The Girl He Lost

CHAPTER 09: WHAT IF?

Nang makauwi ako sa bahay ay agad akong dumiretso sa aking opisina para gawin ang mga natitira kong trabaho ngunit laking gulat ko nang makita kong bukas ang ilaw sa kusina kaya dali dali akong nagtungo dito

"Keilee?" Nang makita ko ang isang pigura ng isang babaeng nakatalikod at nagluluto

"Oh? You're home now" agad naman akong napakurap nang ito'y humarap at makita ko ang mukha ng aking ina

"Mom?" Kunot noong saad ko

"Bakit parang gulat na gulat ka naman ata na nakita mo ako rito?" Tanong naman nya sakin

"I-it's nothing" I said

"Are you expecting someone?" Tanong pa ni mom

"I didn't expect anyone. I was just surprised that the light was on in the kitchen, so I peeked to see if there was anyone here or not." I explained

"I had also just arrived, and I was very surprised because it seems like no one is living in this house because the kitchen is very dusty and there are a lot of spiderwebs. Tell me River, hindi ka ba kumakain dito sa bahay mo?" Saad ni mom

If mom hadn't come, I wouldn't have realized that no one had been using the kitchen since that day, and, come to think of it, in four years, it's my first time entering this kitchen again.

"Yes, Mom. Lagi akong dinadalhan ni Sid ng pagkain kaya hindi ko na nagagamit ang kusina" paliwanag ko

"Si Sid na naman, bakit hindi mo na lang kaya pakasalan si Sid dahil parang hindi na secretary ang tingin ko sa kanya kundi asawa mo na" taas kilay namang saad ni mom

"Are you for real, mom?!" Nakangiwing tanong ko naman

"Why? Did I say something wrong?" She asked

"Yes, you did" I said as I calming myself

"I will send some of our maids here tomorrow to clean your house, mukhang hindi bahay ng isang Collymore ang bahay na ito" sabi pa nya

Anong klaseng bahay ba ang dapat para masabing isa kang Collymore? These old woman.

"Mom, don't you dare do that" I said

"Why?"

"Just leave this house as it is." Sabi ko at tinalikuran ko na sya

"If you don't want your father and my helpers to come here, go find someone to marry so your house can be clean!" Aniya mom at pagalit na binato sakin ang hawak nyang table cloth

"Mom, please. Pagod ako galing sa trabaho and I don't want to hear any of your nagging for now" iritang sambit ko

"Ah! What did you say?!" I bet she pissed off now

"Cleaning the house? Finding a spouse Come on, mom, please. Leave that to me. How many times do I have to tell you to let me decide for myself?" For someone's sake, what is the problem with the elderly, especially when it comes to marriage?

"You're thirty-one now, River. Well, in fact, you're turning thirty-two in a couple of months and you're still not married."

"And what's wrong with not being married at this age, mom?" Kunot noong tanong ko naman sa kanya

"Look, River, your dad and I are old now, and it's almost always just the two of us together at home, aside from the helpers. All I want is for you to give us a grandchild that we can play with. What's wrong with your dad and me wanting you to get married and settle down?" Okay, and here we are again with the old belief of the elderly that when they are old, you need and have an obligation to give them grandchildren.

Bumuntong hininga muna ako bago ako muling nagsalita "Okay, fine." Saad ko

"What do you mean?" She asked

"I'll give you a grandchild soon enough, so stop this nonsense." I explained

"River, naririnig mo ba ang sinasabi mo?" Kunot noong tanong naman sakin ni mom

"What?" Tanong ko

"Son, listen, just because I said that we want a grandchild, you will suddenly decide to give us one. Married life and raising a family are not decisions taken lightly, especially when having children." She explained

"Mom, kakasabi mo lang kanina na magpakasal na ako at bigyan kayo ng apo" sambit ko

"That's not what I mean, paano kung basta bastang babae lang ang pakasalan mo at ang habol lang pala sayo ng babae na iyon ay ang pera ng pamilya natin at gagamitin nya ang magiging anak nyo para magawa 'yon?" What's wrong with my mom?

"What are you trying to say?" Naguguluhang tanong ko naman sa kanya

"What I'm trying to say is don't marry someone you don't really love because marriage is sacred and you should present the only woman you love at the altar." Mom said

The woman I love, the heck?

"You know what, mom? Pagod na ako at gusto ko na lang matulog, hindi na kita maihahatid kaya kung hindi ka makakauwi ngayong gabi ay maraming kwarto sa taas, pwede kang matulog doon" saad ko naman

I didn't wait for Mom's answer; instead I turned my back on her and walked up to my room to rest.

At nang makapasok ako sa aking kwarto ay dumiretso ako ng c.r upang saglit na maligo

"The woman I love, huh?" Saad ko kasabay nang pagbukas ko ng shower

Asawa?

Anak?

Sariling pamilya?

Do I deserve to have them in my life?

I don't think so.

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

Ano na naman kaya ang kailangan ni mom sa akin ngayon?

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

"River! We need to talk!" Rinig kong tawag nya sakin habang patuloy na kumakatok kaya naman agad kong kinuha ang wardrobe ko at sinuot ito bago maglakad papunta sa pinto at buksan ito para kay mom

"Naliligo ako, bakit?" Tanong ko

"Anong ibig sabihin nito?" Tanong naman nya at ipinakita sa akin ang isang pamilyar na puting dress

"A dress?" Patanong na sagot ko sa kanya

"That's not what I'm trying to ask!" Galit nyang sambit

"Sumama ka sakin!" Dagdag pa nya at hinila ako papunta sa isang kwarto

"Ano bang meron, mom?" Iritadong ko naman

"Look!" She said and pointed her finger around the room

Nang mailibot ko ang aking paningin sa buong kwarto ay hindi ako agad nakapagsalita dahil sa gulat nang aking mapagtanto na nasa kwarto kami ni mom ng isang tao na dating nanatili rito

"Right, it's hers"

"What hers? Who's her?" - Mom

"What?" Tanong ko

"I'm asking you, whose room is this?" She asked

"At sinong tao ang tinutukoy mo?" Dagdag pa nya

"Nothing, it's just a stock." Maiksing saad ko

"May hindi ka ba sinasabi sa akin, River?" Tanong ni mom at ramdam ko naman ang pagiging seryoso nya dahil sa kanyang tono

"I already told you, it's just a stock" ulit ko

"Stock? Kung anong ikinadumi ng kusina ay sya namang ikinalinis ng kwarto na 'to, sinong babae ang gumagamit nito, River?"

"Mom, please, let's just not talk about it" pag-iwas ko naman sa tanong nya

"Hindi kita patutulugin kapag hindi mo sinabi sa'kin kung kanino ang kwarto na ito, River, at alam mong kapag sinabi ko ay gagawin ko talaga." She's saying the truth, kaya nga takot sa kanya si dad dahil kung ano yung sinabi nya ay ayon talaga ang eksaktong gagawin nya

"Okay, okay. I'll tell you, in one condition" sabi ko naman

"Lahat?" Taas kilay nya pang tanong

"Fine! Lahat." Mukhang wala talaga akong kawala sa kanya

"So, what's your condition?" Mom asked as she crossed her arms and lead on the wall

"Don't ever told dad about this. " I said

"Deal, so now tell me." She quickly replied, and I doubt that mom is going to follow my condition.

As mom wants to know, I tell her everything, from the first time Keilee and I met until our marriage contract and until I decided to end our contract.

Wala akong nilagpasang kwento, lahat sinabi ko sa kanya dahil kahit naman magsinungaling ako sa kanya ay malalaman at malalaman pa rin nya ang totoo

"HAVE YOU GONE NUTS, RIVER?!" Sigaw sa akin ni mom matapos kong masabi ang lahat

"Mom, lower you voice please" saad ko naman, pakiramdam ko ay nasira ang eardrums ko dahil sa sigaw na iyon

"Hindi kita pinalaking ganyan, River!" Dagdag pa nya

"Apat na taon na ang nakalipas, mom, we're over now." I said

"You take advantage of her!" Singhal nya

"No, I did not" I said

"Tinanong mo ba sya kung gusto nyang tapusin yung kontrata nyo?" Tanong pa nya

"Hindi, at hindi naman nya pipirmahan yung annulment kung against sya sa idea di ba?" Kunot noong sagot ko sa kanya

"Where is she now?" Tanong ni mom

"Kung ano man ang binabalak mo, h'wag mo nang gawin, mom" sabi ko naman

"I'm just asking you where is she now" she said

"Mom, she already has a child. Two kids to be exact" paliwanag ko naman

"Oohh, it's your lost"

"What?"

"Son, I don't know what to tell you because of your story. You used the person for your own pleasure. You knew her mother was sick but you did that?" Aniya mom at bahagyang hinilot ang kanyang sintido

"Mom, the contract is over. Apat na taon na" Ilang beses ko ba dapat sa kanya na sabihin ito?

"Years or decades, it doesn't change the fact that you used someone for your greed." She said

"Now that I've told you everything, I'm going back to my room to sleep. Good night, mom." Saad ko at maglalakad na sana ako pabalik sa kwarto ko nang biglang muling nagsalita si mom

"I hope that if you meet her again, you will realize what a mistake you made when you first met her. Love is not something you should underestimate. You may not have loved her before, but it is different now. Love can strike at anytime and anywhere." She said before closing the door

"But we'd already met." Bulong ko bago ako tuluyang maglakad pabalik sa aking kwarto

KINABUKASAN

"Why didn't you at least give me a report immediately regarding the malfunction of the equipment they use in construction? There needs to be an accident like this before you take action! Are you idiots or what?" Sigaw ko

"A-ang a-akala p-po k----"

"Ayan! Dyan kayo magaling eh, sa puro akala. Ano ba ang tingin nyo sa kumpanya ko? Kung hindi nyo kayang gawin ng maayos ang trabahong ibinigay ko sa inyo, then hand me you resignation letter dahil hindi ko kailangan ng mga taong incompetent sa kumpanya ko!" Singhal ko pa

I am currently in a meeting because of an accident that happened at one of my company's construction sites yesterday. Three people were injured because of the accident that happened yesterday. Some of the equipment and safety gear that they were using were broken, and no one told me about this matter.

"Based on the report, what happened to them was not that bad. They only had minor injuries because they didn't fall high, so we don't have anything else to worry about." Aniya ni Robin, ang HR Manager

"Maybe for you, we don't have anything else to think about because you are not the owner of the company, so it's fine. Hindi nyo ba alam na laman ng balita ang nangyari? At siguro kung hindi pa ako maagang pumasok ay hindi ko na naman malalaman ang lahat ng kagaguhang ginagawa nyo!" Galit kong saad

"Sid" tawag ko sa kanya

"Yes, sir?" He asked

"I want this to be the last day I see what these people look like in my company. I don't need incompetent and selfish people in this company." Saad ko

"W-what?!" Utal na sambit ni Robin nang marinig nya ang sinabi ko

"I want everyone from the marketing department to the IT department to disappear. All of them have been fired from their jobs, and I don't want to see them in my company again or otherwise. They will regret living in this world with me." I said before leaving the meeting room.

Nang makabalik ako sa aking opisina ay ilang minuto pa ang lumipas ay pumasok na rin si Sid. "I think firing them is a bit too much" he said

"So, are you saying that everything they do in my company is fine?" Taas kilay ko namang tanong sa kanya

"That was not my intention, sir." He replied

"People like them are not a loss to me because there are more people who want to enter and work in my company who are more competent than those people." I said

"I know that, sir, but firing all the people in five company departments in one day can affect the situation of our company, especially with the accident at the construction site. People might look down on us, especially you." Sid explained

"At sinong tao naman ang magkakaroon ng lakas ng loob para tignan ako at ang kumpanya ko ng mababa?" I smirked at him

"H'wag na po nating hintayin na may taong tumingin sa inyo ng ganyan" anya Sid

"Anyway, get the car. Pupunta tayo sa hospital na pinagdalhan sa tatlong construction worker" pagiiba ko naman ng usapan

"Ngayon na po?" Naguguluhang tanong ni Sid

"Ano sa tingin mo?" Sarkastikong sagot ko naman sa kanya

"Ihahanda ko na po ang kotse" he said and leave immediately. My head hurts from the things that happen to me one after the other, whether it's at work or in my personal life.

AFTERWARDS

"Dito na ba 'yon?" Tanong ko kay Sid

"Yes, sir" mabilis nyang sagot

"It seems like they're sleeping. Let's go back now. I don't want to disturb them." I said

"Yes, sir." aniya Sid at agad na sumunod sakin

"KUYAAAAAAA!"

"What the heck!" Sigaw ko nang biglang may yumakap sa akin at mapagtantong si Saber ito

"What are you doing here?" Dagdag ko naman nang makaalis ako mula sa pagkakayakap nya

"Binisita ko lang si Kenji" sagot nya sa akin

"Shouldn't you be at the taping doing your job instead of fooling around the hospital with your best friend?" Kinot noong tanong ko pa

"Ang sakit mo namang magsalita, River." Aniya Kenji na bigla na lang sumulpot kung saan

"Doing your rounds?" Tanong ko naman sa kanya

"Break, kakatapos ko lang sa check up ng isa kong pasyente" paliwanag nito

"Ikaw rin ba ang may hawak sa mga na aksidente kong worker?" Tanong ko pa

"Hindi ah, kay Doc. Danica sila at hindi sa akin" he replied

"Is that so?" Saad ko

"Anyway, iiwan ko na kayo dahil ayokong maubos ang oras ng break ko na kausap ko lang kayong magkapatid at hindi ako makakain" aniya Kenji

"Hindi ko kayo kayang makausap ng sobrang tagal, bakit ba kasi sobrang magkamukha kayong magkapatid?" Dagdag pa nya at mabilis na naglakad paalis

"See you later, bro!" Paalam naman dito ni Saber na kinawayan lang ni Kenji

"Babalik ka sa taping o babawasan ko ang sahod mo?" Taas kilay ko namang sambit kay Saber

"Oo nga pala kuya, alam mo bang nagkita kami ni ate Keilee kanina?" At bigla naman akong natigilan dahil sa sinabing iyon ni Saber

"Oh?" I said

"Uuy! Kunwari hindi sya interesado pero deep inside gusto nyang malaman kung nakausap ko ba si ate Keilee o hindi" pang-aasar naman nya sakin

"I'm not really interested." Seryosong saad ko naman

"Mas gumanda na si ate Keilee, but too bad. Kahit gusto mo syang balikan ay hindi na pwede kasi may anak na sya" saad ni Saber

"To tell you the truth, ilang beses na kaming nagkita ni Keilee kaya hindi na ako magugulat na nagkita kayong dalawa" sabi ko na ikinagulat ni Saber

"Are you for real?!" Singhal nya sa gulat

"She's Damara's boyfriend's sister" I said

"Hindi nga? Totoo?" Paninigurado nya

"It's not a big deal" sabi ko naman at nagpatuloy na ako sa paglalakad

"A-anong sabi sayo ni ate Keilee? Nakapagusap ba kayong dalawa? Magbabalikan na ba kayong dalawa?" Sunod sunod na tanong pa sakin ni Saber

"Saber, walang magbabalikan" mabilis kong sagot

"Pwede mo naman syang agawin sa asawa nya tapos ikaw na lang maging tatay ng anak nya, pwede naman 'yon di ba?"

"Do you hear what you're saying, Saber?" Iritadong tanong ko sa kanya. Hindi ako makapaniwalang pati kay Saber ay makakarinig ako ng mga ganitong salita

"Sinasabi ko lang naman yung idea ko hehe" mahina nyang saad pero sapat na ito para marinig ko

"Look, Saber, I don't want to hear this from you again or anything, whether it's Seven or Mom, stop it all." I don't know what's wrong with these people, and they're forcing what they want on me. If they want it, why don't they just get back with Keilee instead of me?

"Mom? What about her?" Kunot noong tanong naman nya sakin

"She visited my house yesterday and accidentally saw Keilee's room, so she asked whose clothes and room those were. I lied at first, but we know mom that you can't lie to her and even if you do, she knows and she will still know the truth, so the ending is that I told her everything." I explained

"What did mom say when you told her everything that happened?" Saber asked me

"She said that I shouldn't underestimate love because I may not have loved Keilee before, but now it's different." I replied

"It's like you don't know mom, but you know she's a big believer in love." Said Saber

"I know, I know" maiksing tugon ko naman sa kanya

"Anyway, Sid. Ihatid mo na nga si Saber pabalik" pagiiba ko ng usapan

"What about you, sir?" He asked

"I can go back by myself." Sabi ko naman

"Siguro naman dala mo ang kotse mo, Saber?" Dagdag ko pa

"Oo naman" he smiled

"Then give your key to Sid, sya na ang magmamaneho dahil sya na ang maghahatid sayo sa taping set nyo" sambit ko

"Yay! Mag-bonding tayo habang nasa byahe, Sid!" Tuwang saad naman ni Saber at inakbayan si Sid

"Shall we go now, sir Saber?" Sid asked him

"Sure, sure! Mauuna na kami kuya ah, bye!" Masiglang paalam naman sakin ni Saber bago sila tuluyang umalis ni Sid habang ako naman ay nanatili pa sa hospital sa kadahilanang hinihintay ko ang doctor na may hawak sa mga trabahador kong na aksidente

30 MINUTES LATER

"Finally" saad ko nang makalabas ako sa hospital matapos kong makausap ang doctor.

The doctor said that we should not worry about the condition of the patients because only minor injuries occurred and there was no internal bleeding. Pero kailangan pa rin nilang magpahinga ng isang linggo dito sa hospital at isang linggo naman sa bahay, kaya kailangan kong makahanap ng pansamantalang kapalit nila sa trabaho

"Should I get a coffee first?" Tanong ko sa aking sarili nang makita ko ang isang coffee shop sa hindi kalayuan ng hospital

AFTERWARDS

"Thank you for coming, please come again" saad ng barista matapos nyang maibigay sa akin ang order kong kape.

Nang makalabas ako sa coffee shop ay agad akong naglakad para bumalik sa aking kotse, ngunit bigla akong natigilan nang biglang may parang kung anong isang maliit na bagay ang bumangga sakin

"Ouch" mahinang saad nito

A little boy?

"Aren't you going to say sorry?"

"Huh?" That's the only thing I said because the boy who bumped into me left me speechless.

"I said, aren't you going to say sorry" he repeated

"W-why w-would I b-be?" Utal kong tanong sa kanya

"You hurt someone and you're not going to say sorry? Adults are really cruel" he said

"Look at me" utos ko sa kanya dahil nakayuko pa rin ito, he's still caressing his forehead. Must be because he bumped into me

At laking gulat ko namang nang tumingala ang batang lalaki

"S-saber?" Saad ko

"What?" Tanong nito sakin nang hindi man lang kumukurap

"Ah! No, you're not Saber" sambit ko, masyado syang maliit para maging si Saber. Pero kamukhang kamukha nya si Saber noong bata pa si Saber

"Of course, because Saber isn't my name, that's not a cool name." Hindi ko gusto ang tabas ng dila ng batang ito, panigurado akong kapag narinig 'to ni Saber ay makikipag-away talaga sya sa batang ito.

"Then what's your name?" Tanong ko naman sa kanya

"My mommy said that I should not tell my name to a stranger." Well, he has a point

"Didn't your mom also tell you not to talk to strangers?" I smirked at him

"She also told me that but it's only natural that I talk to you because you bumped into me and you need to apologize." Sabi nito sa'kin

Bakit parang may naalala akong tao sa ugali ng batang ito?

"You're the one who bumped into me, so it's you who should apologize." I said

"Mister, I've been standing in this place for a while now and you bumped into me, so why should I be the one to apologize when I'm not the one to blame?" He said as he crossed his arms

He really reminding me of someone.

"Really? Well, that's because you're too short. That's why I didn't see you at all." I said

"So, you're admitting now that you're the wrong one here based on what you said?" Whatta tough little guy

"Why would I say sorry when I didn't even see you here? It's your fault for standing here." Taas kilay kong saad dito

"Mommy is right that old people like you are cruel."

"W-what d-did y-you j-just c-call m-me?!" Sigaw ko dahil sa gulat nang tawagin ako nitong matanda

"Why? You look old, mister" saad ng batang lalaki na hindi man lang nagbabago ang ekspresyon ng kanyang mukha

"Sa buong buhay ko ay wala pang nagtangka na magsabi sa akin nyan" sabi ko

"Maybe because you threatened them" oh gosh! Kaninong anak ba ang batang ito?

"Bakit? Hindi rin ba matanda ang magulang mo, huh?" I mocked him

"My mommy is only twenty-eight years old, and I bet you're much older than her." Calm down, River. You are talking to a child, so don't let him get on your nerves.

"Just say sorry and I will pretend that this will never happen." He added

"I said I'm not going to" giit ko

"Mare, tignan mo, yung mag-ama nagtatalo oh. Ang cute" Rinig kong saad ng isang boses mula sa aking likuran kaya naman ay mabilis ko itong nilingon

At nang lumingon ako sa aking likuran ay saka ko lamang napagtanto na pinagtitinginan na kami ng mga tao

"People are already looking at us, mister, so I think you should apologize now." aniya ng batang lalaki

"Why should I?" Taas kilay kong saad sa kanya

"Should I just report you to the police instead?"

"Are you threatening me?" Kunot noong tanong ko naman sa kanya

"What would I gain if I did that? Only old people use that method, and my mommy told me not to be a bad boy." Kibit balikat nyang saad

"Hey, kid. Hindi mo ba kilala kung sino ang kinakausap mo?" Tanong ko sa kanya

"Hindi ko na po kayo kailangang kilalanin" sambit nya

Ganito na ba ang mga bata sa panahon ngayon?

"Mr. Collymore?"

"What?!" Iritang saad ko at mabilis kong nilingon ito

"Oh, Mr. Isaac" dagdag ko nang makita kung sino ang tumawag sa pangalan ko

"What are you doing out here arguing with your son?" Nakangiting tanong naman nya sakin

"Son?" Kunot noong tanong ko naman sa kanya

"Isn't he your son?" Tanong ni Mr. Isaac sabay turo sa batang lalaki na kausap ko

"Oh, no. Mr. Isaac, he's not my son." Mabilis na sagot ko naman sa kanya

"Don't deny it, young man. You look so much like this boy, so how can you say you are not father and son?" Natatawang saad pa ni Mr. Isaac

"He's right, mister, this guy is not my father and I don't have a father who doesn't know how to apologize to his child." Pagsang-ayon naman sakin ng batang lalaki

"I see you're denying each other because you're fighting. It's normal for parents to disagree with their children sometimes. My son and I used to be like that too HAHAHAHA!" Aniya Mr. Isaac

But what I am saying is that this kid is not really my son.

"Just like what I said earlier Mr. Isaac. This kid is not my ch----" He cut me off

"Why don't you just come with me to the event I'm going to today?" He said. Mukhang wala syang balak na pakinggan ang sasabihin ko

"Hello, I'm one of your father's business partner. Ricardo Isaac" pagpapakilala naman ni Mr. Isaac sa batang lalaki

"Hello, Mr. Isaac. It's nice to meet you, but I'm not really his son." Saad ng batang lalaki

"Come on, h'wag ka nang magalit sa papa mo kung may nagawa syang mali" aniya Mr. Isaac, hhyyss, wala ba talaga syang balak na makinig sa sinasabi naming dalawa sa kanya ng batang ito?

"But I'm telling you the truth, mister" giit pa ng batang lalaki pero hindi ito pinansin ni Mr. Isaac bagkus ay muling ibinaling nito ang kanyang atensyon sa akin

"Pero hindi ko akalaing may pamilya ka na pala, Mr. Collymore" saad nya

"I already told you that that kid is not mine." At napasapo na lamang ako sa aking noo

"Okay, let me carry you, little one." Aniya Mr. Collymore at binuhat ang batang lalaki

"What are you doing, mister?" Tanong nya kay Mr. Isaac

"Isasama ko kayo sa pupuntahan ko para magbati na kayong dalawa, follow me Mr. Collymore" he said

"H-huh? Where are you going?" Naguguluhang tanong ko naman sa kanya

"Just follow me." He just said, and continued walking.

And I didn't do anything else but go with him until we got to a building and entered there. And when we got inside the building, I was kind of shocked when I saw a lot of people wearing masks, and a few of them were accompanied by children who were almost the same height as the kid that was with me and Mr. Isaac.

"Suotin nyo ito" saad ni Mr. Isaac

"Para saan ito?" Tanong ko sa kanya

"Everyone who comes here has to wear masks so that their faces cannot be seen, and they also have to use a different name so that people won't recognize them because this is a charity for children without parents or abandoned by their parents." Paliwanag naman ng batang lalaki

"Oho? You know this place, little one?" Nakangiting tanong naman sa kanya ni Mr. Cruz

"Yes, my grandfather and I always go here whenever there is an event like this." Mabilis nyang sagot

"Ooh, Hindi ko alam na pumupunta pala ang dad mo dito, Mr. Collymore" aniya Isaac

Hindi ang dad ko ang tinutukoy ng batang ito

"I didn't know this kind of charity existed." I said

"Then you must be an alien" the kid said

"What did you say?" Kunot noong tanong ko naman sa kanya

"Stop it both you, andito tayo para tumulong sa charity at sumali sa mga laro para magkabati na kayong dalawa" saway samin ni Mr. Isaac

"Mister, sinabi ko na po sa inyo na hindi sya ang daddy ko dahil wala akong bad na daddy" sabi pa nung bata matapos syang ibaba ni Mr. Isaac

"Okay, okay. Sabi mo eh" sambit naman ni Mr. Isaac na hindi talaga naniniwala sa aming dalawa

"Good afternoon, Are you a member or just a visitor?" Tanong naman sa amin ng isang babae na nakasuot ng puting maskara, base sa kanyang suot ay mukha syang receptionist.

"Good afternoon, Ms. Anna." Bati sa kanya ng batang lalaki

"Oh my! Good afternoon, young master Dale" bati sa kanya pabalik ng receptionist

So, his name is Dale?

"Hindi ko alam na pupunta ka ngayon?" Dagdag pa ng receptionist

"Biglaan po eh" saad ng batang lalaki... Or should I say, saad ni Dale

"Hindi mo kasama ang mga lolo mo?" Tanong pa nya kay Dale

"Busy po sila, Ms. Anna" sagot nya dito

"Kami muna ang kasama nya at hindi ang lolo nya" singit naman ni Mr. Isaac

"That voice... Mr. Newton?!" Gulat na saad ng receptionist

"It's nice to see you again, Ms. Anna" bati ni Mr. Isaac sa kanya

"Kayo din po"

"Newton?" Tanong ko naman kay Mr. Isaac

"Bawal mong gamitin ang tunay mong pangalan dito kay Newton ang ginagamit ko, Isaac naman ang apelyido ko eh" he chuckle

Isaac Newton? What the heck is that?

"Hindi ko alam na magkakilala pala kayo ng young master" saad nito

"Yeah, anyway, may kasama kaming bago" sambit ni Mr. Isaac

"A visitor?"

"Yes, it's his first time here. He's Dale's father" Ilang beses ko kaya uulitin kay Mr. Isaac na hindi ko talaga anak si Dale

"Wow! You're young master's father, kaya pala nang makita ko kayo kanina ay kahit nakasuot kayo ng maskara ay halos pareho pa rin kayo ni young master ng hugis ng mukha at halatang halata sa mata ang pagkakapreho nyong dalawa" aniya ng receptionist na halata sa boses nya ang galak

"Young master?" Kunot noong tanong ko naman

"Yes, we call all the boys who come here young masters and young mistresses to the girls." She explained

"Oh, is that so?" Saad ko

"Since you are a guest and it's your first time here, I would like you to write down the name you want us to call you and take this piece of paper to read if you want to be one of our charity sponsors or providers for those children who have lost their parents or are brought here by their parents." Paliwanag nya sakin

At gaya ng kanyang sinabi ay isinulat ko ang pangalang aking gagamitin sa tuwing pupunta ako rito at kinuha ang isang piraso ng papel na kanyang tinutukoy at binasa ito

"Pwede na po kayong pumasok kapag tapos nyo nang isuot ang mga ID nyo" dagdag pa nya at sinenyasan naman nya ang isang lalaking naka-itim na mask na buksan na ang pinto at doon ay naglakad na kami nila Mr. Isaac para pumasok sa tinatawag nilang event hall.