Faded Photographs

My Ex but Why (4)

Pops POV

"Kath! Alam mo ba asan si Mart?" She asked Kath upon arriving at the café. She brought Austin with her dahil may usapan silang sabay mag lu-lunch nito.

"Ay ate!! Di ko po alam e. Pero may narinig po ako kausap kanina tinawag po niyang Doc. So feeling ko po doon pupunta." Sagot naman ng dalaga.

"Why would he go to a doctor? As far as I know wala naman siyang sakit." That made her worried. Is he keeping something from her?

"Di ko po talaga alam Ate Pipay. Pero wala naman po akong napapansin din. Baka naman po nakipag kita lang kay Doc Richard."

"Baka nga, sige never mind na lang. Hintayin na lang namin siya ni Austin dito.

She decided to occupy a seat near the window after asking for a coffee and cheesecake from Kath.

A woman wearing a cap and a facemask entered the café. She looks familiar she just can't remember where she saw her.

Lumapit ito sa cork board at tiningnan ang mga litrato doon.

As the owner ay nilapitan niya ito habang karga karga si Austin.

"Hi Miss, my name is Pops, my husband and I own this café and this is our son Austin. If you need anything just approach me or Kath ha. Di ka kasi familiar sa akin e, bago ka lang ba dito sa Baguio?" She ask and noticed the shock on her eyes.

"Oh.. I didn't know.. I'm sorry.. I thought.  Never mind. I gotta go." The woman in facemask then grabbed a picture from the board.

"I'll take this. I'm sorry again." Nagatataka naman siya why the woman is saying sorry to her.

"Ms. Lea?" Tawag naman ni Kath.

"Wait, you mean Lea Villareal? Ikaw yung pinsan ni Dawn diba? Hindi mo na ba ako natatandaan?" She used to hang out din kasi kila Dawn before.

Lea then removed her facemask and her cap, she really has an angelic face.

"Hello." Anito at tipid na ngumiti.

"What are you doing here? Diba kakatapos lang ng concert mo? I heard it's sold-out! Congratulations." Masigla pa niyang bati dito.

"Ahm wala, napadalaw lang. Sige aalis na ako." Paalam naman nito.. naagaw ng atensyon niya ang litratong hawak nito.

"Are you looking for him?" She asked here while looking at the photo on her hand. Lea didn't replied but just looked down. I think I know why.

"Ahm Lea, if you are looking for Aga, he's no longer here. Ibinenta na niya sa akin tong shop ulit." She said while smiling at her.

"Oo nga po Ms. Lea, ang alam ko po sinundan ka sa Manila e." Singit naman ni Kath na tila kinikilig pa.

"What? I thought importante sa kanya tonh café?" Lea then replied when the realization hits her as well. I like her, she's smart.

"E mas importante ka na po ata Ms. Lea." --Kath

She noticed Lea smiled pero bigla na naman nalukot ang mukha nito.

"That prick! Hindi naman siya sa akin nag pakita sa Manila!" Reklamo nito at natawa naman siya. Knowing Aga baka nag iipon pa ng lakas ng loob.

"Know what Lea, why don't you take a vacation muna here in Baguio bago ka bumalik sa Manila? You can stay with us naman afterall kay Dawn pa din yung unit sa taas. Mag pa miss ka muna kay Aga." Biro pa niya na ikinatawa ni Lea.

"Hindi ba nakakahiya sa inyo ng asawa mo?" Ani Lea.

"Hindi naman, saka lilipat na din kami in two weeks. Nag scout na kami ng properties na pwede namin mabili, I prefer kasi na malapit lang dito e."

"Ahm.. hindi na Pops, I don't want to intrude din saka naka check-in naman ako sa hotel, dun na lang din muna ako." Sagot naman nito.. hindi na niya ito pinilit pa.

Lea spent almost an hour sa pakikipag kwentuhan sa kaniya. Tuwang-tuwa din ito kay Austin.

That afternoon she knew she gained another friend in Lea.

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The whole day passed and she haven't seen not heard anything about Martin.

She's really starting to worry about him.  Iyak pa ng iyak si Austin.

She's trying to put Austin to sleep when her phone rang. Naka hinga naman siya ng maluwag when she noticed that it was Martin.

"Hello Mart? Where are you?"

"Pipay, sorry but I'm in La Union right now. I'll explain everything once I get back okay?"

"Okay Mart. I miss you. Kelan ka babalik?"

"I'm not sure. Maybe the day after tomorrow. Pipay, please remember that no matter what happens, I love you very much okay?"

She badly wanted to ask him what's wrong but he said he will explain everything once he came back and she trust him enough to wait pero iba ang nararamdaman niya.

"I will, I love you too. Mag-iingat ka okay?"

"Bye Pops."

"Goodbye Mart."

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Isang linggo na ang lumipas pero hindi pa din nakaka balik si Martin.

She's currently breastfeeding Austin when someon knocked on her door.

Inilapag muna niya si Austin sa crib nito at binuksan ang pinto.

"Hi Pipay!" Sabay na bati ni Dawn at Lea sa kanya.

"Oh! Lea, Dawn.. pasok kayo!" Aya niya sa dalawa at kaagad naman nilapitan ni Lea si Austin.

"Ang gwapo talaga ni Austin! Gusto ko din ng ganito! Couz! Gawa ka na!" Ani Lea.

"Dapat ikaw gumagawa, at least ikaw mukhang may pag-asa magkaron ng lovelife." Sagot naman ni Dawn sa pinsan.

"Siya nga pala Dawn, napag isipan mo na ba kung ibebenta mo na tong bahay sa akin? Hindi kasi ako maka hanap ng lilipatan namin ni Mart."

"Yun na nga ang ipinunta namin dito Pipay, Martin already bought the house for you, kaya hindi ako makasagot nung tinanong mo ako, di ko naman nalaman agad na kayo na pala ulit. Regalo daw niya to sa'yo, so congratulations!" Nagulat man sa sinabi ng kaibigan ay natuwa naman siya.

"Salamat Dawn, but what about you? Saan ka titira?"

"Well, I already bought a condo near the hospital kaso one week pa before kami maka lipat ni Lea, I was wondering if we can stay here muna?" Dawn asked at nginitian naman niya ito.

"Sus! Oo naman! Mabuti na din mukhang isang linggo akong may Yaya." Sabay tingin kay Lea na tila libang na libang naman kay Austin.

"Sure Pipay! Ako mag-a-alaga kay Austin, kung pwede ko lang to hingin e. Hahaha" pagbibiro naman ni Lea.

They were busy talking to each other ng meron na namang kumatok.

"Who could it be?" Dawn asked at oarang kinakabahang tiningnan si Pops at Lea.

"Well, it's either Richard or Martin. I know Aga's still in Manila. Nakita ko yesterday si Mama Anita e." --Lea

"It couldn't be Richard, Dr. Enriquez told me na nasa U.S daw right after I left siguro magkasama na sila ni Missy." ---Dawn.

"Well, I'll check it na lang. Baka naman si Kath lang. It couldn't be Mart, di naman na siguro kakatok yun kung siya man yung dumating." ---Pops.

Sa dami ng hinala nila walang tumama.

Because standing at her front door is a mailman who handed her a brown envelope.

She went back to the living room and opened the envelope, what she saw next took her breath away.

"Pipay? Are you okay? What's that?" Ani Dawn. She handed the envelope to Dawn.

"Oh my God is this Suzanne? Bakit sila may picture na naghahalikan ni Mart?" --

"I think this is what Suzanne warned me about, na binalikan lang ako ni Martin para gantihan. I'm sorry Dawn, Lea? Pwede bang sa'yo muna si Austin? I need some time alone." Paalam niya sa dalawa at ng tumango sila ay agad siyang pumasok sa kwarto upang doon umiyak.