Chapter 2
1039 Words
Carter
"What did you say?"
"I said, are you ready to meet your son?" She remained standing by the door she just closed behind her.
I walked towards her. F*ck! This is a bad idea. I lose my mind when I get too close to her. "My son? Nagpapatawa ka ba?"
She cleared her throat. "No."
"You're serious then?" Tanong ko sa kanya.
"Dead serious." She looked into my eyes without flinching.
"I haven't seen you in years, if this is one of your stupid jokes, I don't have time for this." Akmang tatalikod na ako ng mag salita sya ulit.
"You better listen to me and listen well — I am only showing him to you once. I don't need anything from you. Kaya ko syang buhayin mag isa. Ginawa ko nga ng sampung taon."
"Where is he?" Tanong ko sa kanya.
"Outside. But I can tell him you're busy. You're clearly not ready to see him and I don't want him to be disappointed so we're going to take our leave now. You looked busy anyway. Our flight leaves tomorrow at noon. We're staying at the Ritz." Pinihit nya ang pinto saka tuluyang lumabas.
Hindi ko sya pinigilan. She barge in here acting like nothing happened ten years ago. Ang malala pa, may anak daw kami. That's just f*cking ridiculous!
Ibinalik ko ang atensyon ko sa nirereview kong plano pero dalawang oras ko ng tinititigan ay wala akong magawa, hindi ako makapag concentrate. Sh*t!
I grabbed my jacket and head out. I was going home then I decided to turn around. Namalayan ko na lang na nasa harap ako ng Ritz.
Lumapit ako sa receptionist. "Good afternoon, I want to know the suite number for Chloe Garcia."
"Good afternoon Sir, what's your name and how are you related to our guest?"
"Carter Gallo." F*ck! Anong sasabihin ko? "I'm her husband." Husband talaga? Well, that was exactly what you wanted since you were in highschool.
"Your name is on our list upon checking. Let me call their suite to see if they're there." Makaraan ang ilang segundo ay ibinaba nya. "They're not in the room Sir but I will give you a keycard to the room. Suite 2301." Inabot nya sa akin ang card.
Imbes na magtungo ako sa taas ay dinala ako ng paa ko sa tabing dagat. I noticed a young boy piling small flat rocks on the side. Lumapit ako sa kanya pero hindi nya ako nilingon. May kahabaan ang buhok nya na tuwid.
"What is that?" Tanong ko sa kanya. The stones he's forming looked like a human figure.
"Inukshuk." Hindi nya ako tiningnan pero sinagot nya ang tanong ko.
"What's an Inukshuk?" Nacurious ako kaya sumalapak ako ng upo sa tabi nya. I didn't care that I was wearing a suit.
"A sign used by the Inuit people."
Inuit? "I take it you're not from here."
"I grew up in Montreal, but my Mom is from California. She said my Dad grew up here too."
Biglang may bumundol na kaba sa sa dibdib ko. "What's your Dad's name kid?"
He turned to look at me. "Carter Gallo."
Muntik na akong mabuwal sa buhanginan ng humarap sya sa akin. Para kaming pinagbiyak na bunga. Wait — did he just say my name??
"Are you okay?" Tanong nya sa akin.
"Uh — yeah. What's your name?"
"CJ Gallo."
"CJ — is that a nickname?"
"Carter James Gallo Jr. Kamukha mo si Dad sa picture but the one I have is a lot younger. And Mom said he was busy earlier and could not be bothered to see me." He smirked.
F*ck! I feel like a jerk but Chloe has a lot of explaining to do. "Where's your Mom?"
"She just went to get something to drink over there, she'll be right back."
May narinig akong suminghap at lumingon ako. Si Chloe. Her eyes went misty pero agad din tumingala para pigilan ang luha nya.
"CJ, here's your water." Iniabot nya ang tubig sa bata. Binalingan nya ako. "What brought you here? I thought you were busy."
"You've got a lot of explaining to do." Madiin kong sabi sa kanya.
"Ask away." Kampante nyang sabi.
Napabuga ako ng hangin. Bahagya kaming lumayo sa bata para hindi nya marinig ang pag uusapan namin. The last thing I want is to hurt his feelings. "Why is his name the same as mine?"
"Because he's your son." Confident nyang sabi.
"We only slept together once."
"And I got pregnant. He's 10 now."
"You slept with someone else too. How do you know I'm the father?" God! I hate digging up the past. May dahilan kung bakit ang nakaraan ay hindi inuungkat, isa na ito doon.
"I only slept with one man and that is you."
"I am not stupid Chloe, I know what I saw. I came back and you were in someone else's bed. Clearly — not mine."
"Look, I'm sorry that was not my proudest moment but I am telling the truth."
Tinitigan ko sya at mukhang nag sasabi sya ng totoo.
"If you're making this up —"
"Anong mapapala ko kung gagawa ako ng kwento? Like I said Carter — I don't need anything from you. Gusto ka lang nyang makita. Makilala. He's been bugging me for the last ten years. Every year, his birthday wish was to see you."
May bikig ako lalamunan. "Why now? You could have told me from the beginning." Paangil kong sabi sa kanya.
"Dahil alam kong ganito ang magiging reaction mo. Do you even hear yourself?"
"Can you blame me?" Balik ko sa kanya.
Napapikit sya at ganito ang gawi nya kapag nauubos na ang pasensya. Alam ko, dahil bestfriend ko sya. Noon.
"Look, you only have today. We are flying out tomorrow and then after a few days, I can just tell him you died or something."
Ano? Ako pa ang namatay! "That I died or something? Are you insane?" Nanlalaki ang mata ko sa sinabi nya.
She had the gall to chuckle and give me a sly smile. "Well it's better than telling him his father doesn't think he's his son. Don't you think??" Kung may blade ang mga salita nya ay kanina pa ako duguan dito.
***
- Writer
