Somewhere Between Time

Time Stop 4

"Konti na lang talaga Mason at mabubugbog na kita!" Inis na tinignan niya ang binata na abala sa pagpapalit ng diapers ng anak. "You really did everything to delay our flight!"

Ngumiti lang ito sabay kindat sa kanya. Dapat ay kanina pa sila nakaalis pabalik ng Pinas pero dahil makikipagkita pa ito sa mga kaibigan nila kaya naantala ang gagawin nilang pag-alis. Buti na lang talaga, na-una na ang kotse nito sa Pinas kaya wala nang dahilan pa para lalo silang magtagal dito.

"Don't you wink at me, bastard!" Gusto niyang ibato ang hawak na bote sa binata. "You know how much I want to leave this place!"

"Language, Babe, Language," he said while laughing which made her blood boil. "Our babies are listening."

When she looked at Maron, her eyes are wide as if she really understood what she heard. Louise lifted the child and showered her kisses. Kahit naiinis siya kay Mason sa maraming pagkakataon, pagnakikita na niya ang mga bata ay agad na nawawala iyon.

"Did you invite Cameron to come?" And she waited for him to answer.

"Not funny Babe but you ain't gonna ruin my day as I did to yours..." Ang ngiti ay hanggang tenga pa din. "I invited Prox, by the way."

"Ewan!" Naiiyak na lumabas siya ng kwarto, bitbit si Maron. Hindi niya kayang makaharap si Prox at alam iyon ni Mason. Ang hindi niya maintindihan ay bakit parang tuwang tuwa ito na naiinis siya.

Lumabas siya ng hotel at huminga ng malalim. She looks up at the other hotel in front of them, The Empire. Pagkakaalam niya, masarap ang Churos na tinda doon kaya ipinasya niyang tumawid para makabili.

Habang inaantay ang order ay nilaro muna niya si Maron na tuwang tuwa sa pagpapadyak sa lamesa. In few months, the twins will be three and they can send them to school. Matatas na din namang magsalita ang mga ito, matalino gaya ng mga magulang.

"And look who's in here!" Hindi siya lumingon sa narinig niya. "The heiress of Villaluz Empire!" Doon na siya napalingon at halos mapatalon siya sa tuwa ng makita kung sino iyon.

It's Ivan, her twin's best friend! Niyakap siya nito at hinalikan sa labi. Nailang siya doon dahil hindi naman siya sanay na kung sino sino ang humahalik sa kanya. Mahinang itinulak niya ito at ngumiti.

"What are you doing in here, My Lovely Fiancee?" Natatawang tinampal niya ito sa braso.

Yes, Ivan is her fiance. Kailan lang iyon sinabi ng Daddy niya sa kanya at hindi na siya nakipagtalo pa. Knowing the guy, hindi ito basta basta kayang manipulahin ng sino man.

"Just bought Churros in this shop," lumingon siya para tignan kung naroon na ang order niya. "How about you?" Napakunot ang noo niya nang mapansin ang itsura nito. Naka-shades ito na sobrang laki at pink pa! Tapos ay naka-summer hat at bulaklaking polo. Nang mapansin niyang wala ang mga body guards nito ay napangiti siya. As usual, he's hiding from his huge number of fans. "Not bad." She's referring to his get-up.

"But you recognized me easily!" Natawa siya nang sumimangot ito. Ivan is one of those handsome men that she met in her life. But sadly, she's not attracted to him.

"We have known each other since we were kids so how can you hide yourself from me?" Nangingiting tumango ito at bumaling ang tingin kay Camaro na nakatanghod kay Ivan.

"I know she's not your child but how come you want to become the nanny of your ex's children?" He looks disgusted as he stares at Maron. But when the kid smiles at him, Louise saw how he struggled to smile.

"Don't ask coz it's not your business, Darling," nakita niyang palapit ang waitress at inabot sa kanya ang pinamili. "We have to go."

"I'll take that!" Sabay agaw ng hawak niya. "Though I want to take the babe, dunno how to hold her. I'm clumsy, you know." Sabay ngiti nito na parang bata. Sumabay ito sa paglalakad sa kanya palabas ng hotel. "So, have you thought about it?"

She frowns and looked up at him. "Which one?"

"Our marriage," sagot nito.

"Do I have to?" Natatawang umiling ito sa sagot niya.

"If I don't have any other choice, I will go for it," inakbayan siya nito nang patawid na sila ng kalsada. "I will follow the oldies. You're a great catch, you know," parang nakita niya itong kumindat sa likod ng malaking salamin nito. "Beautiful, sexy, brainy.....what more can I ask for?"

"I want a guy to fall in love with me.....really fall in love with me, Van." Nakaramdam siya ng lungkot ng may isang taong pumasok sa isip niya. "Though yeah, I admit, you're a great catch as well but we still have seven years before it will happen. Find your happiness as I will find mine. Maybe by then, our old men will leave us alone."

Di hamak na mas malaki ang yaman ng mga Villaluz kaysa sa pamilya ng binata pero hindi naka-hadlang iyon sa pagkakaibigan ng dalawang pamilya. Ajerico Villaluz will allow his precious daughter to stay on an island with Ivan and the business magnate will not worry a bit. Ivan's father, Rist, and hers are really good friends.

"If you'd just come to my aid whenever women offer their bodies to me..." And she burst out laughing at what he said.

"Really? To rescue you?" Tumango ito. "I doubt if you really want me to do that." Natatawang napailing siya. "Women are on your feet, choose the best one and settle with her. Masarap ang may nag-aalaga, you know. Besides, you're at fault why we're in this situation. Kung hindi ka babaero, hindi maiisipan ng Daddy mo na gawin ang arrangement na ito."

"And since you chose two wrong guys in a row, your father agreed with that stupid idea of my father." Natatawang napapailing ito. "But for now, I am enjoying singlehood but we have to go out sometimes if you want to make our fathers happy even for a day."

Nakangiting hinarap niya ito. "Don't worry, I will think about that once you visit the country," narinig niya ang mahinang pagmumura nito. "Hanggang ngayon ba naman?"

"You know how much I hate to be there!" Alam niyang naka-kunot ang noo nito.

Malungkot na inabot niya ang mukha nito. Sa Pilipinas kasi namatay ang ina nito nang kidnapin ng mga taong may galit sa ama nito. And somehow, she knows that until now, Ivan still has hatred in his heart for his father. Huli na nang makarating sina Rist, maging ang kanyang ama sa lugar at walang nakapigil dito nang patayin nito ng walang awa ang mga taong may kagagawan ng pagkamatay ng asawa. He annihilated them without mercy. How they disposed of the bodies, her father didn't tell them about it anymore. Wala ring lumabas sa media tungkol sa insidente. But Rist Carlson left his post as her father's personal bodyguard. Nawala ang ngiti ng masayahing si Rist. Nito na lang nakaraang mga taon nakakausap ulit nang matino. As per Ivan, basketball became his escape from loneliness and tragic childhood.

"You have to come back, Ivan, and visit her. She will not be happy if you will stay this way."

Hindi ito kumibo pero hinawakan ang kamay niya at hinalikan. "The pain is still here, Lou." And yes, she heard the bitterness in his voice. "But at least, Dad is sort of okay now."

"And you're doing well on your own, Van. I will be flying in the evening and I hope, you can pay me a visit."

"I'll see about that," ngumiti ito sa kanya bago siya inabot at muling hinalikan sa labi. "Seven years for us before the arranged date, so as what you've said, let us find our happiness before then."

Tumango siya. Hinalikan lang nito sa ulo si Maron bago iniabot sa kanya ang bag ng Churos.

"I will not walk with you through your doorstep. Your ex might not like it," she saw him snorted.

"Okay. Call me if you're not busy with your girls." Kinindatan niya ang binata bago tinalikuran.