A Wife by Chance

Chapter 5

          FLASH BACK

DUBAI AIRPORT

           4 hrs pa ang flight ni Nica papunta sa Manila pero biglang lumapitsa kanya ang batang babae nasa 4 or 5 years old. Naka tingin ito sa kape na hawak niya.

     " hi darling you want something?" nakangiti niyang sambit dito. Ngumiti naman ang batang babae sabay turo sa cake na naka display doon sa cafe na inuupuan niya. 

       "come here".....tinawag nita ito upang makapili pero nag-alala siya baka may allergy kaya siya nalang din ang pumili ng cake para rito.

       "hi miss!..which of this don't  have nuts and eggs? "  binigyan sila ng cheese cake at nag.order na rin siya ng hot choco drink para dito."kung may allergy man ang batang Ito, sana hindi ako nka timing". Ang ganda naman ng batang ito, magka harap sila at  madaldal ito buti nalang at pinoy ito pero parang may halo. San kaya ang magulang?  nakita pinoy ang staff sa cafe kaya tinawag ito.

      "Yes ma'am do you need anything ?"

       "hmmmm... baka may naghahanap ng batang babae, pakitawag nalang kasi .."  sabay turo ng labi nya sa bata.

       "hindi nyo po anak? akala ko anak nyo kasi magkatulad ang brand na sour nyo"

       "oh ngayun ko lang din napansin hehehe.. she's beautiful baka nag-alala na ang mga magulang nito."

       "ok ma'am itatawag kupo , mamaya paba ang flight nyo? para may company pa siya hanggang makuha ng parents niya."

        "salamat I still have 4hrs." tumawag nga ito sa personnel ng paliparan at pinagbigay alam, wala naman daw nagreport na nawalan ng bata kaya hinintay muna nila ang management nalang ang bahala.

      Di nagtagal may tatlong lalaki naka uniform lumapit sa kanila pero nakatayu lang ito doon at puro blangko ang mga mukha. Masayang nag-uusap sina Nica at   ang batang babae na bigla nalang may humawak sa kanyang magkabilang balikat, at yung mga lalaking naka  uniform kanina.

      "hey..what are you doing? get your hands off" sabi ko sa mga ito, ng biglang may pumasok na lalaki at nakakatakot ang mga titig sa kanya.

       "Dalhin nyu yan" kinuha ng isa sa mga ito ang bag ko.

       "What do you think your doing? napa English ako bigla sa ginagawa nila pero walang sumagot at dinala ako bigla sa isang opisina ng paliparan. May mga security guard sa at ibang personnel dito at mga lalaking nka uniform katulad sa tatlo kanina.

      "What's going on? did I violate or offended someone? diko napigilang magtanong.

      "Woman...stop pretending " sabi nong lalaki kanina na masama ang titig sa akin.

      "I just want to know if I did something wrong here? tanong ko dito pero na may halong galit.

     "Who's behind this? wag ka magkamaling sumagot baka malamig ka makakabik as pinas" saad nito.

       Napakunot ang noo ko dahil pinagbintangan lang naman ako sa bagay na wala  akong  alam kung ano. " how could I answer you if I didn't know what your talking about".

       "shut  up!!!...sigaw nito sa akin na parang nangangain "just tell me your intentions and who's with you? you think you can fool me? I think you don't value your life young lady?!"..

       "cut the cr*p!!! and tell me what do you mean and what you want? I don't know you! , lintik na buhay to dami ko ng poblema dumagdag pa kayu!"  marunong din akong magalit lalo na at halo-halo ang lahi  pala ito. 

      "why my daughter was with you? what is your plan? galit parin naka titig sa akin.

      "ahha!!..so you mean her?" sabay turo ko sa batang nasa labas ng room na kinaruruonan namin, "why don't you ask her why she's with me?" ganting titig ko rin.

       "don't try to buy my time woman! you can't run on this!"

      "MR. I DON'T KNOW if your accusing me about your daughter,  why not say thank you instead... she's the one who approach me and asking to but her cake, I'm sure this area are fully secured with camera's or why not ask the staff of the cafe. I've told them earlier that the child with me wasn't mine and I asked them to inform the airport personnel about it. They even asked me to stay with the child until the parents come..... your problem of being irresponsible of you daughter's whereabout is not my concern ... You are lucky this time that she choose me not someone else like the one on your mind".

        After knowing everything,  the airport personnel  ask for forgiveness about their actions.

       "hmmm...Ms. Sanchez  I'm sorry about earlier " inabot niya ang calling card sa akin .

       "if you need anything feel free to call ..and..thank you..by the way I'm Sedrick Moore"

      Binulsa ko sa coat ang calling card na binigay niya, di narin ako sumagot sa kanya  at dumeritso ako kay Sofia, napag-alaman ko na Sofia ang pangalan niya.

      "hey honey!" tawag ko dito at nakasunod naman ang daddy niya sa akin.

       "nice meeting you I'm Veronica and I already got your name, its Sofia right?"

       "hi po! thank you sa food and I'm sorry about my daddy" tapos bigla siyang may binulong kaya lumuhod ako ng kunti para maabot niya ang tinga ko.

        "his annoying"  tawang-tawa ako sa sinabi niya, napansin ko rin ang pagkunot ng noo sa daddy nito.

       "your right"  sagot ko na ganting buong din.

       "could I call you Mommy Veronica then?"

       "sure! but Veronica is long so Nica would be easier".

        "hmmm.... Mommy Nica its deal?" sabay lahad niya sa kanyang maliit na kamay kaya di ko napigilang tumawa sa ginawa nito. Ang cute niya, anak ba talaga ito ng masungit na yun? magkaiba ang ugali nila. Naalala ko ang anak ko na magkatulad kami ng gusto.

       "Dahil sa encounter na yun kaya nahanap nila ako sa pinas at naging assistant nito. Napakilala ko na rin sa kanila si Jake ang anak ko at magkasundo sila ni Nica parang nagkaroon ng instang kapatid. Mommy parin ang tawag ni Sofia sa akin at kuya naman kay Jake, 3 years lng ang tanda ni Jake dito.

           END OF FLASH BACK

       "Gisingin mo yan, sabi niya gisingin siya pagnandito kana"

"let her sleep more".. tumayo ako at umupo sa upuan kaharap sa table niya.

"boss, I want to discuss something "

"ngayun naba? why not take some rest first, laki ng pinayat mo at halata sa mukha mona wala kang tulog", he felt sorry and guilt alam niyang pagod ito.

"I decided to pull-out the last part that Chen Yie send us, and return it to them."

"bakit?I think you only have 2months and so...before the shipment schedule?".

"i know, we've been working and do all the the adjustment but the last part that they send nothing comes good even once."

"what do you think about it?"

" no matter what, the data of their previous part are different from the last one, I want to make it today or else will be in trouble later".

"ok you decide ... where you want to meet them?"

"hmmm... please do it, I want to catch some ZzZZzz, and about the mall issue I leave it to you,...your hotel's are still intact hahaha...the bar expansion plan is there just check it."

"why do I feel you want me to do all the works?"

"ohhwww..about that , it's a good suggestion I remember someone told me yesterday that I should leave everything. And you have something for me? so where is it?"

"you still remember that after throwing all the works here"

"your annoying and unbelievable "

"is Sofia not enough? what I mean yesterday was her, so you are expecting something else?"

"if your talking about Sofia then no need for that, she will always come to me, so stop that and give me the present!" sabay taas ng kilay at lahad ng kamay.

"you go sleep now and I'll think what to give you, I didn't expect that your such a witch ".

"hahaha... then I have to go now"

sabay dampot sa bag .

"why not sleep here?"

"I need to go home, ang tagal ko nang hindi nakauwi at baka 2days akong matulog so hindi poyd dito", sa totoo at antok na antok na ako.

""you go ahead, I'll ask someone to drive you home by your car I'm afraid that you fall asleep while driving ", nag-alala talaga siya dito at di niya alam kung ilang araw na itong hindi natutulog o kung natulog man alam niyang kulan-kulang. Ang laki rin ng ipinayat nito, at parang totoong 2days ang itutulog nito base sa galaw nito na parang lasing.

Bago makalabas si Nica ay lumingon pa ito ulit "boss 2days lang kailangan maihatid ang bagong parts, paglumampas pa sa 2days then hindi namin kayang habulin. Kung maibigay nila bukas mas mabuti tawagan mo ako kung meron at mag rereport ako diretso doon and see you after 2months".

"Nica...Sofia is around" alam niya na busy ito pero paano si Sofia.

"ohh damn! I almost forgot about her, how about call me around 6 for dinner?.

"ok we will pick you up around 7 or so, I'll ask someone to prepare your room as well and spend atleast a day with her", gustuhin man niyang magsama ng matagal ang dalawa pero busy ito.

"I'll try to find time with her, I dont know when".

"it's ok, thank you Nica"

"I'll go now"