Concealed Truth

04

" Yun pala yung sinasabi niya." ani Dennise nang makaalis na sila Maddie sa table namin. It was the worst dinner I've ever had. Not that I'm complaining about the food but because of that know-it-all dumbass na mukhang namang kawayan na Zolo na ungas na yun.

" So alam mong may boyfriend siya?" Tanong ni Alex.

" No. She was just telling me about a guy she met at the gym. Malay ko bang jojowain niya yun." sagot naman ni Dennise.

" Does the guy know that she has a son?" tanong naman ni Rex.

" At kinausap man lang ba ni Maddie si Liam about this?"

" Obviously, the guy knows pero I don't think Liam approves of him." sabi naman ni Therese. We all looked at Liam and he looked scared at that asshole standing in front of him. While Maddie was acting like a teenager. Kilig na kilig sa Zolo na yun.

" Well tignan na lang natin kung paano mapapaamo ni Zolo si Liam." sabi ni Tri.

" Di niya mapapaamo yan." sabi ko. They all looked at me at halatang mga nagtataka sa sinabi ko,

" Bakit naman?"

" Look at the two of them. Liam is obviously scared of him and Zolo looked tensed na parang natatae na ewan." sabi ko

" Kawawa naman yung inaanak ko. It's his birthday pero nasira mismo ng nanay niya."

" Hindi naman siguro." ani Rex

" He's just shocked."

Umiling ako saka na lang tumayo para kumuha ng maiinom. Since walang nakaready na drinks ay hinintay ko na lang na matapos magtimpla ng juice yung waiter. While waiting, naisipan kong obserbahan sina Maddie at Zolo. Naweweirduhan ako kay Maddie. Kanina lang akala mo asawang iniwan ko nung nagkita kami. Akala ko may chance na ko yun pala may boyfriend. And the weirdest part is that she doesn't want to be in any kind of relationship tas ngayon biglang may ipapakilalang lalaki na boyfriend?

" Ivan, are you okay?" napapitlag ako when someone tapped me on the shoulder. Paglingon ko ay si Tita Donna pala.

" Tita! Hello po." bati ko

" Okay ka lang?" tanong niya.

" Yeah. I'm good po. Kamusta na po tita? Long time no see ah."

" Okay naman din. Eto, tumatanda na. Malapit na nga dumami yung white hairs ko eh. Hahahha!" she laughed. Natawa rin ako sa sinabi niya.

" Saan ka ba nanggaling bata ka ha? You've been gone for quite a long time ihjo."

" Well, I went to Vietnam po kasi tita. I was trying to explore more about my profession."

" Ah. Artist ka nga pala. So what happened?"

" Ayun po. Went to Vietnam. Lived there for a month habang pinapagaralan ko po yung iba't ibang styles nila in arts then after po nun, went to Germany and stayed there for two months, I think. Yeah 2 months nga po. Ganun din po. Tried to learn a lot about their techniques, nag-explore ng mga pwedeng kakaibang gawin, kumilala ng iba't-ibang artists na kagaya ko po. Then I went to Amsterdam din po. Actually po di ko na nga alam kung nakailang bansa ako tita." kwento ko. She smiled at me as she nods.

" Well, maganda naman pala nangyari sayo nung umalis ka. Eh bakit umuwi ka pa? Parang enjoy na enjoy ka sa pagtatravel mo eh. And I know you ihjo. Once you start on something, di mo na lulubayan yan."

" Hahahaha. Hay nako tita. I realized po that no matter where I go. I'll always miss the Philippines. Masaya po magtravel sobra. Dami ko pong namemeet na mga tao, daming napupuntahan. Pero iba pa rin pag may pamilya ka, or mga kaibigan na kasama. Also, I grew tired of going from one country to another po." sabi ko.