Chasing Hope [HIATUS]

CHAPTER 31

"Oh, hey, Attorney Choi, right?" Ralpkiel looked at the old man, we stayed in this position. "Don't do it again. Don't tell my girlfriend those things again. Because first of all, this is her body, she can decide whether she will have children or not. You are in no position to make my girlfriend feel insulted just because she still doesn't have kids. Do you understand me, old man?"

Pinanlakihan niya ng mata si Attorney Choi bago niya kuhanin ang glass sa kamay ko upang ilapag iyon sa lamesa na nasa gilid namin, he took my hand and pulled me out of that place. When we got out, he immediately let go of me and grabbed both of my shoulders. Wait, my brain is still processing.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Are you okay?" he asked, he looks worried. I nodded slowly. "Please don't take what he said to heart. That's not important, that's pointless. You are not shameful just because you are the only childless among your siblings, it's yours, Doctor Vienaiaz. Your decision is yours,"

"I know..." Iyon lang ang sagot ko. Tinignan ko siya sa mata. Binitawan niya na ako. "Thank you. Thank you for saving me there. I could defend myself in a dangerous way but you saved me. Thank you," hinawi ko ang buhok ko..

"Are you okay?" he repeated.

"I am okay. Thank you for asking. Did you hear everything?"

"I can't get you out of there if I haven't heard everything."

Natawa ako. Right. "Did you eat already? Let me pay you," I said.

"No energy,"

I grunt. "There is a convenience store there, let's go there." Nginitian ko siya. Nilagpasan ko siya at hinayaan siyang sumunod sa akin. Siya ang unang pumasok kaya napagbuksan niya pa ako ng door. "Okay na sa 'kin 'to," kumuha lang kami ng hotdog sa bread at juice. Ilalabas ko pa lang ang wallet ko nang maglapag ng five hundred si Ralpkiel. "I'll pay," laban ko.

"I have money, it's okay. 'Di mo kailangan gumastos,"

Sinarado ko na ang bag ko at natawa nang mahinhin. "This is the first time I heard you speak Tagalog again," I told him the reason. I saw him smile.  "So, you talked to my family." We're sitting.

"Ahuh,"

"What did they tell you?"

"Nothing. They said, it would be better if my family was with me."

"Why didn't they come?"

"They are busy," sagot ni Ralpkiel sa akin. Binuksan ko na ang pagkain ko at kumain nang tahimik. "You and Syd are fine again," pag-iiba niya ng topic namin.

I watched him open my juice bottle and place it in front of me. Tumango ako. "Matagal na. He apologized,"

"Good thing you forgave him."

"Wala naman akong choice... I have to deal with everything that happens to me. How are you?" I asked instead, ayoko pag-usapan 'yung sa amin ni Syd. Tapos na ako roon. Tapos na 'yung parte ko sa kaniya. We're both happy naman na ngayon. Wala na akong problema. Pinatawad ko na ang lahat, except for what I did to Ralpkiel.

"Still like before,"

Broken?

Happy?

"I don't know what you used to be." Sagot ko na ikinatawa niya na parang malungkot. I still know. I don't know how he is doing now.

"Pumupunta ka pa rin ba sa orphanage?" Napatingin ako kay Ralpkiel nang tinanong niya iyon. Why is he asking? Does he want to go there too? He also looked at me so I was a little surprised. I'm not used to looking into his eyes, I'm not used to him looking at me. That's different, everything is different.