Chapter 25

"AY! KALABAW NA MAY BANGS! Sino naman kaya itong tao na 'to kung maka busina eh, parang ang layo sa taong bubusinaan niya!" sabi ni Ana at nilingon nila ito.

Isang nakangiting Roy ang kanilang nasilayan.

"Pauwi na ba kayong dalawa?"

"Akala ko kung sino na eh, kung hindi lang ikaw ang bumusina sa amin, Roy. Makakatikim ka sa akin ng mura, eh!"

"Pasensiya na kung nagulat ko kayo, ano uuwi naba kayo? Sumabay na na kayo sa akin pauwi narin ako."

"Oh, sige medyo malayo pa ang lalakarin namin eh. Lyn, halika kana para makapagpahinga ka ng maaga."

Ngumiti si Lyn kay Ana bilang sang-ayon niya sa sinabi nito.

"Kamusta na kayong dalawa? Long time no see!" sabi agad ni Roy.

"Okay lang naman ako, Roy, naka move on na sa nangyari, ikaw ba saan ka ba nagsusuot. At ngayon ka lang namin nakita ha?"

"Mabuti naman kung ganon, Ana. Ikaw Lyn, kamusta ka?" baling niya sa dalagang walang imik.

"Ha? Ako O... okay lang din naman."

"Mukha nga eh, kasi tumataba ka."

Nagkatinginan ang mag kaibigan sa sinabi ni Roy.

"Oy! Roy, iyon tanong ko hindi mo pa sinasagot ha?" sabi ni Ana para mabaling sa kanya ang usapan nila.

"Ah, diyan lang sa tabi-tabi, Ana."

"Saan naman na tabi-tabi iyan ha, may nililigawan ka ano umamin ka, Roy?"

"Wala, alam mo naman kung sino ang gusto ko di ba?" tinignan niya si Lyn sa front mirror.

Pasimpleng siniko ni Ana si Lyn.

"Ah, Lyn. Pupunta ako mamaya sa bahay ninyo, ha?"

"Roy, di ba nag usap na tayo." agap ni Lyn dahil alam niya kung bakit ito pupunta sa kanila. At saka lalo na ngayon buntis siya may dahilan siyang tanggihan ito.

"Oo, Lyn. Pero hindi ko kaya eh, mahal kita!"

"Roy, hindi talaga puwede dahil..." tumingin muna siya sa kay Ana bago niya itinuloy ang sasabihin at tumango naman ito tanda ng pag sang-ayon nito sa sasabihin.

"Dahil ano, Lyn?"

"Dahil buntis ako ngayon, Roy."

Sa sinabi ni Lyn inihinto muna ni Roy ang sasakyan at humarap siya sa dalaga.

"Sino ang ama, Lyn?"

Napailing siya dahil ayaw niyang sabihin kung sino."Wala!"

"Puwede bang wala, Lyn."

"Roy, huwag ka ng magtanong pa kung sino please!"

"Sige, kung iyan ang gusto mo iginagalang ko Lyn. Pero isang tanong nalang pananagutan kaba niya?"

"Hindi, Roy. Dahil wala na siya dito."

"Kung ganon ako handa kung panagutan 'yan pinagbubuntis mo Lyn."

Nagulat sina Lyn at Ana sa sinabi nito.

"Roy, sabihin mong nagbibiro ka lang."

"Hindi, Lyn. Mahal kita, kaya ko gagawin ito para may kilalanin ama ang anak mo paglaki niya."

"Hindi, Roy. Hindi ko kayang ipaako sa iyo ang responsibilidad ng iba."

"Lyn, makinig ka sa akin paano niya ibibigay 'yon kung ang sabi mo ay wala na siya narito, ako nakahanda kong akuin ang lahat, pakakasalan kita!"

"Roy..."

"Ah, Roy, puwede ba bigyan mo muna si Lyn, nang sapat na oras o panahon na pag-isipan ang sinabi mo kasi hindi ganon kadali ang inaalok mo sa kanya. Alam kung sa ikabubuti ni Lyn, ang sinabi mo pero mahirap din 'yon ikaw lang ang nagmamahal di ba?" turan ni Ana.

"Sige, Lyn, pag isipan mong mabuti ang alok ko. Ana, alam ko 'yon pero natuturuan din ang puso na magmahal di ba? Gagawin ko ang lahat mahalin lang ako ni Lyn."

"Napakabuti mo Roy, sana nga natuturuan ang pusong magmahal sa iba."

"Pag-isipan mo pa rin, Lyn."

"Sige, Roy. Pag-iisipan ko, pero huwag kang umasa sa sagot ko."

"Oo, Lyn. Ano man ang maging disisyon mo tatangapin ko na maluwag sa puso ko."

"Tara na, Roy. Kailangan magpahinga si Lyn."

Ngumiti si Roy pinausad na niya ang sasakyan.

Pagkadating nila Lyn sa bahay nila agad niyang sinabi sa magulang na siya ay buntis.

Wala naman masabi ang dalawang matanda, pero masaya sila dahil may isang buhay na nadarating sa kanila.

Mabilis lumipas ang mga araw at buwan.

Limang buwan na ang pinagbubuntis ni Lyn maraming nagtatanong kung sino ang ama wala siyang sinasagot sa mga ito. Sabi pa nga nila baka si Roy, dahil palagi ito sa bahay nila.

AMERICA.

Hindi na nagsama pa sina Micag at Alex. He bought a condominium unit where he stayed. His wife stayed at their house.

As a husband and wife, they still have communication with each other. When Alex heard from his wife that she had already found someone else, he was so happy, and he was patiently waiting for when Micah would tell him to get a divorce. As time passes, Alex longs to see Lyn again, and he hopes that when the day comes when he is free, he will also wish that she had not married yet or found someone else. This is what he was praying for every night.

Alex is on his way home from his meeting. He won't be coming back to his office. After all, it's already afternoon. He will just rest. While he was driving His cellphone rang. He pressed the call button in his car. "Yes, Micah?"

"Alex, can we meet today? I have something important to tell you. "

"Sure, Micah. Where do you want us to meet?"

"Just come here to the house, Alex."

Okay, I'll be right there. I'm on my way. "

"Okay, Alex. "See you."

"What would she say?" At first, Alex felt nervous, but at the same time, there was joy in his heart. Maybe this is what he was waiting for.

Nang makarating na si Alex sa dating bahay nila dali-dali na siyang bumaba at naglalakihan ang hakbang na tinungo ang pinto.

He quickly knocked on the door. "Alex, is that you?"

"Yes, it's me, Micah."

Micah immediately opened the door. "Come in, Alex."

"Thank you, Micah."

"Sit down first. I'll just get us something to drink."

Habang wala pa si Micah pinagala ni Alex ang paningin sa loob ng bahay.

"Still nothing has changed," he said to himself. Since he left, he has not returned to their house since he left. Just for today, he stepped in.

"Oh, here's your drink, Alex."

"Thanks, Micah."

"Your welcome."

Alex just sipped a little bit of the juice. He returned the glass to the table.

"You seem so happy now, Micah. I can see your expression."

"Yes, Alex. I'm happy. You're right in what you told me. I try myself to find someone who will love me. Then I won't be disappointed. I found him. As I told you, he is very kind. "

"Really, I'm happy for you, Micah?"

"Yes, Alex. Thank you. "

"It's nothing, Micah." I'm the one who should thank you. Because you set me free. So, what are we going to talk about?"

Tumayo muna si Micah may kinuha sa drawer sa may sala pagkalapit niya kay Alex.

"I'd like you to sign these annulment papers so we can be legally separated, Alex."

"Micah, do your parents know about it?"

"Yes, Alex. I already told them. "

"So, what was their reaction?"

"At first they are disappointed, but you know they like you. But I told them then that I found a man better than you! "

Alex smiles. Yeah, he must be better than him.

"Signed, Alex. I'm already done signing it."

So much joy in Alex's heart, he seemed to want to shout at that time. At nanginginnig pa ang kamay na kinuha ang papel kay Micah.

"Are you getting married, Micah?"

"Yes, Alex. I hope you come as my friend. "

"You'll expect that, Micah."

"So, are you going home to the Philippines now that I'm happy, Alex? "

"I'll think about it, Micah."

"Why do you even think about being completely free? Now go home, Alex, to be with her. You might regret it if she has someone else. "

"Just in case she has someone else, Micah. I'm happy for her. "

"What? It's silly of you Alex. She's the reason why we broke up. Will you let her be away from you? I'm happy now. I hope you'll be happy too, so we're both happy. "

Alex smiled wryly.

"I hope you're going home soon, Alex. I know you will be happy with her!" Micah grabbed Alex's hand."Don't even think about it. Fly now, your happiness is waiting for you, Alex."

"Thank you, Micah. Yes I will. I'm going home to the woman that I belong to. But not now I make sure first that you are happy.”

“Okay, Alex, but don’t make to long.”

“Maybe a year, Micah.”

“My goodness, Alex, that long? Make it fast.”

“I will, Micah.”

"That's good, Alex. So, see you in the Philippines. "

Alex smiled at the woman he once loved sincerely.

He approached Micah. And hugged it quietly. "Thank you, my ex-wife."

"You are welcome, my ex-husband."

And they both have a smile on their faces. Because they both feel happy.