Chapter 18
2107 Words
“THE heartbeat of the baby is good and you’re going to be fine, Ms. Hernandez,” pagtitiyak ni Madison at ngumiti kay Eselle. “This isn't the first, so I guess, it will not be such a problem anymore. Besides, Mark wouldn't let something happen to you. Vet doctors can't legally treat people but technically they can. You are good in hands.”
“That’s a relief the ,” nakangiti na ani Eselle at sinalat ang umbok ng tiyan. “My husband's been very overprotective this past few days. It’s annoying at a times.”
“Oh, yes. Must have been good to marry your best friend, right?” nakangiting tanong ni Madison at lumapit dito para salatin ang umbok ng tiyan nito. “What are you going to name him again?”
“Yes, Mark is the best. We knew each other so much and because of that, fighting is like nothing to us. I mean, we do quarrel at a times but we will end up laughing because we knew we didn't mean the harsh words we throw at each other,” pagkuwento ni Eselle at bahagya pang natawa. “I’m so glad I married my best friend. And since it’s our second child, we decided to name him Maerco. Like Marco but with an E. Para naman maiba.”
“It’s a nice name,” wika ni Madison at ngumiti kay Eselle. “Maerco will be running around everywhere in exactly a year or two. Mark will surely get proud to have another son.”
“Oh, he already is,” pagbibigay-alam ni Eselle at hinawakan ang kanyang kamay. “How are you with Wyatt? Any luck?”
Natigilan si Madison bago pilit na napangiti. “I’m not exactly sure but I think we’re getting there. But come to think of it. Mark already like you back when you’re high school and I liked Wyatt since college. So, I can’t really tell. I am in the perspective of Mark and I don't know what to do since I’m a woman and not a man.”
“You will get there eventually. I never really thought of falling for Mark, actually. But I did and we're married. Unexpected actually. It’s just a matter of right time because if the reunion didn't happen which I consider not going at first, I wouldn't be here in your clinic, letting you check our second child,” nakangiting saad ni Eselle at sinalat ang kanyang kamay. “If Mark has charmed me, so can you with Wyatt.”
Tumango-tango si Madison at nagpaalam na sa kaibigan niyang bantog rin na manunulat. Eselle and Mika has been top with the chart and they are great. Minsan pa nga na nagka-collab ang dalawa sa pagawa ng fantasy-romance novel at pumatok para makapagbenta ng mahigit isang milyong kopya sa buong Pilipinas. Eselle and Mika have the greatest minds. The world they build is enchanting to the point others prefer the world writers build than the real world. And if she's in that world, Wyatt will fall for her for sure.
Bumalik siya sa pagkakaupo at napasipat sa bakante na upuan ni Annie. Simula nang ang alitan nila noong lunes na iyon ay tila ba hindi na nagpakita si Annie na kanyang ikinabahala. She have been harsh to her. Overreacted to the point that she didn't think about Annie’s feelings when she said those words. A week without her is lonely. She keeps thinking of her. At kung sakali man na umuwi na ito sa England dahil sa kanyang nagawa ay kakamuhian niya ang sarili. She didn't mean to push her away. Annie is a family to her that she need. Mas naging pamilya pa ito kaysa sa ama niya na walang inatupag kundi iudyok siyang magtayo ng negosyo at lagi siyang pinapayuhan na itigil na ang pagiging gynecologist dahil wala raw iyong patutunguhan.
Napaismid si Madison habang nakatitig siya upuan ni Annie. She needs to get her back or else she would lose her mind. Si Annie lamang laging nandiyan para sa kanya ngunit itinulak niya pa ito palayo. Annie is the sister she never had. She should have known better. That she must oppress Annie's past because she knew how much Annie hates it. And now there's a possibility that she's never going back once she arrives in England.
Inilabas niya ang cell phone at nagpasiyahan na tawagan si Zacharias. Ilang pagtawag ang kanyang nagawa ngunit hindi nito sinsagot ang tawag. Kaya si Wyatt ang kanyang naisipan na tawagan para mag-abiso sa nararamdaman. Dahil hindi niya kayang kimkimin ang hinanakit. She needs someone to talk for Annie’s sudden departure.
“It's still friday today, is this a sign that you are up for an early s*x?” bungad ni Wyatt na napapikit na lamang sa kanya. Kung nasa mood lamanng siya ay baka tinawanan niya lang ito.
“Annie’s went AWOL for a week...” pag-abiso niya sa kaibigan na si Wyatt.
“What?!” hindi makapaniwala ng tanong ni Wyatt. “Please don't tell me this is because of the quarrel last Monday?”
“It is. I said some harsh words because I got worried with you.” Napapikit si Madison at napahilot sa sentido. “I mean, I cared for you both that's why I did that. Annie's been so hard to handle since the day you’re back.”
“I know. I can see the animosity in her face,” pagak na wika ni Wyatt at pumalatak. “Otherwise she wouldn't send me off if she didn't.”
“I'm sorry for that. But Annie is important to me as you are to me, Wy,” saad ni Madison at kinagat ang pang-ibabang labi. “And I’m worried for her. So, I don't think I can enjoy having s*x with you when Annie is missing and nowhere to be found. I hope you understand.”
“I understand,” wika ni Wyatt. “I can wait. Time with you is worth the wait.”
“Thank you for understanding, Wyatt. You both are the closest person to me and I can't lose one in order to save one... when I... when I can save both. Do you get my point?”
“I do, Madi,” tipid na sagot ni Wyatt kaya mas lalo siyang nag-aalala.
“Are you mad at me because I’m picking a side?” tanong ni Madison at napabuntong-hininga.
“No, Madi. I understand that you're worried. I am worried, too. Let me do something to help,” pag-alo ni Wyatt para mapangiti na lamang siya.
“Oh, that so sweet of you,” ani Madison at maluwag na napangiti na para bang nasa harap niya ito.
“Yeah. Even if I and Annie feel the same animosity towards each other. I can’t just let you take the burden by yourself, can I?”
Nakangiti na napakagat-labi si Madison bago napangiti.
“Oh, don'y bite your lips. You know what it makes me feel,” ani Wyatt para napalinga-linga siya sa paligid. Nang hindi niya ito nakita ay napahalakhak ito mula sa kabilang linya.
“And yeah, stop looking around. I’m not in the clinic, I just know that you are biting your lips because I know you more than myself,” wika ni Wyatt at nahinuha niya itong nakangisi nang malaki. “Worry not because I am here to help.”
DUMATING si Wyatt bandang alas-tres sa mayor's office ng kaibigan niyang si Samuel at nakita roon si Marcus, ang isa rin nilang kaibigan na prenteng nakaupo habang kausap si Samuel.
“Marcus, why are you here?” bungad ni Wyatt para mapatingin ang dalawa sa kanya.
Samuel just raised his eyebrows for welcoming him and Caleb just give him a smug face.
“The question bounce to you, fucker,” ani Marcus bago umingos. “Can't I come to my friend's office?”
“I didn't say you can't,” sagot ni Wyatt at tumabi dito. “You've been MIA lately, I thought you're already dead.”
“Came from the mouth who left us for six years,” pagak na tugon ni Marcus bago tumingin sa kanya. “I miss you, fucker.”
“Same,” wika ni Wyatt at nakipagkamay kay Marcus.
Napailing-iling si Samuel sa kinauupuan at kalaunan ay napangiti.
“Don't tell me Marcus is here because you want to change something in your face,” pang-aasar ni Wyatt para kumunot ang noo ni Samuel.
“Me? Changing my face? I am perfect as I am right now, fucker. I don't need to change my face,” depensa ni Samuel para magkibit-balikat sa mapang-asar na paraan.
”You don't need to be so defensive about it,” wika ni Wyatt at napangisi. “Lim is a very good plastic surgeon, everybody knows that. You are in good hands.”
”The f**k, Hernandez. I am not changing anything. Especially my face. I’m considering making a prosthetic face because I receive a death threat last week,” paliwanag nito para mapatango-tango siya. “We’re doing it for my safety.”
“Okay, I understand. No need to be mad. I was just kidding about the plastic surgery thing and thank you for letting me know about your status. You should ask Isaac for some help,” ani Wyatt at seryoso na tumingin kay Samuel. “You dying at the age of thirty would give the city some major devastation and of course, woman.”
“Isaac has a family man now, I can’t risk that,” pagsalungat ni Samuel at hinimas ang baba. “But I am trying so much not to die and at the same time act as a leader of the city. Don't worry, I won’t die.”
“You better be,” seryoso na wika ni Marcus. “And hey, we won’t let you die early. You still have to keep to us after your terms. You’ve been busy a lot lately.”
“I am thinking of running again,” ani Samuel at ngumisi.
“Again?” sabay nilang tanong ni Marcus at nagkatinginan. Umiling si Wyatt at umismid si Marcus.
“Then suit yourself to purge,” pagak na wika ni Wyatt. “You really want to die early, don’t you?”
“I guess...” Napahalakhak si Samuel. “Somebody’s got to lead. The city needs me.”
Nagkatinginan lamang sila ni Marcus at sabay na bumuntong-hininga.
“And yeah, Hernandez. Spill. You wouldn't visit unless you need something from me, am I wrong?” nanunukat na tanong ni Samuel.
Tumulis ang bibig ni Wyatt bago sumuko. “You’re right. Si Isaac sana ang pupuntahan ko para madali pero alam ko, nawalan na ito ng koneksyon ng masugpo na si Takihiro. May gusto sana akong ipahanap sa iyo. I need a footage in every CCTV camera near the airport. I’m looking for someone.”
“It would have been easier for you if you have that person’s roaming number...”
Sabay na napalingon ang lahat ng sumabad si Caleb, ang district director ng Quezon City sa usapan na kanina pa pala nakapasok sa loob ng opisina na suot ang PBGEN Uniform nito.
“I came by when Samuel himself said that he could use some protection,” pagbibigay-alam ni Caleb para mapatingin siya kay Samuel na kalunan ay tumango na lamang sa kanya bilang tugon.
Napangisi si Wyatt at tinapik ang balikat nito. “You’re really a life-saver, Villaruiz. You too, Suarez. As for you, Lim. Try harder next time.”
Marcus just raised his middle finger as a sign of reply.
Dalawampung minuto lamang ang lumipas bago nahanap ni Caleb si Annie. Matapos makapagpasalamat sa mga kaibigan ay agad na tinungo niya ang kinaroroonan ng kaibigan ni Madison na si Annie. Just like he thought, she was at the airport.
Ipinarada ni Wyatt ang kanyang sasakyan at tinakbo niya si Annie sa kinaroroonan. When he saw her still waiting on her flight holding her passport and her luggage, that made him relieved.
“Come back,” hinihingal na bungad ni Wyatt para gulat na mapatingin sa kanya si Annie.
“What are you doing here? Are you insane?” tanong nito at luminga-linga sa paligad. “Somebody could see you out here.”
“I’m not insane, because if I am, I wouldn't stop you on your flight on the way to England. Madison felt sorry for what she did, so you need to come back. She’s worrying,” pagbibigay-alam ni Wyatt para lumambot ang ekspresyon ni Annie. “Madison needs you. Madison needs her close friend.”
- Writer
