After an hour, Zyon woke up. She felt she had dreamed of someone watching her sleep. But he can’t figure out who he was.
“Dad? Are you okay?” Agad na kinumusta niya ang ama pagkagising.
“Getting better. Oh, your favorite drink.” At nilingon nito ang frappe at cookies na nasa bedside table nito.
“Oh, wow! I miss these! Who brought these? Did someone come by?”
Nakangiti lang na tumango ang ama. Dali-dali na niyang ininom ang frappe. After five years, ngayon lang yata siya nakatikim ulit nito.
“Oh, so good! Si Andie ba ang nagdala nito? I didn’t know she knows my favorite. Did you tell her?”
Masayang tiningnan lang siya ng ama.
“Why aren’t you answering me?”
“Inumin at kainin mo na muna ang mga yan. Alam kong gutom ka, anak. Saka umuwi ka
Tumingin sa malayo ang dalaga at mapait na ngumiti.“I don’t know, Dad! Hindi ko pa po alam. Siguro malalaman ko po kapag nagkita kami. For now, wala po sa plano ko ang makita siya.”“Anak, it’s time to forgive him. Free yourself from all the grudges and hatred. Be happy. Enjoy life nang walang mabigat na dalahin sa dibdib.”“I don’t know, Dad. Siguro, kusa ko lang maramdaman iyon someday. Iyong feeling na kapag nakita ko siya ay hindi na mabigat ang dibdib ko at masabi ko sa sarili ko na finally, napatawad ko na siya. Sa ngayon po, hindi ko pa po alam.”“I understand, baby. Take your time.”“Hep! Huwag po muna kayong matuwa, Dad. You emotionally blackmailed me, so I have to ask something in return sa pagpayag ko na manatili for good.”“Kinakabahan ako sa’yo ah. I know i
Zyon called Sean and share the good news to him. Halata namang masaya ito sa ibinalita niya. Mahaba ang naging usapan nila.“Oh, I almost forgot. Vogue Asia had reached out to me. They want you on cover for next month. Any thought?”“Oh! As much as I want to, I can’t leave my dad. Remember that I have to stay for good.”“I understand, I will inform them. They are very adamant on having you on the front cover. I’ll let you know after I discuss it with them. In any case that they will agree to shoot in the Philippines, will you accept the offer?”“If we can shoot in here, that’s fine with me. Dad will be getting out of the hospital anytime soon, so I have nothing to do at home.”“If they agree, that means I am going there.” He laughed. “Oh, I’m excited! Can’t wait.”
Zyon’s heart and mind are having a tremendous battle at the moment! Her heart wants her to turn around and look at the man who just said hi to her. Her heart wants to confirm if siya nga ba iyon. Gusto naman ng isip niya na magbingi-bingihan lang at umakyat na. Her mind says, ‘who cares if he is here?’“What are you doing here?” Malamig na tanong ni Zyon.In the end, her heart won. She turned around and looked at him. But of course, she doesn’t want to disappoint her mind. So she gave off the coldest and the most chilling aura that she could give!Cooper was standing when she saw him. Halata na tumayo ito pagkakita sa kanya.“Well, a-anak, bumibisita lang si Cooper. He heard na nakalabas na ako so he immediately visited me.” Naiilang naman na sagot ng ama niya.“Hmmmmm...?” Taas-kilay na tiningnan niya ang ama.&n
Panay ang sulyap ni Cooper sa ikalawang palapag ng mansion habang nag-uusap sila ng ama ng dalaga. Nagbabakasakali siya na lumabas si Zyon. Pero bigo siyang makita itong muli. He can’t get enough of her! Nadismaya siya sa sarili. Bakit ganun ang pananalita niya sa babae kanina? Di ba nga dapat eh apologetic siya para kahit papano ay mabura na nang tuluyan ang galit ng dalaga sa kanya? He was cold to her back there.“Hayaan mo na muna, Hijo. If gusto mong humingi ng pasensya sa mga nangyari noon, saka na lang. Give her time muna na makapag-adjust ulit dito.”Bumuntong-hininga siya. Gusto niyang sabihin sa daddy nito na balak niyang ligawan ulit ang dalaga. Pero naalala niya si Elise. He needs to cut his ties with her first para wala nang sagabal at hindi na maulit ang nangyari noon.“I understand, Tito. Sige po, uuwi na po muna ako.” Pamamaalam niya dito na. Tumango naman ito.
Kinaumagahan, masakit ang ulo ni Zyon. Wala siyang matandaan kung paano siya nakauwi. Ang alam lang niya ay nagpunta sila ni Maggie sa bar hanggang umorder sila ng drinks pagkatapos ay sumayaw. The rest, clueless na siya. Tinawagan niya ito pero hindi sumasagot. Tulog pa siguro.“Cousin, good morning!”Nagulat siya nang biglang pumasok si Andie sa kanyang silid.“Morning, Andz. Ang aga mo yata.”“Anong maaga? Magtatanghali na po. In fact, pinapagising ka na ni Tito at magla-lunch na kayo. Lumabas ka pala kagabi, hindi mo man lang ako inaya.” Kunwari’y pagtatampo nito.“Sorry cousin, I thought kasi busy ka.”“It’s okay, Zy. Kagabi lang din naman ako dumating from Davao.”At nagkwentuhan sila tungkol sa upcoming welcome party niya. Hindi na din nagtagal ang pinsan niya
Ibinalik ni Zyon ang focus sa party. She would not allow Cooper to ruin her good mood."Good evening! Welcome to the party. I hope you guys will enjoy this night. I personally wanna thank my dad for everything. Also, my Tito Greg and Tita Jeanette and my beloved cousin, Andie, for preparing everything for this event. I can’t thank you enough, guys.”She glanced at the table where her family sat and smiled sweetly to the people she mentioned. She then turned her head back to the guests.“And I'm looking forward to know each of you personally especially that I'll be joining dad from now on. I hope that if how warm you welcome me now, I will be receiving the same warmth once I started managing some of our businesses," at nakangiting nilibot ni Zyon ang tingin sa bawat isa.Napasikdo siya nang mahagip na naman ng kanyang paningin si Cooper na nasa sulok ng venue at hindi ito nag-iisa. P
Nagulat siya at pakiramdam niya ay nangatog ang mga tuhod niya sa simpleng paghawak ni Cooper."What is it to you? Let go of my hand, Mr. Ayala. I'm dead tired and I wanna rest.""Too early. Are you avoiding me?""Avoiding you? Why should I do that?""Because until now you still love me and you're hurt upon the sight of Elise with me, am I right?"panghuhuli ni Cooper habang nakataas ang sulok ng labi para sa isang nang-uuyam na ngiti.Tumawa naman nang malakas si Zyon. Pekeng tawa. Tawang pilit niyang hinaluan ng sarkasmo para hindi mahalata na tinamaan siya sa sinabi nito. Hindi lang siya tinamaan kundi sapol na sapol pa!"Mr. Ayala, I thought those months that we were together were enough for me to tell that I have known you from head to toe, but I was wrong. May itinatago ka palang yabang! How conceited can you get to say that I was hurt with you having another woma
Pagdating sa kanilang bahay ay parang pagod na pagod na nahiga sa kama si Cooper. Tiningnan niya ang malaking charcoal painting ng mukha ni Zyon na nakasabit sa kanyang wall. It’s been there since naging sila at hindi niya inalis kahit nag-break na sila.Malalim ang kanyang iniisip. Lalo tuloy nadagdagan ang kanyang problema ngayong nakita ni Zyon na may kasama siyang iba. Paano pa ito makikipag-peace sa kanya?Three years after umalis ang dalaga ay wala siyang naging girlfriend. Tinutukan niya ang itinayong negosyo at full-time niyang inasikaso ito, dahilan para umunlad ito in a span of three years. Hindi lang iilang babae ang nagtangkang pasukin ang mundo niya pati ang puso niya pero hindi niya pinayagan ang mga ito.First love niya si Zyon. Naghiwalay man sila pero para sa kanya ito pa rin ang babaeng una at huling mamahalin niya. Nag-move on siya, but he promised that he will still be faithful to her. Not until