Nobela ni Fleurdelis

“Ready kana?” Tanong ni Drake sa anak niyang si Sky nasa harap ito nang malaking salamin sa loob nang walk in closet at inaayos ang bowtie niya. Nilapitan niya ang anak matapos makapagbihis. “Dada, how do I look?” tanong ni Sky saka humarap sa ama niya. “Handsome just like your Dad.” Wika ni Drake at ngumiti sa anak niya. Sabay na napatingin sa pinto ang mag-ama nang marinig nila ang iyang nang isang sanggol. “Dada, Shia’s crying.” Wika ni Sky. “Let’s go. Baka hinihanap na niya tayo.” Wika ni Drake saka lumabas. Sumunod naman sa kanya si Sky.“Shia. Kuya is here. Don’t cry.” Wika nang batang lalaki saka umakyat sa kama saka tumabi sa sanggol na kapatid saka marahang tinapik ang braso nito para patahanin ito. Napangiti lang si Drake habang nakikita ang mga anak. Pero may konting kirot sa dibdib niya. “Dada, Shia wont stop.” Wika nang batang lalaki saka humarap kay Drake. Naglakad naman si Drake papalapit sa dalawa saka kinarga ang sanggol. Napaawang ang labi ni Sky nang makitang b

"Mama, Sky is here!” masiglang wika ni Sky na pumasok sa hospital room ni Samantha. Nang pumasok sila ni Drake naabutan nila si Simone at Samantha na nag-uusap nang dumating silang dalawa saka naman nahinto ang pag-uusap nang dalawa. Nang makita ni Simone na dumating sina Drake tinapik ni Simone ang balikat ni Samantha saka nagpaalaam. “May pinag-usapan kayo?” Tanong ni Drake sa asawa nang lumabas si Simone. Pero sa isip niya alam na niya ang pinag-usapan nang dalawa. Alam niyang Sinabi na ni Simone kay Samantha ang tungkol sa progress nang sakit nito at sa pwedeng mangyari. Pumayag na dina ng dalaga na manatili sa hospital at doon na magpaconfine hanggang sa makapanganak siya. “Mama, Sky wans to sleep with you and baby sis.” Wika ni Sky na lumapit kay Samantha. “Of course.” Wika ni Samantha saka tumingin kay Drake, “Pwede mo ba siyang buhatin papunta dito. Nahihirapan kasi akong kumilos.” Wika ni Samantha sa asawa. Ilang sandaling nakatingin si Drake sa asawa niya bago bumaling k

“Sam bakit?” Tanong ni Drake saka lumapit sa asawa at hinawakan inalalayan ito at hinawakan sa braso. Napatingin siya sa kamay nang asawa na nakahawak sa tiyan nito. Ang alam niya hindi pa kabuwanan ni Samantha. Napatingin siya sa mukha nang asawa Nakita niyang namumulta ito at tila namimilipit sa sakit. Dahil sa pag-aalala agad na pinangko ni Drake ang asawa niya saka dinala sa kotse. At isinakay sa passenger’s seat. “Beat with it for a while okay. Dadalhin kita sa Hospital.” Wika nang binata saka ikinabit ang seatbelt kay Samantha. Napansin ni Drake ang butil-butil na pawis nang asawa niya. Nakahawak ang isang kamay nito sa tiyan habang ang isang kamay ay sa ulo nito.“Konting tiis lang.” wika ni Drake saka isinara ang pinto at mabalis na sumakay sa kotse. Saka pinaandar ang sasakyan. Habang nasa sasakyan. Tinawagan niya si Simone at sinabing papunta sila sila ni Samantha sa hospital. Sinabi din niya kay Simone na hindi Maganda ang lagay ni Samantha. Nang dumating sila sa hospit

"Samantha!” Masiglang wika nang isang Binatang nakasuot nang blue na polo shirt habang tumatakbo papalapit kay Samantha at Drake. Papasok siya noon sa opisina kasama si Drake na inihatid siya patungo sa pinto. Kapawa sila natigilan nang marinig ang boses na tumatawag sa kanya. Nang mapadako ang tingin nila sa tumatawag. Napansin ni Drake ang malawak na ngiti nang binata habang kumakaway kay Samantha. habang papalapit dito. “Samantha? Hindi ko alam first name basis pala kayo dito sa kompanya niyo? Alam na ni Lee ang tungkol dito? Bakit hindi niya ako sinabihan.” Wika ni Drake sa asawa. “Look at him smiling like crazy.” Inis na wika ni Drake. Lihim namang napangiti si Samanatha sa sinabi nang asawa saka napatingin dito. Ramdam niya sa boses nito ang inis. Sinabi sa kanya ni Drake na huwag na siyang pumasok sa opisina. Nag-aalala ito dahil sa kalagayan niya at sa pagbubuntis niya. Kaya lang ayaw naman niya nang walang ginagawa. Kaya, kapag walang masyadong ginagawa si Drake inihahatid n

Habang naglalakad si Drake patungo sa silid nila ni Samantha. Narinig niya ang boses nang asawa habang binabasahan nang libro si Sky Naririnig din niya ang bungis-ngis nang batang lalaki. Napahinto siya sa tapat nang pinto sa halip na pumasok. Tahimik siyang nakinig sa dalawa. Napapangiti siya habang pinakikinggan ang usapan nang mga ito. Tuwing umuuwi siya, parati niyang naririnig ang dalawa nagkukuwentuhan. Kahit na bulol at Malabo ang mga salita minsan ni Sky parang nag-eenjoy pa ang dalawa. Ito ang bagay na gustong-gusto niya kapag umuuwi siya.Ilang sandali niyang pinakinggan ang dalawa, habang nakikinig sa pag-uusap nang dalawa bigla siyang napakuyom nang kamao nang maalala ang sakit ni Samantha.“Mama? Why is dada not home yet?” narinig niyang tanong ni Sky sa mama niya. “He will be here soon.” Wika naman ni Samantha sa anak. Mahigpit na napakuyom nang kamao si Drake. Napahinga siya nang malalim bago buksan ang pinto nang silid nila. “Dada!” masiglang wika ni Sky nang makitan

Sinugod sa hospital si Samantha dahil sa biglaang pagkawala nang malay nito habang nasa cafeteria sila nang kompanya ni Drake. Gaya nang dati nilang ginagawa ni Sky nagpupunta sila sa kompanya ni Drake para samahan ang binata na mananhalian. Habang naglalakad si Samantha patungo sa mesa kung saan naghihintay ang mag-ama niya saka naman nawalan nang balanse ang dalaga. “Sam.” Wika ni Simone na pumasok sa Loob nang silid ni Samantha. Magkasama noon sina Drake at Samantha kasama si Sky na nakaupo sa hinihigaan ni Samantha.“Simone. Kumusta si Sam? Dahil sa sakit niya kaya-----” naputol ang sasabihin ni Drake nang makita ang tingin ni Simone sa dalaga saka inabot kay Drake ang results nang test. Ganoon na lamang ang gulat ni Drake nang makita ang result.“Is this true?” tanong ni Drake saka napatingin kay Samantha. Napakunot naman ang noo ni Samantha saka napatingin sa asawa. “Bakit? Anong resulta?” tanong Samantha saka hiningi kay Drake ang papel. Hindi naman nag-atubili si Drake na ib

Are you sure you want me to drop you off here?" The driver asked Abigail when she told him to drop her off a short distance from the building where she worked. The driver couldn't hide his surprise at what the young woman had said. "I'm okay here. It's uncomfortable when my colleagues see me getting out of a luxury car," said Abigail. She was certain that she would become a topic of conversation if they saw her."Thank you," said Abigail as she opened the door, got out of the car, and walked towards the building. She was about to enter the building when she suddenly ran into two of her colleagues. They were surprised to see her appearance, especially the color of her hair. "What do you want to happen now? Did you change your hair color to fit in?" asked a woman who was taken aback upon seeing her."Even if you change your hair color, your position in this company won't change. You're still just an office maid and a coffee maker," said James, who arrived with Tiffany, holding onto the

Abigail couldn't hide her admiration as she stepped into Edward's unit. He had picked her up from the hotel and brought her to his condo. He said the renovation was finished and they could move in. She couldn't believe it, just last night he said his unit was under renovation. How quickly they finished the renovation. She couldn't hide her admiration, especially for her walk-in closet that Edward had built, especially the beautiful and expensive clothes that were inside.“Mr. President, you don’t have to do this,” Abigail said, looking at the young man. “I mean-----”“It’s fine,” Edward uttered.“Think of it this way, starting now you are training yourself to become a better version of yourself. I am not saying that you should change your personality. But just be confident in who you are. You’ve been hiding the real you for the longest time.” Edward added. The young woman looked at the young man w

"How long have you been standing here?” James asked Abigail. “Were you listening to our conversation? Who gave you the right? Just because you’re Uncle Edward’s wife doesn’t mean you can listen to our conversation. Have some decency.” James said to Abigail."Maybe you tricked Uncle Edward into marrying you. Or maybe he just felt sorry for you. But that doesn't mean you're accepted as part of the family. No one in my family will ever accept you." James said, bumping into the girl before leaving. He left the door open as Abigail stared at Edward.“What are you still doing out there, get inside,” Edward said as he stood up from his seat. Abigail slowly entered and closed the door.“Manager Irene wants me to give these documents,” Abigail said upon entering."Sit down, we need to talk," Edward said, walking towards the sofa. The woman, having no idea what was going on, placed the document she was carry

Why did you choose her, president? There are many other qualified staff here. You know, she is good for nothing. She just stays locked in her desk and does nothing----" said the manager when Edward said that he wanted Abigail to be his secretary while he was at their branch."You said it yourself, that she doesn't contribute much. She’s the ideal choice for my secretary," Edward remarked. The woman stared at Edward in shock, unable to grasp his reasoning. Among all the candidates for the secretary position, why did he select Abigail? In her opinion, Abigail only seemed capable of fetching coffee for the staff."I want her desk inside my office as well. I don't want to keep going out whenever I need something. I have too much to do to waste time." The young man said."Yes, president." The woman added before leaving Edward's office, leaving James and the young man inside."I still don't understand why you came here. Do you think I'm not doing my job?"

What do you mean the president will be staying on this branch?” Abigail heard one of her colleagues say. She was on her way to the printer room when she overheard the conversation of two of her coworkers. “Why, is there a problem with our branch that the president needs to be here?” asked the other. “I think our General Manager here is doing a great job managing the branch.” The other girl added.“Hasn't he been here before? He was already conducting an inspection. I believe he will be here at our branch for a short time. I also think he intends to introduce his new jewelry design here. You know, other designers are already gearing up for the competition. There's even talk about the winner being taken to the main branch and joining the main designers' team. Just think about it—becoming a part of the elite jewelry design team at Ulrick Jewels.” Abigail just looked at them."Hey! Why are you looking at us? Are you eavesdropping on our discussion?" one of them retorted to Abigail. "Jus

When they returned, Abigail was surprised because Edward immediately took her to a fashion boutique and had her styled. Even though she was still confused about what was happening, after she was styled, the young man took her to a courthouse. It was only then that it dawned on the young woman that she and Edward were getting married. And their parents weren't at their wedding. The only ones present to witness their marriage were Edward's secretary and a friend of his."Hi." Edward's friend greeted Abigail with a smile. Abigail smiled back simply and looked at him. Besides Edward's secretary, she didn't recognize the two other people with him. She didn't know how to act in front of them.“Just Relax.” Said the woman with Edward’s friend. “Laylah. Wife of Akira.” She said, extending her hand and glancing at the young man talking to Edward and his secretary."Abigail," Abigail said simply. As she looked at the woman, she couldn't help but feel intimidated. There was a clear difference be