Falling for Her Shadows

CHAPTER 22

MAAGANG dumating si Ashriel sa apartment building nina Nylah. The moment he stepped out of the car, he felt a pair of eyes looking at him, but he ignored it. Sanay na siya sa mga matang nagmamasid sa kaniya.

Napatingin siya sa kaniyang paligid. The sound of tricycles, distant vendors shouting “taho!”, “pandesal!” and children’s laughter filled the air — ordinary scenes that, somehow, felt comforting to him.

Ashriel took a deep breath. His car stood out in the humble neighborhood. Napapatingin pa sa kaniya ang mga ibang dumadaan. Then he glanced up at the balcony of Nylah’s unit. For a man like him who often commanded boardrooms and corporate towers, waiting outside someone’s apartment like this felt strangely domestic.

Pagkalipas ng ilang minuto, nakita niya ang pagbaba ni Nylah at Evron sa hagdan. Nylah was wearing a simple white blouse tucked into high-waist jeans, her hair neatly tied in a ponytail. Walang itong makeup pero flawless pa rin — the kind of beauty that didn’t need effort. Nasa tabi naman nito si Evron.

Ngumiti si Ashriel. “Good morning,” he greeted.

“Good morning,” bati ni Nylah na may tipid na ngiti sa labi. “Are you sure you’re not too busy for this?”

Ashriel’s smile didn’t disappear. “I’m not that busy. I can make time for you and Evron,” he answered as he looked at Evron. “Ready ka na, kiddo?”

“Yes, Tito Ashriel!” masiglang sagot ni Evron saka kumaway.

That simple, innocent greeting hit something soft in Ashriel’s chest. He crouched a little to Evron’s height and fixed the boy’s collar. “You look cool today, kiddo.”

Ngumiti si Evron.

Natawa naman si Nylah, aliw siya sa interaction ng dalawa. “Let’s go before he gets too excited.”

On their way to school, inside the car, the faint sound of the acoustic version of “Can’t Help Falling in Love” was being played in the radio. Tahimik lang si Nylah habang nakatingin sa labas ng bintana, at si Evrin naman ay abala sa pagturo ng mga nakikita sa daan.

“Momma, look! Ice cream shop! Can we go later?”

“Maybe after,” sagot ni Nylah.

“Thank you po, Momma.”

Ngumiti lang naman ni Nylah saka tumingin kay Ashriel. “Paalala mo baka makalimutan ko.” Aniya at bahagyang natawa pa.

Ashriel chuckled as he nodded his head. “Ang tahimik mo yata ngayon.” Sabi niya pagkaraan ng ilang minuto.

Sinulyapan ni Nylah ang binata. “Just thinking,” she answered. “Evron’s growing up fast.”

Ashriel looked at Evron in the backseat through the rearview mirror.

“I want the best for him.”

Tumango si Ashriel. “You’re doing great, you know that?”

“Don’t flatter me this early in the morning, Mr. Rios,” Nylah said.

“I’m telling the truth,” Ashriel said. “You’re a single mom. I didn’t experience holding a baby ever since, so I don’t know how hard it was. Pero sabi ni Mommy, mahirap daw magpalaki ng bata lalo na kung wala kang katulong sa buhay. Tignan mo natakot ang mommy ko kaya hindi na ako sinundan kahit naman daw ang daddy ko ang nag-aalala sa akin noong baby ko.” Natawa pa siya nang banggitin niya ang laging kwento sa kaniya ng ama. Sinulyapan niya si Nylah. “You’re doing great as a mother.”

Gumuhit ang ngiti sa labi ni Nylah. “I don’t know if you were flattering me or what.” Aniya saka napailing na lamang.

“I’m not flattering you. I’m just telling the truth — the one that I’ve seen,” Ashriel said in a soft voice as his eyes were focused on the road.

Nang makarating sila sa school, ipinarada ni Ashriel ang kotse. Binata pa sila ng guard nang pagbukas ni Ashriel ng pinto ng kotse si Nylah at Evron. “Good morning, Sir, Ma’am,” bati nito.

Parehong tumango si Ashriel at Nylah.

Ashriel crouched down and carried Evron.

They walked toward the main building — modern, clean, and yet welcoming. The principal met them at the entrance with a smile on her lips.

“Mr. Rios, Ms. Laurent, welcome!” she said. “We’re so glad to have you here.”

Tumango si Ashriel bilang pagbati habang nakipagkamay naman ni Nylah sa principal.

Habang karga ni Ashriel si Evron, abala naman ito sa pagtingin sa paligid.

After a short tour, the principal led them to her office. The principal explained everything about the school, including the payment. Since it was a private school, it was expensive. Pero hindi ‘yon inalintana ni Nylah. Hindi naman problema sa kaniya ang pera.

Tahimik naman na nakinig si Ashriel habang nakikipag-usap si Nylah sa principal.

Evron needs to undergo in an assessment exam para raw makita kung hanggang saan ang kaya nito kaya hindi na nila ito kasama. Nasa kabilang silid ito at nagsusulit.

Magkatabi naman si Ashriel at Nylah na nakaupo sa waiting area habang hinihintay si Evron na matapos ang pagsusulit nito.

Nylah leaned on the backrest of the sofa.

Kinuha naman ni Ashriel ang isang magazine sa may center table at nagbasa na lamang upang palipasin ang oras.

Maya-maya lumapit sa kanila ang secretary ng principal at nagbigay ng meryenda.

“Thank you,” wika ni Nylah.

Ngumiti ang sekretarya saka umalis.

Kinuha naman ni Nylah ang isang baso ng juice saka uminom.

After an hour, Evron came back with the principal. “We value a strong academic foundation, but also creativity,” she explained.

Umupo si Evron sa pagitan ng ina at ni Tito Ashriel.

“We have already Evron’s assessment results — very bright child.” Natutuwang sabi ng principal. “He was just three years old, but he can already understand some complex problems.”

Nylah smiled proudly. “He is.”

“We’ll make sure he’s nurtured here.”

Tahimik na pinanood ni Ashriel ang pag-uusap ni Nylah at ng principal. He noticed how Nylah’s tone softened every time she talked about her son. There was gentleness there — one that balanced the steel he’d sometimes seen in her before.

Nang matapos ang pag-uusap, pumunta sila sa cashier upang magbayad ng tuition ni Evron na aabot one hundred thousand. Hindi na nagtaka si Nylah, naroon na kasi ang lahat ng kailangan ni Evron — his uniforms, books, and some things he will need later.

Nylah didn’t care how much the payment was. Ang gusto niya ay maging komportable ang anak niya sa school at mag-aral ito ng mabuti.

Nylah didn’t bat an eyelash as she gave her card to the cashier. Nakatayo naman sa tabi niya si Ashriel habang hawak ang kamay ni Evron.

Later, they stepped into the small garden beside the cafeteria. Nylah crouched beside Evron and brushed a strand of hair from his forehead. “Do you like this school, baby?” she asked softly.

Evron’s eyes sparkled. “Yes, Momma.”

Natawa ng mahina si Nylah saka hinila ang anak upang yakapin ito. “Then this is it.”

Ashriel stood a few steps away, arms crossed and watching Nylah and Evron. The sun filtering through the leaves, a mother and son framed in that tender light. For someone like him who had always associated mornings with paperwork, meetings, boardroom, this sight felt almost unreal.

Ngumiti siya. “He’ll fit right in here,” he said.

Nag-angat ng tingin si Nylah at tumango. “Yeah. I think so too.”

For a brief second, their eyes met — and something unspoken passed between them. A quiet recognition. A warmth neither of them was ready to name.