Pinasabay ni Tonton si Richard sa pagkakape dahil nga sa plano nito. Pero, hindi naman plano eh. Totoong ikakasal sila ni Dawn, mahal nila ang isa't isa.
Richard: *Di parin makapaniwala* Ah... K-kamusta na?
Tonton: *Nilapag ang iniinom* Okay lang naman, masaya sa work and sa bahay. Ikaw?
Richard: Ayun. Okay lang din *Medyo malungkot ang tono* Still looking for the missing puzzle piece. *Tumingin ng deretcho kay Tonton* Nagsimula ka na ba ng pamilya mo?
Tonton: *Napangiti sa tanong* Malapit pa lang. I'm with my fiancee.
Richard: Talaga? Kelan ang kasal? *Ngumiti*
Tonton: *Tumungo* She doesn't want to rush. Alam niya naman kasing loyal ako sakanya kaya ayaw niya magmadali. *Tumingin kay Richard na parang may pinahihiwatig.* Kampante siya na hindi ko siya lolokohin tulad ng lalaking iniwan siya para sa sarili niya. Yun bang, mas inuna ang sarili bago yung taong mahal niya.
Richard: *Medyo tinatamaan sa sinasabi ni Tonton*
Tonton: Yung alam niyang, hindi ko siya iiwang umiiyak. At hindi ko siya paiiyakin, alam niya kasi na. Never ko siyang sinaktan at never mangyayari yun. *Ngumiti* Ikaw ba? Kayo ni Lacey?
Richard: *Naalala ang mga ginawa kay Dawn* Ah... Kami ni Lacey? Ayun, ganun padin.
Tonton: Wala ka pang balak?
Richard: Ibang tao kasi yung gusto ko makitang naglalakad papalapit sakin sa altar. *Ngumiti* Wala pa, hindi pa ako handa na magpromise sakanya. *Lumihis sa usapan* Ton, matanong kita.
Tonton: Ano yun?
Richard: Alam mo ba kung nasaan si Dawn? Kung saan yung address niya? Gusto ko siyang makausap.
Tonton: *Di alam ang isasagot* No. Uhmm... Hindi ko alam. By the way, I want to invite you to a picnic bukas. Kasama ko fiancee ko, para magkakilala na rin kayo.
Richard: May gagawin ata ako bukas eh.
Tonton: In case, here's our telephone number.*Binigay ang calling card* Call if you are coming. Bring Lacey with you.
Richard: *Kinuha* I will. Thanks!
Tonton: *Tumingin sa orasan* Oh yea, I better get going. My daughter (Reffering to Charlie) is waiting.
Richard: *Nagulat* May anak ka na?
Tonton: *Ngumiti* Yeah. She's adorable. I'll bring her tomorrow. *Tumayo* It's nice seeing you again Chard.
Richard: Okay. *Tumayo* My pleasure.
********************
Dumating si Tonton sa bahay at nakita niyang tulog si Dawn sa sofa. Tinabihan niya ito.
Tonton: I can't believe na kaya mo akong mahalin, I never thought I could take his place. Thanks for loving me back Dawn. *Hinalikan sa pisngi*
Dawn: *Nagising* Anyare?
Tonton: Wala. Sorry to disturb you but nagkausap kami ni Richard kanina.
Dawn: *Umayos ng upo* Talaga? Anong sabi?
Tonton: *Umakbay kay Dawn* Ayun. Gulat ng malaman niyang magaasawa na ako. *Tumawa* I invited him on a picnic tomorrow.
Dawn: Anong sagot? *Nakangiti*
Tonton: Di pa daw sure but tatawag naman daw. *Tumayo* Bihis muna ako.
Dawn: Okay. Before you go down tell Charlie to fix her toys after she plays and see me on the kitchen. *Smiled*
Tonton: Haaay. Okay. *Bumulong* Mother duties.
Dawn: *Tumingin kay Tonton* I heard that. *Tumawa* Magbihis ka na!
Pag akyat ni Tonton, tumunog ang telepono.
Dawn: *Narinig ang pag ring* I'll get it! *Sinagot* Hello?
On the phone.....
Richard: Hello? Is Tonton there?
Dawn: *Nagulat dahil kilala niya ang boses na iyon.* Uhmm... He's in his room.
Richard: *Nakilala ang boses* Okay, would you mind if I ask who's on the line?
Dawn: *Kinabahan* I-I'm his. Fiancee, is there anything you would like to say? I mean leave a message?
Richard: *Naguluhan* Oh. Okay, yea. Please tell him I will come tomorrow on the picnic.
Dawn: Got it. Anything else?
Richard: That's all. Thank you.
Dawn: Okay. Bye... Uhmm... who's in the line? *Chuckled*
Richard: *Kilala niya talaga ang boses na iyon.* Oh sorry. Not being rude, it's Richard.
Dawn: *Nagulat dahil tama ang hinala* Okay Mr. Richard... See you tomorrow.
Richard: Yea. See you. *Gulong-gulo*
Dawn: *Binaba ang telepono* I KNEW IT!
Sakto namang bumaba si Tonton galing sa kwarto.
Tonton: Sino daw? *Lumapit kay Dawn*
Dawn: It's Richard.
Tonton: *Hinawakan ang braso ni Dawn* You okay?
Dawn: *Ngumiti* Of course. Syempre kailangan ko tanggapin na he really is a part of my life at hindi ko maiiwasan yun. Besides, I have you.
Tonton: Yan ang inaantay kong sabihin mo. *Tumawa*
Dawn: I love you.
Tonton: I love you too. *Niyakap si Dawn*
Hindi napansin ng dalawa na kanina pa nandoon si Charlie.
Charlie: Mom, Dad. You guys are too sweet! *Tumawa*
Dawn: *Napatingin sa anak* Better to be sweet than bitter!
****************
Naunang dumating si Richard at Lacey sa meeting place kung saan sila magpi-picnic. Sumunod na dumating si Tonton.
Tonton: Chard!
Richard: Oh, Tonton! I thought kasama mo yung fiancee mo?
Tonton: Pinauna niya na ako, ang kulit kasi nung bata. Nagpapahabol around the house. *Ngumiti*
Richard: Ah. *Napatingin kay Lacey* Tonton, you know Lacey right?
Tonton: Yeah, ang dahilan kung bakit nasira ang buhay ni Dawn. *Ngumiti* Yea, Hi! *Kinamayan si Lacey.* Kamusta?
Lacey: *Nakipagkamayan* Doing great.
Inayos na nila lahat ng mga gamit. Pumuwesto sila sa malayong parte para tahimik, nakatalikod si Richard at Lacey ng biglang....
Dawn: Hay! Finally we're here! *Ngumiti*
Richard at Lacey: *Napatingin at nagulat*
Tonton: *Tumayo* Salamat at nandito ka na.
Richard: *Hindi makakibo*
Dawn: Ang hirap kaya maghabol ng bata sa bahay.
They kissed.
Tonton: I want you to meet my fiancee, Dawn. *Ngumiti*
Lacey: *Hindi makapagsalita*
Dawn: *Ngumiti* Guys, hindi ako multo.
Charlie: *Kinulbit si Dawn* Mom, he's the guy at the mall.
Dawn: I know, told you he's an old friend of mine. *Ngumiti*
Umupo na sila.
Richard: Kamusta na? *Tumingin kay Dawn*
Dawn: *Ngumiti* Happy. Ikaw?
Richard: Ah... Ganon din.
Lacey: Dawn, we weren't informed na ikakasal ka na pala.
Dawn: I would like to keep my personal life private on media. *Tumingin kay Tonton at Charlie na naguusap sa gilid* Ayoko kasing may tao na manghimasok na lang bigla sa buhay namin. Lalo na kay Charlie.
Charlie: Mom?
Dawn, Richard at Lacey: *Napatingin*
Dawn: Yes? *Hinawakan ang kamay ng anak*
Charlie: Can I roam around? *Pacute*
Dawn: Uhmm... You might wanna ask your Dad about it. *Tumingin kay Tonton* Hon?
Tonton: Hmmm... Okay. *Ngumiti*
Charlie: Yehey! *Niyakap si Dawn at Tonton* Love you both!
Dawn: Stay where we can see you or else. *Hinalikan ang noo ng anak*
Charlie: I will Mom, I'll be walking around our area. *Naglakad na*
Richard: I never thought may anak na pala kayo. *Fake smile*
Dawn: Yea, it came as a surprise *ngumiti*
Tonton: Happy to have her.
Lacey: Tayo kaya Richard? Kelan tayo magkaka-baby? *Tumingin kay Dawn*
Dawn: Di ako maiingit. Anak ni Richard si Charlie heller. *Tinignan si Tonton at ngumiti*
Richard: Dadating din tayo diyan.
Bigla namang tumunog ang cellphone ni Dawn.
Dawn: Have to take this call. Excuse me. *Tumayo at naglakad papalayo*
Richard: Hanapin ko lang yung washroom. *Tumayo at sinundan si Dawn*
Pagkababa ni Dawn ng phone, nagulat siya at nandoon si Richard sa likuran niya. Gusto niyang yakapin si Richard. Pero, wala na siyang nararamdaman dito. Ikakasal na siya sa iba at masaya siya doon.
Dawn: Anong ginagawa mo dito? *Tinaas ang isang kilay*
Richard: Sinundan ka *Ngumiti*
Dawn: May sasabihin ka ba? *Dumistansya ng kaunti*
Richard: Diba sabi ko sayo I'm winning you back?
Dawn: Oh come on Richard. Ang tagal na non *ngumiti* Ikakasal na ako at may anak na kami ni Tonton. Do you really think you can still... and will win me back?
Richard: Bakit? Hindi naman sa lahat ng oras ang mga plano natutupad. Nagbabago ang tadhana. Hindi natin masasabi.
Dawn: That is nonsense. *Tumingin sa gawi ni Charlie* Charlie! Come here!
Richard: Nonsense for you to say. *Ngumiti*
Dawn: What ever *Inirapan si Richard*
Richard: Kinikilig ka lang eh! *Tumawa*
Dawn: Ako? Oh noooo! Imposible yan. After what you did. *Tumawa*
Charlie: *Lumapit* Yes Mom? *Napatingin kay Richard* Oh... Hi?
Richard: Hi. You really look like your Mom.
Dawn: Magkahawig din kayo Richard. *Ngumiti* Maiwan ko muna kayo ha.
Umupo sa grass ang dalawa....
Charlie: Mom said I shouldn't talk to strangers. *Tumingin kay Richard*
Richard: Am I a stranger to you?
Charlie: Kinda... *Tumingin sa palad niya*
Richard: *Napansing parehong pareho gumalaw ang mag-ina* Why don't you want to?
Charlie: *Nakatungo* Cause, strangers... They could hurt me at any reason. Especially cause my Mom is the richest at successful woman in Paris. Good thing I have my Dad, he never left me. *Smiled*
Richard: Don't be afraid of me okay? I will also protect you.
Charlie: *Tinignan si Richard at ngumiti*
Richard: Can you tell me a story of your mom she told you?
Charlie: *Nagisip* Uhmmm.... Okay. This is about a guy that she loved the most, she told me that this guy was her everything, she can't eat without, sleep without or even live without. It may sound over but, that's what she feels when she's with that guy. *Tumungo* Not until the guy hurt her and chose another girl over her. She told me her life was nearly falling. *Tumingin kay Richard*
Richard: *Na-guilty at nakita ang malungkot na mata ni Dawn kay Charlie*
Charlie: She tried to move on. Even though she almost wasted her tears crying for the guy she thought she'll spend her forever with. Then she met my Dad, well. My Dad isn't really the real one, I kept on asking my Mom but she keeps on changing the subject. She loved my dad, but she told me that.... The guy who left her behind, is the one she loved most and always will be inside her memories and heart. She can never love my Dad more than he loved this guy. *Naluluhang tumingin kay Richard*
Richard: *Hindi makapagsalita*
Charlie: I never thought that... Even if that guy has brought so much pain in her life, she could still love him unconditionally. My Dad knows it. He knows that, mom will always love this guy no matter what. Now I dont know why am I crying over my Mom's story. I never even thought she'll tell this to me.
Richard: What if... You met that guy?
Charlie: I would ask him. Why did he leave? I'll be telling all the things my Mom has sacrificed for him.
Richard: What if you met your real Dad?
Charlie: I would ask him... Why does he have to leave my Mom alone in the midst of her pregnancy. He's useless, he didn't care at all.
Richard: If you have something to say to this guy... What would it be?
Charlie: I'll tell him that, my Mom did everything and he wasted his chance. In just one snap, he lose everything. He should think about it.
Hindi alam ng dalawa na nakikinig pala si Dawn sa usapan nila. Naiiyak na si Dawn dahil parang, pati yung bata. Naaapektuhan. Simula't sapul. Narinig niya lahat. LAHAT. Halatang halata naman kay Richard na tinamaan siya sa mga sinabi ni Charlie, ang bata niya pa pero. Ramdam niya ang sakit na naramdaman ng nanay niya.
Bumalik na si Dawn sa picnic place at sandali lang ay dumating na sina Richard at Charlie. Medyo madilim na kaya kailangan na nilang umuwi. Ngunit may pahabol si Tonton.
Tonton: Chard, imbitado kayo sa kasal namin. Next next month na *Ngumiti*
Richard: Sige! Salamat at best wishes!
They bid goodbyes at umuwi na.
Napaisip si Richard sa lahat ng sinabi ng bata. He lost his chance, pero kaya pa yun ibalik. May isang buwan pa siya para sabihin kay Dawn lahat lahat ng nararamdaman niya. Kailangan niya unti-untiin.
Ang plano niya? Bawiin si Dawn dahil mas nararapat ito sakanya.
Paano niya iyon gagawin?
Yan ang dapat ABANGAN.
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End of Chappy!
Love you all :*