Kabanata 8
"What's with all these stuff? You went shopping?" Joven asked.
Ang baby bassinet ay pinuwesto ko sa sala habang hindi pa dumadating ang crib, at ang ibang paper bag na naglalaman ng mga regalo ni Travis.
"I did. Medyo excited lang." sabi ko nalamang dahil hindi ko naman puwedeng sabihin sa kanya na bigay ito ni Travis. "Bakit pala napadaan ka rito?"
Umayos siya ng upo sa sofa at kumportableng isinandal ang likod sa upuan, "I got busy these past few days so I'm here to visit you. Kumusta na? How are you holding up with the baby?" tanong nito
Tumabi ako ng upo sa kanya, "I'm great! And excited. Ilang months na lang makikita ko na siya, I just can't wait. Oh and Jay won't stop gifting me matching clothes with my daughter, kung excited ako mas excited siya." Natatawang kuwento ko.
He posed a smile and placed his hand on my bump, "She's getting bigger huh." aniya
I frowned, something seems off with him today. For the past five days that he's been away because of work, we didn't communicate. Hindi na rin ako nag-abala dahil nasa ibang bansa ito para sa isang conference kung saan siya ang guest speaker. Hindi nakatakas sa paningin ko ang itim sa kanyang mga mata at ang maliliit na balbas sa kanyang baba.
"You look tired. Gusto mo bang magpahinga muna? You can stay in my room if you like."
Marahan itong umiling at ibinaba ang kamay, "I'm good. I'll drive home later tonight, I just want to spend some time with you."
What he said melted my heart. Pero kahit na ganoon, hindi ko pa rin binalewala ang kalagayan nito. "Don't lie to me Joven, para naman hindi mo ako naging girlfriend noon. Tell me what's bothering you." I forced him.
Itinaas nito ang tingin sa akin, "I can't really lie to you huh." he chuckled
Ngumisi ako, "Oo, kaya magsabi ka na sa akin."
He took a deep breath before speaking, "Remember Nian?" he asked
I frowned, "the girl you.."
"Yes, the girl I slept with when we were together." he cut me off
"I remember her, why?"
"I saw her in Singapore. She's the host of the event. We talked for a bit and in those five days Chel, I spent some time..with her." Pahina nang pahina ang boses nito habang nagsasalita.
"What do you mean? Don't tell me both of you were intimate?" I asked.
He just stayed staring at me and I immediately got the message, I was shocked but other than that, I find the situation funny. "Seriously? Ang rupok mo talaga." Natatawang sabi ko.
He frowned and seemed shocked of my reaction, and even offended. "Seriously? You're going to laugh at me?"
"Dahil lang don kaya puyat ka? She hasn't escaped from your mind 'noh? Kaya ka ganyan." I said, "How long have you been like this?"
"Two days? I don't know.." he shrugged crossing his arms, "But aren't you bothered? Or disappointed at me?"
I sighed. "Why would I? Do you want me to?"
Thinking about what he said, honestly speaking I don't even have the right to be angry or even be disappointed at him. Sure, she's one of the reasons why we broke up but I've moved on. At wala naman namamagitan sa amin ni Joven para magalit ako o pagbawalan siyang makipagkita sa ibang babae.
"Seriously Joven, I don't care if you had an intimate relationship with her during those days that you were in Singapore. I've moved on and both of you are consenting adults. Kung gusto ninyo gawin 'yan ulit, go lang. It's really none of my business."
