I decided not to go to the conferrence in Singapore. I asked dad instead at pumayag naman siya. Hindi ko parin kayang malayo sa mga anak ko kahit isang araw lang. That's why as much as possible I reject those kinds of gatherings.
Kahit hindi ko sila kasama when I'm in the office atleast hindi isang bansa ang layo namin. Madali ko silang mapupuntahan incase na mamimiss ko sila.
I am on my way to a bar. I want to kick someone's ass. Ang tagal na kasing hindi nagpapakita sa akin. Bruhang yun! Lahat nalang ata ng tao tataguan ako.
It's already 6pm and the music is getting louder. The whole place is almost crowded. Mukhang magaling maghandle ng business si bakla. I'm happy my investment has not gone for nothing.
Nilibot ko ang paningin ko sa buong lugar. The colorful lights are blinding me. I had deficiency in my eyes. Hindi ko matake ang ibang mga kulay. I had this disease after I gave birth.
There I saw my dear friend sitting on a couch with bunch of friends. Mukhang mga socialites ang mga kaibigan, I wouldn't be surprise na ipinagpalit na niya ako.
Before getting to her I got my own martini. I walked passed by different people avoiding to bump me. They know me and they should. As soon as I got infront of her I gave her an arch brow.
"OMG!! Baklaaaa!" Tili nito. Grabe talaga! Bakla parin tawag niya sa akin kahit ang totoo ay siya itong totoong bakla.
Hinatak ako nito sa counter at nag-order pa ng cocktail drinks para sa amin.
"How dare you bruha ka! Hindi ka man lang nagparamdam? Hinahanap ka na ng mga inaanak mo!" I shouted at her.
"Gaga! Ako nga itong hindi makasingit sa schedule mo. Tawag ako ng tawag parating nafoforward sa secretary mo ang tawag. Naku! Ikaw na talaga ang sikat!" Sabi nito.
No doubt I miss her. I miss Didi. Kahit gusto ko siyang idescribe as 'him' suot pa lang nito ay taob na ang mga babae.
"Kumusta ka naman dito?" I asked.
"Maayos ang buhay. Maayos ang negosyo pati lovelife. Kaloka! Si Chuno kumusta?" Sabi nito.
"Chuno is fine. Busy sa taekwondo class. He's back to normal I guess. 4 years is enough to make him recover from depression. "
Chuno suffered depression. Hindi ito nagsasalita at nakatulala lang parati. Years ago I can hear him crying all night and calling for nanay. He did not want to talk to anyone maski ako kaya nga medyo nagtampo ako noon. But now, he's totally back. Makulit na ulit siya at palakaibigan.
"Eh si hubby kumusta?" I momentarily stop for a moment. I drink my martini before staring at her blankly.
"I don't know to that monkey. The kids are missing him already. He cut communication with us. Maybe he hasn't moved on yet. I know what he's been through, the difference is malaki ang pagsisisi niya sa sarili. Sinisisi niya ang sarili niya sa lahat ng nangyari. I saw how devastated he was kaya hinayaan ko rin siya sa gusto niyang paglayo. "
"So ngayon? Anong plano mo? " I gave her a smile. I've been thinking what to do these past few days and I already planned for it.
"His time is up. He needs to come back to us. His company is waiting for him. I am waiting for him. Susunduin namin siya bukas sa Zambales. Kasama ng kambal at ni Chuno. "
Pumalakpak si bakla.
"Perfect! Gusto ko yan!" Sabi nito.
Sa loob ng apat na taon ang daming nangyari. Ang daming nawala. Ang daming dumating. Pero mas marami doon ang kailangan ng kalimutan. Happy ones must be treasured, painful ones must stay in the past.
"Si Mr. Fortalejo, anong status?" Napaangat ako ng kilay kay Didi.
"Skyler is getting married with Shelle which is good. He's finally settling down. I am happy for him." I answered.
"I am talking about the elder one bakla." Natigilan ako. I know she's referring to him pero ano nga bang sasabihin ko tungkol sa isang walang pusong tao?
"He's married." I said.
"What??!" Medyo nakaagaw ng atensyon si Didi dahil sa pagsigaw nito. Nanatili lang blangko ang ekspresyom ng mukha ko as if talking about nonsense.
"Calm down Didi. What would you expect? Na hindi niya itutuloy yung kasal just because he got guilty of what he has done to me. He has no heart. Patunay na ginamit lang niya ako noon. He did not care about me.Laureen and him got married in America months after that engagement party." I answered plainly as if boring ang usapan.
"Bakit sa America eh dito sila nag-engagement party? Tsaka bakit mo alam yan? Pinaimbestigahan mo?" I glared at her.
I blew air out of boredom.
"Didi. If I want to find the right path near my enemy I'd rather choose the closer one. There's nothing wrong on investigating. Hindi naman ganoon kadali maghanap ng gamot na lalason sa kanya." I said with matching wide eyes. Mukhang nasindak naman si bakla sa sinabi ko kaya sunud-sunod ang lagok ng inumin nito.
"Paano ang mga anak mo? Hindi mo naman sila balak itago sa publiko habam-buhay right?"
"Of course not. I'm not planning to keep my children forever. Come to think of it, mas pabor sa akin na makilala ng lahat ang mga anak ko lalung-lalo na ng mga Fortalejo. I want to see how doomed he will be the moment he'll see my children na kahit kailan ay hindi siya magkakaroon ng chance na malapitan. "
"Hindi ba magiging unfair sa part ni Lui--"
"Talking about fairness eh? Didi...fair ba na gamitin at pasakitan niya ako dahil lang gusto nyang masolo ang apelyido ng ama niya? Fair ba na gawin niya akong tanga sa kakaasa na babalik siya o' mahal niya ako? Fair ba na ipahiya at ipagtulakan ako sa harap ng marami? Hindi. Hanggang ngayon kinakalaban niya ako Di. He's not yet playing fair and I'm not planning to play fair as well kung siya rin lang ang pag-uusapan."
"Sorry na. Alam ko namang mahirap ang pinagdaanan mo. Basta lagi kang mag-iingat." Sabi nito.
I nod and smile. I understand why Didi has somehow been affected of me. Matagal ko ng kaibigan ito kaya halos gamay nito ang ugali ko. She once told me that I became colder again. She knows why. She understands me. Defense ang tawag doon.
I know what will happen if I take my guard down and I don't want to return to my old self. Yung madaling apakan at yurakan ng iba.
Didi has been busy with her clients while I'm preparing myself to go. Mahaba-haba narin ang tinagal ko dito. Besides, masakit talaga sa mata ang mga nagkikislapang ilaw.
I was about to walk when a random girl whom I think so drunk block my way.
"Oh look who's here! The ruthless heiress. Didn't know you go to such place as this. Having some fun eh?" She said. I arch my brow to show that I don't like the manner she approached me.
Plus the fact that I don't even know her.
"Do I know you Ms. Nobody?" I asked.
"Me?! Oh no you don't!" She said. Pagewang-gewang ito at may mga tao pang nasasagi.
"Of course I don't. You don't belong in my world that's why. I shouldn't be wasting my time for you Ms. Nobody. Excuse--"
"Oh no you won't dare turning your back at me bitch!"
Bitch.
I balled my fist. Nobody dares to call me that word. They are not aware that I have an allergy to such word. The last pair of people who called me that I swear will get their piece of shits in their lives. I am planning to make their lives miserable mukhang dadagdag pa itong si random girl.
I noticed the crowds are all eyes on us. I return my gaze to Ms. Nobody and give her my smile.
"Excuse me! Excuse me! Padaan! Oh my gas! Bakla what's happening here?! " biglang dating ni Didi na naglilipat ang tingin sa amin ni Ms. Nobody.
"Don't stop me Didi. Medyo nangangati na kasi yung palad ko, gusto atang lumanding sa mukha ng babaeng yan. She called me bitch! I don't even know her." Gigil na bulong ko kay Didi.
"Naku no. Kalma ka lang. Huwag nating daanin sa init ng ulo.Ako na bahala dito baka maeskandalo ka pa." Sabi nito. Pinilit kong pakalmahin ang sarili ko.
"Ms. Sino ka ba? Do you even know who you are talking with? Can't you see nakakagulo ka sa bar ko!" Didi shouted.
Sabi niya kalma? Bakit makasigaw tong baklang to wagas?
"That bitch! Siya ang kailangan ko at hindi ikaw loser!" Sigaw naman ng babae. For the record she called me bitch for the second time.
Akmang susugurin na ito ni Didi nang pigilin ko.
"Call me bitch again and you'll see what I can do Ms. Nobody. Look you are drunk and I don't know you. Better disappear infront of me--"
"Bitch! Bitch! Biiiiiitch! " the rand girl screamed.
I close my eyes. Count 1 to 100. Yes 100. Baka pag inopen ko ang mga mata ko ay mawala na ang babae sa harap ko. I can't help myself already. Baka hindi na makilala ang babaeng ito bukas. Sabagay she's a nobody.
"You are the reason kung bakit hindi ako magawang mahalin ng boyfriend ko! Damn witch! F*ck you bi--"
I heard people gasp. Why not? Tulog na si babae. I just gave her a smash on her face. The hell I care with her boyfriend, hindi ko naman siya kilala!
"Girl...tabingi na nose niya " sabi pa ni Didi. I shrugged my shoulder. She deserves it. Kulang pa nga sana. Kaya lang tulog na.
I flip my hair then walk out. What a night!
*****
I am currently preparing my kids's things for our trip to Zambales when kuya interrupted me.
"What is it this time kuya?" I lazily asked.
I noticed a newspaper on his hand. Mukhang alam ko na ito.
"Headline. Aldea. What have you done this time?" Kuya said.
Nilapitan ko ito at kinuha ang hawak nitong dyaryo. I get my eyeglass first to be able to read it clearly. I wasn't shock with what I've read.
"Seriously? Wala ka man lang sasabihin? You broke a lady's nose! Kinailangan pa nyang mag-undergo ng operation to regain it."Oh good gracious! Ang agang sermon!
"For your information she started it. I just gave her what she deserved. Kung pampaopera o pamparetoke ang kailangan niya, your bank account is open kuya. Thank you." I said.
"Bakit bank account ko? Anong silbi ng sayo?"
"Bakit ako magbabayad ng damage na sinimulan niya? She said a word that's a hard limit to me 6th times. You know na kulang pa ang ginawa ko. She must thank me. "
Kuya sighed.
"Fine. This argument is done. Ang problema ay girlfriend pala ni Landon Dela Vega ang babae." He said.
"I am sure Landon won't mind. He's a known cassanova. " I said.
Now this is getting weird. Kung girlfriend siya ni Landon, then why approached me? I have never been acquainted to any of Dela Vegas. I remember she told me na hindi siya kayang mahalin ng boyfriend niya because of me? Where's my role there?
"Maaamaaaa! Let's go na poooo!" Chloe said. Ayan na ang anak long nakalunok ng mic.
"Clawee your so noisy! Mama tara na po. I'm excited to see Papa na." Vaughn said.
"Okay kids. Let's go na and hunt papa. " I said. Binuhat ko naman si Chloe dahil kahit tabachingching ang hilig magpabuhat. Si Vaughn naman ay adventurous kaya mahilig magmarathon. Si Chuno nga pala ay hindi makakasama dahil sa training nito.
"He'll surely be surprise to see you there. Pauwiin mo na ang unggoy na yun. His ate called me, pauwi na sila ni Monteverde with their kids. " tumango nalang ako.
"Babye tito hunk!! " sabay pang paalam ng mga anak ko kay Kuya Ashton.
I wear my shades and sit beside my kids inside the car. Almost 8 hours of trip. I'm sure gabi na kaming makakarating doon.
Tulog-gising ang ginawa ng mga anak ko habang nasa byahe. We even stopped over for Jollibee and shop for a moment sa isang mall. My kids bought gifts for the monkey. I bought banana.
Madilim na nang makarating kami sa Sitio na sadya namin. This is it! I am getting him home.
May kalapitan sa dagat ang tinitirhan niya kaya presko ang hangin dito. I breathe the fresh air. This is what I love staying in a province. Kaya siguro naaliw ang unggoy dito.
Magkahawak kamay pang naglalakad ang mga anak ko. Napangiti ako. I love my kids. They are my treasure. I won't let anyone hurt them.
"Papa!!!" I heard my children shout kaya napahinto ako sa paglalakad. Papalapit sila sa isang bulto na hindi ko gaanong maaninag dahil sa poor eyesight ko.
"You're time is up. It's time to go home" I said when I approach them. Buhat na nito si Chloe at nakasabit sa paa niya si Vaughn.I was quite surprised nang tumango ito at ngumiti.
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A/N
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