Up until now hindi makapag sink-in sa'kin na may anak na siya. Maybe this was the reason why he left me..
BAKIT LAHAT NG NAGUGUSTUHAN KO NAGIGING STRAIGHT?!
"Umiiyak 'yan?" tanong ni Clara. Hawaka ng mga papel na puro kaso.
"May anak na raw si, sino ulit 'yon?" tanong ni Daphne.
Nandito kami ngayon sa bahay ni Ysabelle. We got Ysabelle as our architects for our house.
"Jagger ata," si Azalea naman ngayon.
"Oo, tama. Jagger," pag kumpirma ni Ysabelle.
"Lah, gago?" si Clara na muntik ng madura ang iniinom na tsaa.
"Andami ko bang naging lalaki at 'di niyo na siya matandaan?" naiinis kong sabi.
"Hindi mo alam?" Sabay-sabay na sabi ng tatlo.
Imbis na umiyak pa lalo ay nabuwsit lang ako sa kanila. Ay mga bruhang 'to! Akala mo talaga napakaraming kong naging lalaki pagkatapos ni Jagger.
Si James, Brandon, Rock, Zhed, at iba pa. Iyon lang naman, hindi ko na matandaan ang iba.
Nagpupyos na pinadyak ko ang aking paa. Naiinis na sa nangyayari. Hindi nila ako siniseryoso!
"Oh, ba't ka affected? Kala ko ba matagal ka ng move-on don?" she said then sips her tea.
"Kasi naman e!" Parang bata kong sabi. Ang mga bruhang 'to! Nahihirapana na'ko.
Bigla-biglang tumunog ang cellphone ko. The one I use for my clinics.
Unknown Number:
Hi, this is Jagger. AJ really wants to see you. Nag ta tantrums siya. Sorry to bother, alam kong may work ka. Pero she badly wants to see you kasi. I understand if you have something else to do. Sorry to message you at this hour. You must be resting na.
I stared blankly.
"What the fuck," bulalas ko sa nabasang mensahe.
"Bakit?" usisa ni Ysabelle at lumapit sa'kin. Binaba ang hawak na blueprint tubes sa counter top.
"Ti-next ako ni Jagger," I said slowly. Also, slowly sinking it in my mind.
"Bakit nakikipagbalikan?" walang kwentang tanong ni Clara.
"Gaga, may anak na nga e. Makikipagbalikan pa." irap na sagot ni Daphne.
"By the way," naiintrigang sabi ni Azalea. Agad naman kaming tumingin kami sa kaniya.
Well, old habits die hard. Mga dakilang chismosa pa'rin kami.
"Nakita ko siya sa isang restaurant ko nung nakaraan. May kasamang maliit na babae? Maputi? Singkit?" Unti-unti pag aalala ni Az. "Pero I doubted that. Kasi nga diba bisexual siya, I didn't expect him to have a child."
Slowly Azalea's words stab me. So totoo nga!
"Plus, he's wearing just a pambahay. So I assume around BGC lang siya." she added.
We told stories then decided to go home on our own houses.
Hirap akong makatulog sa mga nalaman ko.
May anak na siya. Most probably, may asawa na rin.
I sighed. Okay, Jav. You have no chances. Kalimutan mo na siya.
I went to my closet. Picked a nice suit for Ysabelle's upcoming project.
Ako pa ang kinuhang partner, kapal ng mukha.
"Saan ba 'yan?" I asked her on the phone.
Hindi ko alam kung ano ang mangyayari basta she just called me then told me to dress up.
"Sa Cainta lang,"
"Adik ka ba? May clinic ako ngayon." Pag-papaala ko sa schedule ko.
Akala ko naman inside Manila lang, sa Rizal pa pala!
Sumakay na'ko sa kotse. Pumunta sa bahay niya at sinundo siya. Ysabelle's beauty never fade. It stayed. At dahil don araw-araw may mga kliyente siya na walang ginawa kundi ang landiin siya.
"Shit," she uttered.
I just looked at her, giving her the intensity of my stare. Pero hindi niya ako pinansin. What a bitch.
I continued driving. Nakarating na kami sa project niya at may nakita akong pamilyar na lalaki. Before I could go out, pinigilan ako ni Ysabelle. She also blocked my view.
"Uhm, Jav. I'm really sorry pinag-drive pa kita papunta dito. Uhm, you can go back in Manila now. I-I have s-someone to accompany me na. I'm really sorry." Natataranta niyang sabi. I accepted, her face look apologetic that's why. Nagmadali rin siyang bumaba ng kotse.
Curiosity is slowly eating me. Gusto kong maki-usisa. But then, it's Ysabelle's personal life i'll let her decide kung sasabihin niya ba 'yon or what.
Pabalik na ako ng Manila ng maka kuha ng tawag. It's from an unknown number.
"Doc?" he said.
For a minute, I didn't respond. Hindi ko maisip na maririnig ko ulit ang boses niya over the phone. Remove the fact that he's my client.
It's been a while... And I'm still not over him. How will I if he keeps appearing in my life.
"Uhm, Hello?" He suddenly said.
I was startled. I didn't know what to say. Bakit ba siya tumatawag?!
"Uh-" the only thing that came out of my mouth.
"Doc, gusto ka po makita ni AJ. She wants another session." he said patiently.
I snapped back at my senses. Shoot! Oo nga pala at nag-text ito kagabi.
"Yeah. Uhm... You could wait at my clinic. I'm sure nandyan naman yung secretary ko." I tried sounded to be professional.
"Thanks, Doc." he said then ended the call.
Okay, Javier. What the fuck was that?
Mababaliw na'ko! Literally!
I tried to calm myself before going out to the car. I realized I forgot to bring my coat!
Damn you, Ysabelle.
As I walk inside the hospital I was praying that I have an extra coat there.
Habang palapit na ako sa clinic ko ay hindi ko maiwasan ang kabahan lalo.
Javier, get yourself together! You didn't like this to happen. Besides, next week uuwi na rin si Dra. Malfacio.
I was near my clinic when I saw my secretary.
"Doc, andami pong nakapila ngayon. May aattendan pa po kayong convention sa tanghali, pin-alis ko na po 'yung iba." She explained. I nodded at her then went straight to the office.
First in line was Jagger. I shrugged. I should've expected that.
"Hi, Antonette." I called cheerfully to his daughter.
"You can call me AJ po," she said shyly.
"How are you today?" I asked her.
We exchanged stories for a while. According to Mrs. Malfacio's record. She had a trauma from the death of her mother.
So... Patay na pala ang asawa ni Jagger...
I made her do some stuffs that will trigger the memory with her mother. She looks in pain, but eventually she will overcome it.
Weeks have passed and same old routine happened. Every three days AJ will visit me for her sessions. We sometimes do it in a park, mall, and somewhere that is exciting. Of course, still with Jagger.
The awkwardness between us is still there. Like there was a barrier blocking us to talk to each other. I sometimes wonder, naka move-on na kaya siya sakin? I guess he did. I mean, he has a child now. I'm sure he's over me.
"T*ngina talaga!" I screamed in Clara's face.
"Eto ayaw ko kapag pumupunta tayo sa club e. Kung hindi si Ysabelle ang iiyak, ikaw." Nauubos ang pasensya nitong sabi.
"Patay na..." I slowly said.
"Sinasabi mo diyan?" Daphne naman ngayon.
I don't know where we are headed. Ang alam ko lang ang sakit ng ulo ko.
The next thing I knew, I'm peacefully asleep in my bed.
Nagising na lang ako sa sigawan na naririnig ko sa baba.
Ano nang nangyayari? Alam ko nakatira ako mag-isa.
Walking down the stairs I slowly recognize their voices.
"Gaga! Mali 'yan!" Sigaw ni Azalea kay Ysabelle. Naka apron silang dalawa at may hawak pa na itlog sa kamay si Ysabelle.
"Sunnyside up lang naman! Anong takip-takip?!" naiiritang sabi nito.
"Para maluto kasi yung ibabaw!" nauubos na pasensyang sabi nito.
I continued walking there I saw Clara on my center table tutok na tutok sa laptop niya. Daphne over my terrace door talking to someone. And the two fighting at my counter top.
Since I just woke up. My head is buffering getting all the details I'm seeing and hearing.
Nang makabawi ay nagsalita agad ako. Nakuha ko naman ang atensyon nila.
"Wala ba kayong mga bahay?" masungit kong sabi.
"Javier!" ani Ysabelle na nakangiti. Agad namang inend ni Daphne ang katawagan. Si Clara na sinara na lang bigla ang laptop dumiretso sa dining table. Si Ysabelle na niyakap ako bigla. Si Azalea na may kinuha sa microwave.
Ysabelle guided me on my own dining table. Azalea is serving me some food. Pancakes, bacon, eggs, and coffee. Then they all joined to eat me. Walang nagsasalita sa amin. After we eat si Daphne at Clara ay naging abala sa sink. Hinugasan nila ang plato at nilinisan ang dining table.
Naguguluhan akong tumingin sa kanila. Anong trip ng mga 'to? Bakit sila nasa bahay ko? Bakit nila ako pinagsisilbihan?
I was about to ask when Ysabelle speak up.
"Javier, sorry wala kami para damayan ka. We didn't know. Kung alam lang sana namin yung nangyari kay Jagger and how it affected you. We're really sorry." natataranta at nag-iingat niyang sabi.
"Sinasabi mo diyan?" naguguluhan kong tanong. What's with Jagger? Bakit biglang natungkap ang tao? Nung nakaraan lang hindi nila maalala yung tao. Before I could say a thing inunahan ako ni Clara.
"You told us the Jagger's wife is already dead." dirediretsong sabi nito.
"And we have thought that giving you a company could lessen the pain," dugtong ni Daphne.
"So we made you breakfast and gave our services." Pagtatapos ni Azalea.
I was shock. I wasn't planning telling them. Wala naman kasi sila dapat ika bahala. I mean, kung affected ako sa pagkawala ng asawa ni Jagger. It's not their business anymore. Maybe, I made them worry last night. I won't deny the fact that I was so wasted.
I told them everything I knew. The connection I had with the child and Jaggger. And everything, after that they went to their job.
I was planning on making this my day off. But then, Jagger messaged me and said that we will meet later on a restaurant nearby the hospital. He said that AJ is much more comfortable with me than Dra. Malfacio, and we'll talk about the papers.
Pumayag naman ako, para makita ko rin si AJ. Who am I kidding?
Javier, pumayag ka kasi gusto mong makita si Jagger. H'wag mong idamay ang bata. Anang isang bahagi ng isip ko.
I shook my head. I got up from my bed and went to the shower. I picked a decent clothes. Not formal but not to casual. It's just a lunch.
I went down to my garage and got my car, drove all the way to the restaurant.
There I saw James, he's with Sapphire.
"What a cute little gir!" I told her when I was near their seat.
"Ninong!" She cheerfully said.
"Join us," pag imbita ni James.
I took a seat and then ordered for myself a lunch. I was in the middle of playing with Sapphire when my phone rang.
"Hello?" I said, not looking at the caller ID. My attention was on Sapphire
"Nandito na'ko," his hard voice hit me! I almost forgot! Si Jagger!
Nag mamadaling umalis ako sa table nila James at pumunta sa entrance. I saw how his eyes traced me from where I came from.
"L-let's have a seat," ni nerbyos kong sabi. Isang tango lang ang natanggap ko.
Nakita niya kaya akong kasama si James? I bet he did!
Gusto ko ng magpakain sa lupa. Ano na lang ang iisipin niya?
He ordered for us. Siguro'y alam niya na kumain na ako at dessert lang ang inorder niya para sa'kin.
We stayed silent while eating. His eyes never left me. Kahit noong nag oorder siya nakatingin parin siya sakin.
"About the papers..." I said, thinking every damn words that's coming out of my mouth. Tinaasan niya lang ako ng kilay. Nilabas niya ang past records niya mula kay Dra. Malfacio.
"Have you contacted Dra. Malfacio?" I said trying to ease away any awkwardness that's filling the air.
"Yeah... I was just waiting to your approval," he said slowly.
I nodded at him and looked at the papers. I noticed that AJ isn't with him, maybe with her nanny?
"Where's AJ?" I asked him.
"I never told you she'll come," he said sarcastically.
"Okay, no need to be sarcastic. I was just asking." I said while flipping my eyes.
Someone patted my shoulders. I should've know this was coming.
"Una nako, Javier." James said then winked at me. He didn't gave me time to respond. He just walked away like he was a damn jealous boyfriend. Umirap ako. I cursed him million times inside my head.
"You two look good together," Jagger said then left me in restaurant dumbfounded.