Chapter 37 – Christian
Blake’s P.O.V.
“Do you like my auntie Georgie, Blake?” Ian asked me while we were watching Georgina prepare the foods from the other side of the pool. Ginulo ko lang yung buhok niya as an answer and continued to change the settings of my camera.
I’m not denying that Georgina and I are becoming close everytime na magme-meet kami kay Ian. True enough, she’s really eye-catchingly beautiful specially in her black bikini. I brushed my thoughts away when she caught me staring at her and smiled.
“My Mom says you should come over to our house. And my auntie Georgie tells me she has a crush on you.” Ian placed a finger in his lips. “Shhhh… don’t tell her I told you.”
“Georgie!” I called her over tapos nagpanic si Ian and ran papunta sa likod nung hammock. “Ian says you have a crush on me daw.”
She blushed and gave Ian a deadly glare before she composed herself. “Hahaha. Don’t listen to what that little brat tells you.” She sat beside me and we both watched Ian ride his inflatable boat in the pool. “Thanks for bringing us here. Its really nice to get away from work sometimes.”
“No problem.” I answered. We’re currently in my private property outside New York which I bought a few months ago.
“Ian mentioned me that you have a wife. I hope you wouldn’t mind if I ask you, but in the few weeks we’ve known each other, I haven’t seen her. Are you really… married?”
“Yes, I’m married.” I hesitated to answer. I saw her expression change from curious to disappointed but she composed herself agad. “But its really… I don’t know the right word. But let’s just say… things aren’t normal? We’re not together anymore but we didn’t have closure.”
“Owww… sorry about that. How long have you been married?”
“7 years. And we’ve been together just for a year. She gave up on my recklessness. She ran away, I never saw her again. Ang masama pa doon, I didn’t have the chance to meet our son. Hindi ko nga alam kung kilala ako ng anak namin eh.”
I was shocked when she held my hand and rested her head on my shoulder. “I can’t imagine you being reckless. Sa totoo lang, I think you’ll make a good father if she would just let you.”
“Thanks.” Somehow, what she said made me feel light-hearted.
We just stayed like that for a couple of minutes. Nagulat nalang kami nung maalala namin si Ian. Pagkatingin namin, he was already in the deep part of the pool. Unfortunately, he was still rowing.
“Ian! Ian, come back here!” Georgie yelled but Ian just laughed. Tumayo pa siya sa boat ang nag-belat. Before I knew it, she dove into the pool and went to Ian. I joined them making the 3 of us laugh.
After our afternoon swim, Ian fell asleep in my arms while we were having a walk. Georgie’s hand is entertwined with mine as we walk. We sat in one of the benches and let Ian sleep soundly in my arms while Georgie was twisting and studying the ring around my finger.
“Ikaw, Georgie? Bakit wala kang boyfriend?” I asked her.
“Let’s just say I’m one of those people who believe that love can only be found in books.” I got taken aback sa sinabi niya. She noticed that I became a bit hesitant kaya she gave an awkard laugh and rested her head in my shoulder. “Love is not true, Blake. People just want to be married because they want or need something from their partner and yung asawa nila na yun ang nagfu-fullfill nung needs na yun.”
“But love is true. It just needs to be in the right time.”
“I don’t want to burst your bubble, but its not.” No matter how she tries, I can sense sadness in her voice but I knew that she’s strong enough to resist on falling. I know that something in her just gave up.
“So, what made a Georgina Lerwick give up on love?” She face me and tinaasan niya ako ng kilay.
“Really, Blake? You think I gave up on love?” I just nodded as an answer. She shook her head and laughed softly. “Well, in that case, no. Try to think, ikaw, you’re married pero hindi mo alam kung hanggang ngayon, kayo parin ng wife mo. Yung mommy ni Ian, she’s running away from her husband for I don’t know what reason. And ito, lagi nalang talaga. Everytime I fall for someone, something happens. Parang ngayon, I’m falling for someone, yun pala married na.” She gave out a heavy sigh.
I suddenly became aware of what she’s saying. “I’m…” I almost ran out of words because I didn’t know what to say. “I’m sorry. I didn’t intend to make someone… fall for me. I just wanted to make Ian feel what’s it like to have a father.”
“Its okay. I’ll get by.” She smiled like it didn’t matter. “Blake, don’t you think its time you should let your wife go? It’s been years.”
“I’ve thought of that. Pero hindi ko kaya. She’s all over me, I can’t help but to think about them everytime I feel hopeless.”
“Would you try if I tell you I’ll help you?” Her blue eyes were full of hope. “Please, Blake? Let’s just try. If things don’t work out, I’ll walk away without any hesitations.”
I let out a heavy sigh and looked away from her. I didn’t know what to reply. If I’ll forget Rein, will things go back to normal and will I be happy? Does Georgina really mean her proposal?
“Alright, I’ll try.” Without saying anything, she pressed her lips to mine. It was just a smack but I couldn’t help not to feel right.
**
Past midnight na when we got back sa vacation house. Pagkatapos kasi magising ni Ian, sabi niya he wanted to play in the park pa so we ended up staying there until the whole afternoon. We also ended up having dinner there.
“I’ll just tuck Ian into bed. I’ll be back.” She then, kissed my cheek and carried the now tired and sleeping Ian into one of the vacant bedrooms.
Just when I’m about to fall asleep because of waiting for Georgina, she came out of the room and sat next to me. Nakasandal siya saakin, her body close to mine and her head on my shoulders. She held my hand and slowly removed Rein and I’s wedding ring.
I pulled my hand away from her but she took it back. “Blake, I’m helping you. Remember?” She removed the wedding ring and palce it safely on the table.
“I don’t know if this is going to work.” I admitted.
“Just let me.” She faced me and slowly, our lips met. I involuntarily closed my eyes and savoured her cherry flavored lips.
Rein. I remembered when I tasted Rein’s lips in hers. I don’t know how that happened. I tried to push my thoughts away from Rein but I lost. All I could think of while I was kissing Georgina was Rein.
“You need to stop thinking of her.” She broke away the kiss. Her voice almost a whisper because of hurt. “If you want to be happy, you need to forget her. I’m here with you, she’s not.”
“I’m so sorry.” I trapped her in an embrace to make her feel how sorry I am. As much as I want to forget her, I just can’t.
“I must admit, I didn’t know you that much. All I knew before I met you was your famous name. I didn’t know how you looked like or what spell made all the girls fall crazy for you. Now, I know.” She laughed. “Maybe that’s why your wife fell for you too. Ano nga pala name niya?”
I was about to answer when we heard screams and crying coming from the room where Ian was sleeping. Hurriedly, Georgina and I ran into Ian’s room.
I was shocked to see Ian all sweaty and red when we came into the room. His eyes were still closed and he was screaming in horror. I watched Ian from the door. I couldn’t move, I didn’t know what to do. He’s dreaming…
“Ian! Ian!! Wake up! It’s just a bad dream.” Georgina panicked while waking up Ian. “Christian!! Wake up!”
And in just one move, Ian opened his eyes and hugged Georgina tight. “I-I want to talk to mommy…” He said trying to hold back a sob.
I went to the kitchen to get Ian a glass of water and when I came back, he was already on the phone talking to his mom. “Mommy, p-promise me po you’re okay… You wouldn’t d-do bad things again r-right?... I miss and l-love you too mommy… Basta mommy, nipromise m-mo h-hindi mo nigagawa ulit yun ha?... O-opo.”
My heart ached to see Ian like that. He was still crying and halata mong takot na takot siya. Georgie excused herself to talk to Ian’s mom privately. Ian almost finished the glass of water and after a few minutes of comforting him, he fell asleep again. Tumabi na ako sakanya and just watched him sleep.
“I’m sorry you had to see that.” Georgina came in with her eyes swollen. Halata mong umiyak rin siya. “He just experiences bad dreams from trauma pag pagod siya.”
“Trauma? Did something bad happen to him before?” I asked curiosly.
“To him, wala. But to his Mom, meron. Ian’s mom almost died infront of him.” Tumabi siya saamin and traced Ian’s face with her hand. “Last year lang yun eh. Nasa photoshoot ako noon eh. Naiwan si Ian and yung mommy niya sa bahay. Nagulat nalang ako when the shoot director called me and said na may batang umiiyak na tumatawag. Pagkasagot ko, it was Ian telling me na hindi daw gumagalaw yung mommy niya tapos ang dami daw blood.”
“What happened?”
“Suicidal attempt. It wasn’t her first time to do that. She did that a couple of times already. Luckily, it still isn’t her time.”
“Christian pala totoo niyang name no?”
“Oo. Christian Blake Bustamante. Funny how you have the same names. Parang mag-ama na talaga kayo.” I went stiff. My senses went back when Georgie held my hand.
“Is there something wrong?”
“Ha? Wala naman. I was just wondering if I could meet Ian’s mom? Para lang malaman niya na I have no bad intentions with her son. Okay lang ba?” I asked her.
“Yeah, sure. Since she’s always busy, if you want, she’s going to have her official launch as resident model for the brand we’re working for. You can meet her in that event. Sa isang araw na yun.” I thought of it for a moment. I didn’t want to go in those socializing parties. “Hey, don’t worry. I’ll be there naman, right? And si Ian is there to, his mom’s taking him. Pinagpa-alam na namin siya eh.”
“Alright. For the sake of meeting Ian’s mom.” For the sake of my family.
“Good night, Blake.” I heard her say before she gave me a kiss on my cheek.
Before I closed my eyes, I thought about Georgina’s plan for me to forget Rein. I don’t know if I can do it. But what’s going to hurt if I tried? I’m not going to trick myself in thinking that nothing changed after 7 years.
My mind went back 7 years ago when I closed my eyes. I could badly remember how Rein pleaded for me not to go when I told her that our relationship isn’t going to work. I could picture how her face turned pale and scared when I shouted at her when she first told me about her pregnancy. I feel so bad. I feel so guilty. If only I had stayed that night, things would’ve been easier.
There must be a reason why I met Ian and why I became instantly close to him. There must be a reason why we have the same names.
Just one last try. And if I’m right, I’ll never let her go again.