Chapter 8
2188 Words
“DADDY!” sigaw ng tumatakbo na bata para mapalingon siya dito at magtaka nang salubungin siya nito nang mahigpit na yakap. “I missed you...”
“I don’t know you child...” tugon ni Kayden sa malamig na tono at pilit na tinanggal ang pagkayakap ng bata sa kanya binti. Ngunit makulit ang bata at nagpumilit itong nanguyapit.
“Daddy, don’t kid around,” natatawang wika ng bata at ngumisi nang malaki para makita niya ang kulang na ngipin nito sa gitna. “It’s me, Aiden.”
“Aiden?” tanong niya at tinitigan ang mukha ng bata.
Nang makita ang kaunting pagkahawig nito sa kanila ng kambal niyang si Ayden ay pilit na nilayo niya ito gamit ng isang kamay. Isang kamay na binuhat niya ito sa kuwelyo at nilapag sa pinakamalapit na upuan.
“Don’t touch me. I’m not your daddy, child...” wika ni Kayden at inayos ang bahagyang nagusot na kanyang pang-ibabang saplot.
Sumipat siya dito at nakatingin lamang ito sa kanya na para bang palapit na ito sa pag-iyak. “Daddy, don't say something like that...”
“I’m not your daddy!” singhal ni Kayden para mapaigtad ito at gumuhit ang matinding pagkahindik sa mukha. “I don’t know you. Don’t come near me... ever again.”
Inayos niya ang necktie at muling sinulyupan ito. Pagkatapos ay masamang tiningnan niya ito mula sa malayo bago nagtuloy-tuloy na sa pag-alis. Nang makalampas sa information table ay husto na nakita niya ang sekretarya.
“Who told you to let that child inside my office, huh?” mariing tanong ni Kayden.
“I’m really sorry, Mr. Gonzales. I thought you will be delighted to see your nephew for the first time...” tugon ng sekretarya para pagak siya na mapangiti.
“Delighted you say?” tanong ni Kayden at nawala ang ngiti niya sa mga labi. “You’re fired! I want you out of this building now.”
Bumuka ang bibig ng sekretarya ngunit wala na itong nasabi. Nang mapalingon siya sa pinto ng opisina ay hindi na siya nagulat nang makita ang bata na nakasilip mula sa pinto. The boy was frowning. Bukas sa mukha nito ang pag-aalala at pagkalungkot. Mayabang na umingos siya dito at sa halip na pumasok sa opisina ay dumiretso siya sa El Trago para magpalabas ng galit at saktong naabutan ang mga kaibigan niya na abala sa pag-uusap.
Umupo siya sa tabi ni Carter na nagsasalin ng Mikhail sa baso. Nang makita niyang lumingon ito sa kanyang gawi ay agad na nalaman nito na wala na siya sa mood kaya hindi na ito nagsalita at sa halip ay binigyan na lamang siya ng alak sa baso.
Si Elijah ay biglang huminto sa kakakalikot sa gitara at natatawang napatingin sa kanya. “Let me guess? Sister-in-law problem again?”
Tumingin lamang si Kayden dito bago nag-iwas ng tingin bilang tugon.
“Ano pa nga ba?” pasaring ni Carter at hinarap ang hawak nitong standing clipboard. “Iyon lang naman ang laging problema niyan.”
Pinaikot na lamang ni Kayden ang mga mata at nagdekuwatro sa kinauupuan. He wasn't in the f*****g mood to playfully banter with his friends. Isa pa, wala rin namang patutunguhan kung makikipagtalo siya sa mga ito.
“Okay, question to beat this f*****g silence. Do you guys think that ten restaurant is enough?” tanong ni Carter nang mamayani ang katahimikan sa bahay-inuman ng ilang segundo. “I’m thinking of doing the Carter’s a thirteen branch worlwide.”
“Thirteen?” tanong ni Marcus at tutol na umiling. “It’s a bad number, Torres. If I were you I'll go to ten or twelve. You can also go until fourteen. Basta huwag lang thirteen.”
“Really, Lim? You believe that?” natatawang wika ni Torres at inilapag ang standing clipboard.
“Yes, I believe that. It’s a bad number,” sagot ni Marcus para mapahalakhak kay Carter. “Well, for me it was, I don't know about others. Triskaidekaphobia, didn't ring a bell?”
“No, I’m doing thirteen branch since it’s not a bad number for me. It’s my favorite number, dipshit,” ani Carter at nang-aasar na pumalatak. “Naniniwala ka sa haka-haka na iyon?”
“It’s true though, that’s why floor number don't have thirteen in ninety percent of establishments in the world because it's unlucky,” pagmamatigas ni Marcus. “I am just saying, using a number thirteen can also cause you mayhem.”
“Bull!” pang-aasar ni Carter at tinawanan ito. “Nah, just kidding, I respect everyone's opinion about that fear of that number, but I made up my mind. Thirteen establishments in ten years to fifteen years. Wish me luck. I’ll start in the Philippines and will end up building Carter’s in England.”
“That's a nice plan,” pagsang-ayon ni Elijah. “But I agree on the thirteen part. It's unlucky, Torres. If Jasper was here, he would have the second demotion.”
“What the f**k, Baltazar? Pati ikaw?” hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Carter at umiling-iling.
“You can’t blame me, fucker. That's the most avoided number in history, I'm just saying...” ani Elijah at nagkibit-balikat. “You know, for you to avoid being unfortunate. Mahirap na ang ma-bankcrupt sa negosyo.”
“Agree on that one. I remember when Ayden start his own public shool in Batangas,” dugtong ni Kayden. “It was August 13th. The day Ayden met that woman. Look what happened to him... married in haste, have a son that is vulnerable and weak.”
“Jeez,” wika ni Carter at napapantastikuhang pinaikot ang mga mata. “I can't believe that you guys for being pessimistic. But don't worry, I will prove to you two that thirteen is not always unlucky. Just mind your own f*****g business, okay?”
Nagkatinginan sila ni Marcus sabay nagkibit-balikat. Muling tumigil si Elijah sa kakalikot sa gitara at tumingin sa kanya.
“What happened by the way?” tanong nito at inilapag ang gitara. “You looked pissed.”
“Ayden's son came to my office,” pagkuwento ni Kayden at simimsim ng alak. Naghintay ang lahat sa kanyang sagot ngunit wala na siyang idinugtong kaya inihudyat ni Marcus ang kamay.
“You mean your nephew?” pagbibigay-diin ni Carter, halatang nang-aasar.
Kayden's eyes turned pitch black and he tilted his head in annoyance. “Please, I hated that word.”
“But he's your nephew, fucker. Wala kang patawad. Pati bata pinapatulan mo,” wika ni Carter at pumalatak. “You get the accept the fact that your brother has now settled with the love of his life. Otherwise, the woman will not be on Ayden's side up until now and given the fact that the two already have a son.”
“I still don't like that woman...” sagot ni Kayden at nag-igtingan ang kanyang panga. “I don't know why. I still hate her.”
“Well, it's not that you are forced to like your sister-in-law... but come on, Gonzales, have mercy with the child. Softened your heart with your nephew, before it was too late,” payo ni Elijah bago muling tumugtog ng gitara.
Kayden scoffed. “That child has Patrice's blood...”
“And your blood...” sansala ni Carter para mapatingin diya dito nang masama. “What? Am I even wrong? Aiden has your blood. He's your family.”
“Well, I don’t give a f**k if he has our family's blood,” wika ni Kayden at hinigpitan ang hawak sa baso at naalala ang paluha na mukha ng bata para mas lalong magbigay sa kanya ng matindint galit. “I will never accept him as my nephew. Patrice is only using the child to get what me and my twin have build from scratch for years. My twin Ayden is still better without the two... I’m never going to soften my heart for that child. Never!”
Tumingin si Kayden sa bata at pinakatitigan ang mukha nito. He wasn't the child he knew before. Hindi na ito ang isang iyakin na bata na agad na napapaluha kagaya ng dati. He could sense the animosity in his eyes. A strong belief that any kid wouldn't have for just an age of two. Hindi ito madali na napapaniwala. He was mature for his age. Too advance thinking. Natutukoy nito ang kaibahan nang mga bagay-bagay. Malakas ang pakiramdam nito. At sa hindi alam na kadahilanan ay nakikita niya ang sarili dito nang siya ay bata pa. Kabaliktaran ang katangian nito sa ama nitong si Ayden.
“Baby, it's late. The doctor said you should be getting more rest,” ani Kayden at nilapitan si Patrice.
Nang makita ang paglitaw ni Manang Tesla sa pinto, ang kanilang naging nanay-nanayan ni Ayden noong sila ay bata pa ay pinalapit niya ito at hinudyatan na dalhin na si Patrice sa kuwarto.
“Manang Tesla will bring you to your room and let me handle Aiden, baby. You need to rest and I was told to not strain your eyes. Rest assured this fight between Aiden is settled by tomorrow,” wika ni Kayden at hinagod ang pisngi nito.
“Okay...” pagsang-ayon ni Patrice at nilinga ang anak. “Baby, can you hug mommy for tonight?”
Napatingin muna si Aiden bago nilapitan ang ina at niyakap. “Good night, mommy.”
“Be good with your dad, anak... he have suffered enough these past few days,” ani Patrice para palihim sa kanya na nagpabuntong-hininga. “Good boy ka naman, hindi ba?”
“Opo, mommy...” sagot ni Kayden at nag-alangan na sumipat sa kanya. “I’m sorry for the fight with daddy... rest ka na po. I... I was just pranking, daddy...”
Hindi makapaniwala na napatingin si Kayden dito at nagtaka. It seems like Aiden was playing alone.
“My prank has gone wrong,” ani Aiden at pinisil ang kamay ng ina. “Don't worry, mommy. I’ll stop now.”
“Okay, baby. Bait-bait naman ng bata na ‘yan,” ani Patrice at hinalikan ang anak sa pisngi. “I’ll be in my room, okay? If you need mommy and daddy, just come to us.”
“Okay, mommy...” pagsang-ayon ng anak at napangiti. “And mommy?”
“What is it, anak?” tanong ni Patrice.
“It's okay if you lose your sight...” ani Aiden para mapangiti sa kanya. “You're still beautiful. You’re still my beautiful mommy.”
He saw how Patrice was awed at the compliment and how it made her smile. “Ang sweet-sweet naman ng baby na ‘yan. Saan ka nga ulit nagmana?”
“Siyempre po sa iyo,” sagot ni Aiden at napahagikgik nang kilitiin ito ni Patrice sa tiyan. “Let’s continue tomorrow, okay? Daddy will be the one to put on the bed tonight.”
“Okay,” pagsang-ayon ni Aiden at hinatid ng tingin ang ina.
Nang mawala na sa kanilang paningin si Patrice ay sabay silang napalingon sa isa’t isa. He saw how Aiden’s squint his eyes as he crossed his arms towards him. Nagbabadya na lumapit ito sa kanya at masama na tumitigtig nang makalapit.
“I know what you’re doing, scary uncle...” wika ni Aiden. “You don’t want my mommy to be sad that's why you pretend to be my dad.”
Parang natamaan ng kung anong kidlat si Kayden at napaupo sa kanya sa higaan nito sa sobrang pagkagulat. Aiden caught him off guard. Agad siya nitong nabisto. He have totally understimated Aiden's way of thinking. And the way Aiden's speaks already makes him a genius.
“I am right, am I not?” tanong ni Aiden at mapagmataas na humarap sa kanya.
Napangiti si Kayden at mangha na tumango. “How do you know kid?”
“Because daddy never find my secret place whenever I’m sad,” sagot ni Aiden at inihudyat ang malaking closet. “Doon ako nagtatago kapag nag-aaway kami ni Dad at Mom.”
“Are you saying that I'm the only one who knows your secret hide-out now?” tanong ni Kayden at napangiti.
“Unfortunately, yes. You’re so epal...” mariing wika ni Aiden at nagpaikot ng mga mata.
“Hindi ko sinasadya na malaman,” natatawang pagbibigay-alam ni Kayden. “When I was a child, that’s what I do, too, whenever I’m sad.”
“You do?” tanong ni Aiden at naoosyong napatingin sa kanya.
“Uhuh,” sagot ni Kayden at tinanguhan ito. “And it seems like you figure my secret, too. That makes us even, are we not?”
“Well, yes. I’m not naive, you know. I’m turning three next month, making me understand what you are doing with my mom,” ani Aiden at napasimangot. “Dad is the one who died in a plane crash, isn’t he?”
Napayuko si Kayden at hinila ito palapit para sa mahigpit na yakap. “Yes, Aiden. Unfortunately, I am the one who lived and your dad is the one who died. I’m so sorry...”
- Writer
