Reckless

Chapter17

Si Brion naman ay pinaglalaruan lang ang bolang hawak niya na parang walang pake sa pinaguusapan namin.

Hindi niya pa din naman siguro lubusang maintindihan yung pinaguusapan namin.

“Food is ready,” Louis once again saved my ass out here.

gad akong lumapit doon para tulungan siya mag ayos ng lamesa. Wala din akong balak sagutin ‘yon. Kumain kami sa dinning area. This feels like home.

Pag kasi sa bahay lang ako, mag isa akong kumakain. Depende kung pumupunta si Gio sa bahay. Pero mostly, ako lang talaga ang mag isa and it feels really lonely. I smiled as I look at Brion.

He’s happily eating his food. He’s not a picky eater also. Halos lahat yata ng pagkain, prutas o gulay kinakain niya.

I moved the excess hair away from his face para makakain siya ng maayos. Lumingon ako kay Louis na nakatingin sa’kin.

Nung nakita niya akong nakatingin, umiwas siya at tumingin sa kanyang plato. I don’t think there is hope between the both of us. I mean, I have a boyfriend and our past doesn’t make it better also. -- It’s been a week since I got that call from Gio and he never

contacted me again.

I tried to reach out, pero wala talaga. Hindi naman ako makaalis dito dahil pag nalaman ni Brion, siguradong iiyak ‘yun. I don’t want to disappoint him too.

If I were to choose between Gio and Brion, I’ll choose my own child.

“Mommy, I want to go to the mall.” Tinignan ko si Brion.

I carried him up and said, “Should we?” I smiled. He nodded.

Pagkatapos noon ay inaya ko si Louis. Hindi naman siya nagdalawang isip at pumayag. Alam ko naman na hindi niya matitiis si Brion.

We got into the mall and I haven’t been here before. Maganda ang mall dahil may open space, playground at may rides pa sa labas na parang tulad sa Mall of asia.

“Let’s ride that oh!” Brion said We let him ride it pero kasi maliit lang ‘yon at pambata.

“Ayaw ko po mag-isa mag ride,” He pouted.

Tinignan ko si Louis at wala siyang nagawa kundi samahan si Brion. Natawa ako dahil yung katawan niya sobrang laki para sa ride na yun. Muka tuloy siyang isip bata.

Tinignan ko yung nag aayos ng ride at ang ganda ng ngiti niya kay Louis. I wrinkled my forehead. Tumingin sa’kin si Louis tila binabasa yung isip ko. I looked away to avoid his eye contact.

Nagstart na ang ride at vinideohan ko silang dalawa. Natatawa pa din ako habang vinivideohan ko ‘yon Natapos din ang ride nila at lumapit sa’kin si Louis.

“Happy much?” He sad frowning.

I smiled and nodded to tease him. I looked at the video once again as I hold Brion’s hand. We’re now walking at the mall. Hindi ko rin alam kung saan talaga ang gustong punatahan dito ni Brion. I want to look up some clothes, but that will took a lot of time. Brion might get bored and sleepy.

I’ll just shop when I’m alone. Inangat ko ang tingin ko at nagtama ang tingin namin ng isang pamilyar na muka. My jaw dropped and so is my phone.

“What is wrong with you?” Tanong ni Louis at pinulot ang cellphone ko.

Sinunod niya ang tingin niya sa tinitignan ko. I looked at Louis and he looked at me too.

“Katherine,”

“G-Gio…”

Louis carried Brion and looked at the both of us first before taking him to a restaurant.

“Who was that?”

“Gio… can we talk somewhere?”

“No… tell me now. I’ve been looking for you for days.”

“You didn’t answer my calls or texts.” I said. It’s true.

I didn’t receive anything from him even at my social media accounts.

“Because I want to caught you on act. On what you’re doing.”

“Who are they? Who’s that child?”

“M-My child…” I said in a low voice.

I saw the shock in his face. I never opened this up to him, obviously. ‘Cause I know he’ll get mad.

“Child, Katherine? What--What the hell are you talking about?”

“When mom was sick, I was pregnant. I gave the full custody to the father of my child after a year so that I could focus on what mom left to me. To us.”

He looked away.

“You’ve been lying to me? For years?”

“I-I’m sorry… Gio.”

“f**k that. I can’t believe it. I was good to you. I never lied or cheated. I did everything to make you happy.”

Now tears started to fall down to my cheeks. I was really happy with him. I loved him, I still love him, but my love for Louis is different.

“I know.. I’m sorry. I don’t have anything to say to justify what I did.” “And the guy? Is he the father?” I nodded.

“Fuck.”

“You have a child and you spend time with your ex instead of me. What a f****d up situation I am right now.”

“I’m sorry, Gio. Please… I was about to tell you about everything, but I haven’t heard from you for a week--”

“Then you should’ve gone back to Manila! Or at least look for me!”

Mabuti nalang at nandito kami sa gilid at wala masyadong tao. Sumisigaw na kasi siya at onti nalang ay makukuha na namin ang atensyon ng mga tao dito.

“I can’t leave my child. I always chose to be with you instead of spending more time with my child before, Gio.”

“Oh? So is it my fault? Should I be thankful, Katherine?”

“No! Of course not. I’m just telling you that I’ve been always choosing you for years now, and this time I choose to be with my child-”

“Then go ahead. I don’t think I could ever be with you again. With all the lies and cheating you did?” He scoffed and walked away.

I can’t hold him back. I have no rights. I don’t think I could fix it with him right now too. I know he’s mad and that just makes everything worst if I try to at least end things in a nice way right now.

I love him, but I think I’ll choose my child now. Kasi kapag kami pa rin ni Gio, ganun lang ulit ang mangyayari.

I’ll clear my schedule for a month or two to escape and see my son, pero pag hindi kami, mabibigyan ko siya ng oras kahit kailan.