Taming the Lady Agent

Chapter 11

Mabilisan lang kinuha nina Jaz at Kurt ang mga gamit ni Aiyanna kaya naka-sunod din sila kaagad sa ospital kung saan naka-admit ito. They are now inside the delivery room at ang mag-kapatid naman ay nadatnan nilang naka-bantay sa labas ng delivery room. Maya maya naman ay dumating na rin ang mga magulang ng mag-asawa at ang mga ito na ang nag-bantay doon. They decided to go to the hospital’s cafe at doon na lamang maghintay, unang anak sa kanilang magkakaibigan and they treated everyone as a family kaya ayaw nilang iwan si Clyde sa pagkakataong iyon, at isa pa ay excited silang magkaroon ng bata, she’s also excited to see how great Clyde can be as a father.

“Jasmine?” sabay-sabay silang napalingon sa pinagmulan ng boses na iyon.

Her lips automatically formed a smile when she saw the familiar man who owns the voice. He was wearing a nude shirt with simple black shorts that was paired with white sneakers. He is also wearing his infamous boyish smile. Nagmukha tuloy itong bida sa mga kdrama dahil sa suot nito at dahil na rin sa pagiging chinito at matangkad nito.

“Ken!” bati niya rito habang naka-ngiti

“Hey, what are you doing here? May sakit ka ba?” tanong nito nang makalapit ito sa kanya.

Umiling siya rito, “No. May hinihintay lang kami.” nilingon niya ang mga kasama na naka-tingin pa rin pala sa kanila at hindi pa pumapasok sa cafe ng ospital kahit kaunting lakad na lang naman ang layo niyon mula sa kanila.

“By the way, my friends. Naalala mo naman siguro sila?” aniyang tinutukoy ang tatlong lalaki.

He nodded at them, “Long time no see.” anitong may maliit na ngiti sa labi.

Natuon ang atensyon niya sa mga kaibigan na nakatingin lang kay Ken at simpleng tinanguan lang bago saka dumiretso sa cafe kapag kuwan. Hindi rin nakaligtas sa pandinig niya ang bulungan ng mga ito tungkol sa bumalik na kulugo? Ano bang tinutukoy ng mga ito? Napailing na lang siya bago muling bumaling kay Ken.

“C’mon let’s get some coffee and catch up a bit, bago ang sunod kong appointment.” she smiled at him and nodded bago naglakad na rin patungo sa cafe doon.

She just ordered a hot latte, si Ken ang nagbayad kaya naupo na rin sila sa bakanteng pwesto sa tabi lang din ng mga kaibigan niya. Iisa na lang kasi ang upuang bakante sa pweso ng mga ito kaya pinili niyang umupo sa kabilang mesa.

“So, how are you? It’s been years since I last saw you!” he exclaimed at her looking so interested with what’s going on with her life.

Napa-ngiti siya rito, wala itong pinagkaiba noon dahil napaka-caring nito. He always make sure you’re heard whenever you have something to say, and that’s really adorable. Gusto rin niya ang ugali nitong nasa kanya lang ang atensyon kapag nag uusap sila.

“Nothing much actually. Ako na ang nagmamanage ng firm dito sa Pinas. My dad manages the branches in Europe kaya wala rin ako masyadong time na kasama sya.” she said

“I see. Your dad is still a workaholic as before.” anito habang nakangiti pa rin

“Ikaw? I thought you’re in New York for good?” balik tanong naman niya rito

“Yeah, I stayed there for a few years. Started my DJ career, and then I got invited to play in Deluxe. Remember when I saw you there?” ngumiti siya at tumango rito. “That club is actually great, I love the ambiance and interior. Maayos rin ang management at security unlike the other bars here in Manila.” kwento nito

Ngumiti lang siya at hindi na nagkumento dahil hindi naman nito kailangang malaman na sila ang may-ari. He will know eventually though, lalo na kung madalas itong tutugtog sa club nila.

She sipped her coffee when she noticed that he’s looking at her hands and then at her. It was like he had something to ask but he couldn’t just blurt it out.

“What is it?” natatawang tanong niya.

“I don’t see a ring on your finger.” anito habang nakatingin pa rin sa kamay niya na naka-hawak sa baso ng kape niya.

Tipid siyang ngumiti, “Then it answers your question that you can’t ask.” aniyang natatawa.

He chuckled and leaned back on his seat, “Good to know that.” napa-hawak pa ito sa batok na parang nahihiya. He looks so cute while doing that, his old antics.

“Hindi ko alam kung bakit may kaibigan akong pagong.”

“Kaibigan mo pala yan?”

“Actually, malapit ko nang itakwil. Galit na galit pero wala naman ginagawa.”

Napa-kunot noo siya sa usapan nang magkapatid sa kabilang mesa. Lumingon siya ngunit muling binaling ang atensyon kay Ken nang magsalita ito. Pero parang nakita niyang nakatingin si Kurt sa gawi nila? Pero bakit naman e mag kakausap sila ng magkapatid. She shrugged the idea off her head.

“I’ll be off for my next appointment now. Pero, is there any time this week I can take you out for lunch? Or dinner?” tanong nito habang hawak ang telepono.

“Hmm, sure. I can squeeze you in my schedule.” simpleng tango niya.

“Great! “ ibinigay nito ang telepono sa kanya, “Your number, please.” ngiting anito.

Natatawang tinipa niya ang numero sa cellphone nito saka ibinalik dito. Maya maya ay nagpaalam na ito saka umalis na. Holding her cup of coffee, she stood up and went to her friends’ spot. Naupo sya sa tabi ni Kurt dahil iyon lang naman ang bakanteng upuan doon.

“Pupusta ako, mapapasagot agad.” sabi ni Jay

“Pupusta din ako, may pipigil.” sagot naman ni Kay.

“Sige, tanungin natin si Clyde mamaya kung anong pusta niya.” ngising ani Jayden sa kapatid.

Ano bang pinag uusapan ng dalawang ito? Minsan ay may ugali ang mga ito na hindi talaga niya ma-gets. Hindi lang pala minsan. Madalas.

*

Ilang minuto pa ang lumipas nang lumabas si Clyde mula sa isang pintuan katabi ng delivery room. Agad na sumalubong ang mga magulang nito rito. She grinned as she noticed Clyde’s legs turned into a Jell-O. Pawis na pawis ang noo nito habang naupo sa bakanteng pwesto di kalayuan sa delivery room.

“How was it?” tanong niya rito nang maka-upo ito.

“I can’t describe it exactly but it was beyond my imagination. Women’s bodies are hilarious.” anito sa kanya.

Ngumiti lang siya rito habang nakikinig sa kwento nito na hindi raw nito alam ang gagawin kanina noong naglalabor ang asawa. Tawang tawa naman ang magkapatid dahil hindi raw nila inaasahan na magiging ganoon kaparaoid si Clyde.

“Clearly, I’m not afraid of bullets. But that scene inside the delivery room was different. I thought I'd die. She cursed me a million times.” napahalakhak muli ang magkapatid dahil sa sinabi nito.

Hindi rin naman nagtagal at tinawag na ulit si Clyde dahil ililipat na raw sa private room si Aiyanna. Kaagad sumunod ang pamilya ng mag-asawa gayun din ang magkapatid. Halatang gustong maki-usyoso. She’s still arguing with herself kung susunod na ba siya sa mga ito nang magtama ang mga mata nila ni Kurt. He’s quietly staring at her for a few seconds. Obviously waiting for her next move. And the next thing she knew, nasa loob na rin siya ng pribadong kwarto ni Aiyanna. It was an executive suite, kaya malaki ang kwarto. She remained standing by the door, as Kurt. Ang magkapatid ay naka-upo sa couch sa kabilang panig ng kwarto. Ang pamilya ng mag-asawa ay nandoon malapit kay Aiyanna at kinukumusta ito, while Clyde is sitting beside Aiyanna and just looking at her like he’s madly in love with her all over again. She just birthed to his baby so who wouldn’t, right? The baby is not there yet dahil may mga test pa raw na ginagawa upang masigurong maayos ito.

Napalingon siya sa bumukas na pintuan at nagulat nang pumasok ang isang doktor at nurse habang isinusulong ang iasng maliit ng cart. It’s the baby. Natigilan siya at pinagmasdan ito. The baby is so fragile, she’s so tiny. Naka-pikit ito habang humihikab at kapansin pansin din ang matambok nitong pisngi, ang magandang ilong nito na namana kay Clyde, pati na rin ang mapupulang labi. She smiled as she saw the baby. Ganoon pala ang pakiramdam.

Dumako ang tingin niya kay Clyde at Aiyanna, Clyde was stunned when he saw his baby. Ibinigay naman ng nurse ang bata kay Aiyanna upang makapagstart na daw sa breastfeeding. Aiyanna held her baby and kissed its forehead. Kitang kita niya ang pagsilay ng ngiti ni Clyde habang nakatingin sa mag-ina. He whispered something in her ear and kissed the top of her head. Isang iglap ay nakita niya ang sarili sa position ni Aiyanna at si Kurt naman kay Clyde.

It was like Kurt was saying ‘Thank you, baby.’ and then kissed the top of her head. Pumikit siya kasabay ng pagtulo ng luha sa mga mata. It’s just her imagination. When is she going to be over this? Huminga siya nang malalim saka tumalikod at lumabas mula sa kwartong iyon. She found herself at the rooftop of the hospital. Walang tao roon kaya nagpatuloy siya hanggang sa makita niya ang view ng syudad. She needed to breathe.

She blinked hard when she realized her eyes were swelling up. Damn these tears. Mabilis na pinunasan niya ang pisngi nang maramdaman na may tao sa tabi niya.

She was stunned when she saw him looking at her intently. ‘Ano ang nasa isip mo, Kurt?’

She wished that he would tell her. Pero simula noon ay wala naman siyang naririnig dito. Akma niyang lalampasan ito para sana umalis na doon ngunit hinagip nito ang palapulsuhan niya at hinila siya at ikinulong sa mga bisig nito. She was about to protest when he hugged her tighter.

“K-Kurt.” she breathed.

“Just stay still.” he said in his low and soothing voice

She cannot describe what she is feeling right now but it is a familiar feeling in her heart. Mabilis ang kabog niyon ngunit hindi takot o kaba ang nararamdaman niya, it was like she have been gone for too long and now she is home. A feeling of relief, comfort, and love.

Sa totoo lang ay wala silang naging maayos na closure ni Kurt kaya siguro ganito sila ngayon, kung minsan ay aso at pusa, minsan naman ay walang pakialam sa isa’t isa at ngayon ay ito. She is confused by his actions.

She rested her head over his chest as she felt his heart beating, halos kasing bilis iyon ng pagtibok ng dibdib niya. She slightly look up to look at his face, naka-pikit ito habang yakap siya.

“What are you thinking, Kurt?” naisaboses niya ang tanong niya kanina.

He slowly opened his eyes and directly looked at hers, “That I broke you.”

He smiled painfully, “Our relationship could’ve worked if I didn’t leave you alone. If I mourned with you. But my f*****g pride was so high, I can’t even go near you. I mourned alone, I blamed myself for everything that has happened.”

Pigil niya ang hininga habang nagsasalita si Kurt, hindi niya inaasahan na magsasalita ito ngayon.

“And even after those years, kapag nakikita kitang umiiyak sa mga bagay na nakakapagpa-alala sa anak natin, it also pains me a lot.” humugot ito ng isang malalim na hinga bago siya pinakawalan sa pagkakayakap nito. He gently placed his hands on both of her shoulders and slightly bent to level her face and she saw how red his eyes were.

“I’m sorry.” he genuinely said while staring at her eyes. “I’m sorry na naging duwag akong harapin ang problema natin. I’m sorry that you felt alone all those years.”

Her tears were falling continuously as he apologized, she never really thought about this. She never imagined him apologizing.

Masuyo nitong hinawakan ang magkabila niyang braso habang nakatingin sa kanyang mga mata, “Can we start again?”