The Way To His Heart (The Starving Squad #3)

Chapter 16: Angela

Panay ang sulyap ni Felix kay Mona mula sa rearview mirror, sinisigurado yatang hindi siya tatalon palabas ng kotse. But most of the time, his attention was on Angela. Madaldal ang bata kapag kay Felix. Hingi nang hingi ng candy. Tanong nang tanong kung saan sila kakain. Hindi siya makasingit dahil pakiramdam niya, iisipin ng batang nakikihati siya sa atensyon ng daddy nito.

So, she kept quiet until they reached the restaurant. It was a fancy place, mukhang mamahalin. Parang gusto ni Felix bumawi. Or maybe he was really intending to take her there, hindi lang kasi siya nakikipagkita.

Kapapatay lang nito ng makina ng kotse at akmang bababa nang magsalita si Angela.

"Daddy, gusto ko spegetti!"

"Sabi mo gusto mo ng steak? You said you wanted to eat like a grown-up, right?" mahinahon nitong tanong sa bata.

Angela leaned towards Felix. Nakanguso ang bata. "Spegetti na lang, Daddy..." himutok nito.

Alanganing tumingin si Felix sa kanya, parang humihingi ng pasensya ang mga mata. Angela followed. She was suddenly put on the spot. Kung magpupumilit siyang sa steakhouse kumain, baka isipin ng bata na sinasalungat niya ito. So she had no choice but to take Angela's side. Bata naman, e, dapat pinagbibigyan ng mas nakatatanda.

Nginitian niya ang dalawa. "Spegetti rin ang gusto ko," sabi niya.

She hoped to please Angela with her answer, but didn't get the smile she was hoping for. Nakatingin lamang ito sa kanya, hindi kumukurap.

Felix sighed and buckled his already undone seatbelt.

"All right. Where to, Mcdo?" tanong ni Felix sa bata.

"Jollibee!" masayang sagot ng bata.

Felix smiled and pinched the little girl's cheek. Saka nito muling pinaandar ang sasakyan para maghanap ng pinakamalapit na branch ng Jollibee.

--

Nang makarating sila roon, agad silang naghanap ng bakanteng table. Felix left Angela with her. Ito na raw ang o-order. But before he could go to the counter, tumayo na ang bata at hinabol ito. Ayaw yatang maiwan kasama siya.

In a way, it relieved her. Kasi kahit madaldal siya, hindi pa rin niya alam ang sasabihin sa anak ng crush nya, na ngayon lang niya nalamang may anak pala. How does someone deal with that? Honestly, gusto na niyang umuwi. Nahihiya siya sa bata.

Kung si Andrea lang, kakayanin pa ng konsensya niya, e. Felix must have some reason why he's like that with Andrea. But if that reason was a kid... hindi na niya alam. Sa ngayon, kailangan niya ng paliwanag kung bakit at paano nabuo si Angela.

Sandali lamang naman siyang naghintay. Dahil sa fast food chain sila kakain ng lunch, mabilis lang ang service. In a few minutes, Felix and Angela were already back to their table. Dala ni Felix ang tray ng pagkain, kasunod ang isang crew na may dalang isa pang tray. Si Angela naman, may bitbit na laruan.

When everything is settled and they could finally eat, biglang tumayo si Angela at lumipat sa kandungan ni Felix. Nagpapasubo ng pagkain ang bata. Felix didn't mind so she assumed that this was a regular thing for them.

Kahit medyo awkward na pinanunuod niya ang mag-ama habang nagsusubuan ng pagkain, she also found it sweet of Felix. He wasn't embarrassed by the fact that he already has a kid. Halatang spoiled dito si Angela. He's really sweet with her, it's heart-melting.

Halos hindi na siya makakain sa panunuod sa dalawa, which Felix soon noticed.

"You're not hungry?" he asked.