Falling for Her Shadows

CHAPTER 15

NANG SUMAPIT ANG TANGHALI, hindi inaasahan ni Ashriel na may project na kailangan niyang tignan kaya naman kailangan niyang umalis. So, he didn’t have choice but to bring back Evron to Nylah.

On the drive back, Nylah was already waiting outside the coffee shop. She looked up as Ashriel’s car pulled over.

Evron immediately ran out of the backseat toward her, proudly holding the little notebook she knew Ashriel had given him.

Lumuhod si Nylah saka sinalubong ang anak ng yakap. Then she looked up at Ashriel. “You brought him to a meeting?”

Ashriel shrugged, leaning against the car. “He behaved better than most adults in the room.”

Tumango naman si Evron saka yumakap sa ina. “Yes, Momma. I behaved. Boring nga lang po ang meeting. Mas maganda pang magbasa.”

Parehong natawa si Nylah at Ashriel.

Tumayo naman si Nylah habang buhat si Evron.

“Next time, can I take Evron to my office?” Ashriel asked.

Hindi sumagot si Nylah pero tumingin siya kay Evron.

Tumango si Evron. “Yes, Momma. I want to go to Tito Ash's office again. There are a lot of books there.”

Ngumiwi si Nylah. “You mean… business books.”

“No, Momma. They’re educational children’s books.”

Nagtatakang tumingin si Nylah kay Ashriel.

Nag-iwas naman ng tingin si Ashriel saka nagmamadaling sumakay sa kotse. Pagpasok niya sa loob ng kotse, ibinaba niya ang bintana sa passenger seat. “Thanks for letting Evron come to my office today.”

Nylah gave a polite nod.

Ashriel honked before leaving.

Napabuga naman ng hangin si Nylah.

“Momma.”

“Hmm?” Nylah looked at her son. Naglakad na siya papasok sa loob ng coffee shop habang buhat ito.

“Tito Ash was very different while talking with other people. He’s so cold and commanding.”

Natigilan si Nylah. For a three-year-old boy, he could already comprehend someone’s expression. Anak nga niya talaga ito. Masyadong matalino. Pero sana lang hindi dumating ang pagkakataon na mas mataas ang IQ nito kaysa sa EQ. She wants her son to grow up normally.

AFTER LUNCH…

Tahimik na buong coffee shop sa mga oras na ‘yon. Tanghali pa lang pero konti lang ang customers, mostly mga students at freelancers na abala sa kani-kanilang laptop. Si Nylah naman ay nakaupo sa counter at nag-aayos ng mga resibo.

Evron was taking a nap in her office.

Nang biglang nag-vibrate ang cellphone niya.

Unknown number.

Napakunot siya ng noo bago sinagot ‘yon.

“Hello?”

Isang pamilyar na boses ang narinig niya mula sa kabilang linya.

“Nylah, dear! It’s me, your Tita Isabella.”

Napatigil si Nylah sa pagtingin ng mga resibo saka sandaling napatingin sa kisame. Of course. Sino pa nga bang tatawag sa kaniya maliban sa mga kasamahan niya sa Black Lotus?

“Ah, Tita Isabella, kayo po pala.” Ani Nylah. Sa pagtawag ng ginang ramdam na niya na may iba itong ibig sabihin. “May kailangan po ba kayo?”

“Actually…” may pag-aatubili sa boses nito. “I have a little favor to ask. Please, my dear. Just this once.”

Napahawak si Nylah sa dulo ng ilong. “Tita…”

Isabella sighed from the other line. “It’s about my son, my dear. Matanda na ang anak ko. Ilang buwan na lang magpapaalam na siya sa kalendaryo. As his mother, I’m worried about him. Baka naman tatanda siyang binata. I don’t want that to happen.” Malungkot niyang saad.

Hindi naman napigilan ni Nylah ang matawa. For some reason, malapit ang loob niya sa ginang kahit naman hindi niya ito gaanong kakilala, which was weird dahil mailap siya sa ibang tao lalo na sa mga estranghero.

“Hija, please,” ani Isabella na tila excited pa. “I was thinking… maybe you two could have dinner together? Just one dinner date. If it doesn’t work out, I promise, I’ll never bother you again. We can just be friends, yes?”

Natahimik si Nylah saglit. Napatingin siya sa salamin ng counter kung saan sumalubong ang repleksyon niya — simple, kalmado at walang halong excitement o expectation.

“Tita, hindi ko kilala ang anak niyo,” aniya.

“Don’t worry, my dear. Mabait at marespeto sa babae ang anak kong ‘yon kahit hindi halata. But if he does something that you didn’t like, just tell me and I’ll teach him a lesson for you.” Sabi ng ginang. “So, payag ka ba, hija?”

Hindi agad sumagot si Nylah. It’s just a blind date. Wala naman sigurong masama. “Sige po, Tita.”

“Great!” Masayang saad ni Isabella. “I’ll tell my son right away.” Aniya sa excited na boses.

Ngumiti na lamang si Nylah.

“I’ll send you the address, hija.”

“Sige po, Tita.”

Nylah could sense the excitement of Tita Isabella. Pero siya, parang wala lang. Well, maybe because hindi niya kilala kung sino ang ka-blind date niya. At isa pa, hindi niya rin alam kung bakit siya pumayag. Siguro dahil sa nakikita niyang mabait naman si Tita Isabella. And maybe, part of her wanted to have friends in this city.

MEANWHILE, Ashriel has just sat on his swivel chair when his phone started ringing. The Rios Group Logo gleamed behind him. He loosened his ties as he checked the caller ID.

Mom.

Napapikit siya ng sandali bago niya sagutin ang tawag ng kaniyang ina. “Yes, Mom?”

“Since you came back from your business trip, hindi ka pa umuwi dito. I miss you, anak. Can you go home, please?”

Ashriel rubbed the bridge of his nose, half-smiling. “Mom, just tell me. Kilala ko na ang boses na ‘yan. May ipapa-blind date na naman kayo sa akin ‘no?”

Natawa na lamang ang kaniyang ina at mahahalata niya sa pagtawa nito na excited ito sa anumang kalokohang iniisip. “Just this once, anak. Last na ‘to. Kapag ayaw mo talaga, hindi na kita kukulitin. Last na talaga ‘to.”

“Mom—” Ashriel started, already exasperated.

“Please, anak,” his mother pleaded again, this time with that familiar tone—the one that always made it impossible for him to say no.

Napabuga na lamang ng hangin si Ashriel, tumingin siya sa labas glass-wall. “Fine. But Mom, last na ‘to.”

“Oo naman, anak. Promise.”

“Narinig ko na po ‘yan dati,” sabi ni Ashriel habang nakangiti.

“No, really! You’ll like this one.”

Kumunot ang nuo ni Ashriel. “You said that the last five times. Mom, hindi na ako naniniwala sa inyo.”

“But this one’s different, anak,” Isabella said, her voice turning almost dreamy. “She’s not liked the others. She’s simple, elegant… very grounded. I met her at the coffee shop when I stopped at your office last time.”

“Wait,” Ashriel interrupted, curious now. “Coffee shop?”

“Yes, dead. A beautiful coffee shop across your tower. You know that one. Laurent Coffee Shop.”

Ashriel froze as the name echoed in his mind. Laurent.

Sa hindi malamang kadahilanan, bumilis ang pagtibok ng kaniyang puso. He could still recall the faint scent of coffee beans and vanilla. There was something about Nylah’s eyes, sharp but quiet. Like she’s seen too much of the world but chose not to say a word.

“Mom,” he said slowly, trying not to give away his sudden interest, “Is the girl a customer or the owner of the coffee shop?” tanong ni Ashriel.

“Of course, the owner. Anak, sinasabi ko sa ‘yo, you will like her.”

Gumuhit ang ngiti sa labi ni Ashriel. Pero tumikhim siya. “You sounded like you two have known each other.”

“Not that long. She has a son, but she’s single and she’s pretty kaya pwede kayong mag-date.” Sabi ng ina ni Ashriel sa excited na boses. “Ako na ang bahala sa lugar kung saan kayo magdi-dinner. I’ll pay for everything, but for the flowers. Well, ikaw na ang bahala, anak.”

“Alright, Mom.” Sabi ni Ashriel. Hindi na niya sinabi na magkakilala silang dalawa ng ipapa-blind date nito sa kaniya at minsan na rin siyang kumain ng breakfast sa bahay nito. Kilala niya ang ina. Hindi siya nito titigilan hangga’t hindi niya naikukwento rito ang mga nangyari.

“Pero anak, please cooperate. Ako ang nag-aalala sa ‘yo. Malapit ka ng magpaalam sa kalendaryo wala ka pang asawa. Baka mamaya uugod-ugod na ako wala pa akong apo sa ‘yo.”

“Mom,” Ashriel sighed.

Isabella chuckled. “Joke lang, anak, pero totoo naman ‘yon.” Aniya. “But I can feel that you and Nylah will click with each other.”

Hindi na sumagot si Ashriel dahil baka humaba pa ang pang-aasar ng kaniyang ina.

After the call had ended, he received the address of the restaurant from his mother.

Tumayo naman siya sa naglakad palapit sa may glass wall. Tinignan niya ang coffee shop na nasa kabilang gilid ng kalsada at katapat mismo ng Rios Group.

It was a coincidence na nagkakilala ang kaniyang ina at si Nylah. And at first meeting, nagustuhan agad ng kaniyang ina si Nylah. Maybe that was the sign.

A smile formed on his lips. “See you tonight, Nylah.”