When Love and Pain Collide

Happiness and Pains

Ilang araw na gumugulo sa isip ni Zoe ang sinabi ng ate niya. Ang akala niya di na siya affected sa daddy niya pero andun parin pala ang shadow ng nakaraan. Gustong harapin ni Zoe ang ama at harapan tanungin ang porpose nito pero her heart decide na lumayo. She was afraid na sirain na naman nang ama ang kaligayahan niya gaya ng ginawa niya sa kanila ni Lexie.

Nagulat si Zoe ng dali dali siyang tinawag ni Kim.

“Dude! May gustong kumausap sayo.”

Nagulat si Zoe ng makita ang tao na gustong kumausap sa kanya. It’s Lexie.

“Anong?”

“Zoe please talk to me for just a second.”

“Wala na tayong dapat pag usapan. I’m happy now Lex. Huwag mo nang guluhin ang buhay ko. Kung pinapunta ka ni daddy para pabalikin ako sabihin mo sa kanya thanks. Di niya na masisira ang kaligayahan ko.”

Napansin ni Zoe na nalungkot si Lexie sa mga sinabi niya.

“Please naman. Hear me out. Hear your fathers reason.”

“Lex alam mo ba gaano kasakit ha. Yung malaman na lumapit ka sa taong naghiwalay sa ating dalawa. Tapos ngayon parang wala lang sayo lahat at ikaw pa ang pumunta dito for him.”

“I know nasaktan ka Zoe kaya nga ako napunta sayo para ipaliwanag lahat. Di mo kasi naiintindihan lahat eh.”

“Zoe sorry to interrupt but? “

“Kyle not now.”

“May gustong kumausap din sayo dude!”

“Huh? Sino?”

Sobrang nashock ni Zoe ng makita niya si Paige na papalapit sa kanya. Niyakap at hinalikan siya ni Paige.

Napansin ni Zoe na naluluha si Lexie.

“Zoe I need to go. Please talk to your father.”

“Whose that Zoe?”

“It’s my fathers secretary.”

“Oh are you okay with your father now?”

“No. Were still not okay.”

“Oh sorry. I hope it will be fine soon. You know he is still your father.”

Napangiti si Zoe pero di niya maintindihan na may kunting kurot sa puso niya ang makita ang reaksiyon ni Lex sa pagdating ni Paige. Seeing Lexie go still hurt his heart. ”

“I’m surprise. Whoa you’re here. I thought I will be the one who will visits you in your country.”

“Why your not happy seeing me cross the world to be with you?”

“Of course I am happy very much happy. Wooh it’s just. I can’t still believe you’re here with me now.”

Masayang lumapit sila Kyle at Kim.

“ Aheeem..Bro pakilala mo kami.”

“By the way Paige this is Kyle and Kim my friends.”

“Oh hi.. Nice meeting you . So you were the one who introduce my video to Zoe.”

“Yes that’s me Kim.”,patawang sagot ni Kim.

“Nice meeting you also Paige. Where you vlogging this first trip.”

“Oi Kim ano ka ba.”, puna ni Zoe

“Ahm actually I want too and as much as I want the world to know that I’m already with my love but I think I want some privacy for this time. I want to spend more time with Zoe.”

Zoe still shock and happy that Paige is in her side. Parang isang panaginip ang lahat na after her heartbreak kay Lexie ay meron ng babae na gagawin ang lahat para makasama siya.

Diko na to papakawalan, nasabi ni Zoe sa sarili.

Dahil sa walang work si Zoe ay isinama niya si Paige na mamasyal. Sinulit nila ang araw.

“ Your country is beautiful Zoe. Zoe?

Napansin ni Paige na nakatingin lang si Zoe sa kanya.

“Hey why your looking me like that. I’m going to melt.”

“ I still cant believe that you’re here Paige. Oh my gosh. I am happy. Yes I’m happy”

Zoe’s tears starts falling.

Paige touches Zoe’s cheeks.

“ I’m here Zoe. This moment is true. That’s how I much I love you.”

Zoe kiss Paige passionately.

Years later

“Honey…… I think my water is broke.”

“What?”

“ Nagfroze si Zoe ng makita ang tubig na umaagos sa mga hita ni Paige.”

“Honey, Zoe Kristen!.....”

Nabalik sa ulirat si Zoe at kinuha ni ang bag na nakaready para sa delivery ni Paige. Magkahalong nerbiyos at excitement ang nadarama ni Zoe habang hinihintay niya ang pag labor ni Paige.

After a few hours Zoe was in tears, seeing her wife and their baby. Zoe walk towards them and kiss Paige on her forehead and kiss their baby .

“Hello baby Pia here’s mama Zoe.”

“This is the happiest moment in my life.” Zoe said to Paige.

Zoe now is in Paige country. She was petition by Paige as her partner to live with her. They got married and together have a baby through reciprocal ivf . Zoe now is living freely in her gender preference. Her environment is different from her country. Zoe is working in an electronic factory. Sa pagbuo ni Zoe ng pamilya kasama si Paige ay iniwan din niya sa lugar na sinilangan ang kanyang nakaraan.

“Are you happy?” ,tanong ni Paige.

“No I’m not happy hon, I am very much happy.”, sabay kuha ni Zoe sa vlogging camera.

Minsan lang nagpapakita sa vlog ni Paige si Zoe kasi nahihiya siya but this time gusto niya isigaw at ipakita sa mundo how happy they were.

“Are you sure?”

“I want the world to know that I am very happy Paige. Thank you dahil pinadama mo sakin ang true love. And now meron na naman nadagdag sa nagpapasaya sakin. Look baby Pia. Say hi to your followers.”

Nasurprise si Paige sa ginawa ng asawa. Minsan lang kasi manood sa video niya si Zoe kasi nahihiya siya pag nakikita niya ang sarili. But this moment Zoe was openly recording their life as a new mom.

Nang malaman na nanganak na si Paige ay daming bumati sa kanila Zoe. Ang dami ding follower na nagpadala ng gift para kay baby Pia. Nagvideo call naman din sila Kyle at Kim kay Zoe ng malaman nila. Pero kahit gaano ka happy ang buhay ni Zoe di parin niya maitago na may kulang parin sa buhay niya. Zoe still missing her family. Nandoon parin sa isip niya ang sinabi ng ate niya at ni Lexie about her dad wants to see her. Zoe never talk or see her dad before she go to abroad and that’s one of the thing na gumugulo sa isip ni Zoe. Nandun sa isip niya ang umasa na what if her dad really change. Pero still Zoe was afraid that her dad will break her happiness.

Days had past nahihirapan pa maka adopt sina Zoe at Paige sa pagiging ina pero tumagal ay naging smooth narin. They were happy sharing their journey as new moms.

One day habang nasa office si Zoe ay nakatanggap siya ng tawag sa isang hospital. Agad agad siyang umalis and that day change Zoe’s life.

The doctor approach Zoe.

“Mrs. Cepeda?”

“Yes doc how’s my wife? Is she okay now? Can I see her?”

“We did do anything to save your wife, but her internal organs was really damage because of the accident. Were really sorry.”

“No! No! This is not true.”

Sa isang iglap nawala lahat ang masayang pamilya ni Zoe. Paige car was hit by a trailer truck when she was driving to get baby Pia in her grand parents.

After the funeral nawalan na ng gana mabuhay si Zoe. Nagmumokmok lang siya sa bahay di siya pumasok ng trabaho ni hindi niya binisita ang anak niya sa family ni Paige. Walang ginawa si Zoe kundi mag inum at humagulhol.

Maraming mga followers nila Paige ang nagluksa at nalungkot.

“Zoe are you there?”

“Susan?”

“My gosh what happen to you?”

Si Susan ay isa sa close friends at avid follower nila Zoe at Paige.

“Hey we message you. But you never reply. Where’s Pia?”

“She’s with her granny.”

“Don’t wanna visit her?”

“I cant.”

“Zoe, come on. We cannot bring Paige back. But Pia needs you now. She needs her mama. Your friends and followers worried about you.”

Humagulhol ng iyak si Zoe.

“I cant live without Paige Su. I can’t. How am I gonna live without her. She’s my life.”

“You need to be strong for Pia Zoe. I knew we can’t help the pain your feeling right now but I hope this video can help.”

Nagbigay si Susan ng isang flash drive.

Nang gabi na iyun ay tiningnan ni Zoe ang laman ng flash drive. Seeing a video about the compilation with Paige and Zoe. Napahagulhol si Zoe ng Zoe lalong lumalim ang pangungulila niya kay Paige. Then she saw the time she carried Pia when she was born. Lalong bumuhos ang luha ni Zoe sa mga oras na iyun.

“Paige I don’t know how to live without you….. But for Pia I will try. I will never forget you. Your love, your smile and caress. I will tell Pia everyday how much we love her. Walang araw na di kita Ipaalala sa anak natin. You are my love. Please guide me with our daughter.”

Kinabukasan ay maaga nagbihis si Zoe para puntahan si Pia sa mga manugang niya.

“Why are you here Zoe?”

“I’m sorry if I had to leave Pia with you this past few days but now can I see her? I knew she miss her mama.”

“Missed? She’s not missing you. She’s now okay living with us.”

“What do you mean by that Karen?”

“We can’t give Pia to you.”

“What? Are you out of your mind? Pia is my child. You cannot take away her from me.”

“ Zoe. Pia needs a home that’s best for her.”

“What are you talking about? I’m her mother does living with me isn’t the best for her? She’s my daughter Karen? For God sake.”

“Yeah but she’s also Paige daughter. Look at yourself. Are you sure you can take care of Pia.”

“Karen I knew I had neglect Pia this past few days but I am still in grief. How could you not understand that my wife is your daughter. How come you change so suddenly. I thought you accept me.”

“We love our daughter that’s why we accepts you. But now she’s gone I don’t think there a knot that will connect to us.”

“Karen how could you do this to me, to Pia?

“I don’t have to explain to you. Just wait for the papers. I want a full custody of our grandchild. I don’t want Pia to grow such person like you. We don’t know you. Your race?”

“No you can do that I’m her mother. My bloods run in her.”

“I don’t think that’s enough for the judge to favor you . I know your job is in the line now and your savings.”

“Karen please lets not do this.”

“Sinarhan si Zoe ng pinto. Gustohin man sirain ni Zoe ang pinto para makuha ang anak pero ayaw niyang maexposed si Pia sa violence. Agad siyang nagconsult sa lawyer and just what Paige mother said. Lawyer advised her to have a stable job and enough savings to win this case. Nakauwi ng bahay si Zoe na wala sa sarili. Sinisi niya ang sarili sa lahat ng nangyari. Natatakot siya na pati si Pia ay mawala sa kanya.

Meanwhile in Paige parent’s house.

“Who are you?”

“Please stop the case and give Pia back to her mother.”

“Oh so you must be one of Zoe’s acquaintance. Are you her lawyer?”

“ Yes I do. Drop the case.”

“Your really confident going in here. Oh base on your look your same Zoe race. Don’t waste my time.”

“You really don’t know Zoe, are you? She’s not losing this case you are. And if you will continue this you will never see your grandchild again. I’ll give you a chance.”

“You were really confident but how could an immigrant win this case? Now back of before I’ll call a police.”

“Okay if that’s your decision.”

Di makapakali si Zoe sa pag alala paano niya haharapin ang case sa custudy ng kanyang anak. She was hopeless.

Biglang may nag doorbell.

Nagulat kung sino ang nasa harapan niya.

“Lexie?”

“You really want your daughter back into your life?”

“What? How?”

“Please Zoe answer my questions!”

“Yes I want my baby back.”

Napahagulhol si Zoe.

“Kahit ano gagawin mo para makuha siya?”

“What do you mean?”

“Were going to get Pia in return you will be back in our country and live with your dad.”

“What? No! I will not do that.”

“Then I’m not going to help you.”

“Bakit ba Lex ha. Until now nagtatrabaho ka parin kay daddy. Nakalimutan mo ba talaga lahat ng ginawa niya? And why you’re here? Paano mo nalaman about sa anak ko. Sinusundan mo ba ako ha?”

“ That was in the past Zoe I’m her lawyer now. Your family lawyer to be exact.”

“Please Lex I’m begging you not this time. Im still in grief. Please. Wag na natin isali si dad. Please patahimikin niyo muna ako!”

Humagulhol ng iyak si Zoe.

“I knew what happened to Paige. And I know also what’s going on about your child. Here’s my card call me kung nakapag isip kana.”

Few days gone in the court.

The court favor Zoe Kristen Cepeda as court grant her full custody of her child Pia Moore Cepeda.

Halos mapalundag sa kasiyahan si Zoe ng marinig ang decision ng court. Samantala mangiyak ngiyak naman ang parents ni Paige sa nangyari.

Nilapitan si Zoe ng parents ni Paige.

“Zoe wait. I’m sorry please don’t take away Pia to us. We are wrong please don’t take her away from us.”

“I told you Mrs Moore. You will not win this case. You don’t know Zoe family. Come on Zoe. We have lot things to do.”, Lexie interfere.

Hinatid ni Lexie si Zoe at Pia sa bahay nila.

“Pack your things Zoe. I will get you tomorrow.”

“Lex thank you.”

“Hindi ako ang dapat mong pasalamatan. After all it’s your father plan.”

“What?”

“Palaisipan parin kay Zoe ang lahat ng ginagawa ni Lexie. Lalong gumulo ang isip niya ng malaman na may kinalaman ang papa niy para mapabalik sa kanya si Pia.