ADELINE
PAGKARATING NAMIN sa resto, nagulat ako nang maraming tao ang sumalubong sa 'mmin having their meals. Pinaliwanag sa 'kin ni Alex na may gaganaping company party ngayon.
And just like yesterday, I asked for the same breakfast set para i-serve sa 'min.
But this time, I won't leave my daughter to eat alone.
"Mommy? Bakit ang daming people?"
Nakamasid siya sa mga taong nasa paligid. Si Mike, nasa 'di kalayuang table lang din. Just like the old times, kumakain habang nagmamasid.
"May party kasi sila mamayaa. Dito ang venue nila."
"Aahh.... Dami nila."
Napangiti ako. "Yeah."
May nakita akong nagpapasok ng mga musical instruments na mukhang kasamahan din nila. They're all excited, kitang-kita sa mga tawanan nila. I wonder kung ano'ng company nila.
Hanggang sa narinig kong may tumunog na phone malapit sa 'min ni Andrea.
I know it's not mine...
"Andrea?"
Napansin kong patingin-tingin siya sa suot niyang bag.
"Mommy?"
"Is it your phone?" I asked.
"Ahm... Ah..."
"You can answer it. Baka si Daddy 'yan."
"Daddy? Ah, yes. Ahm..."
Mukhang nag-aalangan pa rin siya pero kinuha na rin niya 'yung phone nito sa bag. Mayamaya, sinagot na rin niya. Medyo natagalan pa siya bago niya nasagot dahil sa pag-swipe nito.
"Hello?"
Tumingin lang ako sa kaniya.
"Ahm... Goodmorning."
"Is it Daddy?" I asked.
"Ah..." She shook her head.
No? "Then who—."
"Ahm please wait," sabi niya sa kausap nito. Nilayo niya sa tenga niya ang phone. "Mommy, it is my friend from the airport."
The stranger. "Okay... Bakit siya tumawag?"
I have to tell this to James. It's not safe na kumakausap siya nang hindi namin kilala. This can be a scammer or a bad guy, or worse - kidnapper.
"He is sorry about last night. He didn't pick up the phone when I called him."
"Oh, okay. Ah, Andrea? Can I talk to him kahit sandali?"
"Mommy?"
"'Di ba? Sabi ko last time, it's better kung kilala ko 'yung friend mo. Para...hindi kami mag-alala ni Daddy."
"But..."
"It's okay, Andrea. Tatanungin ko lang naman 'yung name niya and...sasabihin ko rin ang name ko para magkakilala kami. We will not worry after that."
"You will let me talk to him even after that?"
"Oo naman. Basta ba good guy siya—."
"He is! He's a good guy, Mommy."
"Then let me talk to him."
"Wait, Mommy."
Tumango lang ako. Hinayaan ko siyang ilapit ulit sa kaniya ang phone nito.
"Hello? Ah... My mommy wants to talk to you. Yes... Okay." Tumingin sa 'kin si Andrea saka nilapit ang phone sa direksyon ko. "Mommy?"
Ngumiti ako saka inabot 'yung phone.
I was about to speak nang bigla na lang may malakas na tumunog from the group of people na may dalang instrument.
Tss!
"Hello? I'm Andrea's—."
Napahinto na naman ako nang mag-umpisa na talagang magtugtugan ang mga guests sa table nila. This is not right. Nakakaistorbo sila sa ibang guest dito—or maybe they think na sila lang ang tao.
Tumayo ako to find a place na tahimik. Lumingon ako kay Andrea habang nakalayo ang phone sa 'kin.
"Dito ka muna, ah? Maingay dito kaya lalabas muna 'ko para makausap ko siya nang mas maayos."
"Okay..."
Tiningnan ko si Mike na palapit na sa 'min at that time. He's really efficient with his job. Alam niya kung kailan namin siya kailangan.
"Ma'am."
"May kakausapin lang ako sa phone. Bantayan mo muna si Andrea, please."
"Yes, Ma'am."
I nodded saka ako naglakad palabas ng restaurant. Doon ako dumiretso palapit ng beach area para mas tahimik.
Nang huminto ako, doon ko lang ulit nilapit ang phone sa tenga ko.
"Hello? I'm sorry for the interruption. By the way, I'm—Hello?"
There's no response.
"Hello—."
Pagkatingin ko sa screen, in-end na niya ang call.
"Hssh! Nice talking to you—."
Biglang tumunog ulit ang phone ni Andrea. Nang makita ko ang name sa caller I.D., it says – Ice Cream Guy. After two rings, sinagot ko na ulit ang phone.
"Hello?"
Hindi ka agad siya sumagot, and it felt weird.
"Hello? Are you there—."
"Hello."
As soon as marinig ko ang boses ng nasa kabilang linya, para akong binuhusan ng malamig na tubig. This can't be... I shook my head as I closed my eyes.
Bakit hindi pa niya ko tigilan???
Lahat na lang ba about sa kaniya?!
And out of nowhere, may bigla na lang nagtawanan sa gilid ko that caused me to shriek at mapaatras.
"Oops. Sorry, Miss."
"Sorry."
Hindi ko alam kung sino sila o ano'ng itsura nila dahil nakatingin lang ako sa baba habang sapo-sapo ang dibdib ko sa kaba. Tiningnan ko 'yung phone na hawak ko. Continuous pa ang call. Nakikinig pa rin siya sa kabilang linya.
I shook my head.
This must be a bad idea.
In-end ko ang call at saka mabilis na naglakad pabalik ng restaurant. I know I proimised Andrea that we'll both enjoy our breakfast together pero—the phone is ringing again.
Why am I nervous of this?
I'm just pathetically crazy. Seeing him here? Hearing his voice? Feeling his presence?
No.
Huminto ako nang paglalakad saka tinitigang muli ang phone. I can still the laugh at mga nagpapatugtog sa resto pati na rin ang kantahan ng mga tao roon.
I swallowed the forming lump in my throat.
Calm down, Adeline. You're being paranoid.
The phone keeps on ringing so I took a deep breath before answering it.
"Kung sino ka man na tumatawag sa daughter ko, you should stop this. Hindi ka namin kilala, and you should not taking advantage of innocent children like Andrea. Stop calling her, or I'll swear I track you down and we'll see each other in court."
I ended the call.
Saka lang ako nakahinga nang maluwag. Napahawak ako sa malapit na silya to gain support.
Why are you acting like this, Adeline?
This is a big mistake.
Yeah. A mistake. I'm just being unreasonable.
Kailangan ko ulit na makausap 'yung taong 'yun, or else Andrea will get mad at me.
Inangat ko 'yung phone ko saka nag-search sa phone logs. Tinawagan ko ulit 'yung may name na Ice Cream Guy. After three rings, sumagot na ito kaagad. Thank God.
"Hello??? I'm sorry. Ahm. This is Andrea's mother. Ah... I was just—."
"Adeline."
Everthing around me went still.
"Adeline..."
I ended the call instantly.
No... This can't be.
I think someone just squeezed my heart.
This is no longer a dream...
I heard his voice—.
"Adeline."
And this time, I heard his voice, not on the phone, but in front of me. Mabilis kong inangat ang ulunan ko to witness the storm that I've been so afraid to face.
The storm that robbed my happiness.
"Y-You..?!" I exclaimed.
"What are you—."
My whole body froze. I can't feel my feet or the ground na kinatatayuan ko.
And he just looked at me as if I'm a piece of art to his own amusement – his own scornful pleasure.
"Jarret," I whispered.
********************TO BE CONTINUED*****************
RELAXXXXXX~
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