The Billionaire's Children

Kabanata 14

Bumalik na kami ni mama sa kwarto ni Leigh after that heart to heart talk. Gumaan ang pakiramdam ko because of that. I felt like nawala ang bato na pilit nagpapabigat sa puso ko.

"Ma, this is grandma, lola po sya ni Gray, tatay po nina Van at Leigh. Grandma, mama ko po pala." pagpapakilala ko sa kanila sa isa't isa habang natutulog ang kambal dahil raw napagod ito kakalaro aniya ni grandma.

"Nice meeting you po, madame. Aida na lang po"

"Ano ka ba! Drop the madame. Call me Lucia. Tutal ikaw naman ang nanay ng paborito kong apo."

"Grandma naman eh."

"Kidding aside. Let's go outside for tea, Aida? Iwan na muna natin itong si Avi with our apos." Mama agreed to grandma and left us.

I sat next to the bed where Van and Leigh were sleeping. Pinagmasdan ko lang sila habang natutulog. How peaceful they are when sleeping.

Nagulat ako sa ring ng cellphone ko. Sa sobrang taranta ko, hindi ko na natignan kung sino ang caller at sinagot na lang ito basta basta.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Aviva." Tinignan ko ang caller at hindi nga ako nagiilusyon. Talagang si Gray ang tumatawag.

"Why?" Ewan. 'Yon na lang ang lumabas sa bibig ko sa dami ng gusto kong sabihin. Kanina lang akala ko never na nya akong kakausapin pero ngayon, sya pa mismo ang tumawag.

"Naka-uwi ka na ba? Nandyan ka na sa inyo?" Instead of answering me, he replied with another question.

"Uhh yeah." parang nalilito ko pa ring saad.

"Mommy, who are you talking to?" Halos maihagis ko ang telepono ko sa gulat nang may magsalita sa tabi ko. Gising na pala si Leigh!

I signaled her a quiet sign. She nodded and did the zipping of her mouth gesture. I smiled at her.

Tinakpan ko muna ang phone ko, sinisigurong hindi ako naririnig ng nasa kabilang linya at sinabing, "Mommy's gonna go out muna. May kakausapin lang ako sandali, baby. I will be back in a bit. Bantayan mo muna mag-sleep na parang mantika si kuya." She giggled and asked if she could play on her tablet sandali at pinayagan ko na rin.

Doon ako sa may fire exit pumwesto at binalikan ang kausap ko.

"Gray? Are you still there?"

"I heard a voice saying mommy."

"Where?" Pagmamaang-maangan ko. Shit. Narinig nya.

"Dyan."

"Oh! It was the teleserye mama's watching." Please buy my excuse.

"Ahh. para kasing katabi mo lang yung nagsalita. By the way, when will you go back here? I want to talk about something." nakahinga ako ng maluwag nang hindi na sya nag-usisa pa.

"Can I go back after two weeks, Gray? Kailangan kasi talaga ako dito." I can't leave my children in their condition.

"Oh." I heard the disappointment in his voice.

"I'll be back naman. I promised, remember? I'm sorry if it'll take long. I want to say something to you, too. Mag-usap tayo pagbalik ko ha?" Ang gaan sa pakiramdam na Gray isn't mad at me and we'll talk when I come back.

I know and I feel it. That is the right time to talk about our children.

"Okay. May magagawa pa ba ako? Guess, I'll see you in two weeks?"

"Yeah, see you in two weeks. Goodbye, Gray."

"Good bye, Aviva. Take care of yourself. I love you." Then he hung up. Our relationship right now is so confusing but one thing I want to say to him is...