The Second Charm

Charm 3

THE SECOND CHARM |
Chapter 3

"Gago." Kumento ko nung nakabawi ako, natatawa pa ng bahagya.  "Anong tingin mo sa kasal, band-aid na pwede mong ipangtapal sa mga existing issues natin sa buhay?"

Tinawanan ko nga siya pero mukhang ako lang ang natatawa. Why though? Don't tell me he was dead serious about the marriage thing?!

"Bakit naman ako magbibiro tungkol sa kasal? In case hindi pa nag-sink in sayo, I'm already twenty four! Baka akala mo 17 pa rin ako. Hindi lang ikaw ang tumanda, ano." Aniya.

"24? O ano naman? Let's be real. Hindi pa tayo handa sa mga ganiyang bagay. Marriage? Gahd. We weren't ready back then, we aren't ready now."

"Paano mo ba masasabing handa ka na?" He asked, staring at me straight in the eye. He seemed genuinely curious, and I wanted to give him an in-depth explanation but Spike grunted, interrupting the moment. I looked at him from the rearview mirror.

"Baby? Do you want anything?" I asked him while he was rubbing his eyes gently with the back of his hands.

"Pwede bang sumama si Daddy sa spelling bee namin, Mommy?" Tanong niya.

"Spelling bee?" I asked. I never heard of this before. And this is the first thing he remembers after waking up from that nap?!

"Sinali ako ni teacher kasi very good daw ako sa spelling, eh." Sagot niya.

"Oh wow, mana ka talaga sa Daddy!" Pagbubuhat ni Ian ng sariling bangko.
"Kailan ba yan?"

"Sa Thursday, Daddy." Spike answered, making me shot Ian a look.

"But tomorrow's already Thursday..." I trailed off as I glared at Ian, warning him not to say he'll be there. Sometimes, my parents show up unexpectedly at Spike's school. Baka magkita pa sila dun. It's too risky.

"Nag-practice naman po kami kahapon. Pupunta kayo ni Daddy diba, Mommy? Para may magsabit ng medal ko kapag nanalo ako?"

God, he sounded so much like Ian!

"Uhm, I will check my schedule baby ha? Supposedly kasi may meeting ako bukas." Sagot ko. “Bakit di mo sinabi sa akin agad? Sana napa-resched ko agad yung meeting.”

"How about you, Daddy?" Tanong ni Spike, hindi man lang pinansin ang sagot ko.

"Rest day ko naman bukas so I'm in. Anong oras ba yun?" Ian replied. Damn!

"9 po."

"Okay. I'll be there." Ian assured the kid. Tinignan ko siya ng masama pero nginitian lang ako pabalik ng damuho.

"Susunod ako agad pag natapos ng maaga ang meeting namin." Saad ko bago lumingon kay Ian. "Saan kita ibababa pala?"

"Kung saan kayo bababa."

Liningon ko siya at ginawaran ng iling. Nope. No can do.

"Hindi naman ako tutuloy sa loob ng bahay. Gusto ko lang maranasan na makasama kayo hanggang sa pag-uwi. Magco-commute nalang nun ako, hindi mo na ako kailangang ihatid pabalik."

"Malamang!" I glared at him before I remembered that Spike was with us. I cleared my throat. "But don't you have a car? Tatlong taon ka na sa BPO diba? Ang alam ko malaki sahod dun, lalo na ngayon, OM ka na."

"Well, sorry, wala akong sasakyan." He replied blandly, na para bang nawalan bigla ng gana. "Ibaba mo nalang ako diyan sa terminal ng bus."

"Magba-bus ka pauwi?"