My First Love's Son

Chapter 22

DEREK brought Sapphire into a fine dining restaurant in Vigan. He already booked their lunch date there three days ago.

The staffs ushered them to the private room where only the two of them are the customers. Hinila niya ang upuan para kay Sapphire at maingat itong inayos. Pagkatapos masiguradong komportable na ito sa pagkakaupo ay tsaka lamang siya naupo sa nakalaang upuan para sa kanya.

The waiter handed each of them the menu book. They were both busy picking their preferred meals when he noticed that she seems preoccupied. After they ordered their food and the waiter took the menu book then left he did not waste anymore time to get the chance to talk with her. Now that they are alone, he wanted to confess and express his feelings.

"Sapphire," he reluctantly called for her name.

Nilingon siya nito at may blangko itong ekspresiyon sa mga mata. He knows that she is unamused. Napabuntong hininga siya bago sinalubong ang tingin nito.

"I wanted to say sorry again about taking away your full custody with Drake. I know he's your life and strength but my emotions got better of me that time," nagsimula siya sa kanyang pahayag. "Nagsisisi ako sa ginawa ko at narinig ko rin ang usapan ninyo ng abogado mo tungkol sa ipinasa ninyong apela sa korte. There's no need for that," he cut off his words mid-air.

Ang mga mata niya ay sinsero at puno ng pagsusumamo. Hinawakan niya ang isa nitong kamay na nakapatong sa mesa. Hindi ito umangal o inagaw ang kamay nito mula sa kanya.

"Ibabalik ko ang kustodiya ni Drake sa iyo," ipinagpatuloy niya ang naudlot na sasabihin kanina at bahagyang pinisil ang kamay ng dalaga.

Nagliwanag at nabuhayan ng pag-asa ang mapanglaw na mukha nito. Napangiti rin ito at akmang tatayo ngunit muling napaupo dahil iniisip pa nito ang kanyang mga naging pahayag. He waited patiently until she responded.

"Alam ko rin ang nagawa kong pagkakamali. Pasensiya ka na kung iniwan kita noon ng basta basta at hindi pa ipinaalam ang pagbubuntis ko sa anak natin," she also apologized and guilt is visible in her tone. She even pouted slightly and averted her gaze but then returned to look at him afterwards. "Wala rin akong ibang choice para mabawi ang custody ni Drake mula sa iyo maliban ang magfile ng apela. Pero bakit nagbago ang isip mo ngayon at gusto mong ibalik sa akin ang kustodiya?"

"Alam kong wala talagang balak na sumama sa akin ang anak natin. He was just using that advantage to make us get closer. He loves you so much to choose me against you," paliwanag niya sa naging katanungan nito.

Ang pagkunot nito ng noo ay nawala at bumalik ang maaliwas nitong ekspresiyon. She even smiled and stood up. He didn't expect what she did next. She went to his side and hug him while he was sitting.

"Thank you," tipid nitong turan. "Akala ko habang buhay ka ng masungit sa akin at ibubully ako."

Hindi niya nagawang tumugon agad dahil sa biglang paghuramintado ng kalmado niyang puso kanina. Pakiramdam niya ay bumagal ang oras nang yakapin siya nito. She still has that effect on him.

"Do you want to know why I bullied you before when we were younger and for years?" baling niya rito na nakatayo na at tapos na siyang yakapin.

"Oo. Alam ko. Dahil iyon sa pangit ako at mahirap ang pamilya namin," sinagot siya nito sa malungkot na boses. Tila naalala nito ang mga kabataan nila. He was also saddened because he doesn't want to make their moods gloomy.

Tumayo siya sa harap nito. Halos isang pulgada lamang ang kanilang pagitan. Narinig niya ang pagsinghap nito dahil nasorpresa ito sa kanyang naging aksiyon. Nakayuko siya rito at nakatingala ito sa kanya na malalaki ang mga mata.

"You're wrong," aniya. "I bullied you before because you were close with other boys at our community and at school. I also heard how a lot of them admire you because you are talented and smart. I hated the fact that I have rivals even though you are clear that I'm the only one you liked before," sinabi niya rito ang katotohanan na mas ikinasorpresa nito pero humalukipkip ito.

"Pft!” she reacted rolling her eyes and coughed sarcastically. “Sinungaling," hindi naniniwalang kastigo nito sa kanya.

He smirked with her behavior. Alam niyang ganito ang magiging reaksiyon nito sa gagawin niyang pag-amin.

"I know that you won't believe me. So here," saad niya sabay dukot ng maliit na kahon mula sa kanyang bulsa at iniabot dito.

Nagtataka nitong kinuha iyon at dahan dahang binuksan. The box contains a silver necklace with a butterfly pendant. Nakita niyang nagningning sa tuwa ang mga mata nito.

Kinuha rin nito ang nakaipit na maliit na papel roon at binasa.

"I like you, Sapphire. I know you love the butterfly necklace in the barbie movie you liked to watch. This is a gift for you. Happy 10th birthday," pagbasa nito sa nilalaman ng sulat sa bahagyang malakas na boses. Both the letter and the box has a date to prove that it was really old.

Nahiya ang dalaga para muling tumingin sa kanya.

"Do you believe me now?" he asked while watching her shyness.

Bahagya itong tumango bilang tugon. He then placed his hand under her chin and lifted her head so that their eyes could meet again.

"At hindi ko lang ibibigay pabalik ng ganoon kadali ang kustodiya ni Drake sa iyo," pabitin niyang muling hayag.

Nanlaki ang mga mata nito nang pinaglapit niya ang kanilang mukha at halos magdikit ang kanilang mga labi. He can hear her panting. Is she out of breath because he still has an effect on her just like what she's doing with his heart?

"You have to marry me," he dropped the bomb. Ang tanging kondisyon na ibibigay niya at wala itong ibang pagpipilian.