Haylee's Point of View
Kapagod makipaglaro kay Edrian sa tubig, pagod na pagod ako nang mailapag ko siya sa kubo. Buti na lang at mukhang inosente si Dwayne sa mga bagay bagay kaya masasabi kong bakasyon ang mayroon kami ngayon at hindi honeymoon.
"Mommy, you're tired already?" nakangiti akong tumango sa bata bago kunin ang tuwalya sa bag. Nagtakbuhan kasi kami sa mababaw na tubig, grabe ang tuwa niya kanina. Naiwan naman si Dwayne sa kubo habang nagbabasa ng dyaryo.
"Magpatuyo ka na, Edrian. Nagugutom ka na ba?" nakangusong tumango sa akin ang bata at itinuro ang sandwich na may itlog sa lamesa. For sure, nagutom siya dahil sa pagod.
"Rest after that, son. You must be tired from swimming." wika naman ni Dwayne habang tinutupi na ang binabasang dyaryo.
"Yes, dad. Mommy, I want to sleep with you!" sumabit ito sa braso ko.
"No, Edrian—" hindi pa sana papayag ang ama niya nang ako na mismo ang sumagot.
"Sige, sasamahan kita sa pagtulog. Ubusin mo na iyan para makapagbihis ka na, baka lagnatin ka pa." mabilis siyang tumango, minsan natatanong ko, paano kaya niya naiintindihan ang wika ko kung panay ang english niya? Hindi ko pa nga alam ang lahi nila, e. Para kasi silang purong dayuhan, panay ang english pero nakakaintindi ng tagalog.
"You don't have to spoil my son, he's a grown up man now." napabaling ako kay Dwayne na nagtataka at binalikan ng tingin ang batang tahimik na kumakain.
"Bata pa siya kaya bakit i-a-advance na agad ang ugali? He can manage to learn every single day of his life. Hayaan nalang natin na ma-enjoy niya ang pagkabata niya. Mahirap kapag walang happy childhood memories." hinaplos ko ito sa ulo, nagtaas ng kilay sa akin ang lalaki.
"He must learn at the very start, so he can be a better man when he grow up." umiling ako at pekeng ngumiti.
"It's not about being a better person, it's about enjoying the life and every moment you have. Aanhin mo ang pagiging mahusay na tao kung mamamatay kang walang saya sa puso mo? Some people who always put their professions on their top priority are the people who have an unhappy life." sumulyap ako sa dagat, grabe, 15 years na ang nakalipas, nakayanan kong mamuhay bilang anino sa loob ng maraming taon.
"And what made you think that way?" I smiled at the waves.
"Dahil minsan na akong napilitang isantabi ang kasiyahan ko, o mas mabuting sabihin kong, hindi ako nakaramdam ng totoong saya sa buhay ko." nag init ang mga mata ko kaya agad akong umiwas at iniba ang usapan. "Kaya bakit hindi mo na lang hayaan si Edrian? Mas maraming problema ang darating sa kaniya kapag lumaki na siya, hindi na siya makakapag-enjoy sa buhay niya."
"Why are you telling that?"
"Hindi ko siya napanood buong buhay niya, pero alam kong naging masaya na siya nang mga nakaraang araw. Nu'ng una ko siyang nakita sa ospital, ramdam ko ang pangungulila sa mga mata niya pero napawi iyon." tinignan ko ulit ang bata. Parang tunay ko siyang anak dahil sobrang laki ng epekto niya sa akin. Pero imposible naman iyon, napakalaking imposible.
I pinched Edrian's cheek and giggled, I turned my gaze in my front only to caught Dwayne staring at me. Damn, that feels awkward.
Dwayne's Point of View
While I'm looking at them both, my heart suddenly flattered for no reason. It's like I'm watching my wife and son whom I love more than my life, I felt crazy.
I admit that when I first saw her, I thought she's Maica who survived in the accident but she's different from Maica. She have this attitude and impact that is new and Maica is not that type of person.
Really? A woman I just knew lectured me about life. Ever since I was a kid, I was all alone and unhappy. When I grew up, I indeed put my profession as my top priority and never felt happiness.
Her line stayed on my mind. 'Dahil minsan na akong napilitang isantabi ang kasiyahan ko, o mas mabuting sabihin kong, hindi ako nakaramdam ng totoong saya sa buhay ko.' While she was saying that, I saw a glimpse of sadness in her eyes. That eyes was so familiar to me. Did we met before?
I thought she's happy on her life, I thought she's only suffering now because of his sister but I felt her sadness. I saw myself on her when she said all of those. Who is this girl?
"May gagawin lang ako, Edrian. Mauna ka ng matulog, okay?" she tapped my son's head and smiled. The little man looked sleepy, he yawned and nodded before leaving. That asshole booked only one hotel room so we have no choice to stay together in one place but this unit has two bedrooms so it's fine.
I finished drinking my wine and continue reading the newspaper I was holding. I can see on my peripheral vision that Haylee walk towards the kitchen and opened the refrigerator to get some drinks there. She's holding her phone on the other hand. The kitchen and living room has inches away so I can hear her talking.
"Okay lang ako, Lily. Gising pa ba si Kate?" I didn't heard the response of the person on the other line. "Nasa trabaho pa ang ate, Kate. Alagaan mo sarili mo, okay? Wala kami ni ate Lily mo diyan sa lahat ng oras kaya pakabait ka sa nurse mo. Nasa malayo ako, e. Uuwi din ako. Miss ka na din ni ate." her voice was longing for someone.
"Magpahinga ka na. Ate loves you." she's looking on other direction so she can't see me looking at her. "Lily, ayos pa naman ako, ano ka ba? Wala namang problema, 'wag mong pababayaan pag aaral mo, huwag ka ng mag alala sa akin. Pangakong sasabihan kita kapag may problema." she faced my direction so I quickly averted my gaze. "Haha, loko ka talaga. Oh, siya, pagod ako Lily, e. Pahinga muna ako, tawagan na lang kita ulit. Bye." her smiled faded when she ended the call with her sister.
She's good at lying, even her expression can trick you but I like it when she pretends to be like that. I pulled myself back and just continue reading the newspaper.
Fifteen minutes and I decided to get more wine. I looked at my watch, it's a quarter after two pm already. I stood up and walked but I stopped when I saw Haylee, sleeping on the dining table and left her phone open in front of her face. She's tired yet she still scrolled on her social media account, crazy woman. I don't have a choice but carry her, I just can't leave her like that, I failed as a man if I did.
Damn, she's heavy. I laid her down beside my son, on her room. She's really an angel, whether she's awake or asleep. She's snoring a little, I don't know but I'm stocked staring at her. She have a nice face, I can admit that.
This woman have done so many things even we just met. She made my son be happy again, she made my son be more talkative and she changed one thing on me. It's interesting to know a person like this woman. I am looking forward to her on the future, I know that she can do more.
"Are you an angel?" I asked and I know it's stupid to ask a sleeping person. "How can you be unhappy with your life when I think you are perfect?" I know she can't hear me and I just want her to ask while she was still asleep, how would I ask this to her when she's awake?!
My phone rang.
"Hello, Angelo?" I answered with my bored tone.
[Hey, man! How's it going, is it good? Hahaha!] he's teasing me, I know.
"What do you mean by “is it good?” Angelo?"
[I mean, may nabuo ba? May nangyari ba? You know? Hahaha.] I swear, if ever he's beside me, I already punched him.
"Fuck off, Angelo. Take care of the company instead, you moron." I heard his mocking and disappointed laugh.
[Ang hina mo naman, Dwayne! Hindi ka naka-score? Anong klaseng honeymoon iyan? Hahaha!] what is honeymoon exactly? Psh.
"Tsk, shut up and just work. We're staying here for two more days."
[Okay, fine. Enjoy man, be easy on your wife.] my brows furrowed on his tone.
"Whatever, idiot." I ended the call and threw it anywhere only to remember that I'm not on my room. I threw it on Haylee's bed, shit. It's a relief that it didn't hit them but it got stuck between the two sleepy heads.
I stretch my arm to get it but I accidentally touch her arm, causing her to move and face me.
"Nathaniel, 'pagod ang mama, 'wag kang malikot." she said, made me stopped and got curios. Nathaniel? Mama? She have a son? No way, Angelo said she's single since birth. Maybe she's just dreaming.
I shake my head and quickly get my phone. Whatever, I should get to work, I don't trust anyone beside Angelo and my secretary so I have to work too.
Haylee's Point of View
"Nathaniel!" ang bilis ng tibok ng puso ko nang magising ako, nasa tabi ko si Edrian at naglalaro siya sa tablet niya pero napatingin siya sa akin nang marinig ang sigaw ko. Naalala ko na naman siya..
"Mommy? You okay, mommy?" gumapang siya palapit sa akin at sumabit sa braso ko.
"U-Uh, oo Edrian. Shaks! Alas sais na, teka lang ah. Magluluto lang ako ng pang hapunan." agad akong tumayo.
"But mo—" hindi ko na siya narinig dahil nakalabas na ako, napahaba ata tulog ko,
"Oh!" nadatnan kong may mga pagkain na sa hapag nang makarating ako sa kusina.
"You're awake. The food is ready, time to eat." pumasok sa kusina si Dwayne na nagtatanggal ng apron.
"I-Ikaw nagluto?" tinaasan ako nito ng kilay.
"What do you think?" bumuka ang bibig ko pero nauna na siyang nagsalita muli. "I know how to cook, are you underestimating a man, Miss Biñanas?" mabilis akong umiling.
"U-Uh, hindi naman. S-Sige, tawagin ko lang si Edrian."
"We are staying here for two more days." halos maibuga ko ang pagkaing subo-subo ko. Two more days?!
"H-Ha?"
"Hotdog, mommy." nanlaki ang mata ko at tinignan si Edrian, kelan pa siya natututong gumanon?! "I want hotdog, mommy." napabuga ako ng hangin at feel ko napahiya ako kahit parang wala silang napapansin, akala ko ano na, nagpapaabot lang pala.
Hays, Haylee, nadamay ka na sa uso ayan tuloy at napahiya ka sa sarili mo. Akala ko kasi binarahan ako nu'ng nag 'ha' ako tapos sinabi niyang 'hotdog', hayop!
Natapos kami sa pagkain sa loob ng ilang minuto. Masarap ang luto ni Dwayne, nakakahanga pero hindi ako papakabog ano, mas masarap 'yung luto ko syempre.
"Haylee—"
"Ay, hotdog na malaki!—" natakpan ko ang sarili kong bibig. Nakatulala na pala ako sa langit at nalutang, nakakahiya, pangalawa na ito. "U-Uh, D-Dwayne, bakit?" magkasalubong ang mga kilay niya nang tignan ko.
"Tsk, you're spacing out. It's cold here, you're not cold?" umiling ako, nasa terrace ako ng bintana at nakatanaw sa langit na puno ng maliliit na bituin.
"Hindi. Sanay na ako sa lamig tsaka sariwa naman ang hangin." he tsked.
"It's just a yes or no, but your answer is too long."
"Hotdog mo too long—" muli akong napatakip sa bibig, ano bang nangyayari sa akin! Edrian kasi, umuulit sa isip ko iyung sinabi niyang hotdog. "H-Hindi ko sinasadya ang sinabi ko, sorry!"
Iyan na naman ang kilay niyang nakataas. Naihangin ang buhok kong nakalugay kaya't napapikit ako. Pagmulat ko ay nakalapit na siya.
"Yes, it's indeed long." napalunok ako at napaatras. Parang bulong lang ang pagkakasabi niya kaya parang kinilabutan ako. Nang makita ang reaksyon ko ay nagtaka ang mata niya. "The hotdog I cooked is long, what's with your reaction?"
Napangiwi ako at naiilang na nagpilit ng ngiti.
"Ah, w-wala, bigla akong nilamig. Sige, pasok na ako." tinakbo ko ang kwarto, ilang beses akong napahiya ngayon ah!
BUTI NA LANG AT INOSENTE SI DWAYNE, JUSME HAYLEE.
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Astrid Manunulat