Kiss Me When You're Sober (FREENBECKY)

XLVIII - Epilogue

Seven years later

I hurriedly dressed up when I heard Lai shouting outside my room.

"Maaaa! Bagalan mo pa, hindi pa tayo late," nangaasar na sigaw niya.

"Wait a minute baby, I'm almost done."

"Ma! I'm 12! Stop calling me baby!" I know that she rolled her eyes out of annoyance when she said that. "Sa kotse na po ako maghihintay," she added.

Pagkatapos ko mag bihis at mag ayos ng gamit, lumabas na ako ng kwarto at dali daling tumakbo palabas ng bahay.

"Oh bakit ka babalik?" tanong ko kay Lai na pumasok ulit ng gate.

"Seriously Ma? Lumabas ka lang talaga ng bahay?" she asked me, arms crossed.

"Ha?"

Hindi siya sumagot at dumiretso papasok ng pinto, pero bago siya pumasok lumingon muna siya sa'kin.

"Tignan mo Ma, hindi mo nga na lock yung pinto eh," ngumiti nalang ako at hinintay siya na makalabas at i-lock yung pinto.

I scratch my head when I saw her holding my phone and the bag that I prepared last night. Itinaas niya yung mga gamit na parang nang aasar, may pinagmahanan.

"I was trained to do this," she is smiling at me. Kinuha ko yung phone ko, "Pati yung bag ni Rain naiwan mo ang laki laki na nito," natatawang sabi niya.

"Stop teasing me Lai, ang aga pa," kinurot ko siya sa pisngi. Makaganti man lang.

"Okaay po! Later nalang ulit," nakangising sabi niya at tumakbo na papuntang kotse, sa driver's seat siya umupo.

Naglakad ako papuntang kotse at tinignan siya ng masama, "I thought you will tease me later, what are you doing now Lai?" I asked her seriously, but I'm not mad.

"Umm... teasing you Ma? Ngayon na yung later. Ang bilis no?" malapad siyang nakangit sa akin ngayon.

She's not scared of me, how nice.

"Alis na dyan!" galit galitan na utos ko sa kanya.

She gave me a salute pose, "Yes Ma'am Hana! Sorry for the inconvenience!" she continued as if she was one of my employees.

Napailing nalang ako sa mga kalokohan at pang aasar niya.

While on our way, I told Lai that we will drop by for a while in my office. I have to discuss some essential matters with Sky.

"For how long Ma?"

I took a glance at her before I answer but–

"Ma you don't have to look at me! Keep your eyes on the road," she worriedly said. May pa sermon pa siya.

"Yes po, sorry Miss Laily Sandoval."

She just laughed at me.

"One hour Lai," I continued.

"Can I just stay with you when you're having a meeting with Auntie Sky?" I feel the sadness in her tone. Nakatingin siya sa bintana ng tinanong niya ako. "I feel s-sad when I visit your workplace... y-you know, I'm not used to waiting there alone."

"No worries baby, you can sit in." I touched her hand to assure her.

Halsey isn't working in the company anymore and Lai used to stay with her while waiting for me to finish my work and meetings. She is also sad for some other reason.