GET EVEN

CHAPTER TEN

"Destiny I know you really like your house pero masyadong maliit para sating tatlo ni Keith. May tatawagan akong agent mamaya para makapag set ng appointments. I did a cursory look last night and there are some really great places on the market I'd like to see. To be honest gusto ko magpagawa ng sarili kong bahay pero mas mapapatagal kapag ganon ang ginawa ko and I want us to get settled as soon as possible." Gabriele said, as they were sharing a picnic in the park.

Kasalukuyang nakikipaglaro ang kanilang anak ng soccer sa ibang mga bata roon kaya nagkaroon sila ng pagkakataong makapagsolo sa unang pagkakataon sa araw na iyon. Destiny's whole body tensed at his words. Napamahal na sa kanya ang tahanan nila ng anak. She knew it was small but she'd been paying for it all on her own and she didn't want to give it up.

"Ayokong ibenta ang bahay ko." Destiny said, while crossing her arms and glaring at him.

"Hindi mo naman kaylangang ibenta. You can rent it out if you want or just let it sit empty. I can hire a cleaning crew to come in once a week to make sure it doesn't get moldy or damaged." Gabriele offered.

"May choice ba ako?" she snapped at him. Destiny knew the place was too small and she knew they would be more comfortable with extra space but her world was being uprooted and she felt like she had no control over anything.

"Hindi ako ang kalaban mo dito, Destiny. I'm trying to do the right thing for my son. How does me wanting to watch him grow make me the enemy?" he asked her with exasperation.

Nang sabihin ni Gabriele ang mga katagang iyon ay pakiramdam niya na siya ang nagiging masama dito. Para sa kanya ay hindi makatarungan na binabaliktad nito ang mga pangyayari. She was going to have to get over her feelings of betrayal over him walking away from her, or the next nine years of her life were going to seem like forever.

"Well tama ka. I'm being difficult pero kaylangan mo ring intindihin na kinaya naming dalawa ni Keith na mabuhay sa loob ng siyam na taon na kami lang at mahirap baguhin yun sa isang iglap." Destiny conceded.

"Pwede bang isantabi muna natin kung anuman ang mga inis at galit natin sa isat isa? Kahit ngayon lang Destiny, for the sake of our son." pakiusap ni Gabriele.

"Mabuti pa nga siguro." Destiny answered, wanting some peace.

Gabriele made a few calls while Keith was playing and within the hour he had appointments at six different locations. Destiny was amazed at the speed the man was able to get things done.

Pagkaraan pa ng ilang sandali ay tumatakbo na palapit sa si Keith. Ang mga pagkain ang una niyang inatupag ng makarating sa kanila dahil nagutom siya ng husto sa pakikipaglaro.

"Hey buddy, want to go look at some houses?" Gabriele asked him.

"Why?" walang kainte interes na tanong ni Keith sa ama.

"We're going to find a bigger place to live so you have more room to play." sagot ni Gabriele. Keith was very interested after that. Hindi na siya makapaghintay na umalis sa park para tumingin ng mga bahay. Sa mga unang pinuntahan palang nila ay namangha na si Destiny. She'd grown up in the biggest house of her town and she thought it was fancy but it didn't compare to the places they were looking at now.

Each house had electronic gates, requiring a key pad to even enter the driveway. The homes were enormous and she was afraid she'd lose Keith if they moved into one of them. Hindi niya iniaalis ang tingin sa anak habang naglilibot sa bawat bahay na kanilang tinignan. Hindi alam ni Destiny kung anong hinahanap ni Gabriele dahil tila wala siyang nagugustuhan sa kahit isa sa mga ito. She was actually grateful for that and was hoping the other places were scaled down a bit.

Each time they left one of the places the real estate agent seemed disappointed but Destiny was impressed with how well she covered that. Sigurado siya na malaki ang makukuha nitong komisyon kapag nakapili si Gabriele ng kahit alinman doon dahil milyon ang halaga ng mga bahay na tinignan nila.