“H-ha?? Hindi na, kausapin ko na lang siya. Besides we can have a separate time naman.” Separate time? You mean, bubukod pa kayo? Tapos hindi ako kasama? Thinking about it is making me furious. Sana kasi hindi ko na lang pala sinabi, nagbacklash din sakin.

“Ahh anong separate pa? You mean just the two of you?” I was looking intently, it’s actually disheartening na she can’t say no to this. Minsan gusto ko na lang din itikom yung bibig ko para hindi puro katangahan lumalabas dito.

“Of course not, I mean we can talk about it, then separate kami bibili, hindi naman niya kailangan ng assistance or what.” I sighed, atleast that’s what she wanted to do. Siguro I won’t be able to handle it if they’re gonna do this infront me. Respect na lang din sana.

“Kung hindi ka ba naman kasi isa’t kalahating stupid edi sana wala na tayong inaalala ngayon. Ewan ko sayo Yuri minsan talaga medyo tanga eh.” Galit na sabi ni Hyo, I ignored the thoughts inside my head and just headed my way back to the room. Nakasunod lang si Sica sa likod ko pero di ko pa siya nililingon, I sensed her hands are slipping on my waist making me glance at her in reflex.

“Galit ka? Are you worried na he’s going to spend more time with me?” You locked both of your hands in my hip making it hard to move from your grip, hindi naman ako galit, siguro hindi ko pa lang matanggap yung presensya niya sa buhay natin.

“Hindi hindi, may mga iniisip lang ako. I told you not to worry about me diba? Okay lang ako, get your things, and my wallet sa table, I’ll drive.” Iniba ko na lang agad yung topic para hindi na namin pag-usapan, I just want to focus on you for the entire day. Huminga ako ng malalim at ngumiti ng makita kang lumabas ng kwarto. I’ll trust you. I’m going to trust you with all my heart again Sica.

We drove southbound where the mall was located, it didn’t take long since within the area lang, and to add, we were having fun inside the car, nabawasan yung anxiety ko, as well as yung doubt sa mga pinag usapan namin kanina. The way Jessica assures me says alot already, she is so determined not to make me resentful of anything. Even so, at the back of my head I don’t want her to feel pressured or feel like I’m pushing through her limits.

Pagkarating namin hindi agad kami nakabili, Hyoyeon was starving to death nag-aya muna siya maglunch before anything else. Nakikisama na lang nga, demanding pa. Jessica was considerate at hinayaan niya na lang, gutom na rin daw kasi siya. Pinanood ko lang silang kumain I have no apetite dahil na motion sickness din ako sa pagdrive. Nakiinom na lang ako softdrink to freshen up my mood. As soon as they finished their meal, I dragged them along sa Toy Kingdom, gusto ko na bumili at mag imbak ng toys sa apartment ni Sica.

However, naramdaman kong hindi siya sumunod sakin, I pouted when she stopped infront of the store habang ako patakbo na sa loob, Si Hyo rin huminto sa paglalakad ng sitsitan kami bigla ni Jessica. But I want to buy toys na... Sinamaan lang niya ‘ko ng tingin making me walk to where she is standing. She crossed her arms while showing me the list we wrote a while ago. But I included toys in it naman ah...

“Mamaya na tayo diyan, necessities muna. Mamaya pag bumili ka ng marami ma short yung budget.” Eh hati naman tayo sa gastos, I can manage my budget para sa ibang kailangan, we can maximize the things we need naman.

“Ihh, magseparate na lang tayo, mauna ka na sa grocery tapos kami ni Hyo, dito sa mga laruan, wag ka magalala ibubudget ko naman yung pera ko. Then after namin dito susunod na lang kami sayo, cool with that?” I said in my most pleading tone, to be honest, I miss shopping din kase at hindi na mapakali yung kamay ko gumastos para sa baby.

“Okay fine, Hyo bantayan mo si Yul ha, baka sobrang daming bilhin na laruan tapos hindi rin magagamit. Yuri ha, I’m telling you marami pa tayong kailangan bilhin.” She warned me. At inakbayan ko lang si Hyo habang tumatango sa kanya bago pa siya tuluyang umalis.

“Will do, text me na lang where you are ha, para after namin dito makapunta agad kami sayo.” I said then walked away. Pagkapasok namin dumiretso agad si Hyo sa section ng mga action figures, pero hindi ko siya sinundan, instead, I went somewhere in between, nandon kase yung mga puzzle and stack up toys.

“Hyo dito tayo, mamaya ka na tumingin dyan.” I said while roaming my eyes along the colorful boxes infront of me. Kinuha ko yung parang puzzle blocks of shapes at yung parang fish patch of numbers, syempre dapat hindi lang basta laruan, yung matututo rin siya agad. At pagkarating ni Hyo sa tabi ko kumunot yung noo niya ng ipakita ko yung isa pang set of toys na kinuha ko sa baba.

“Sismars, hindi ikaw ang maglalaro, ibalik mo ‘yan dyan. What do you expect? Paglabas ng baby, five years old agad? Hindi niya pa magagamit yang inaassemble na cars.” Edi istore na lang sa bahay, then pagdating niya ng five years old tsaka na lang buksan, atleast bago maging limited edition nabili agad ng mumurahin tsk tsk.

“Edi I will assemble it for him, I’m still taking these. Kuha ka na ron ng cart dali.” I ordered pero you didn’t move, feel ko pagagalitan mo na ‘ko any minute now. Kaya bago ka pa magsalita umikot ako sa kabilang side ng shelf.

“Sinasabi ko talaga sayo, Jess will surely scold you. Bahala ka dyan, I will buy something for Taeyeon.” Awit kay Hyo, bibilan pa talaga si Taeyeon, sana all pinaggagastusan. The moment she left, I grabbed everything I want for her baby. I mean half of it are for me hehe. I missed my youth where I used to play this kind of games.

Napahinto ako bigla sa may section ng videogames, at nakita ko si Hyo na naglalaro ng COD, I ran my fingers through the displayed bundles and I admit it’s kinda tempting, kaso lang wag na muna dahil for sure hindi ipapagamit sakin ni Jess ‘yan. I watch her play and nakita ko yung laman ng cart niya, same old PUBG merch, binilhan nga si Taeyeon. And I even saw two miniatures ni Kaonashi, the things Hyoyeon do for Taeyeon talaga.

After niya mamatay sa game, hinatak ko na siya papuntang cashier, baka rin kase inaantay na kami ni Jess sa grocery at wala nang madatnan pagtapos namin dito. As soon as we drop all of our stuff, judgement is seen through her eyes, at ganon din ako sa kanya, parang hindi talaga kami pwedeng magsama nito pag namimili ng laruan. She didn’t pay as much dahil kaunti lang talaga yung binili niya, kinabahan tuloy ako, kasi mas marami yung nai-cart ko.

I just hope mamaya pag nagkita na kami Jess, she wouldn’t scold me for the toys I bought for myself, actually nga mas marami talaga yung akin kaysa sa bata. I called Sica and informed her we’re on our way sa grocery, good thing hindi kami masyado nagtagal at nasa loob pa rin siya. However, busy naman sa tabi ko si Hyo, mukhang magkakajowa na ata ‘tong tropa ko.

“Taray, magkakajowa na siya bago matapos ang taon, sino ‘yan? At bakit hindi pa namin nakikilala?” I said while trying to peek at her phone, eventually napansin ko agad yung picture sa contacts, and I can’t help not to question it the