CHAPTER 26
NAKAPALUMBABA si Fashie sa coffee table, she's at the main branch cafè of FSBC. Ilang linggo na ang nakalipas simula nang maiburol ang Daddy ni Timothy.
She was there to show her support to Timothy; with her disguise outfit so no one could notice her. After the burial, Timothy left and Fashie didn't know where he head to. Inuwi nalang niya ang Mommy nitong mukhang pagod na nakilala niya nuong gabing minsan ay sila ang nagbantay, ipinakilala siya bilang kaibigan.
That made Fashie sighed in relief. It would be really awkward and uncomfortable if ever Timothy introduce her as his past lover. And she doesn't want to dig deeper about what happened.
Napahikab siya dahil sa boredom na nararamdaman, kulang nalang ay matulog na siya roon. May mga naiwan pa siyang gawain pero madali at kaunti nalang ang mga iyon. Peperma lang at babasahin ang mga report.
Fashie let out a heavy breath then stood up. She grab her purse before she left the Cafè. Pupunta nalang siya kay Evion, she wanted to see her babies.
It took her an hour before she arrived at Evion's household, dumaan pa siya sa isang store upang bumili ng laruan at pagkain na pwedd niyang ipampasalubong sa mga inaanak niya.
Fashie had message her earlier for her visit and Evion is waiting for her. It's been months since she last visited the kids and her friend, Fashie got very busy these past few months.
Mahigpit nilang niyakap ang isa't isa nang pagbuksan siya ni Evion ng pinto. She missed this girl so much!
May nagbago sa kaibigan niya, marahil siguro iyon ang nagagawa ng motherhood dito. Hindi naman masamang pagbabago: Mas naging simple lang ito manamit at ang buhay, but one thing everyone will notice to Evion; her genuine smile. Halos hindi naman ito palangiti rati, pero ngayon ay bakas ang kasiyahan sa mukha nito.
“I missed you, girl!” Tili ni Evion at niyakap muli siya ng mahigpit bago niluwagan ang bukas ng pinto at pinapasok siya.
Fashie grinned, “i missed you too, and my inaanak. Where are they?” She asked excitedly as she give four big paper bags to Evion.
“Thank you.” Evion pouted then rolled her eyes, “i thought you're here to visit me.” Nagtatampong anito na ikinatawa niya. Alam niya namang nagbibiro lang ito.
She just wiggles her brows and snake her arms to Evion's waist. Wow, angsexy parin ng loka. Nagtungo sila sa likod-bahay at duon nakita niya ang dalawang bulinggit na naglalaro sa loob ng malaking crib. They are one and a half year old.
Patakbo siyang lumapit sa mga ito at pinaghahalikan sa labi at pisngi. The two squealed because of her kisses.
“Ninang missed you, babies!” She said and went inside the crib to start playing with them.
Nakakalakad na ang mga ito at malapit ng maging diretso ang salita. Evion's kids are really something, they are brilliant. Kanino kaya nagmana? I'm sure not to Evion. Napahagikgik siya sa naisip, siguradong maiirapan na naman siya nito kapag narinig ang sinabi ng isip niya.
Elishia and Matteo are sitting to her legs side by side while she's seating indian seat. Elishia is playing with her hair and Matteo is touching her face.
“’Nang, whey's my pwasayubong?” (Ninang, where's my pasalubong?) Elishia asked as she make bubbles using her lips.
“I gave it to Mama.” Fashie look at Evion so as Elishia.
Evion who is about to leave the backyard pointed the chair where the paperbags are. Elishia jump and clap her hands in happiness. There's this cute smile on her lips that is very uncanny. It looks familiar.
She shook her head, ano ba itong naiisip niya.
Fashie stare at Elishia, walang nakuhang structure sa mukha mula kay Evion. If there is, it was only her brunette hair. While Matteo got half from Evion and half to his missing father.
Yes, missing, and she's not the right person to tell their story.
Naglaro sila ng mga bata sa loob ng crib, nagtatawanan at nagkukulitan hanggang sa bumalik si Evion na may dalang miryenda. Inakay niya ang dalawa palabas sa crib saka pinaupo sa customize high chair ng mga ito.
“Ba't nga pala napadalaw ka?” Nakataas ang kilay na tanong ni Evion.
Sumagot siya habang sinusubuan si Elishia, “bored ako.”
“Your cafè launch so fast, it's already outside of the country. May time ka pa palang mabored?” Walang halos sarkasmo sa boses nito, curious na curious lang.
She shrugs, “hindi naman pwedeng ikulong ko ang sarili ko sa opisina 'no, duh.” Fashie looked at her, “ikaw?”
Nag-angat ito ng tingin sa kaniya, “ang alin?”
“Hindi mo na talaga ipupursue ang pagiging FA? I told you, kuya Grego will help you.” Aniya kay Evion na pinupunasan ang nagkalat na pagkain sa bibig ni Matteo.
“I can't leave my babies. Maybe, next time. For now, okay na muna ako mag-work from home.” Nakangiting anito.
Fashie's face softened, Evion really love her kids so much. Ako kaya kailan? Ipinilig niya ang ulo, bakit ba iyon sumagi sa isipan niya.
Fashie bite the apple, “y'know, i have this staff slash friend na may kid na rin. Si Carisha, malapit na mag-one year old ang baby niya.” Bigla niyang kwento. She adore Carisha, strong and independent woman. Parang si Evion din, ginagawa ang lahat para sa mga anak.
“Oh really? That's so nice. I feel the urge of seeing her.”
“You can, some other time?” She suggested.
“Sure.”
Nagkwentuhan pa sila habang kumakain at pinapakain ang dalawang batang tahimik, kapag talaga siya at si Evion ang nag-uusap ay tumatahimik ang mga ito.
Fashie ate dinner at Evion's house before she went to her condo which is still kuya Grego's condo unit. On going palang ang pinapatayo niyang bahay BS Village dahil nakapagdesisyon na siyang manirahan dito sa Pilipinas.
She took a half bath to freshen up and did her night skin care before she went to bed. Fashie opened her laptop to check her emails and FSBC page. After briefly checking, she turn off the light and sleep.
Waking up by the sun always make her morning wonderful. Fashie make a coffee and drink it at the balcony. The sun is rising and people below are already busy. She missed watching nature, kaya napili niyang sa BS village magtayo ng bahay dahil napaka-fresh ng lugar.
In the middle of watching the tall skyscrapers, her doorbell rang. She's not expecting someone today, it's sunday. Iniwan niya ang balcony at nagtungo sa labas ng kwarto upang tignan kung sino ba iyon.
Her heart race when Fashie saw Timothy standing devilishly handsome behind the closed door. What is he doing here? She comb her hair with her fingers and check at the nearest mirror if her face looks fine and when Fashie checked everything to her body, she opened the door.
She cleared her throat, “h-hi.” She awkwardly greeted.
Timothy's face remained poker, “may i come in?” How she missed his voice.
Biting her lips, she nodded and open the door wide. Kaagad niyang isinarado ang pinto nang makapasok ito at nilock.
Fashie doesn't know what to do or say, pareho lang silang nakatayo at parang naghihintayan na may magsalita.
It was Timothy who spoke first.
“I'm... sorry i left you alone at the burial.” Anito habang titig na titig sa kaniya.
Maliit lang siyang ngumiti saka tumango, “o-okay lang 'yon.”
“And thank you for taking care of my mom.” Sabi nitong muli at wala siyang ibang naging sagot kung'di ang tipid na ngiti na lamang.
“Uhm, upo ka.” She motioned her hand to the couch then sit on the other side of the couch, facing Timothy. “W-What do you want to eat? Or drink?” Fashie tried to erase the awkwardness she's feeling.
Timothy sat, put hand on the handrest of the couch. And she won't even deny it, Timothy is devilishly handsome, devilishly. Simple lang ang suot nito pero napakalakas ng dating. Later did Fashie realized that's she's ogling at him!
Timothy shook his head, “i'm fine.” And then silence. Wala ni isang nagsasalita, nag-iwas siya ng tingin nang mapansin ang titig nito sa kaniya.
What is he doing here, anyway?
The awkward silence broke when the doorbell rang again. Napatingin siya sa pintuan at mabilis na napatayo dahil upang umangat ang kilay ng binata.
“Uhm, titignan ko lang.” Nagtungo siya sa pintuan saka tinignan kung sino ang nasa labas at binuksan ang pinto nang makitang ang lalaking kapitbahay niya iyon.
“Good morning, Fashie.” Bati ni Kael sa kaniya. Isa ito sa mga gustong manligaw sa kaniya at persistent kahit na ilang beses na niya itong tinanggihan.
She smiled a little, “good morning, Kael. Bakit?” Tanong niya.
Napakamot ito sa batok, “kasi, i cooked for breakfast. Naparami kaya napagdesiyonan kong bigyan ka, it's carbonara.” Itinaas nito ang transparent medium size tupperware na may lamang carbonara.
Fashie accepted it, it would be rude if she won't. And, Kael is just being a kind man, there's no reason for her to be rude.
“Thank you for this, Kael.” Nakangiting aniya ngunit napaigtad nang may yumakap sa kaniya mula sa likod at hinalikan ang balikat niya. She's just wearing a sando! Fashie look up at Timothy, “T-Timothy—”
“Who is he, sweetheart? Mind to introduce me?” Timothy is smiling sweetly at her which is very strange.
Bakas ang gulat sa mukha ni Kael habang papalit-palit ang titig sa kanilang dalawa ni Timothy. Maging rin siya ay nagulat. Why would Timothy hug her?!
“Uh, i'm Kael Yuzon, neighbor of Fashie.” Pagpapakilala nito saka nakipagkamay kay Timothy na tinanggap naman ng binata. Nagtaka lang siya nang mahinang napa-igik si Kael na tila ba nasaktan.
Timothy look at her, “introduce me to him, sweetheart.” Timothy's fingers are playing on her stomach. Hindi siya nakikili subalik parang nanghihibo ang pawat galaw ng mga daliri nito.
She gulped, “h-he's Timothy... Timothy Degustare.” Fashie awkwardly said.
Kapagkuwan ay ngumiti sa kaniya si Kael, ngunit bakas ang pagkadismaya at sakit sa mukha nito. “Sige, balik na ako. Eat that carbonara, okay? See you around, Fashie.” Tinapunan pa muna nito ng tingin si Timothy bago tumalikod sa kanila at binuksan ang pintuan ng condo nito.
It was Timothy who closed the door. Nakahinga siya ng maluwag na hindi niya napansing nasisikip na ng humiwalay sa kaniya ang binata.
“Your suitor?” Madilim ang bakas ng mukha nito, she have seen this emotion before. He's not jealous, is he? Tumibok ng malakas ang puso niya, would she dare hope?
Fashie look away, “i throw him away, he's just so persistent.” Aniya saka ibinaba sa glass table ang tupperware at nagtungo sa kusina upang kumuha ng kubyertos at plato. When she get back, Timothy is already sitting in the couch comfortably.
“You want?” She asked him.
“Why would i eat the food that man gave?” Parang masama ang loob na anito.
Napalabi siya saka inilapag ang mga kinuha niya sa kusina. “Okay...” Aniya saka nanguha ng para sa kaniya. If he don't want to eat then don't.
“You would really eat that?” Nang mag-angat siya ng tingin ay nakataas ang kilay nito.
Kumunot naman ang nuo niya, “yes, why?”
He tsked. “What if he put something on that food? You shouldn't be care less.”
Bigla siyang nainis sa tinuran ng binata. “Timothy, that's a bad attitude. I know Kael, he's not like that kind of person. Saka matagal na niya akong binibigyan ng pagkain, i am still healthy.” Aniya saka nagbuga ng marahas na hangin bago umupo sa couch.
Timothy look away, napagalitan. This is how he acts even before kapag napapagalitan niya ito dahil sa ugali nitong minsan ay hindi niya maintindihan.
Fashie started eating the carbonara, it tastes so good! Well, of course, Kael is a chef that's why. He owns a popular restaurant here in the country.
She glance at Timothy only to find out that he's staring at her. Hindi niya alam baka nag-aalala lang talaga ito sa kaniya, kung nag-aassume lang siya, eh anong dahilan?
Kaya naman tumayo siya at umupo sa tabi nito saka iniumang ang kutsara sa bibig nito. Timothy look at her blankly.
“Eat, it's delicious. Kael is a chef.” She informed him, baka sakaling magbago ang isip nito at tikman ang binigay ni Kael.
“And i'm not.” He said.
“Huh?”
“I'm not a chef.”
“And?” Hindi niya makuha ang nais nitong iparating.
“I can't cook delicious foods, i can only cook easy foods and dish. But i am not a chef like him.” Nag-iwas ito ng tingin sa kaniya.
Now, she get it. How this man say that? Kung titignan ito ngayon ay parang batang nahihiya.
“I've taste your cook, it's delicious.” She said, totoo naman kasi. Nagustuhan niya lahat ng pagkain na niluto nito sa kaniya nuon.
Timothy stare at her eyes, “or you're just telling me that because —”
“Because it's the fact.” Hindi niya pagtatapos sa sasabihin nito. Napipilan ito at hindi na nagsalita. Sinubukan muli niyang iumang ang kutsara sa bibig nito na isinubo naman ng binata.
“What are you doing here anyway?” Fashie asked as they eat.
Walang naging sagot ang binata kaya napatingin siya rito. Nahuli na naman niya itong nakatitig sa kaniya kaya naman muling tumibok ng mabilis ang puso niya.
“W-Why are you looking at me like that? Do i have a dirt on my face?” Aniya saka pinunasan ang mukha gamit ang kamay.
Timothy's side lips twitched up, “you're gorgeous.”
Fashie's heart did summersault. “T-Thank you.” Namumula ang pisnging aniya saka nag-iwas ng tingin.
Gosh, Fashie! Blushing like a teenager ha?
PRETTY IN DARK | PID