Cards: Ash Crisanto

Chapter 41: One of a kind

Mere's POV

Tulog parin si Aelyx ng pumasok kami. Si Seth naman ay nakaupo parin sa couch, pinagmamasdan lang kami. Si Kuya tulog rin.

"So you finally told him. That's good." ngisi ni Seth, di siya pinansin ni Ash. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin pero di parin nawala ang ngisi niya.

"Tss. Gonna smoke, dyan muna kayo." Tawa nito saka lumabas,

"That painting. Aelyxis, it's him." saad ni Ash, mas lumapit siya at dinungaw si Aelyx.

"How did you know about that?" kunot noo kong tanong,

"I bought that painting. Sa Greece. Ace told me about your business, the auctions. She saw you in New York, sumunod ako pero wala ka na. So I searched about Equinox, your team." paliwanag nito habang pinagkamamasdan parin ang anak.

So that's him! He was wearing a mask that time, hindi ko siya nakilala dahil mas tumangkad siya at nagimprove ng husto ang katawan niya. And he's with someone that night. And damn! He bought the painting for 300Million! Di ko makakalimutan yun.

"You were there, ba't hindi mo nalaman na sa Greece ako nakatira?"

"I searched but you're everywhere, hindi ko alam kung alin dun sa mga bahay na yun ang permanente mong tirahan. And it's almost a year nang marealize kong hindi ka na talaga babalik, na umalis ka na talaga. Nun lang ako nagdecide na hanapin ka."

"You're in France with your ex, then you're in New York with another man. And in Greece may iba ka ring kasama, I don't know which is which. You're literally everywhere, I can't keep up with you."

Hindi ako nakaimik. In my defense isa lang dun ang inentertain ko, si Onyx lang, at natigil din yun because I can't love Onyx.

"Why is he here? What happened?" hinawi niya ang buhok ni Aelyx at natigil ang titig niya sa swero nito sa braso.

"Fever, hindi pa daw nakaadjust ang katawan niya dito, it's the climate at timezone."

"Hmmm...how old is he? 2?"

"Yes, he just turned 2 last October 17." sagot ko,

"He got your looks. It's like looking at you everyday, baby version" sabi ko, bahagya siyang nangiti.

"I wish I was able to witness him as toddler. I've always wanted a baby with you, kaya nga kita binuntis. Then shit happens, nawala lahat."

Halos masamid ako sa sinabi niya! So inaamin niya talagang sinadya niyang mabuo namin si Lyx? Mas lalo akong naguilty!

"It's not too late, he's here. You can see him anytime you want, pwede kang bumisita samin..." nilingon niya ko ng may lisik ang mata, why is he mad again?

"Bisita? I need my son with me. It's up to you kung sasama ka o hindi." halos malaglag ang panga ko sa sinabi niya.

"Ash. You can't just take him like that, he needs to adjust kakalipat lang namin ng bahay."

"Edi ako ang lilipat sainyo. Don't tell me hindi ka parin papayag?"

"N-no no, it's not what I mean...it's just that..." di ko matuloy, so I just nodded instead.

"Wala rin naman sakin kahit di ka pumayag. We can do this the easy way or the hard way. You choose but either way makakasama ko ang anak ko." napatikom ang bibig ko dun, he seems to be so far from the Ash I know.

Iba ang kausap ko ngayon. Tila wala akong kapangyarihang baguhin ang desisyon niya hindi tulad dati. Pero dapat habaan ko ang pasensya ko sa pinapakita niya, dahil marami rin akong mali.