CHAPTER 5
“hello liza? sorry for bothering you but i just want to know if mr lim is okay with my plan to bring abby sa zoo tomorrow?”
liza silently tapped his forehead and bit her lip. she totally forgot about it, since richard told her about Maya before she can tell richard maya’s plan for weekend.
“liza? are you there?”
“Uh, Maya.. yes.. uh, sorry i am just thinking something…”
“oh sorry, i’ll just call a… “
“no, Maya.. it’s okay… ganito, i’ll just check with mr lim again… you know baka nag-iba ng isip…” liza tried to make the conversation light…
“why? hindi ba sya pumayag?”
“no, that’s not it… actually, he… uhmmm, initially said… yes.. but i just want to be sure…” liza said tentatively and let out a nervous laugh…
“okay! thanks liza. but if he really don’t want abby to come with me, it’s perfectly okay… but i am hoping na papayag sya. ” Maya chuckled.
Liza chuckled as well, “okay, Maya… i promise to call you back as soon as i talked to him.” Liza sighed as soon as Maya ended the call.
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“Tomorrow?”
“yes, actually, she called about it that day that you found out about her… so kung hindi lang sya tumawag ulit to ask if pumayag ka, i will really forgot about it.”
Richard leaned back on his chair and think for a while.
“Well, i think Abby will be happy, so… tell her, we will pick her up at around… “
“WE? Wait. Chard… WE? you are coming with them??? “
“Yes, why? “
“Richard Lim! akala ko ba, you will take it slow?”
“Yes… it’s still my plan.”
“And so, what’s this – going to the zoo with them- thing? “
“Liza, before i found her, she’s somehow like a friend to us na di ba? so i don’t think that it would be awkward if i’ll join them.”
“I know, but… “
“And Abby is my daughter, remember?”
Liza just rolled her eyes, while Richard just smirk at her.
“Okay, but don’t forget to stick with your plan! “
“I know Liza. I will take it slow. I cannot just blurt about things to her, i badly need to build a strong foundation with her… for her to trust me… and also i am not sure kung ano ang alam nya… i perfectly know how bad and confusing the situation in the past… and i don;t want her to go back on those memories.. well, at least not before malaman ko kung nasan ang mommy nya… i really have to be careful.”
Liza just sigh and nod at him in understanding.
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“Aba naman, girl… hindi ko napansin na masyado kang excited!”
“What? Oy Emman ha, ano ba pinagsasabi mo dyan?” Maya played innocent although she knows very well that Emman is teasing her.
“Teh! according to the clock on my pink walls… alas-dos pa lang… e hayan at daig mo pa ang mga roosters sa agap.” emman continued teasing her and rolled her eyes.
Maya glared at him and proceed to the kitchen to get a glass of water. Liza called her later the day before to tell her that she has an emergency to attend to and so Richard will be the one to go with Abby, and clearly instructed that they will just pick her up.
“Pwede ka pa umidlip, girl, may two hours ka pa naman..” Emman followed her at the kitchen and continued teasing her.
“Emman, naman….” she whined, “eto na nga at kinakabahan ako tapos ganyan ka pa.” she frowned.
Her friend laughed at her. “Girl, ano ba kinaka-kaba mo, aber??? Eh di ba, friendy-friend naman kayong dalawa?”
“Ewan ko, para kasing ang awkward lang.”
“Sus! eto naman o… anong awkward dun e para… para lang kayong happy family bonding in a weekend ang peg!” he said dreamily and kilig na kilig.
“Emaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa…”
Ring. Ring. Ring.
Her whining is interrupted of the ringing of her phone at her jean’s pocket. she quickly grabbed it but widened her eyes when she saw the name flashing on her phone. she looked at emman showing her phone, Emman, in return gave her a teasing smile.
“he.. hello, Mr Lim?”
“Maya… i am sorry but… “
“No, it’s okay Mr LIm, if you decided not to let Abby…”
She heard a chuckle from the other line.
“Maya, let me finish first… as i am saying… i am sorry but… but is it okay if we pick you up earlier? Well, kasi Abby is really excited and has been ready for half an hour and becoming a bit irritated na, kanina pa ako kinukulit…”
Maya’s smiled widened, as she answered, “No problem, Mr Lim.”
“Okay, we’ll see you in a bit… uh, Maya… i really appreciate it that your giving time to Abby.”
“Wala yun, Mr Lim”
“Really, Maya, thank you… and i will appreciate it more if you will just call me Richard, please.” (just imagine, Richard Lim’s bedroom voice on this line )
“But…”
“No but, please!”
“okay!” she chuckled and blushed a little that earned a raised eyebrow from Emman.
She walked towards their living room after the call ended, emman tagging behind her.
“Anong sabi ni prince charming at kung maka-blush ka e wagas?”
“Wala, parating na sila… ” she answered as she tried to hide her giddiness as she entered her bedroom to get her bag.
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The moment the car stopped in front of the zoo, Maya quickly get off the car to assist Abby who is at the back seat. She just can’t contain her emotion, Richard insist for her to sit beside him, opened the car door for her, and lightly touched her elbow as he assist her to the car. the 30 minutes trip from her condo, thank God, there is no traffic that afternoon, is just too much, with him too near that she barely breathe afraid to be addicted to his scent… it didn’t help that she’s facing on his direction, since she is talking to Abby who is at the back seat…
Richard sighed contentedly as his eyes followed Maya and Abby who excitedly run to the line to the ticket booth, he joined them just in time for their turn. He got his wallet but Maya beat him to pay the tickets.
“Wait! I’ll pay…”
“Richard, it’s okay.. ako naman ang nagyaya..”
“But…”
“No buts… ” she answered in humor.
He just chuckled in response knowing very well that she just used on him the same line he told her barely hours ago.
Surprisingly, their tour inside the zoo went well without any awkwardness and in fact she felt more at ease with him. After walking around, looking from one cage to another, they comfortably rest at one of the benches at the side portion of the zoo, where a man blowing large bubbles is surrounded by kids. Abby who is sitting in between the two, suddenly pulled her arm and whispered something. Richard just watched the two blankly.
“Richard, gusto daw ni Abby lumapit dun sa may bubbles.”
Richard just nodded at her daughter who is looked up to him with her puppy eyes.
“Richard, okay ka lang ba? she tentatively asked when she noticed his change of mood.
“Did you hear her voice?”
She just nodded and realized that Abby indeed ‘talked’ to her. She instantly turned her gaze to Abby, who is now laughing with other kids watching the bubbles show, they she turned to the man beside her.
“She rarely talk”, he said in almost a whisper.
“So, she is not really mute? “
He turned to her, “Yes, when we got her ganyan na sya.”
“huh? what do you mean?” She asked in confusion.
But before he can answer…. “Chard? Is that you?” a voice from Richard’s other side interrupted them.
“Alex!”
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