Broken Hearts RX: Book II: Crestfallen (TAGALOG)

Chapter 7

They needed to talk. Alam na alam ni Tabitha yun, and for the last couple of years she’s been thinking of the scenario where he will ask her about his son. May karapatan si Tristan na makilala ang kanyang anak. Ngunit bakit sa mga oras na iyon ay nagdadalawang isip siya na sabihin sa lalaki kung bakit niya tinago ang katotohanan. She can’t blame him for wanting answers. After all it is inevitable that they’ve met. Of all places to meet the love of your life, a place that connects the two of you.

What she loved about Tristan, was he never really showed any negative emotions to Kristoff. Kahit pa na alam ni Tabitha na naggiguera ang saloobin nito, he remained calm. He accompanied them to the room that they are occupying. Kung saan naghihintay ang madrasta ni Tabitha na si Andrea. Nagmano dito ang binata at nakipaglaro muna sa batang aakalain mong walang sakit sa kalikutan. Kristoff is one fireball of an energy. He would continuously ask questions to Tristan as if wanting to get to know him better. Alam na alam ni Tabitha ang ugali ng anak niya. When he is interested in something or to someone, he’d want to spend some time with him. Bagay na halos naging bukod tanging ginawa ng bata sa hapong iyon.

Tristan would show his full interest as well. Aside from politely excusing himself kung may mga inquiry ang mga junior member ng team niya sa hospital, all his attention was with the boy. They were like mirrored images of each other. And when she looked at her stepmother’s eyes, the secret she kept for four years had been known already. Nakita niya sa mga mata ni Andrea ang saya, knowing that Kristoff has a good man for a father. Tabitha saw her stepmom’s relief, knowing that Tristan, being a Santiago will take care of both the mother and her child. At biglang nagsikip ang dibdib ni Tabitha. She was actually keeping the secret for that very same reason.

“Pwede ba tayong mag kape?” Tanong ni Tristan out of the blue. Kristoff was settling down for his afternoon nap. The boy was actually tired as well, dahil na din sa pakikipaglaro nito sa ama.

Napatingin si Tabitha sa lalaki na para bang nag-iisip siya ng excuse. “Aren’t you on duty?” tanong niya sa lalaki. Alam niyang nakaduty ito dahil ilang beses itong nagcheck ng smart phone niya habang nakikipaglaro sa anak.

“Oo, but there are coffee shops in the building.” Sagot naman nito na may kompyansa sa sarili. “I’m already a senior resident my juniors can handle things while I’m gone.” Ngumiti ito ng matipid, as if egging her to throw another obstacle.

Nag-iisip pa si Tabitha ng biglang sumabat ang madrasta niyang si Andrea, “Hindi sya pwedeng magkape, kailangan niya ng tulog dahil kakatapos lang din niya magtrabaho. But you can buy her milk though. You can get a cheese cake for me as well, ijo.” Nakangiting sabi ng madrasta niya. Her stepmom had decided for her, Tabi knows it was for the best. Cause she would end up running if Andrea hadn’t stepped in.

Ngumiti naman si Tristan na umaabot hanggan mata. He still has that killer smile that would really make Tabi’s heart skip a beat. “No problem Tita.” Saad nito and he looked at Tabitha with a nod towards the door, niyaya na niya itong muli para lumabas na sa kwarto. Palabas kung saan lahat ng pagiging kalmado nito ay maglalaho na. She was entering a storm that's Tristan Santiago.

Tristan was the youngest boy of the cousins. He was also the shortest one. But what he lacked in height, he filled it in with his prowess and attitude. Siya ang pinaka gwapo sa magpipinsan, kung si Tabitha lang ang tatanungin. But all the Santiago men are handsome in their own ways, though she would always be biased. Mahal niya kasi si Tristan. He has his bad traits as well. For one he was as impatient as hell. When he wanted things done, it’d be done before dusk would come. If he wanted to settle things with her he would settle it within the time he asked her out for coffee. And that was what she's dreading about. What if he’d be forced to marry her. She never wanted a loveless marriage with the man she loves. It’ll kill her.

Napakagat labi si Tabi ng inanyayahan siya ni Tristan na umupo sa isang sulok na bahagi ng café kung saan sila bumili ng maiinom. He also bought a take out cheese cake for her stepmom. She awkwardly sat not even looking at the man she loves straight in the eye. She was as if caught red handed stealing a chocolate bar. That went on for a solid minute. Him looking at her sipping his coffee with sharp eyes. And her avoiding to ever set her eyes on him.

“Would you even try to tell me anything about him, kung hindi nangyari ito?” he asked silently still looking intently at her. He was not taking his eyes off her. She remained quiet for some time, but that did not mean Tristan would be patient enough to wait anymore. Binaba nitong padabog ang tasa sa mesang nasa harapan niya. “Tabitha, would you try and explain to me why the hell you kept my son a secret from me.”

"My child is not your problem!" nagpipigil na sabi ni Tabitha sa lalaking alam niyang hindi tatanggapin ang kung anu mang rason ang ibibigay niya. Alam niyang magkukrus din an kanilang landas, but not that early. She should have just settled for a heart surgeon that is not working in the same hospital as Tristan does. But as a mother she dared not give her son second best. His life was on the line. And that was when hell broke loose.

Nakikita niya sa mga mata ng lalaki ang magkahalong pagkalito at pagmamahal sa batang nakausap nito. He was never taking a no for an answer this time around. "How could you keep something this big from me. Alam mo bang halos hindi ko din maintindihan ang nararamdaman ko the first time I saw him?!" halata naman na mahal niya ang kanilang anak. Unang beses nilang magkita mag-ama ng naadmit ang bata. "I demand a paternity test! I want to be part of my son's life!"

“You can’t do that! You can’t stress Kristoff like that! Maselan ang kalagayan niya.” Tabitha was fearing for her child. She cannot have him stressed out because of some petty court battle happening between his parents.

Huminga ito ng malalim, he was trying his best not to shout. Pero eyes were straying on them dahil nga sa napakabigat na aura na pumapalibot sakanila. “All these years, you kept him from me. Then you expect me not to demand this?" He bit his lower lip in frustration. "Can you consider what you’ve done to him, to both of us, fair? Alam ko nangungulila ang bata sa aruga ng sarili niyang ama. No one can replace a parent in a child’s heart. Alam kong alam mo yun. We grew up in a same situation. You know how it feels to long for someone who will never be back.” Tinuro niya ng mariin ang dibdib niya, signifying the intensity of his longing to be a father to his child. “Buhay ako, Tabi. But you didn’t even let me see him grow up to be a boy that he is now. Alam mo ba kung gaano kasakit yun?”