Maybe This Time

Part 12

I stared at him he looked older, hindi na rin siya nakapag-shave ngayon, he had a light stuble to his face. My hands were cold and shaking. I dont know how long we were staring at each other.

"Sandro" pakiramdam ko hingal na hingal ako.
Bigla na lang niya ako niyakap ng mahigpit. Hindi ako makagalaw. I wanted to lay my head down on his neck. Miss na miss ko na siya, but I had to pull away. This is not the place I want to be in for now. I pulled away and took a step back.

"Sabi ng private investigator ng out of the country ka ulit, he saw you at the airport"
Sabi niya sakin

"Pinapahanap mo ako?" I asked curious, a smile threathening to show in my face.

"Ofcourse yes! Where is... .. is he here... he" hindi niya mabuo ang mga sasabihin niya. But he kept looking around

"Huwag mo na kami paimbestigahan, sinundo ako ni Vincent gamit yung private plane... hindi magaling yang private investigator mo..." i laughed at that"..  "Tulog na siya, asa guest house kami.  Kaya pag may meeting ka sa patio na lang" i turned my back to him, kukunin ko na yung tira kong tea at cellphone. Nung naramdaman ko nanaman ang mga yakap niya sa akin.

Bakit masakit ang mga yakap, bakit yung pakiramdam ko may mangyayare nnman masama.

"Sandro.. please" i quietly said nagbabadya na uli ang mga luha and he removed his hold on me..

"Can i see him?" He asked. I just nodded and he followed me to the house..
si manang asa sala nanunuod ng TV nagulat nung nakita si Sandro..
"Jusko kamukha mo talaga si Sandy" natawa siya at niyakap si Sandro. Binalik naman ni Sandro ang yakap kay manang

"You dont age manang clara" he said tuwang tuwa nnman si manang.

"Galing talaga mambola" umikot ang mga mata ko.

"Doon ka ata nakuha diba?" Asar ni manang, sumsobra na sya sana hindi ako pinapahiya

"Silip ka lang, baka magising siya. Mahirap na yan patulugin" binilin ko siya..

"Diba may meeting ka?" Dagdag ko pa

Mukhang naalala nya at bigla niya kinuha ang telepono niya

"Arby, cancel tonight. My family is here.. ill call you" he hung up the phone..

His family.. tumalikod ako pra hindi niya makita ang ngbabadyang ngiti sa mga labi ko.. 'his family'

Pumasok siya sa kwarto, nglakad ng mabagal doon sa side ng kama kung saan nakahiga si Sandy. Lumohod siya para ka-level niya ang kama, dahan dahan na hinahawi ang mga buhok palayo sa mukha nung bata. Hindi ko napagilan ang mga luha ko na nakikita sila, nakita ko na rin si Sandro ngpupunas ng luha.

"He really does look like me" wiping tears on his face.
"His name is Elixander... Elisse and Alexander" i said.
He kissed his forehad gently and he sat down the chair near the bed.
"Im sorry I didnt tell you...Im sorry.. ill understand if your mad and if you want to get him tested.. id understand" I sat on the chair beside him

"Tested?" He raised an eyebrow

"Paternity test, I already know a lab in Manila where we can do it" i said matter of factly

"Elisse, youve seen pictures of me as a kid. i look exactly like him" he was staring straight at me. Nakak-conscious..

"May mukha din ako jan noh, may halong Elisse din naman" i pouted and crossed my arms

He suddenly leaned his face closer to me, nararamdaman ko ang paghinga nya sa mukha ko "talaga? Saan banda?"

He was smiling, hindi ko na toh kaya, ang daming alaalang bumabalik.