"Hey mom!"
Salubong sakin ng anak ko habang bitbit ang mga gamit pang eskwela.
Ipinasok ko kasi sya muna sa mga mini workshop classes to prepare him and to practice his social skills. He's a smart kid, I just thought that he may have a hard time socializing with other kids, since he's an only child. Maybe next year, I can enroll him in a kindergarten already as advise by the school principal I'm planning to enroll him in. But for now, I'm trying to equip him for that.
"Honey, how's school? looks like your happy, hun" sabi ko habang nakatingin sa mga batang kasabay nya palabas ng school at ngayo'y kumakaway paalis.
"new friend?"I asked him
"Yes mom. and you know what mom? I have a lot of kwento for you" he said while having a hard time saying 'kwento'.
"Sure. But before that, let's get inside the car and go meet Dada. Do you want that?" I said while leading him to get inside the car.
He nodded full of excitement.
How blessed I am to have a very energetic and adorable kid like Sean. No word is enought to describe how full my heart is since he came to my life. He's just beautiful inside and out.
He's my life now.
I drive our way to my dad's house and while driving I remember that day when Kyle and Lucas finally met each other.
When we all finally calmed down, Sheen ordered some food. And while eating she told me what happened awhile ago
"Lucas?" She blurted out.
In shocked, Lucas was about to say a word when a man who's wearing all black suit call him and said something to him, and he just stared at Kyle while the other man in black suit was talking to him. And after the talk, he lean down to level his face to Kyle
"Hey kiddo, I have to go, I'm sorry I wasn't able to give you 20 pesos but my assistant already talked to the vendor and you may get all the ice cream for free." the man-in-black just finished talking to the vendor. And out of excitement Kyle quickly went to the ice cream vendor and ask for Ice cream
Sheena didn't notice that Lucas was staring at him the whole time.
"Sheena..." Pag-umpisa nito nang magsasabi na sana ng palusot si Sheena biglang bumulong nanaman ang assistant nya at mula doon nagmamadaling umalis sila ni Lucas ngunit pasulyap sulyap parin sa kinaroroonan nila.
"Sheena, I'm sorry I think I got you into trouble." Pagsusumamo ko sa kanya while Kyle was busy removing the mushrooms in his creamy pasta.
"No, you never got me into trouble, Jane. I just did my part as your bestfriend, okay? Atleast now we have Kyle, you have him and all you need to do is to find a way on how to get away from him, or if you change your mind, reconcile with him" she said with sincerity
"No, I won't reconcile with him, alam mo naman ang nangyari sakin diba? I will never let that happen again. Ayoko ng maulit ulit 'yon. Masyadong masakit, Sheen. It was my greatest nightmare."
Nandito na kami sa mansion ni Dad, which is 3 hours away drive from the city pag walang traffic.
"Dada!" Pagsalubong ni Kyle kay Dad at nagyakapan pa sila ng mahigpit.
"My precious grandson, how are you? Did you miss Dada?" He asked kyle while I push his wheelchair and kyle is walking by his side
"Of course, Dada. I missed you so much! " He even gestured a big circle to show how mich he missed his Dada. They both laughed at what Sean did.
"But, dada why are you seating there? Are your legs in pain?" He asked and checked on it.
"Hey Kyle, Dada just need to rest. He's not in pain" pagsagot ko sa tanong nya.
We all went to the dinning area at sabay sabay kumain ng napaka sarap na luto ni Manang Leya. Siya talaga ang pinaka cook dito sa bahay. Silang dalawa ni Manang Fel ang pinakamatagal na dito, sumunod naman si manong Fred. Mula bata kami, sila na talaga kasama namin ni Jeff.
"Dabest talaga luto mo manang! Ito yung lutong hinahanap hanap ko sa Canada eh." Sabi ko habang kumakain.
"Ikaw kasi eh umalis ka pa yan tuloy namiss mo luto ko" pagbabahagi nya bigla naman akong natigilan ngunit di ko pinahalata yon.
Nauna ng matapos si Kyle kaya pinasamahan ko na sya sa isa sa mga bagong katulong sa taas para makapag pahinga na.
"How's my princess?" Paninimula ni Dad pagkaalis ni Kyle. Alam ko naglalambing lang sya
"I'm good, Dad. I have Kyle" I smiled at him. trying to cover up all the emotions I've kept hiding.
"uh-uhm. So, what's your plan for now?" he continued.
"Dad, balak ko po sanang iwan muna dito si Kyle habang ako po babalik munang Manila titingnan ko po kung anong maitutulong ko sa kumpanya at kay jeff." Paglalahad ko at nakita ko nanaman ang pagiba ng timpla ng mukha ni dad ng mabanggit ko ang kumpanya. Maaring isa to sa nakadagdag ng stress nya kaya naman parang mas lalong lumalala ang kalagayan nya.
"Ikaw ang bahala Liezle, kailan ka aalis?"
"Baka bukas na bukas rin po."
"Just know, Princess, that I will always support you and trust you with whatever decision you make." Dad said while reaching out for my hand.
"Thanks, dad" I look back at him
"I'm your father. And just know that whatever it is, I will always understand and love you with all my heart, my Princess." He kissed the back of my hand and leave.
I know, dad. You, Jeff, and Sean. You're all I have. I promise to love you with all my heart too.
The next day, I just finished fixing everything that Sean would be needing while I'm away.
"Sean Kyle, behave while momma is away ha. I promise to visit you from time to time. And I will call you always. Okay? You won't miss me that much, I promise!" I told Sean while he's with his Dada.
"Yes, mom. I promise I will behave and will protect Dada from monsters." He then pull out his sword that was gifted to him by Manong fred and started playing in his own little world. We all just laughed at him.
"Dad, please take care of yourself. Okay? I'm just one call away. Not really, but just call me and I'll pull every strings there will be to come at you" I told him which made him laugh so hard.
I want him to always be this happy.
"Okay, okay. Don't worry about me, okay? Just do whatever it is you can do. At the end of the day you and Jeff, and Sean are what important to me now." He hold my hand and pulled me in for a hug.
"Babalik balik naman po kami dito, Dads. Don't worry, I got Jane's back!" That's sheena. She went here to come fetch me. convoy daw kami. Ewan ko ba sa kanya sayang pa ng gas.
"Ingat kayo, ha. Wag mag text habang nagmamaneho. Lalo ka na sheena" paalala ni Dad samin habang papalabas na kami ng mansion.
"Yes, Dads. Sinabihan ko na po si boyfie, wag masyadong clingy. 3 hours lang naman" baliw talaga tong isang to.
"Bye, dad. Bye, Sean!" pagpapaalam ko sa kanila. Nagpaalam na rin ko sa mga kasambahay lalo kanila Manang.
Nandito na kami ngayon sa condo ko. Yes, my condo where I first moved in as a real adult.
"Nothing has changed" bulong ko sa sarili.
"Ano yun, girl?" tanong ni Sheena. Tinawanan ko na lang sya.
"Nagugutom ako. ikaw ba?" tanong ko sa kanya habang nagbubukas ng fridge na walang mga laman.
"tinatanong pa ba yan? Syempre naman! dali, order na!" pagmamadali nya sakin. Itong babaeng to minsan di ko na rin talaga matatantya.
I tried opening ny food delivery pero down ang system. Ganun din kay Sheena. Kaya we got no choice but to eat out.
"Nako, buti na lang talaga night life dito sa BGC. Kahit gabi maraming makakainan." bulalas ni Sheen.
"yep." maikling sagot ko sa kanya.
"ay grabe ka talaga. Kung anong itinaas ng energy ko, syang ibinaba ng iyo." pagbibiro nya. Kaya nagtatawanan kaming pumasok sa isang italian resto.
"Hindi ba tayo under dress?" pagtatanong ko kay Sheena. We're only wearing our casual attires kasi nga galing pa kaming byahe.
Naka white oversized hoodies lang ako with matching cycling shorts at white crocs habang si Sheen naman naka tank top lang na black at momjeans at naka matching crocs lang kami. Hinubad na kasi ni sheen yung jacket nya sa condo.
"Oks lang yan. Bawi naman sa itsura." Pagbibiro ni Sheena. Alam kong sinabi nya lang yun to assure me that it's okay whatever we are wearing.
"For two please." sabi ko sa waiter at ginuide nya naman kami sa table fro two in the middle section ng resto. dun lang kasi may space.
"Gurl, parang under dress nga tayo." sya ngayon nagsabi na under dress kami.
"Hayaan mo na nandito na tayo" sabi ko na lang sa kanya.
Everyone's wearing formal wear. Having meetings, dates, family dinner. Habang kami parang napadaan lang.
Nakapag order na kami ni Sheen. Medyo pricey lang dito kasi nga siguro dahil premium Italian restaurant sya. I let her order my food kasi dun sya magaling. Hindi naman ako talaga mahilig kumain. I just eat to fill my empty stomach.
While waiting, wala na kaming mapagusapan ni Sheen kaya we're just scrolling down on our phones.
The waiter arrived and bring in all the food we ordered.
Siguro dahil na rin sa pagod sa byahe. Mabilis rin kaming natapos kumain ni Sheen kaya nag tawag na kami ng waiter for bill out.
"Hi, may I have the bill?" I asked the waiter.
"Okay, ma'am." the waiter went to the cashier and talked to the people there. It's taking a bit longer than usual and si Sheen na iinip na rin. Kaya I went up to see the waiter that assisted us.
"Hi, is everything okay? I would like to ask for the bill lang sana from that table" I pointed at our table where Sheen is just really almost dozing off. I feel bad for her.
"Ah, yes. ma'am. Sorry po, we're just coordinating some things with the management regarding your bill." I was confused.
"sorry, what does my bill have to do with the management? I only came here to eat--" I stopped mid-sentence when a guy from the back office door went out to the cashier.
"Okay na ba?" he asked the cashier staff and smiled at them tapos tumingin sya sakin.
"hi!" bati nya.
Sa sobrang gulat ko, wala sa sarili rin naman akong bumati sa kanya pabalik. "hi!"
"Bale po sir, I just had a system error, pero okay na po sya ngayon. Na free of charge ko na po yung sa table nila ma'am." sabi pa ng staff.
"Okay, that's good. Anymore concern?" baling nya naman sakin.
"wala na po, sir."
Tsaka lang ako nagising sa ulirat ko nung paalis na sana sya.
"Hey, Kris." tawag ko sa kanya. lumingon rin naman sya agad
"Hi, Jane. Naalala mo pa pala name ko. Kala ko nalimutan mo na rin ako." Pagbibiro nya. umakto pa syang humawak sa dibdib na parang nasaktan sya literal.
"o-of course not. I'm. with. Sheen. We just ate our dinner." he smiled as if saying that he knows what I'm talking about.
"d-did you just--- is this yours?" I still can't believe what's happening.
"uhm, I guess so?" He said laughing
"hey, Jane. What's taking you so long ba? tara na antok na ako, please." Sheen said at my back. She might have not seen Kris yet.
"Hi!" Bati ni Kris sa kanya.
"Uy! Kris! Long time no see, bro! dito ka nagwo-work?" bati nya rin pabalik kay Kris. Mukhang nawala antok nya.
Sila talaga naging magkasundo sa mga barkada namin. Pareho sila ng energy at trip kaya.
"Long time no see! musta? I actually own this resto na. After dad's..." pagsasalaysay niya
did his dad passed away na? since when?
"oo nga, bro. I heard the news about it. Anyways, Congrats dito sa resto mo. It was a really nice experience by the way." they really are that comfortable with each other. How?
"Sige sige. Thank you, Sheen!" nagkamayan pa sila. "Thank you rin, Jane! finally, after many years" he quietly laughed "mukhang magkikita na tayo nyan madalas. Kaya see you around!" sabi pa nya bago na ako hilahin ni Sheena palabas.
Ano yun?
what just happened?
Minumulto na ba ako?