"Irene where are you? I went to your condo but you're not there" dawn said after Irene answered her call.
"I'm here at the hospital Dawn, dinalaw ko lang saglit yung mga pasyente ko" sagot naman ni Irene habang naglalakad sa Hallway
"Diba you're still on leave?"
"Yup until monday, I just went here to check on my patients. Pauwi na rin ako. Why did you call ba?"
"Alice is here na, kauuwi galing Japan kaya she is inviting us for dinner, but we should go there na para more time for chikahan" napailing si Irene at natawa kay Dawn
"I still need to fetch Eli, Dawn. Susunod nalang ako"
"I called Greggy, sinabi niyang siya na ang magsusundo kay Eli kaya mauna na tayo"
"Okay fine, sunduin mo ako sa condo. Pauwi na rin naman ako"
"Take care I" she said and ended the call.
Nagpatuloy sa paglalakad si Irene at huminto muna sa front desk kung saan naroon sila Karen.
"Doc uuwi na po kayo?"
"Yup, kinamusta ko lang yung mga patiente. Kayo na muna bahala sakanila ah? Babawi ako sainyo sa tuesday"
"Sure Doc, enjoy po kayo" napangiti si Irene at nagpaalam na para umuwi.
_____
"Blooming mo Doc" sabi ni Dawn pagkasakay ni Irene sa sasakyan niya.
"Wow, nagsalita ang Goddess of beauty" wika naman ni Irene kaya natawa si Dawn
"But really, you looked dashing today. Mukhang inspired ka doc, masaya na ba ulit puso natin?" Pang-aasar ni Dawn
"Yup Dawn, masaya na ulit" sagot naman ni Irene. She was about to close her eyes and have some rest but Dawn exaggerately tapped her shoulder
"Really? Omg, kailan pa? Kaya pala panay ka na sa bahay nila Greggy, andaya mo di ka nagsasabi" parang batang wika ni Dawn, halos tumili pa ito dahil parang kinikilig na ewan.
"Huh? What are you saying Dawn?" Naguguluhang wika ni Dawn
"You just said na masaya ang puso mo, so I am asking you kung kailan pa kayo nagbalikan ni Greggy?" Napairap si Irene sa kaibigan
"Baliw ka ba D? Mygosh, what are you thinking. I didn't mean it that way" sagot niya. Nawala naman ang excitement sa mukha ng kaibigan
"So di kayo nagbalikan? Bakit masaya amg puso mo sabi mo?" Pilit pa nito
"Sorry to disappoint you dear but nope. My heart is happy because of Eli. We are getting okay na" sagot ni Irene na parang natatawa sa reaction ng kaibigam
"Irene naman, akala ko naman because of Greggy. Richard said kasi na palagi ka dun, So I assumed na you both continue your love story"
"Parang ewan dawn, Me and Greggy is okay because of Eli. We are helping each other para mapasaya yung anak namin. Nagpupunta lang ako dun para asikasuhin si Eli"
"Bakit hindi ako naniniwala na si Eli lang ang inaasikaso mo? You still love him, don't you?" Hindi agad nakasagot si Irene
"Hindi na pwede D"
"Why?" She asked again.
"Alam mo let's just continue this talk when we get to Alice's house na. Hindi n tayo nakaalis Dawn"
"Oo nga pala, saved that for later's chikahan. Magkwento ka gaga ka" natawa naman si Irene at tumango nalang para di na siya kulitin ni Dawn.
Dawn focused on the road and Irene is closing her eyes trying to sleep kahit saglit lang.
It took them almost an hour to arrive at Alice's house, nakatulog nang tuluyan si Irene kaya kinailangan pang gisingin ni Dawn.
"Hi Alice" bati nila Dawn nang salubungin sila ni Alice.
Lumapit sila rito at bineso si Alice.
"Kumain na ba kayo? Let's go to the Dining, may food there" Alice said, so they walked to the dining to eat.
"Where's Small? Himala at wala pa siya rito" irene said
"She went to Aton's school first pero diretso na sila rito mamaya"
"Yaya can you call Maui? Hindi pa yun kumakain simula kaninang lunch" wika ni Alice sa isang kasamabahy nila.
"Maui's here?" Dawn asked
"Yup, hindi pumasok dahil minamigraine. Pinapunta ko na rito dahil walang mag-aalaga sakanya kila Mama" sagot ni Alice.
Tumango sila Dawn and continue eating their food. Minutes after Maui arrived at the Dining. Isa isa niyang binati sila Dawn at Irene.
"You join us here Maui, hindi ka pa kumain simula lunch"
"Nakatulog po ako eh" she said and sat down beside Dawn.
"How's your feeling? Alice said you have migraine" Irene asked.
"Medyo okay okay na po ako"
"Madalas ka ba minamigraine?"
"Hindi naman po"
"You sure? Just call me if madalas kang ginaganyan ha? I'll check you up incase"
"Thank you po"
_____
"Your daughter and Greg are on their way here na daw. Malapit na sila" wika ni Dawn pagkalapit sakanila Irene na ngayo'y nagkikwentuhan sa may sala.
"Wow, mas update pa si Dawn" pang-aasar naman ni Michelle
"Stop it Chelle, they are with Richard. He didn't bring car na para sabay na kaming uuwi" sagot naman ni Dawn kaya tumango sila.
"So Irene, any update with you and greggy? I had a talk with Greggy the other day" pag iintriga nila Small
"We don't have something okay, we're not teenagers anymore stop being paranoid. We're just co-parenting for Eli, that's all" sagot niya
"Sus, pero mahal mo pa?" Dawn said. Inirapan naman agad niya si Dawn
"Desisyon ang mama dawn niyo. My priority now is Eli, kailangan kong bumawi sa bata"
"Eh paano naman yung sa daddy?" Makulit na wika ni Small.
"Nahotseat ba ako?" Sarcastic na tanong ni Irene, nagsitawanan naman ang mga kaibigan niya
"Honestly I got drunk few days ago in theie house---"
"Omg omg omg, don't tell me you guys did it!" Hysterical na wika ni Dawn, nakitilo naman sila Michelle and Small while Alice is just laughing to their reaction
Agad na dinampot ni Irene ang tissue at binato yun kay Dawn.
"Hey!"
"Kung ano anong sinasabi mo"
"What's wrong with that? Malay ko ba kung miss ma miss niyo isat isa" she was about to throw the pillow to Dawn but she stopped her.
"Stop it D, your mouth gosh. We did not do anything okay? I just got drunk a bit and we had a talk. I asked him about life, and with the help of the Wine and being drunk I got to ask him If he had a girlfriend" nahihiya pang wika ni Irene.
"And? Anong sabi niya?" Excited na tanong ni Small.
Focus na focus sila sa ikkwento ni Irene, they are like teenagers excited telling each other if who is their crush.
"He doesn't have a girlfriend, but he have someone special right now" sagot ni Irene.
Lahat ng ngiti ng mga kaibigan niya ay unti unting nawala.
"What? Is that true?" Di makapaniwalang tanong ni Dawn.
"Yup"
"May nililigawan ba si Greggy? As far as I know wala naman" wika ni Michelle
"Wala rin akong balita, kung meron edi dapat alam natin?" Sabi naman ni Small
"Dawn may nakikwento ba sayo si Richard?"
"Wala eh" sagot naman ni Dawn na parang may iniisip.
"Do you still love him Irene?" Alice asked.
"Sa totoo lang hindi naman nawala, nakalimutan ko lang na mahal ko pala siya because I choose to prioritize myself and dreams which I regret the most. But to be honest, If he has someone special right now okay lang. Masakit siguro oo, pero I don't have the right to Stop him. I know Greggy, hindi yun papasok sa isang situation kung hindi siya masaya kaya for sure he's happy whoever that girl is" wika ni Irene.
"Hanap ka na lang rin ng bago Doc" pabirong wika ni Dawn while caressing Irene's back.
"Loka, I'll just focus it on my daughter"
"Change topic na tayo, hinotseat niyo na ako"
They changed their topic and sakto naman na dumating na sila Greggy at nakasunod na rin sakanila sila Timmy. Isa isa silang lumapit sa mga bagong dating at binati nila ito.
"How's school anak? Did you read my message?" Irene asked Eli
"Its fine po, yes po nabasa ko kanina"
"Kids there's a food in the dining. Kumain na muna kayo" wika ni Alice. Nagkayayaan naman ang mga bagets para kumain muna.
"Outing tayo ulit" aya ni Dawn
"Daming time Mama D"
"What if on sunday?" Small said.
"Sorry, I have to go to San Juan on Sunday. Manang set a family day eh" wika ni Irene.
"Isasama mo si Eli?" Richard asked
"Yup, naipaalam ko naman na kay Greg and i agreed to it naman para maipakilala ko na siya sa family ko" tumango sila
"What about you Greg? You're not going?"
"I have a meeting until evening on sunday" sagot ni Greggy
"Oh, special meeting Greg?" Tanong ulit ni Dawn. Napatingin si Irene kay Dawn at pinandilatan niya ito ng mata
"Every meeting is a special meeting D"
"I mean meeting with special someone ba?"
"She mean baka Vip ganun" Irene butt in.
"It's just a normal meeting but I can't postpone it' simpleng sagot ni Greggy nagsitango naman sila.
Agad silang nagiba ng topic na paguusapan dahil ramdam na nila ang awkwardness sa paligid.
____
"How are you Tim?" Eli asked.
They were in the Lanai part of Alice's house while the oldies is in the garden having some fun
"Fine, nothing new. What about you? I heard you're getting fine with Tita Irene, that's good El"
"Sana nga magtuloy tuloy na"
"Oo yan, there's no perfect relation El. Syempre there's a time na may misunderstanding pero always choose to fix the problem kung meron man"
"Yes po sir" pabirong wika ni Eli.
"Ice cream" wika ni Aton pagkarating nila sa Lanai.
Inabot ni Eli ang bigay ni Aton na Ice cream.
"What about you Maui?" Eli asked
"She's not allowed to eat Ice Cream, pizza nalang" wika ni Tim
"You know what El, some of my boy classmates are asking what is your name and your socmed accounts" biglang wika ni Aton habang kumakain sila
"Huh?"
"Crush ka nila" simpleng wika naman ni Maui.
"They followed you in Ig pero baka di mo pa napansin kais di mo naman alam"
"Maybe, Madalang ako magcheck ng Ig. Nakaprivate rin naman yun"
"Kaya nga they were asking me to tell you to accept their request"
"Don't accept it El, kaya nga private acc eh. Stop with that Aton, you guys are still teenagers"
"Wow parang ikaw hindi"
"Fyi Tim, you're just 2 years older than us. Don't act like a matured man bro" pang-aasar nila kaya wala ng nagawa si Tim
______
"Tired El?" Irene asked while they are their way home.
Almost 1am na at mukhang napasarap talaga ang bonding nilang magkakaibigan kaya inabot sila ng madaling araw.
"Inaantok na po ako" sagot ni eli at papikit pikit na ang mata
"Kawawa naman ang baby ko, you lean your head on mommy's shoulder na para makatulog ka. I'll just wake you up when we got home okay?" Tumango si Eli at sinandal nga ang ulo niya kay Irene ngunit napansin ni Irene na nahihirapan si Eli kaya giniya niya ito at pinahiga sa lap niya.
"Hindi ka po mangangalay? Mabigat po ako kahit mapayat" irene chuckled and shrugged her head.
"Don't worry about me, just sleep anak" she said
Inaantok nga talaga si Eli dahil ilang saglit pa lang ay nakatulog na ito, ipinikit naman ni Irene ang mata at sumandal sa upuan habang si Greggy ay nagmamaneho ng sasakyan nila pauwi.
"Irene?" She heard greggy called her.
"Hmm?" she hummed, inaantok na rin siya kaya nakapikit pa ang mata niya.
"Anong araw ka babalik sa work?" He asked, minulat ni Irene ang mata niya at tinignan ito
"By tuesday, why?"
"Nothing, natanong ko lang" hindi na sumagot si Irene at sinubukan niya nang umidlip.
Nakaidlip nga siya at nagising na lamang siya nang maramdaman na huminto na ang sasakyan nila. Sakto greggy opened the Van.
"She's sleeping na, gigising ko ba?" Tanong ni Irene kay Greggy.
"Wag na, bubuhatin ko nalang" sagot naman ni Greggy. Dahan dahaa niyang binuhat si Eli at si Irene naman ay nakaalalay.
"Ako na bahala sa mga gamit para di mo na babalikan" wika ni Irene.
Binuhat ni Irene ang mga gamit nila at sumabay kay Greggy ng lakad para mapagbuksan sila ng pinto.
Inilapag ni Irene ang mga gamit nila sa sofa bago dumiretso sa kusina para uminom ng tubig. Nawala na ang antok niya, mahihirapan nanaman siyang makatulog.
Naupo siya sa high chair at chineck ang cellphone niya kung may mga mahalagang message ba.
"Aren't you going to sleep na?" Halos mabitawan niya ang cellphone niya nang biglang bumungad at nagsalita si Greggy
"Hey! You startled me!" Reklamo niya, tumawa naman si Greggy
"Sorry, I didn't mean it"
"Nasa sala yung mga gamit mo, ako nalang mag aakyat nung kay Eli mamaya at sa kwarto niya ako matutulog"
"Ayaw mo sa kwarto ko?" Biro ni Greggy sabay tawa, inirapan naman siya ni Irene.
"Baka magalit yung special someone mo" bulong ni Irene.
"What did you say?" Wika ni Greggy kaya napababa ng upuan si Irene.
"Huh? May sinasabi ba ako? Alam mo Greg, antok lang yan nakakarinig ka na ng kung ano ano" wika niya at nilagpasan si Greggy.
Naglakad si Irene papuntang Sala para kunin ang mga gamit nila ni Eli. Sumunod naman sakanya si Greggy.
"You're saying something eh" makulit na turan ni Greggy
"Greg parang bata wala nga akong sinasabi"
"Are you jealous?"
"Oh c'mon greg, bata pa lang tayo alam mong di ako selosa"
"You asked me If I had a girlfriend the other night, Can I ask you too if you have a boyfriend?" Natigilan sa pagdadampot si Irene ng mga gamit nila at napatingin siya kay Greggy.
"I don't have a boyfriend at this moment Greg"
"Suitors? Exes?" Napairap si Irene
"Grabe ka sa exes"
"Malay ko ba? Sa ganda mong yan walang nanligaw sayo?"
"Oo nga naman, sa ganda kong ito imposibleng wala diba? But really, Ikaw lang ang ex ko Greg, but I had a best friend when I was in California. He's a doctor too, yun crush ko yun. But if you are asking if I do have suitors, yes I had and still have"
"Oh bakit nawala yang nang-aasar na ngiti mo?" Irene asked.
"Nothing 'rene, Let's sleep na" he was about to walk away but Irene grabbed her arm at pinaharap sakanya
"Selos ka?" Siya naman ngayon ang nang-aasar
"Why would I? Hindi naman tayo" nawala ang ngiti ni Irene sa narinig but still tried to manage her posture.
Ayaw niyang mapahiya.
"Malay ko naman kung mahal mo parin ako"
"I still love you Irene, pero hindi kagaya ng pagmamahal ko sayo dati. You hurt me and I can't think kung kaya ko bang mahalin ka ulit ng kagaya sa dati"
"Diba I told you that I have special someone right now. We may not be in a relationship yet, but---" Greggy was cutted off when Irene kissed him
"Move Greg" nakakaakit na wika niya, habang magkadikit parin ang mga labi nila.
She tried to move her lips pero naestatwa parin sa gulat si Greggy.
Irene encircled her hands around Greggy's neck while kissing him. She bite his lower lip causing greggy to response to her kisses.
They were passionately kissing, ramdam na ni Irene ang init ng katawan niya.
This is wrong, Greggy is inlove with someone else pero anong magagawa niya. Ramdam niya pa rin naman na mahal pa siya ni Greggy, pinipigilan niya lang ang sarili.
"Uhmm Greg" she silently moaned, when Greggy Bite her lips.
Nabigla nalang siya nang huminto si Greggy at lumayo nang bahagya sakanya.
"Stop, don't do that again Irene. Im sorry---" wika ni Greggy.
"Y-you kissed me back Greg. Y-you still love me. N-nagustuhan mo yung halik ko, you missed me don't you?" Hindi alam ni Irene kung saan niya nakukuha ang lakas ng loob para sabihin yun pero kasi pakiramdam niya na kung palalagpasin niya ang pagkakataong ito ay wala na. Its now or never.
"C'mon Greg answer me. You missed me diba? You c-can have me n-now. B-bumalik na tayo sa dati, t-tayo nalang ulit" naiiyak na wika niya.
"No Irene, huling huli ka na. Stop this, ayokong humantong tayo ulit sa ganun. Okay na sa akin na we are civil and we are okay because of Eli. We can do co-parenting for her"
"G-greg baka kaya pa, Let's try na ibalik yung dati. I still love you Greg" lumuluhang wika niya.
Simula nung nagkakilala sila Ni Greggy at naging sila, ngayon lang naramdaman ni Irene na nirereject siya ni Greggy. Nasanay kasi siya na palaging si Greggy yung mas nageeffort sakanila. Na palaging mas clingy si Greggy.
"S-sorry Irene, I can't reciprocate your feelings. I will now go to my room, go to Eli's na rin" he said and turned his back on her.
"You still love me too Greg, you responds to my kisses. You can't be loyal to her kasi ngayon palang rumurupok ka na sa akin. Babalik ka rin sa akin" matapang na wika niya.
"Don't be too full of yourself Doc, masasaktan ka lang" sagot sakanya ni Greggy bago tuluyang naglakad patungo sa kwarto niya.
Naiwan naman si Irene na nakatayo mag-isa. She wiped her tears and managed to carry their things and go to Eli's room kahit na ramdam niya na unti unting nagpipira-piraso ang puso niya sa sakit.
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Happy Friday! Ang bilis ng araw magw-weekend nanaman.
Keepsafe guys, and thank you sa mga nagmmessage sa akin huhu. Super naappreciate ko kayooo.
Let's be friends on tiktok hihi, @iyaaaheli I'll follow you back lalo na sa mga editors ng mga latest huhu para updated naman ang ferson na ito emz.