We all went to the dining area tuwang tuwa ako kasi, I made sure na magkatabi si Ann at Brickston. I took a shot of my younger brother who was blushing tawang tawa ako he looked like a tomato! I immediately sent it to our family gc, I was trying my very best not to laugh. Chase looked at me weirdly, hindi ko nalang sya pinansin at nagsimula nang kumain. I noticed that Brickston opened his phone he looked at me and glared. I raised a brow at him, we all ate in silence after that.
"So Ann since you're here for the rest of the summer, what are you going to do here?" I asked
"Oh well, I'll be exploring the city take some photos for my exhibit and probably help Uncle Carlisle at the cafe. I'll " Ann answered Bridgette and continued eating "The food is delicious Ms. Bridgette"
I smiled at her "No need to call me Ms. Just call me Ate Bridgette. My brother Brickston here loves photography as well. Our parents actually hire him as the photographer of our products so that we could post them online, perhaps you could let Ann see your works Brick, maube you guys could even work together. You guys could tackle about it after dinner."
"Yeah sure that sounds great" Ann replied mas lalo namang namula ang pisngi ni Brickston. He hid his emotions by swallowing his food without chewing causing him to choke on his food. Ann tapped his back and gave him water.
The moment I finished eating, I offered to take Chase's daughter para naman makakain sya, to my surprise his kid was pretty talkative. She was shy at first but when she became comfortable with me she started talking about her hobbies, her friends, and many more including the things she loved doing. She's a smart kid. Chase did an amazingly great job raising her alone.
but then she asked a question that shook me...
"Are you going to be my mommy?" I knew the kid was longing for a mother, but I couldn't just afford telling her "no" she had that hopeful look in her eyes. Chase was about to answer her but I cut him off.
"No sweetie. I'm just your Aunt Bridgette, but how about we go to the mall before I leave for London while your daddy's at work, and you could always call me anytime. How does that sound" she smiled widely and hugged me. Medyo nagulat pa nga ako, but I hugged her back
"Thank you Auth Bwidgette" she still couldn't speak that clearly, I ruffled her hair and smiled at her. When we finished eating Chase's daughter fell asleep, but Chase insisted on helping me do the dishes kaya naman sina Ann at Brickston ay pumunta na sa terrace.
While we were doing the dishes and cleaning the hapagkainan Chase apologized to me.
"I am really sorry sa sinabi nang anak ko, she's like that sometimes" I smiled and tapped his back
"You don't need to apologize, baka nakalimutan mo before everything that happened to us we were friends, and besides the kid is longing for a mother why would I break her heart? You raised her well Chase, it's just that you can't avoid the fact na hahanapin nya pa din ang mommy nya."
He sighed "I know, and I am sorry for everything that I did to you Leviannah. I regretted every thing I did to you. I know, I shouldn't have done that. Thank you for saying that to my daughter kanina"
"Ano ka ba it's all in the past. " I smiled sincerely. It has been decades since that happened matatanda na kami ngayon, he has a kid, while I on the other hand just ran away from my wedding.
"But still can you give me this chance to explain to you? It has been decades B. I have holding this is for decades. Can you let me?"
I smiled nervously. He called me B again. "Okay if you insist" We sat down at the living room kung saan natutulog ang anak ni Chase. She's surrounded by pillows and she has a blanket over her.
"That day when you caught me kissing Celest. I didn't want that to happen, but I had no choice. This isn't a lame excuse, it's the truth. Remember that time when my sister got bullied? Well Celest and her friends were my sisters bullies, and we all know na ang Daddy nya ang may-ari nang school. There was this time when my s-sister had to steal answer keys for Celest. They had a video of her doing it so she blackmailed me, if hindi kita iiwan she will expose my sister. Our company had a problem as well, so I h-had no choice but to leave you. She kissed my that day, we were talking about this party that her parents prepared for her, she saw you coming and she kissed me and told me na sa likod ka namin. I pushed her away, but I was too late you were running towards the gate at sumakay ka agad sa sasakyan nyo. The next day I was already in a plane with my parents and siblings papuntang America. So I had no time to explain, we left everything we had here, I didn't know how to contact you, years has passed naging okay na ulit kami. I went to the Philippines for our reunion pero hindi ka sumali. I heard you donated a huge amount of money for the school though. I know you were still fragile that time you had doubts because of your mother, but look at you now you are so brave and amazing we grew apart B, but look at us now. Maybe we aren' t really meant to be. You are made for someone else, and God gave me an amazing daughter. I am so sorry for everything B…" he teared up a bit and smiled
I was tearing up a bit when I heard his explanation, yan din ang sinabi nang bestfriend nyang si Paulo but I didn't listen. "Paulo explained everything to me but I didn't listen, I am so sorry you had to go through that Chase…but what you said is true. We really aren't meant to be, we were meant to grow apart from each other and become the best versions of ourselves apart. Thank you for making everything clear Chase. What happened to the both of us made us stronger indeed" I smiled at him medyo naiiyak ako but I still managed to smile. We continued talking.
Chase knew what happened to my mom and dad. Siguro isa yan sa mga rason why he regretted what he did. I was still so fragile that time. But I saw sincerity in his eyes. After cleaning we talked about our classmates back in the day. I laughed and smiled. It has been days since my supposed wedding and here I am laughing with my ex. I felt lighter a bit. This was the closure I needed, and I am glad that the Lord gave me this opportunity to clear everything out with Chase. Mas naging magaan ang pakiramdam ko. I wouldn't lie, for years I had this anger towards Chase. It made me hate men too, well except for the men in my family. Syempre niloko nya ako, who wouldn't be angry, yung baggage sa puso ko medyo nabawasan.
"I'm so glad we had this talk B"
I smiled "Me too" we hugged each other nagulat nalang kami when we heard a click. We broke our hug and saw Ann and Brickston giggling may hawak na camera si Brickston habang na sa gilid nya lang si Ann. We laughed with them too.
"So ano friends?" he handed me his left hand and we did our handshake na mahigit ilang dekada na namin hindi nagawa.
Bumaba na din si Ann at Brickston. Chase carried her daughter. Hinatid na namin sila palabas nang mansyon.
"I'll just chat you Ann. uhm bye" Brickston said. Lumapit si Ann sa akin at bumeso, she also kissed Brickston's cheek it instantly made my brother blush
"I'll be waiting..Ate Bridgette thanks for the lovely dinner, your house is amazing too, bye"
nauna na sya sa sasakyan ni Chase. He looked so shock.
"What the bloody hell happened?" I slowly pushed him
"Hayaan mo na they aren't kids anymore, umuwi na kayo gabi na"
Wala pa din sa sarili si Chase when he entered his car. The moment their car drove away inakbayan ko si Brickston at pumasok na kami sa mansion.
"So what happened?"
He blushed "Uh nothing. I'll go shower and to bed. Night Ate" agad naman syang tumakbo pataas but he tripped buti nga mahina lang ang pagka tumba nya. I laughed.
Hayyy binata na talaga ang kapatid ko…