"Love can build a bridge between your heart and mine. Love can build a bridge. Don't you think it's time?" - Naomi Ellen Judd
Malayo pa lang kami, natanaw na kami ni Nuelle. Abot tenga ang ngiti niya ng makita niya si Wilber sa tabi ko. At hindi na siya nakatiis at patakbo kaming sinalubong. "Mom, Dad." Pagkasabi niya Ng dad bigla siyang napahinto at mataman niya kaming tinitignan.
At nung malapit na kami sabay sabi kay Wilber, "I am sorry, Atty. Laureano for calling you dad again. Mom says it is awkward." Naramdaman kong for show lang yung apology kasi hinihintay niya ang obvious na reply.
"That's alright, baby! You can call me dad, daddy anytime and as long as you please," ang eager na sagot ni Wilber. Feeling ko kahit siya excited matawag na daddy. Hays naku, ang mag-ama ko!
"By the way, anak, Atty. Laureano's inviting us for lunch," buong ngiti kong sinabi Kay Nuelle.
"Ahem, Arya if you don't call me Wilber, I will call you Dean Labrador. Remember, hindi mo na ko professor. We're colleagues now," pabirong pinaalalahanan niya ko.
"I'm so sorry, Sir! Oops, sorry again, Wilber!" Nahihiya ako. Si Nuelle naman ay panay ang hagikhik.
Napakunot na lang ng noo si Wilber, sabay tanong,"Where do you want to eat?"
"Your invitation, your choice!"
"Oo nga, dad. We're not choosy eaters."
Dinala niya kami sa favorite hang out naming dalawa pag gutom na gutom kami. Hindi niya nakalimutan. Lihim akong napangiti. So somewhere sa kanyang subconscious nandoon pa rin ako at ang aming love story.
Pag upo namin, hindi man lang niya kami tinanong kung anong gusto namin basta umorder lang siya ng umorder. Ang nakakapagtaka pa ay panay mga paborito naming food at yung sakto lang din para kay Nuelle.
Pinuna ko siya. "Hindi pa din kayo nagbabago, sir! I mean, Wilber."
"What do you mean?" ang surprise na tanong niya.
"Para ka pa ding construction worker kung mag order ng food. At for sure, clean plate tayo," patuloy kong komento.
"How did you know? Lagi ba tayong magkasabay kumain before?"
"Lagi kitang nakikita sa canteen."
"I see. Hope you like the food."
"Of course!" (Orderin mo ba naman lahat ng paborito natin eh!) sa isip ko lang.
Masaya namang kaming nagkukwentuhan habang kumakain. Mostly general topics, rated GP para hindi naman ma-OP (out of place) si Nuelle.
Natapos ang lunch namin sa ice cream dessert, Choco Parfait Kay Nuelle, Peach Melba sa akin at vanilla Kay Wilber. Vanilla nga lang pero 1 pint naman. Joke, 3 scoops lang.
Nagpaalam muna akong pupunta sa Ladies Room, doon napansin ni Wilber ang suot-suot kong engagement ring, ang aming engagement ring. Nagkatinginan kami. Sa kanya, tinging mapanuri, yung maraming gustong itanong. Sumige na ako sa Ladies Room para makaiwas.
Ang hindi ko alam at siyempre later on nalaman ko din. Pagtalikod ko, nagpaka-Magnum PI na si Wilber.
"Tell me honestly, sweetheart. Where's your dad?" Agad niyang hinarap si Nuelle.
Nakatingin lang muna si Nuelle sa kanya. "Are you sure you wanna know? Not this time, dad. You will meet him later."
"This will be a secret I won't tell your mom. It will be just between us." Aba, ang lolo binabribe pang anak ko.
"Alright since you insist, you are my dad. My mom was your fiancee." Ngiting sagot ni Nuelle.
"Are you sure? Did your mom tell you that story?" Nagdududang tanong ni Wilber.
"See! You don't believe me. No, I am just kidding you. Look at your face, dad," pangiting sabi ni Nuelle. "Your face turned white."
"Really? I was surprised. You're naughty kidding me like that," pinagpawisan si Wilber kahit naka-aircon ang restaurant.
Napatawa si Nuelle. "I hope you really will meet my dad. Mom said he is kind-hearted and funny. Are you funny, dad?"
Yun ang naabutan ko sa conversation nila. "What's funny?"
"Si dad. He asked me where my dad is." There goes their secret. Gusto Kong matawa pero I will reserve that for later pag kami na lang ng anak ko. At si Wilber, nagulat para siyang isang bata na nahuling nasa kamay niya ang cookie jar.
Nauna sa amin si Nuelle. "Next time, Atty. Laureano, those sensitive questions should be directed to me. I don't want to confuse my daughter or you. I know she has illusions of you being his dad. But i thought, clear sa iyo yun. They are merely illusions, Klaro po ba?"
"Copy, Dean Labrador!" Nagkatinginan kami. "Are you going back to the office?"
"No, we're done for the day. Medyo napahabang lunch natin. Kaya we can call it a day. I'll call my secetary I won't be reporting today sa consultant firm."
"I can take you there," offer pa ng lolo niyo at hindi pa tapos mag-imbestiga sa buhay namin.
"No, we don't want to impose saka out of way ang office ko. We'll take it from here. Thank you for that sumptuous lunch. We enjoyed it."
"Are you sure? I can drive you home." Hmmp! Persistent as always.
"That's alright! See you, tomorrow. Honey, let's go. I'll hire a cab."
"Are we going to your office?" Tanong ni Nuelle.
"Not today, sweetheart!" Tamang-tama may taksing pumara. Pagkasakay namin, sumakay na din si Wilber sa kanyang kotse habang habol tingin sa papalayong taxi namin. He's not ready for us kaya dapat kaming maging maingat makitungo sa kanya.