"Excellent job Kaylareen!" I beamed at Gerard as he opened his arms and I ran towards him to hug him. Binuhat niya ako at inikot.
"I did it!" I shouted at him and we were both laughing. "The senator loved the theme for the party... he loved everything."
They even popped a confetti for me. One of our officemates opened a bottle of wine to celebrate and gave me one. "Cheers to Kaylareen!"
After months of preparing one of the biggest event of the year, I'm just so glad I finished the job. Sinong mag aakala na ako ang mag aasikaso sa isang birthday party ng isang politiko?
I've been the event manager of big buisness men in the country pero iba parin kasi ang aura kapag mga malalaking pangalan sa Pilipinas ang kliyente mo. I met the president, the vice president, and even celebrities last night! That's how big is the event that I organized and I'm happy to see the proud look on Gerard's face.
"I knew you can do it. You just have to believe in yourself." He told me with a big smile. Gerard was with me throughout the preparations to help and guide me. Merong ibang nga request ang senator na nahirapan talaga ako pero dahil tinulungan ako ni Gerard, mas napadali ang preparations.
"Dahil sayo." He rolled his eyes.
"I just helped you with my connections. All the idea came from you." It's now my time to roll me eyes at him. "Admit it to yourself. You're good at this. You are perfect for this job."
"Oo na lang!" Natatawang sagot ko dahil alam ko na hindi niya ako titigilan hanggang hindi ko sinasabi sa kanya na sumasang-ayon ako sa gusto niya.
I took my phone when it lit up and opened a text that I got from Riona.
From: Little Rio
Mommy sunduin mo ako later. I'll stay with you tonight right? I told daddy na.
Napangiti ako nang mabasa ang text niya. Marunong na siyang nagtagalog ng konti ngayon. I remember 9 months ago my conversation with Riona about what happened between me and Klaus.
"Rio." I called her as I sit beside her on the couch as she reads a magazine. Ibinaba niya ang hawak niya at tumingin sa akin.
"Yes mommy."
"I want to tell you something about me and your dad." Tinignan niya lang ako na parang hinihintay niya ang sasabihin ko.
I waited for Klaus to contact me before I tell Riona everything. My heart almost jumped out of my chest when he called my phone and he asked me to meet up. Mag usap daw kami pagkatapos namin ihatid si Riona since first day of school nung bata. I expected something only to be disappointed. Gusto lang pala niya na pag usapan namin ang tungkol kay Riona. Napagkasunduan din namin na ako na lang ang magsasabi sa anak namin.
He did not even mention anything about us.
Now, It's been a week since I last talked with Klaus. Hindi ko kaagad kinausap si Riona dahil... paano kung magbago ang isip ni Klaus? What if he had a change of heart and decides that he still loves me?
Pero mukhang malabong mangyari ang iniisip ko. Whenever I ask her if he has even asked about me my heart would only shatter ever time she says no.
"What is it mommy?" Napailing nalang ako. She's really impatient when it comes to this. Hindi siya matitigil sa kakakulit kapag nalaman niya na may sasabihin ka. She would want to know it now than later.
"Rio your dad and I agreed on the days you'll stay with me and him... is that alright with you?"
"Can't we all stay together in one house?" She innocently asked. Huminga ako ng malalim bago nagsalita.
"Baby, your dad and I... we really care for each other but we are not the same as those other parents... we are different... we don't..." Ilang beses kong pinaulit-ulit sa utak ko ang mga sasabihin kay Riona. Yung mga dapat kong isagot pero ang hirap pala kapag nandito ka na sa mismong sitwasyon.
"Will it make the both of you happy, mommy?" Napatingin ako kay Riona. Nakatingin lamang siya at hinihintay ang sagot ko. Ngumiti ako sa kanya—pilit na ngumingit at tumango. "Then I don't have any problem with it as long as you are both happy."
"Sira pa rin yung sasakyan mo, di ba? Want me to drive you home later?" I looked at Gerard.
"I'll pick up Riona later."
"Sunduin natin si Riona pagkatapos ihahatid ko na kayo pauwi." Nag-isip muna ako. Nakakahiya naman kasi lately parang nagiging personal driver ko na si Gerard. Hatid-sundo niya kasi ako simula nung nasira yung sasakyan ko. Ewan ko ba naman sa talyer, halos two weeks na wala pa rin.
"Come on, its not like your home is far from mine." He raised both his eyebrows at me. "I'm not going to stop until you agree." I roll my eyes.
"Alright." He grinned at me kaya siniko ko lang siya sa tagiliran. Makulit din talaga to.
"Ahem, ahem." Sabay kaming napalingon nang makarinig ng pekeng ubo mula sa likod namin at agad na nakita namin ang mga katrabaho namin na may malisyosong ngiti.
"Kung di lang namin kayo kilala iisipin na talaga namin na may namamagitan na sa inyo." Napairap at iling nalang ako. Mga kalokohan ng mga to.
"We're just friends." I told them as I walk away to have a slice of the cake.
"Eh bakit ka tumatakas?" Pahabol nilang sigaw. Hindi rin nakaligtas sa akin yung mga yiieee at mga pang aasar nila kay Gerard. Mga taong to, walang magawa sa buhay talaga. Napangiti nalang ako.
So far, my life's heading on the right track. Noon kasi ginagawa ko ang trabaho ko dahil kay Riona. I was so focused on making a living that I forgot how to actually live. I forgot to have fun and to love my work. It's about time I focus on myself and career... and of course my daughter.
"Isn't that Klaus?" Tanong ni Gerard nang malapit na kami sa gate ng school ni Riona. Kumunot ang noo ko. Ang sabi ni Riona alam na ni Klaus na ako ang susundo sa kanya. Nakita kong lumabas si Riona ng gate at agad siyang nilapitan ni Klaus. "Bumaba ka na, I'll park there." Turo niya sa isang parking sa malapit. Tumango naman ako.
"Mommy!" Riona yelled as she saw me walking towards her. Klaus immediately looked at my direction.
"Hi." I greeted them as Rio gave me a kiss on the cheek. Sinanay ko kasi siya na palaging humalik sa akin kapag dadating o kapag maghihiwalay kami. I smiled at Klaus. "Ang sabi sakin ni Riona alam mo na sa akin siya sasabay pauwi ngayon."
"Uhh, yeah. I just thought you needed a ride since she told me that your car stopped in the middle of the road last time." Natawa ako at tinignan si Riona.
"She told you that." I gave Rio an accusing look and shook my head at her who just giggled. "It was embarrassing but we survived."
"That scene was really funny, mom." She said while giggling and I can't help but to giggle with her as we remember how our car got towed.
"You look good." Napatingin ako nang magsalita si Klaus. "Short hair really does suit you."
"Thanks." Napahawak ako sa buhok ko na hanggang kalahati lang ng leeg ko. Nung una hanggang sa may collarbone lang ang gupit ko pero hindi ako nakuntento hanggang sa maging ganito na kaikli. I don't know why I keep on cutting it.
New hair means new me and it will lead me to a new life was actually my mindset that time.
"So shall we go?" I looked at Klaus and bit my lower lip before I talk. Kumunot ang noo niya. "Is there a problem?"
"Tito Gerard!" Sigaw ni Riona bago pa man ako makasagot kay Klaus at tumakbo siya papunta kay Gerard upang salubungin. Gerard crouched down to meet her with a big hug and lift Riona up.
"Ihahatid na kasi kami ni Gerard." I told Klaus. Lumingon ulit ako kay Gerard at Riona.
"Oh." He said with disappointment in his voice.
"Next time, maybe?" I immediately added. Why do I feel so guilty? Wala naman akong ginagawang masama. Ugh self!
"Niklaus." Bati ni Gerard nang makarating siya sa tabi ko habang buhat si Riona.
"Gerard." Klaus greeted back but he didn't even smile. I suddenly felt uneasy.
The atmosphere suddenly feels heavy habang tinitignan ko ang dalawa na mukhang nagsusukatan ng tingin... o baka feeling ko lang?
Feelingera ko naman masiyado.
"Lets go?" I asked Gerard who gave me a smile and nodded his head. Tumingin ako kay Klaus. "Mauna na kami."
I gave him another smile as I turn around and walked to Gerard's car.
"Why don't we eat first?" Gerard asked and Riona immediately agreed kaya wala na akong ibang nagawa kundi ang pumayag.
Tumingin ulit ako sa direksyon ni Klaus bago ako sumakay ng sasakyan ni Gerard. Naglalakad na siya pabalik sa sasakyan niya. He does seem a bit... sad? Napailing ako. Ano ba tong iniisip ko? My life's on the right track. I reminded myself. Kakaayos ko lang sa buhay ko. Ayoko nang sirain kaagad.
"Are you alright?" Gerard asked me. I smiled at him.
"Of course." He gave back a smile. I should stop overthinking and making assumptions.
Besides, Klaus and I have both moved on.