HONESTY

CHAPTER 23

ZACCHAEUS

Napatingin siya kay Cathalia nang makita ito na nakapangalis. "Where are you going?"

"Grocery." Cathalia said while she's going near him.

"With who?"

"You."

Me? Did I schedule that we will going to do a grocery today? "Okay...? Who told you that we're going to the grocery?"

"Mamá."

"Oh." Agad siyang tumayo at kinuha ang susi ng kotse. "Do you have a list?"

Tumango si Cathalia at may kinuhang listahan sa sling bag nito at ibinigay sa kaniya. "Here Dad."

Zacchaeus can't believe what he's holding, it's a long list— very long one– of the groceries that they need to buy.

"Okay, lets buy it."

THEY'RE in the part where the Meat Section was. Cathalia was inside the push cart and then Zacchaeus was picking the meat that was fresh.

Abala si Zacchaeus sa pagpili ng mga meats at nang may napili na ay agad iyong ipinatimbang at ipina-plastik ngunit pagtingin niya sa may push cart ay wala na si Cathalia.

Nerves and Worried, Zacchaeus immediately looked for Cathalia. Naikot niya na ang loob pero hindi niya parin nakikita si Cathalia kaya lumapit siya sa Customer Service para humingi ng tulong nang bigla nalang may nahagip ang mata niya.

It was a familiar man carrying Cathalia and they were in the Chocolate Section. He immediately ran towards the man and he was more than ready to attacked who that motherfucker was, but before he even go near them he saw Orion looking and waving his hands while carrying Cathalia.

Tinignan niya ng masama at agad na binuhat si Cathalia at ibinaba. "Why did you kidnap my daughter?!" He hissed.

"What? We're just looking for chocolates."

"Without my permission, you motherfucker?!" He said while whispering because Cathalia will hear him cussing.

Orion almost rolled his eyes, "What's the fuss? We're friends, so I don't need your permission. Besides Cathalia and I are really close."

Hearing that, Zacchaeus glared at the man in front of him. "Now we're not friends."

Pagkasabi niya 'non ay bumalik na sila sa meat section ulit kung saan niya iniwan ang push cart. Ibinalik niya sa loob si Cathalia ulit dahil mas gusto nito sa loob ng push cart kaysa mag-lakad.

"Sa susunod 'wag kang sasama kahit na kanino."

"Si Tito Orion naman po iyon Dad."

"Kahit na. Hindi dahil kilala mo ay sasama ka na kaagad, mag-paalam ka muna sa akin o kaya sa Mamá mo para alam namin kun nasaan ka. Pinagalala mo ako Zariya."

Tumayo si Cathalia at agad nan itong inilalayan ni Zacchaeus dahil baka dumulas ito pagkatapos ay yinakap siya nito.

"I'm sorry Dad."

He sighed then caressed her back, "It's okay. Anything that you want to buy?"

Umaktong nag-iisip si Cathalia. "Ice cream!"

AT home, he's on the sofa being a good man and Zio was holding his phone and she saw something but still not saying.

"Say what you see." Saad niya habang mabait na nakaupo sa kay gilid nito.

"On your contacts."

Hinalungkat ni Zacchaeus ang contacts niya sa isip ngunit wala naman siyang maisip na ipagduda ni Zio.