"Here, drink that" He said softly, holding the cup of milk with his right hand while slowly bringing the cup up to my lips.
"Bakit gatas? kape nalang!"
"Gusto mo ba na mas lalong nerbyosin?" Sambit nito, ngumisi pa
"Sus"
"Inumin muna lang, calista" Sabi nito, sabay upo sa tabi ko kaya naman napa-usog ako sa kinauupuan
"Kailan mo nalaman?" Diko mapigilan ang sarili na i-tanong sakaniya
Tinaasan ako nito nang kilay bago sumagot
"Ano ba ako calista?" Malumanay na sabi niya
"Tao?"
"Dàmn" Bulong nito, "Malamang tao ako"
"Ay sorry, sabi mo kasi ano ka, edi tao" Kamot ulong sabi ko sakaniya
"Shut up" Iritang sabi nito
Attitude naman nito, "Ano ba kasi ‘yon?!"
Napa buntong hininga ito bago mag salita, "Prosecutor ako, calista"
"Ano naman kung prosecutor ka? anong connect?" Nalilitong tanong ko
"Pati ba utak mo na-apektuhan na?" Iritang sabi niya kaya napa nguso ako
Natawa ako sa sinabi niya, "Hindi, okay naman ‘yung utak ko?" Saad ko sabay turo sa ulo
"Fúck, okay fine. Earlier, you asked me how I found out that our child is alive, and I said that I am a prosecutor. Ano ba ang ginagawa nang prosecutor?" Inis na sabi niya
"Nag i-imbestiga?" Sagot ko naman, papikit-pikit pa na tila walang alam
"Exactly. I found out our child is alive through an investigation."
"Ah okay"
"Now will you please drink the dàmn milk before I pour it on your face?"
"Bakit mo ako inaaway? ang gulo mo! gusto mo ba ma high kick kita?"
"No, I'm sorry" Malumanay na sagot nito
"But just please, drink the milk" Dagdag pa niya sabay ngiti.
"iinumin ko naman, napaka oa mo!" Sambit ko sabay inom nang gatas.
Ilang minuto kaming tahimik walang nag lalakas loob na mag salita o bumasag nang katahimikan. Pero gusto may matagal na akong gustong tanungin, kahit na alam ko na hindi niya naman sa-sagutin.
"Can I ask you something?" Tanong ko sakaniya, ni hindi ko magawang tumingin sa mga nito
"Go ahead" He replied, his voice was still gentle as he looked at me.
"Caleb, kung talagang nangyari ‘yung dilemma, sino ba ang pinili mo?" Tanong ko sakaniya
Sambit niya, "You, it's always been you."
"Pero anak natin ang kailangan na piliin mo"
This time, he said nothing.
"Gusto mo pa rin ba na makapag higanti sakin?" Tanong ko sakaniya muli
"No," He replied instantly, his eyes never leaving mine. "I'm over it." his tone was firm and sincere.
I stayed silent, Ngunit may nagpahiwatig sa akin na hindi siya lubusang tapat sa kaniyang sagot, ngunit may bahagyang tanda ng poot at galit sa kaniyang mga mata.
"Masakit pa rin ba?" Tanong ko muli na hindi tumitingin sa mga mata niya
There was a long and awkward pause before he finally answered, "Yes" He said with a slight ache in his voice.
"Sorry, kasalanan ko naman talaga eh.." Sambit ko sakaniya, ngunit walang luma-labas na salita mula sakaniya tahimik lang ito ngunit nakikinig sa mga salitang sinasabi ko
"Kung sana nag ingat ako hindi ko siya masasagasaan sorry, gustuhin ko man na ibalik lahat at i-tama ang pag kakamali ko hindi na puwede eh, maniwala ka araw-araw kong pinag si-sisihan ang lahat"
Iniangat niya ang aking kamay gamit ang kaniyang sariling kamay at inilagay ito sa kaniyang dibdib. Naramdaman ko ang pagtibok ng kanyang puso laban sa akin, naramdaman ko ang init ng kaniyang katawan habang magkayakap kami.
I let out a relieved breath and leaned my head on his shoulder, his presence was reassuring and comforting, a feeling of quietness and peace filled my body.
The only response I got was his silence, he was just hugging me tightly and letting me rest my head on his shoulder. I could feel his heartbeat on my ear. It was so soothing and calming, I was overwhelmed with the warmness and softness of his embrace.
After a few minutes of silence, he finally spoke up. "Calista.."
"Bakit?" Takang tanong ko
"I love you" Malumanay ngunit maliwanag niyang sinabi saakin.
"Ma-Mahal mo ako?" Takang tanong ko ka-agad akong bumitaw sa pag kakayakap sakaniya at tinignan siya muli sa mga mata
"Pero malaki ang kasalanan ko, sobrang laki nang kasalanan ko" Dagdag ko pa
"I know, but dàmn I love you." He said softly, his arms around me once again.
Hindi pa man nag tatagal ang pagkaka-yakap niya ay nag ring na ang phone ko. Kinuha ko agad sa bag ko ang cellphone ko at agad na sinagot iyon.
Avery's voice filled my ear, her tone was urgent and anxious. "Calista, may warrant of arrest na kami, thanks to Caleb"
"Si Caleb?" Sambit ko, agad na tinignan si Caleb sa gilid ko. He remained silent, his eyes averted from me. I can see his body tense and his muscles tighten as he listened to what Avery was saying on the phone.
"Naka abang na 'yung mga pulisya, pumunta
na rin kayo ka agad, hawak na namin 'yung arrest warrant, sa airport, okay?"
"Okay, I'm on my way" I quickly replied
"Good" she said and then hung up. I turned my attention back to Caleb. He was still watching me with his steely gaze, his body was still tensed up.
"Caleb, thank you" Bulong ko sakaniya
"I only did what's right, anak ko rin ‘yon" He replied softly. I stood up slowly and slowly he also stood up, still holding me by the hands. He walked over to the door then opened it.
He gently guided me towards his car, he walked around the car, opening the passenger seat door for me to get in. I sat down on the seat, my body trembling from the surge of emotions that was flowing inside me.
Nanginginig ang buong kalamnan ko sa buong byahe, andaming tanong na gusto kong i-tanong sakaniya. Kay mommy.
"You okay?" He asked, napansin niya siguro ang pag ka bahala ko
I nodded silently as I stared at the dashboard, looking at everything but looking at nothing at all, just wanting to process my thoughts and feelings. He stayed silent as he watched over me, concern in his face, I could see him rubbing his thumb over the steering wheel as he drove.
Nang makarating kami sa airport ay agad akong pumasok sakto naman at nakita ko agad si Avery.
"Hey!"
"Nakita niyo naba?" Dagdag na tanong ko, napansin niya naman ka-agad si Caleb sa likuran ko
"No, I have checked all the CCTV footage, but she keeps changing locations. Paikot-ikot lang siya sa airpot. So possible na andito pa rin siya"
Tinignan ko ka-agad si Caleb, napa tingin ako ka-agad sa kamay ko dahil sa pag hawak niya sa kamay ko
"We'll find her, trust me." Caleb spoke up with certainty in his tone. Tumango naman ako.
"Dito ako sa area na 'to" Turo ni Avery.
"Mas better if hiwalay kami ni Caleb, mas mahahanap natin siya" Saad ko naman, kumawala ako sa pagkakahawak ni Caleb sa kamay ko
Caleb's grips tightened around my hand when I tried to pull away. "No" He spoke up firmly.
"Caleb.."
Napa tingin naman si Avery saming dalawa, ramdam ko rin ang pang-aasar na tawa ni Avy
"We will look for her together, and I will be the one holding your hand" Sambit nito at agad na kinuha ang kamay ko, napa buntong hininga na lamang ako at sumang ayon.
"Come on, let's go" He pulled me closer to him, inikot namin ang airport nag babasakaling makita namin siya.
"Caleb, wait I think alam ko na kung nasaan siya" Saad ko, "Antayin mo nalang ako"
"Wait"
"Kaya ko" Sambit ko agad na humiwalay sakaniya
I ran through the airport at full speed, trying to find my mother and making sure i don't miss anything . My heartbeat was pounding in my chest as I ran. I had to find her.
I could hear Caleb calling my name behind me, but I didn't look back. Hingal na hingal ako, may isa pa akong hindi na-pupuntahan.
"The comfort room" I checked every single stall but she wasn't there, I was about to leave the restroom when I realized that the last stall was locked. I knocked twice before putting my ear on the door and listening closely.
I heard a woman's voice whispering "Shh...shhh...I can't let them know...I can't let them know..."
I realized it was my mother's voice, naririnig ko ang kanyang malalim na paghinga, tila kinakausap nito ang kaniyang sarili.
"Mom!" Sigaw ko, habang malakas na kinakatok ang pintuan
"Shh...shhh...don't let them know" She whispered back quickly, I could hear the panic in her voice.
"Ma'am may problema po ba?" Tanong nung janitress.
"Yung susi nito?! Kailangan ko nang susi!" Sigaw ko, aligaga naman itong kinuha ang susi sa bulsa niya.
Agad ko naman sinubukan na ilagay ang susi, nang mabuksan ko iyon.