Between You and Him

Chapter 10

THEO

"It's my turn to ask a question." Tumango si Layla. Not once did she complain that her arm was hurting while holding my son. "Would you fall in love with someone like me?"

Halata ang gulat sa mga mata niya kaya napatawa ako. It was just a simple question. Oo o hindi lang naman ang sagot.

"Ha?"

"Relax. It's just a simple question. Ang sabi mo kasi, kung may balak pa akong mag-asawa. Ang sagot ko naman sa 'yo, kung may makikilala akong tamang babae bakit hindi? Pero kung halimbawa na ikaw, tatanggapin mo ba ako at ang anak ko? It's a commitment and we come as a package. And if you have a child of your own from that marriage, would you love my son less?"

Layla fell silent. Most women would want a single man. Iyong walang bitbit na anak at kailanman ay hindi pa nakakasal. Mahirap kapag may nauna na. The woman would always wonder if she was second choice.

"You don't have to answer--"

"Wala akong problema sa gano'n. Hindi naman kasalanan ng bata na ipinanganak siya. In your case, your wife passed at naiwan sa kalinga mo si Ken. Hindi madali ang maging nanay at tatay. At doon sa tanong mo kung mas mamahalin ko 'yong batang iluluwal ko? Ayaw kong maging impokrita at sabihin sa 'yo na oo kasi wala naman ako sa sitwasyon na 'yon. I would have to answer that a later time kung magkaroon ng pagkakataon. But loving the kid less just because I wasn't the one who gave birth to him, hindi ko ugali 'yon. Para sa akin, walang kondisyon ang pagmamahal."

***

Gabi na nang makabalik kami sa Lipa at dahil busog naman si Ken ay hinayaan na namin siyang matulog. Layla changed his clothes and tucked him in.

The next day, I didn't leave the house. Ken and I hang out by the pool. Tinuturuan ko siyang lumangoy habang si Layla naman ay nasa kusina. Dumating siya na may dalang pakwan.

"Miss Layla, swim with us! Marunong na ako mag-float." Ken had a vest earlier pero ngayon ay inflatable swim rings na lang. He likes the water.

"Naku, Ken. Sa sunod na lang at wala akong dalang pangligo."

She sat near the ledge to get closer to Ken. Palibhasa ay mainit ang panahon ngayon, nakasuot siya ng shorts at tshirt. Ang pilyo kong anak, nang makita ang pakwan ay umahon. But before he ate a piece, kiniliti niya si Layla kaya nahulog ito sa tubig. She screamed while Ken laughed.

I didn't know if she knew how to swim kaya naman kaagad akong lumapit sa kaniya. My arms were around her soft body and my body reacted. I've been avoiding her. Kinakausap ko lang siya kapag kinukumusta ang anak ko. She works for me and nothing more. We can't be anything more than that. It didn't help that the woman has been bugging my mind since I returned from my trip. Maybe longer than that. Hindi na siya nawala sa isip ko nang tarayan niya ako sa parking lot.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. You can let me go. Marunong naman akong lumangoy."

But I didn't let her go. I held her and she didn't move away from me kahit na nakafocus ang mga mata niya kay Ken.

And I was thinking, maybe there is a real good reason why I met her that day. Sa libong tao na nakakasalubong ko sa araw-araw, bakit siya ang nag-apply na tutor? Pinaglalapit kami ng pagkakataon. Pero hindi naman kailangan na maging romantic relationship. It could be a business arrangement.

***

"There you are!"

Napalingon ako sa pinanggalingan ng boses at kaagad na dumistans'ya sa akin si Layla. It was my mom who came for a visit. Hila ng personal assistant niya ang isang luggage. My mother stays in my place for a few days before going back to Singapore. It's her way of seeing her old friends here and spending a little time with Ken.

"Lola!" Ken stopped running at an arm's length when he realized he's wet from swimming.

"Hi, sweetie." Mama kissed Ken's forehead. Tumingin siya kay Layla na kaaahon lang. "And you must be Gerlee's temporary replacement."

"Magandang araw po, Ma'am. Ako po si Layla." She offered Mama a smile but my mother didn't return it.

"Do you make it a habit of swimming looking like that?" Although nagtatanong lang si Mama ay nahimigan kong may kasamang inis ang tono niya.

Namula si Layla at bago pa siya nakasagot ay naunahan na ako ni Ken. God bless my son's soul!

"No, Lola. It was my fault po. I was playing with her and she fell."

Tumaas ang isang kilay ng aking ina, pero hindi na muling nagkomento. Si Layla ay nagpaalam na magpapalit lang ng damit. Nagmamadali niyang tinunton ang gilid ng bahay para pumasok sa loob. Sinundan ko siya ng tingin hanggang makapasok.

"Earth to my son!" Pumitik-pitik pa sa hangin ang dalawang daliri ni Mama.

"Yes, Ma? You were saying?"

"I was saying Rose has been calling you but your secretary says you're always out or going home early. Either that or you're in a meeting. Are you avoiding her?"

Umiling ako. "No, Ma. I wasn't avoiding her. I was just busy with work and I try to spend more time with Ken. Lumalaki na siya." I glanced at my son and he was busy playing with his switch.

"Something changed. Dati naman ay hindi ka gan'yan."

"That's why I'm making up for it. I haven't spend time with Ken and all I did in the past was work. I need to find a balance or he will resent me for it in the future."

"Is it really him you want to spend time with, or is it the new help?" Mama sounded sarcastic. As a mother, malakas ang instinct niya at nakita niya kami kanina sa pool ni Layla. God knows what she came to her mind when she saw us.

"Don't be ridiculous, Ma. Like Ken said, he pushed her at sinaklolohan ko lang siya kanina. I didn't want her to drown on my watch." My heart was pounding faster than usual and I don't understand why I'm explaining to my mother. It's not like I'm a teenager. S'ya na rin ang nagsabi na malapit na akong mawala sa kalendaryo. "And Layla is actually a tutor. Nag-aral siya sa Canada ng ECE at mahusay s'ya sa trabaho niya. We are thankful that she covered for Gerlee on such short notice. Give her a break, Ma."

"I didn't do anything." My mother avoided my eyes and looked guilty. She is a nice woman, but sometimes a little judgmental especially when it involves my well-being.

"You knew what you did. And there's no reason for you to dislike her. She's kind and she treats Ken really well. Everyone in this household gets along with her." Pabiro ang tono ko sa kaniya.

"Including you."

"What's that supposed to mean? She is here for work. Layla is my employee and that's all there is to it. I would appreciate it if you're not going to make any assumptions."

"Fine." She looked resigned. Kumumpas pa ang kaniyang isang kamay sa hangin. "I'm only here for a quick visit. I'm sleeping here tonight then I'll leave early tomorrow morning for Boracay. Your Uncle Dave will meet me there." Si Uncle Dave ang pangalawang asawa niya. "I need you to go with me."

"Ma—"

"Before you say no, hear me out. We want to purchase a beach front property around the area and I need you to see it if it's okay."

"I can't stay long. I'm flying back the next day."

"That's all I need."