Chapter 21 – Nuisance foster mother.

Olive was traumatized. Lagi raw itong sumisigaw at umiiyak at sa presensya lang ni Nate ito kumakalma. Nate on the other hand managed to clear his schedules to stay beside his ex ayon na rin sa payo ng mga doktor sa London.

In fact, isang linggo na si Nate doon and during those times, he would just call and talk to Elisha for a few minutes everyday.

Sina Hannah at Nate, hindi pa nag-uusap. Ayaw rin namang dumagdag ng dalaga sa mga alalahanin ni Nate. Alam niya na hindi biro ang pinagdadaanan nito.

Mabuti rin nga at wala ng pasok si Elisha. Dahil may mga balita ng lumabas na si Olive talaga ang ina ng bata. Hindi niya alam kung paano iyon nalaman ng media. Pero sa panahon naman ngayon ay wala ng imposible.

Hindi pa nagpapalabas ng opisyal na pahayag si Nate at wala itong pinapaunlakan na interview.

Pero ang problema, dahil mainit ang issue, hindi makalabas sina Hannah at Elisha. Lalo na dahil nauungkat iyong pagkakataon na nakita silang kasama si Nate noon.

There were lots of speculations. Sabi ng iba, babae siya ni Nate. Sabi ng iba, yaya lang siya ng bata dahil obvious naman daw na hindi siya magugustuhan ng binata. Still others say na inakit niya ito.

Ang nakakatawa, sa lahat ng mga tsismis, walang tumama. Nobody bothered to know who Hannah really was. They came to somehow realize that Eli's real mother was Olive but they didn't say na kaya nasa kanya ang bata ay dahil pinabayaan ito ng ina nito.

In the public's eyes, victim si Olive. At siya na dapat ay innocent party ang itinuturong dahilan ng hiwalayan nina Olive at Nate noon. Ang masakit, pinapalabas nila na bina-blackmail niya si Nate gamit ang anak nito.

"Stop watching the news, Hannah," si Paul na agad in-off ang TV nang madatnan siya nitong nanonood.

"G-gusto ko lang maging updated." Nag-iwas siya ng paningin nang umupo ito sa harapan niya.

"Hannah, you're neither of those they say you are. You're a good person. You raised Elisha so well even if no one asked you to." Ginagap nito ang mga kamay niya.

"H-hindi naman nila ako kilala. I'm not affected, Paul," she lied. Dahil ang totoo nasasaktan na siya.

"I wanted to get angry with Nate. Bakit hindi na lang siya magpa-interview at tapusin na lahat ng ibinibintang sa 'yo? Surely the public will believe him."

Iyon din ang isa pang ikinakasama ng loob niya. Nate can easily clarify the matter pero hindi nito iyon ginagawa. Pero hindi naman siya magagalit dahil doon. Masyado ng madaming iniisip si Nate. Isa pa, sino ba naman siya, 'di ba?

Gaya ng sinasabi nila, hindi naman siya importanteng tao.

"It's okay, Paul. It's not Nate's responsibility to defend me." Pinilit niyang ngumiti. "Anyway, sinabi na ba sa 'yo ni Nate kung kailan niya iuuwi si Olive?" Pag-iiba niya ng usapan.

"I don't have any idea."

Nag-uusap pa sila ni Paul nang tumunog ang cellphone nito. She looked at her wristwatch and easily figured out na si Nate ang caller. Isa pa iyon, Nate knew her number pero hindi ito sa kanya tumatawag para kausapin si Elisha.

"Take the call." Tumayo na siya at iniwan si Paul na sinagot naman ang tawag.

Hannah missed Nate. Pakiramdam na wala naman siyang karapatang maramdaman. Dapat yata inuumpisahan na niyang patayin ang damdamin niya para sa binata.

"Hannah," Paul called. "Nate wants to talk to you," he added nang lumingon siya.

"Yeah?" Walang siglang aniya.

"Yes..." Iniabot nito sa kanya ang cellphone. "Lalabas muna ako."

"Thanks." Halos ten seconds muna niyang tinitigan ang mukha ni Nate na naka-flash sa screen bago niya iyon iniangat sa tainga niya. "Nate?"

"Hannah."

Gosh... His voice, she really missed him. Ipinikit niya nang mariin ang mga mata para pigilin ang luhang gustong humulagpos mula roon.

"Sorry, Eli's sleeping right now. Nakalimutan niya na oras na ng pagtawag mo. Would you like me to wake her up?" She tried to sound as calm as she could.

"I know... Paul already told me. And no, don't wake her up."

Dead air.

"Uhmn–" she was thinking of something to say. "How's Olive? Ahm I mean, the news, hindi kumpleto, I want to hear from someone who have first hand information," she tried sounding unaffected now and just really concerned about her friend.

"I'm sorry, Hannah," was what he said instead.

"For what?"

"Hindi ako nakapagpaalam sa 'yo... I didn't want you to freak out. You've been through a lot and I didn't want the news about your friend to add to your worries..." Sincere naman ang pagkakasabi ni Nate and somehow it made Hannah feel na kahit papaano ay naiisip rin naman siya ng binata.

"Ano ka ba, okay lang... I totally understand. You don't owe me any explanation. Just please make sure that Olive will be fine."

"She's okay now. I made sure she's got the best doctors."

"That- that's good..."

"Few more days tapos uuwi na kami," he paused na parang nagdadalawang isip ito sa sunod na sasabihin. "Hannah, Olive is staying with us."

That's what she thought.

"According to her doctors, makakatulong iyon sa recovery niya. I hope it's okay with you," he added.

"O-of course. Nate, this is your house." She managed to say na bahagya pang tumawa. Pero maging siya ay natabangan sa tawa niya.

"I just want to give you a heads up. I trust that you will explain it to Eli."

"I will." Agad siyang nagpaalam sa binata bago tumulo ang luha niya.

It's happening... The start when Hannah needs to tell Elisha about her real mother.

Bukod doon, kailangan na rin niyang simulang ilayo ang loob ni Eli sa kanya.

'You can do this, Hannah... You have to...'

-----

The day came.

Mula sa airport ay dumiretso na sila sa bahay ni Nate. Olive and Nate remained silent at hindi pa rin humaharap sa media. Pero para sa katahimikan ng lahat, inilabas nila ang medical records ni Olive at kung saan ito tutuloy habang lubusang nagpapagaling.

"Liv," mahinang usal ni Hannah nang makaharap ang kaibigan. Naka-wheelchair ito at medyo tulala pa. "Liv!" She knelt in front of her at ginagap ang mga kamay nito.

"H- Hannah," she cried. "Hannah! He's going to kill me! Josh, he's--- he's a monster! He's going to kill me! Hannah!"

Her heart broke. Takot na takot ito na animo ay bigla na lang itong sasaksakin ng kung sino.

"It's okay now, Liv. He can't come near you again..." Niyakap niya ito nang mahigpit.

"I'm scared..." humagulgol ito. "I'm so scared!"

"You're safe here... Nate's going to make sure of it. Right, Nate?" Tiningala niya ang binatang nasa tabi lang nila. Hindi niya mabasa ang emosyon sa mga mata nito. He did a good job concealing his emotion.

"Of course," maiksing tugon nito na mataman siyang tiningnan sa mga mata.

"Narinig mo 'yon?" Baling niya sa kaibigan para may excuse siyang bumitaw sa mga titig ni Nate. "You're safe here. Josh can't hurt you again."

"Thank you, Hannah... I know I don't deserve your kindness, I'm sorry, Hannah... I'm sorry!"

"It's okay, Liv..."

Makakaya ba niyang magtanim ng sama ng loob kay Olive? Pagbali-baliktarin man ang mundo, she's still her friend, her best friend. Sinabi nga nito kay Nate ang tungkol kay Elisha, but in the end, everything worked out well.

Except that now, at her return, Hannah had to go.

"Magpahinga ka muna," sabi niya.

"Ang anak ko?" Olive asked, natigilan si Hannah.

Alam naman niyang dapat by this time ay nasabi na niya ang totoo kay Elisha. Ang problema, sa tuwing susubukan niya, hindi niya magawang saktan ang bata. Just thinking about how her child would cry, nadudurog na ang puso niya.

"Olive," salo ni Nate. "Hindi pa alam ni Eli ang tungkol sa 'yo. Please, just take a rest for now."

"But you're going to tell her, right?" Parang bigla na naman itong naging tuliro.

"Of course," si Nate pa rin at ito na ang sumama sa silid ni Olive. Pero bago ito umalis ay sinabihan siya nito na mag-uusap sila.

-----

Hannah was walking back and forth habang hinihintay sa study room si Nate.

Anong pag-uusapan nila? Pupwersahin na ba siya nitong sabihin na kay Elisha ang totoo?

Now that Olive was back, hindi na rin naman niya alam kung saan siya lulugar. She could no longer pretend to be the mommy when the real mother was around. They could no longer fake a family with one daddy and two mommies. It would confuse Elisha. At hindi niya kayang pagdaanan ng anak niya iyon.

Eli's a wonderful girl. She deserved the truth. And by making that happen, kailangan mawala siya sa picture. It's the only way.

Hannah knew it. It was just that, it's easier said than done.

"Hannah."

Napaigtad siya at itinigil ang pagni-nail biting nang pumasok si Nate sa study.

He was a picture of a tired man. But nonetheless, still very very handsome.

"Are you okay?" Puno ng concern ang tinig nito.

"I'm sorry." Napahikbi siya. Kapag usapin na ng pagiging ina niya sa anak nito, nagiging mahina siya. Alam kasi niyang wala siyang karapatan. "Sinusubukan ko naman... I–" nilapitan niya ito at bigla siyang luluhod sana sa harapan nito.

"Hannah," he was quick na saluhin siya so instead of ending up kneeling in front of him, nasa mga bisig siya ngayon ni Nate at pareho silang nakaupo sa sahig.

"I'm sorry. I couldn't bring myself to tell Eli!" She cried. "I know this is not doing my part of the bargain but please understand that it's difficult for me!"

"Hannah." Kumalas ito sa kanya at ikinulong sa mga palad nito ang luhaan niyang mukha. "You're not going to tell her alone. It should be the two of us," malumanay nitong dagdag.

Napapikit siya nang mariin. What difference would that make? Mababawasan ba no'n ang sakit?

"Eli won't understand!" giit niya.

"She's a smart girl. She'll understand."

'Oh boy... Nate's already decided... You can no longer do anything about it, Hannah!'

Marahas niyang tinanggal ang mga kamay nito sa mukha niya. Pinahid niya ang mga luha at tumayo. What part did Nate did not understand? Mahirap bang intindihin na nanay siya at 'di niya kayang saktan ang anak niya?

"Then let me do it my own way!" she said walking away from him.

"I'm not saying you do it now, Hannah! I'm keeping my word, you break it to Eli gently. We will break it to her gently."

Sa isip niya, nagsisinungaling si Nate. Ayaw lang nitong aminin pero naiinip na ito na hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin niya sinasabi kay Eli ang totoo.

He was eager to complete his family and it didn't include Hannah. She's just a nuisance foster mother.

"No, i'm going to tell her alone," mariin niyang sabi.

May purpose siya ro'n. Ayaw niyang magalit din si Eli sa ama nito. She will take all the blame... Para pag-alis niya at hindi agad ito makakapag-adjust sa presensya ni Olive, may ama itong matatakbuhan.

"Hannah!" Frustrated na sambit nito sa pangalan niya.

"Elisha will be needing you, Nate. Just rest your case." Tinalikuran na niya ito pero bago iyon ay nakita niyang gusto pa nitong makipagtalo.

But maybe his tiredness had taken its toll on him. Hindi na ito nagsalita bagkus ay napasuklay na lang ng daliri sa buhok nito.

'I know that I'm already over staying, Nate... Just give me one week max and I'll be out of here. Out of Eli's life. Out of your life...'

Hinayaan ni Hannah na tumulo lang ang kanyang luha. She shouldn't be hurting so much, right?

She knew from the very start that she's bound to lose everyone one day. But just the mere thought of leaving her precious Eli and the man she had learned to love was already hurting Hannah like hell.

But she couldn't blame anyone... It was all her fault for allowing herself to live the fantasy of having Nate and Eli in her life. They weren't hers but Olive's...