Between You and Him

Chapter 8

THEO

"Ken! Daddy's home!" I yelled for my son as soon as I came in and put my luggage on the side.

I am finally home and eventhough I am so exhausted, I have energy saved up for my son. I was going to ask him to play some Xbox with me. Nothing violent, just something simple but adventurous.

But Ken didn't come running to me. In fact, it was just Tessa that came out and said Ken was with someone named Layla and that they went to the mall.

"Did Candy know about this?"

"Yes, Sir. Na-inform na po ni Layla si Atty. Lontoc bago sila umalis ni Ken."

Saglit akong lumingon sa labas. I remember seeing the car in the garage. There's an old car parked out front too. It looked oddly familiar too.

"Alin ang kotseng dala nila?"

Napakamot sa ulo si Tessa. "Naglakad lang po sila ni Ken palabas ng subdivision. Ang alam ko po magcocommute sila ni Layla."

"Commute? Anong oras sila umalis?" Napataas ang boses ko at halata ang takot sa mukha ni Tessa. Bakit kailangan magcommute kung pwede may sasakyan naman at driver dito sa bahay?

"Uhm... k-kalahatiing oras pa l-lang po--"

Hindi ko na pinatapos ang sasabihin niya. I grabbed my car keys and head out. Wala na sila sa subdivision at nang tanungin ko ang guard sa kanto ay nakasakay na raw ang mga ito ng tricycle. Did that woman asked Candy if they can commute? O nagpaalam lang sila na pupunta sa mall at inassume ni Candy na magpapahatid sa mall? Damn. What if something happened to my son? Baguhan pa lang ang Layla na 'yon ay nagdedesisyon na kaagad ng kanya.

It was hard to drive and look around. I've been calling the woman's cellphone and it just kept ringing. Did she plan to kidnap my son? Napatiim-bagang ako sa naisip ko. I shouldn't judge the woman so quickly. Hindi naman s'ya iha-hire ni Candy kung sa interview pa lang ay masama na ang pakiramdam niya sa aplikante. I trust her instincts.

Dumiretso na ako sa mall at naghintay sa entrance. Kung nagcommute sila ay ito ang papasukan nila. I went to the customer service at pinapage ang pangalan ni Layla De Los Santos. It didn't take long until I saw Ken walking with a woman who looked so familiar. Nakita ko na siya dati... sa parking lot ng isang mall sa Batangas. S'ya 'yong babaeng nagtaray sa akin dahil akala niya ay inagawan ko siyang parking spot.

"Daddy!" Naglakad-takbo si Ken papunta sa akin at sinalubong ko siya. Mabibilis ang hakbang ko at nang makalapit ay binuhat ko siya at niyakap ng mahigpit saka hinalikan sa pisngi. "I didn't know you're going home today."

"I wanted to surprise you, but you weren't home." Ibinaba ko siya at kinapitan sa kamay.

"Oh, yeah. Sorry. I asked Miss Layla to take me here so I can get a present for my friend." Tumango ako para i-acknowledge ang sinabi niya.

"Good... morning, Sir," bati niya sa akin. She looked nervous. Simple lang ang suot niya. Capri jeans at puting blouse na pinaresan ng puting sneakers. Nakapusod ang buhok niya at bukod sa lip gloss ay wala na siyang ibang kolorete sa mukha. Layla was simple... and pretty.

"Good morning. I'm Ken's father. You must be his new tutor." Kahit naiinis ako sa kaniya ay pinanatili kong kalmado ang boses ko. I didn't want to scare my son lalo na at mukha siyang masaya ngayong araw.

"Yes, Sir. Ako po si Layla."

I couldn't tell if she remembers me. Isang beses lang naman kaming nagkita. If she did, Layla is good at pretending.

"Have you found a gift?" Umiling ang babae. "Then let's find one." Tumungo ako para tanungin si Ken. "Do you know where you want to go?"

"Toy store."

The three of us walked together towards the toy store. Nagkwento si Ken habang naglalakad kami and I was surprised. He's not very talkative at madalas ay sasagot lang siya kung tinatanong ko. My son changed a bit at isang linggo pa lang si Layla. He wasn't like this with Gerlee at all.

***

LAYLA

Ken got up early this morning at imbes na hintayin si Tessa na magluto para sa kanya ay ako na lang ang gumawa. He only wanted bacon and eggs with toast anyway. It's very easy. He showered and got dressed afterwards and to pass time, I watered the plants while he followed me around and told me all about the kind of flowers we have in the garden.

Tinanong ko rin siya kung nakasakay na siya ng jeep at tricycle kahit alam kong may sasakyan at driver sila rito sa bahay. He said never and asked if I had because he wanted to try.

I knew I should have asked Atty. Lontoc first, but the mall was literally a few minutes drive from the house. Mas mabilis pa ang tricycle kumpara kung dadalhin ko ang kotse ko o magpapadrive kami.

Facing Kenneth's father now, I made the wrong call. s**t. I heard my name being paged kaya nagpunta kami ni Kenneth sa customer service bago pa natunton ang toy store na balak niyang puntahan. What I didn't expect was to see the same man who took my parking spot over a week ago. Of all people, s'ya ang ama ni Ken? I groaned in frustration. Magreresign na ba ako ngayon? I need a job. I can always find a new job, but Ken-- kahit maiksi pa lang ang panahon na kasama ko s'ya, he grew on me. He's a nice kid.

Should I apologize or should I pretend that I don't remember him? Maybe the latter is a better idea.

"Ken, why don't you start looking for a gift and pick one toy for yourself? We will be right behind you." Theo said to his son.

"Okay, Dad."

We followed Ken, pero nanatili ako sa bandang likuran ni Theo. Tanaw ko pa rin naman in full view ang bata kahit nasa unahan ang kaniyang ama.

"How are you liking your new job?" Theo asked me without glancing my way.

"Okay lang po, Sir. Mabait po si Ken."

"Good. Things should be back to normal once Gerlee returns." Hindi ako sumagot. "In the future, don't take my son anywhere without a car. There is a driver for a reason and the car is at Ken's disposal anytime. I won't be nice like this next time. Do we understand each other?"

Napalunok ako. "Yes, Sir."