Stonehearts 6: Alexandrite

Thirty Two

Gio is acting quite odd when he and Clyde fetched me from work. Una, akala ko pagod lang din siya. But when I saw that he still talks to Clyde with enthusiasm, I realized that exhaustion wasn't the culprit, it has something to do with me.

Hinayaan ko muna siyang asikasuhin si Clyde. Mukhang ayaw niya rin naman akong lumapit sa kaniya. He only does this when he is extremely mad. Hindi ko nga lang alam kung anong ginawa ko.

Nang natapos na kaming maghapunan at nagpaalam na si Clyde na maghihilamos na siya at mamatulog na. Nauna na akong pumanik sa kwarto. Iba na rin kasi ang sakit ng ulo sa stress ko dahil sa nangyari kanina.

Napahilot ako sa sentido ko nang naalala ko nanaman ang mga pinag-usapan namin ni Sam ng lunch.

Gusto sana akong hintayin ni Sam ang lunch break ko pero pinilit ko na kikitain ko na lang siya sa maliit na Bristo dalawang kwanto bago ang building kung saan ako nagtratrabaho.

When I arrived there, I saw him sitting by the picture window and that he already ordered us food. "I hope you don't mind, but I went ahead and ordered for us."

I murmured my thanks and decided to get to the point. "Anong gusto mong malaman?"

"What's his full name? How old is he? How is he doing?"

"Clyde Jovanni Bautista. He's seven nearly eight. Okay naman siya." I answered without giving any detail.

I saw the hope in his eyes fading and I felt bad about it. I suddenly wish Clare was here so she would tell me what to do.

"Gusto mo bang makakita ng picture niya?" I offered.

I get a giddy yes from him, so I took my phone out and swiped through my gallery to find the cutest picture of my son. I picked the solo picture Gio took after he just bought Clyde a giant car. He has a toothy smile while hugging the toy.

I showed it to him, and I saw his eyes glistening with unshed tears, "Oh, wow...." He said breathlessly. "He looks really happy in this picture."

I gave him more time to stare at the photo before I finally took my phone in his hands and placed it inside my pocket.

"Bakit mo iniwan si Clare mag-isa?" lakas-loob na tanong ko.

Nakita ko ang paglunok niya saka siya tumingin sa labas ng bintana. He was fumbling with his fingers as he voiced out a reply, "Natakot ako. We were only twenty–"

"'Yon nga 'yon, Sam. Bente anyos lang kayo pero pinabayaan mo si Clare mag-isa. Alam mo ba kung paano siya namatay?" Umiling siya. "Sa panganganak kay Clyde. Dahil wala siyang pera pambayad para makakuha ng maayos na check-ups nang nagbubuntis siya. Tyinatyaga niyang pumila sa Health Center kahit pagod siya galing sa school at sa part-time job niya para makatipid, dahil nag-iipon siya para sa mga vitamins niya at the same time para sa panganganak niya. You left her alone, she suffered alone just because you weren't ready. Sa tingin mo ba siya ready na noon?"

"I know. And I regret doing that. Hindi mo alam na gabi-gabi ako nagsisisi dahil mas pinili ko ang madali kesa manatili sa tabi niya." Saka niya pinunasan ang luhang nakatakas mula sa mga mata niya. "Kaya nga ako ngayon nandito. Gusto kong itama lahat. Gusto kong makita ang anak ko, makabawi sa kanya at kay Clare. I want to catch up on the years we've missed. I want to build my relationship with him."

Kinabahan ako. Is this the part where he would eventually take Clyde away from us? I balled my hands into fist and looked at him straight in the eyes.