One Fateful Day

Chapter 2

"Ok, here it goes. Kaya mo to Xaxa." Pagpapalakas loob ng dalaga sa sarili.

Ilang sandali pa ang pinalipas niya bago nagawang kumatok sa pinto ng opisina ni Alery.

"Come in." anang baritonong tinig.

"You asked to see me?" Extra composed na tanong ng dalaga.

Well, she actually prepared for this one. Naka-slacks and blouse siya ng pumasok kanina. Good thing may extra clothes siya sa opisina kaya naman nagawa niyang magpalit. Red fitting dress, na lalong nag-enhance sa kanyang fair complexion. Peep toe sandals, with matching black blazer, na sinadya niyang wag munang isuot to emphazise her curves.

"I admire your being composed, after throwing the bomb yesterday." Sa halip ay sagot nito. Eyeing her from head to toe.

Mga titig na nagpailang kay Xaxa, though hindi niya pinahalata. This guy can really turn her knees into jelly in just a matter of stare.

"The news was five years late Alery. Had you stayed for another month, hindi ka sana nagulat na pwede palang magbunga yung ginawa natin noon."

Gusto nyang palakpakan ang sarili for saying those without stuttering. Kinakabahan man, wala siyang balak na magpatalo dito. Tama ng inabandona sila nito noon. She'll never give him the satisfaction of seeing her weak again.

"That time, the thought of getting you pregnant didn't cross my mind. Believe me, hindi ko ginustong iwan si Xarel. Because had I known she exist, I would have come home sooner." Bakas ang regret sa boses ni Alery.

"I dont have any means of letting you know my situation. You dissapeared, just like that. Anyway, what is this for? I'd prefer if you would go straight to the point. You know how I hate preliminaries." Ayaw na niyang magtagal pa don.

Seeing him again, talking to him, it feels like the wounds of the past is being reopened, when it was not yet closed in the first place. Being with him makes her realize that after all these years, she's still very much into him.

"I want to have my right as Xarel's dad. I want her to know who I am." Sagot ng binata.

"That's fine with me. Pumunta ka sa bahay on Saturday, I'm sure you know the address. I'm going. Marami pa kong trabaho." Yun lang at naglakad na siyang palabas.

When she's inside the car, tsaka lang pinakawalan ni Xaxa ang hangin na kanina pa niya pinipigil sa dibdib niya. Pinatapang na nga siguro siya ng nakalipas na limang taon.

Sabagay, hindi naman siya mahinang babae, just like what Alery perceived her to be, way back. Prangka siya, because she wants to get things over and done with sa pinakamabilis na paraang meron at available at her disposal. Pwede niyang hindi sabihin sa binata ang totoo about their daughter, but that would be unfair to Xarel. Her baby needs to know the truth. Isa itong Montepiedad, sa dugo, maging sa itsura.

She doesn't know if Alery still has a family, hindi niya naman nakilala isa man sa mga ito noon. Ni hindi niya nga alam na sobrang yaman pala nito nung panahong naging sila. Not that she cares. Kasi kung nalaman niya lang siguro ng mas maaga, baka nagdalawang isip siya noon na mahalin ang binata. Baka kahit paano natakot siyang sumugal. Di sana, may buong pamilyang kinagisnan ang anak niya.

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"Did I made her that pare?" Tanong ni Alery kay Dylan. Nasa isang bar sila ng gabing yun. Niyaya niya ito para may mapaglabasan ng nararamdaman niya.

"Made her what? The strong woman that she is right now? No dude. Dati ng malakas si Xaxa. Remember the first time you introduced her to me? She was just 21, but I never saw the meekness I usually see sa mga kaedad niya, whenever they are faced with people like us. Nasa personalidad niya ang pagiging malakas pare. You just didn't saw it at the time." Sagot naman nito.