Tumunog ang cellphone ni Leila, dahilan kung bakit siya nagising sa mahimbing na pagkakatulog. Inaantok na kinapa niya ang kanyang bedside table. Hindi na niya tiningnan kung sino ang tumatawag at deretsong pinindot ang answer button."Hello?" she answered, keeping her eyes closed."Baby, I'm here outside your apartment," dinig niya sa kabilang linya.Baby...?Napabalikwas ng bangon si Leila nang maalala kung sino ang tumatawag sa kanya ng ganon. She didn't care what she was wearing and ran out of her room. She almost slipped on the stairs because of her hastiness. She opened the door panting, but she hadn't even recovered her breath when Stefano kissed her on the lips. Napaungol siya dahil sa pagkabigla.Stefano arms wrapped around her waist then lifted her up, which immediately wrapped her legs around his waist without breaking the kiss.Jesus Christ! Hindi pa siya nakakapag-toothbrush at kagigising niya lang, pero heto na sila!"S-Stefano..." she said as he passionately kissed her
Leila's plan to talk to Albert last night didn't happen because his surgery ended late. So today, he said they would meet at eleven in the morning because that's what he was available for. She was on her way to the meeting place and she was nervous because Albert chose Stefano's mother's restaurant.Alam naman niyang maintindihan siya ni Albert sa magiging desisyon niya. At kahit ano pang mangyari ay mananatili ang pagkakaibigan nilang dalawa.Tinatawagan ni Leila si Stefano kanina bago siya umalis para makapagpaalam na kikitain niya si Albert, pero hindi nito sinasagot iyon kaya nag-iwan na lamang siya ng mensahe. She immediately paid the taxi and got off. She didn't bring her car because Stefano picked her up earlier and took her to the shop.Papasok pa lamang siya sa gusali nang tumunog ang kanyang cellphone. Kinuha niya iyon sa kanyang handbag at sinagot."Congratulations, Mr. Altagracia!" dinig ni Leila sa kabilang linya na magkakasunod na pagbati rito at nagpasalamat naman 'to.
Tumingala si Leila sa maaliwalas na kalangitan. Sana ganoon din kaaliwalas at kagaan sa pakiramdam ang nararamdaman niya. She stopped walking and turned to the park in front of her. She entered there and sat on a bench. May nakita siyang mangilan-ngilan na mga kabataan, matanda, at magpamilya na nakaupo sa ibang bench o 'di kaya'y nakaupo sa damuhan at nagpi-picnic. May mga bata rin na nagtatakbuhan paroon-parito sa playground.Leila silently observes her surroundings. She stared intently at the group of families not far away having a picnic. One of her dreams since she was a child was to have a picnic with her whole family. Simpleng pangarap na kailanman ay hindi natupad dahil sa pagkamatay ng kanyang ina at hindi pagkilala ng ama sa kanya. Nabaling ang paningin niya sa magkasintahan na dumaan sa kanyang harapan na magkahawak kamay at masayang kumakain ng ice cream. They are so sweet, sweeter than what they eat because the man kissed the woman's lips after eating her ice cream.She r
"Are you sure they are not mad at me?" paniniguradong tanong ni Leila kay Stefano.Stefano held her cold hand while he was driving. They were now going to the pub owned by his friend. Katatapos lang ng Fashion Week kahapon at nag-aya raw ang mga kaibigan nito, lalo na si David upang ipagdiwang ang matagumpay na Fashion Week bilang runway model ng asawa nito.She had already seen his friends on the first day of the event, but she was still nervous especially that he would introduce her as his girlfriend to his friends. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang iisipin ng mga kaibigan nito sa kanya dahil noong huli ay si Albert ang nakita ng mga 'to na kasama niya't ngayon ay si Stefano naman."I'm pretty sure, baby. I am here so don't worry about them, hmm?"Hinalikan nito ang kanyang kamay."I'm worried because they might think that Albert is my boyfriend when they saw us at the event, and now it's you.""Of course not, baby. Sa lahat, mga kaibigan ko ang huling makakaisip na may relasyon kayo ni
Leila can't think straight about what happened back at the pub. The only thing she's worried about right now is her boyfriend's silence since they left the pub earlier. He carried her up to her apartment.Remind her not to drink again in any pub or bar because this is what will happen to her.She just felt her body touch the soft thing, she felt relieved. Even though sleepiness was pulling her, she tried to open her eyes and looked at her boyfriend who was removing her high heels.Pinilit niyang umupo na ikinabaling nito sa kanya."Sleep now, baby," anito, hindi siya nakinig at hinawakan ang kamay nito."Are you mad at me?" namumungay na mga mata na tanong niya. Ayaw niyang nagagalit ito sa kanya, hindi niya gusto iyon.Stefano sighed and sat on the edge of the bed, next to her. "I will not be angry with you, I may be sullen but I will not be angry." Pinisil nito ang kanyang baba saka inayos ang nagkabuhol-buhol niyang buhok. "Don't be stubborn. I let you drink but I didn't let you da
"Baby..."Gumalaw si Leila, nanatiling nakapikit habang may bumubulong sa kanyang tenga. Mas naramdaman niya ang paghigpit ng yakap sa kanya mula sa kanyang likuran."Ti amo amore mio."Hinalik-halikan ang kanyang leeg papunta sa kanyang nakalantad na balikat. Kahit inaantok pa, napangiti siya sa kanyang naririnig.Nakikiliti din siya sa tuwing dumadapo ang halik nito sa kanyang batok at leeg. Pumihit siya paharap dito. Sumiksik siya sa leeg nito na mas ikinahapit nito sa kanyang katawan, kulang na lang ay buhatin siya nito para mailagay sa ibabaw nito. Ramdam nila pareho ang mainit na balat nilang magkadikit dahil sa kahubaran, ang dibdib niyang naiipit at maging ang buhay na buhay na naman nitong pagkalalaki na nasagi ng binti niya."Fuck. Don't move too much," tila nahihirapan nitong sabi.She furrowed, but when she realized something, she suddenly straightened up hugging him. She still sore down there and her body still hurts. Kahit sabihin pang hindi iyon ang una niya, ngunit da
Leila knocked on Patty's room before she heard that she could come in. Binuksan niya iyon saka pumasok. Napatingin naman sa kanya ang mga batang tinuturuan nito at lahat ay ngumiti."Bonjour, Miss Leila!" sabay na bati ng lahat sa kanya. Nilapitan siya ng kaibigan habang suot nito ang apron na may mga marka ng iba't ibang kulay ng pintura."Bonjour!" magiliw niyang bati."What's that?" Patty pointed to the paper bag she was carrying."Souvenirs," sagot niya at inilagay niya iyon sa mesa nito."From where? Did you go on vacation abroad without my knowledge?" Patty furrowed as she examined the paper bag."Nope. That's local wine and food from Kaysersberg. Stefano and I went there yesterday, went for a stroll. Try them all later and they taste so good, especially their champagne.""Is this raisin brioche?" Pakita nito sa bun na nakalagay sa brown paper."Yes. I know we have that here in the city in the pastry shops, but believe me, it tastes different. Alsatian wine and raisin brioche ar
Hinila ni Stefano si Leila palabas ng opisina ng kanyang ina. They left her mother there unable to accept what he had done. Na paulit-ulit nitong sinasabi na hindi niya magagawa ang bagay na iyon.Do they think of him as a saint?Before they judge others for him, they should first know his side. Nakakahiya ang mga ito.Walang imikan na pinasakay ni Stefano ang nobya sa kanyang kotse. Binalingan niya ito nang marinig muli ang mahinang impit na pag-iyak. Tinakpan nito ang mukha para hindi niya makita, pero naririnig naman niya. Naikuyom ni Stefano ang kamao. Pakiramdam niya, pinipiga ang puso niya sa bawat impit at hikbi nito.Hindi nakapagpigil, hinampas niya ang manibela ng paulit-ulit upang doon ilabas ang galit sa kanyang pamilya. Nagagalit siya sa kakitiran ng isip ng mga ito, sa patuloy na paninisi kay Leila."Why didn't you tell me?" maya-maya'y tanong nito."Baby," aniya, kita ang mga bagong luha na tumulo sa mga mata nito.Hahawakan sana ni Stefano ang mukha ng minamahal nang t
Death is the most painful thing that can happen to a person. And that was the most painful thing that happened to Stefano and Leila."I'm sorry, Mr. Altagracia, we did everything to save your child from your wife's womb," the doctor told him. His mother who was behind him gasped and cried.Stefano was shocked and unable to process what the doctor told him. Even after the doctor left, he still stood there and couldn't move."Ang apo natin..." dinig ni Stefano mula sa kanyang inang umiiyak."No... no," he said shaking his head. Not their child. "No!" galit niyang sigaw na umalingaw-ngaw sa buong hallway ng emergency room."Stefano!" his parents called him."Where are you going?" Randall followed him. His fists were clenched as he headed to a place. The people he passed in the hospital hallway looked at him. Batid niya ang takot at pagilid ng mga ito upang makadaan siya."Stefano—" si David.Sinuntok niya ang kaibigan nang hawakan siya nito sa balikat para sana pigilan."Fuck!" Napahawak
"Bitiwan niyo kami!" sigaw ng dalaga nang hatakin ito ng isang kasama ni Randall, nagpupumiglas."Nakikiusap ako, ako na lang. Huwag niyo ng idamay ang anak ko sa kung anuman ang kasalanan ko sa inyo," umiiyak na pakiusap ng ginang habang nakapiring ang mga mata. Hawak ito ni Randall habang papalapit sa puting van kung nasaan ang boss ng mga ito."Trabaho lang, misis. Hindi basta-basta ang ginawa ng asawa mo sa kaibigan ko, kaya pasensiyahan na lang tayo," nakangising tugon ni Randall.Pagkalapit ng mga ito sa van ay bumukas 'yun at lumabas roon ang naghihintay na si Stefano. Stefano clenched his jaw as he looked at the two women in front of him. He angrily removed the cloth covering the eyes of the two women. He wants them to see how much he hates them. Ang pamilyang ito ang sumira sa nararapat na pamilya sana ng babaeng mahal niya. "I... I know you," the young woman stuttered.Stefano smirked at her. It should be. She should know him because he is her half sister's husband. "Who
It was still early, but Stefano was already busy with the papers in front of him. It was only seven in the morning when he said goodbye to Leila who was still sound asleep when he left their house. They had to leave on Friday for Paris so before that he would finish the paper works he had to finish.Kinuha niya ang kanyang cellphone at tinawagan si Manang. Nakailang ring pa iyon bago nito sinagot."Hello, Stefano?""Manang, has Leila woke up?" Patuloy siya sa pagbabasa ng dukomento na nasa kanyang harapan saka pinirmahan nang makitang maayos na iyon."Hindi pa, hijo." Stefano looked at his wristwatch, it was nine o'clock in the morning."Manang, pakigising nga siya para sa'kin. Pupunta pa 'yan sa bahay ng kapatid niya mamayang alas-dyes." Sinabihan na niya ito kagabi na ipapahatid lang o ipapakuha kay Oscar ang mga papeles na kailangan nito, pero tumanggi ito dahil gusto raw makita ang abuela nito."Okay, sige. Sandali lang." Narinig niya ang paghabilin nito sa isang kasambahay sa gin
Last night was the happiest thing that ever happened to Stefano and Leila, but it wasn't what Leila expected to happen to her either. Even though that happened to her, the mother of the man she loved succeeded in her plan that she did not expect that she had prepared something like that.Kahit nahihilo at nanlalabo ang kanyang paningin nang oras na 'yun, ramdam naman niya sa boses at hiyawan ng lahat ang kasiyahan sa nalaman ng mga ito. Ngunit para sa kanya, mas nangibabaw ang sobra-sobrang kasiyahan na naramdaman ng lalaking mahal niya nang sandaling iyon base na rin sa pag-iyak nito, pagyakap ng mahigpit sa kanya, at pagpugpog ng halik sa kanyang tiyan matapos sumigaw nito na tatay na ito.After everyone found out about her pregnancy, Stefano didn't let her finish the party. He took her inside his room at his parents' house so she could rest.Leila woke up to the noise heard from the open glass door of the room's terrace. She turned to her side, but was surprised to see that she was
Gustong sapakin ni Leila si Patty. Pinakaba siya nito sa sobrang takot. Iniisip niya na baka kung ano na ang nangyari. Patty is the owner of the number that called her, which she said she bought it from NAIA. She was surprised when Patty introduced herself while laughing and said that she was at the hotel in BGC.Buong akala niya ay gabi pa ito dadating dahil iyon ang sinabi nito sa kanya at balak pa nga sana nilang sunduin ito ni Stefano.Kinabukasan niyon, doon pa nila pinuntahan ni Stefano sa hotel nito. Stefano invites her friend to stay at his house but Patty refuses because she doesn't want to be a nuisance. Nasapak nga niya dahil sa pinagsasabi nito.Kahit kailan hindi magiging istorbo ito sa kanila. She treats her like her family. Patty knows that but knowing her, she always wants to be independent. That's why she learned that from her. They didn't force her and respected her decision.Saturday came and she woke up early. She was thankful that Stefano didn't wake up when she r
Naalimpungatan si Leila na kumakalam ang sikmura. It's still dark outside and it's only four o'clock in the morning when she sees the wall clock, but she's already hungry. She looked at the person next to her who was sleeping soundly with his arms wrapped around her body. She carefully removed his hand and slowly got up so she wouldn't wake him.She breathed a sigh of relief when she successfully got out of bed without Stefano waking up. She wore a black silk robe that was a pair of her nighties.Bumaba siya mula sa ikalawang palapag kung saan ang silid nila ni Stefano at tinungo ang kusina. Malapit na siya nang makarinig siya ng mga boses na nagkukuwentuhan. Mukhang gising na ata ang kanilang mga kasambahay."Hesus Maria santisimaan!" hiyaw ng isang kasambahay na siyang nakaharap sa puwesto niya kung nasaan ang pintuan. Natapon pa ang kape nito sa sobrang pagkagulat.Iilang ilaw pa lang ang nabuksan kaya may parteng madilim lalo na sa kanyang kinatatayuan. Agad naman napalingon sa ka
"Why would mom take you with her if Riza was there? I want you to be with me, baby," kunot noo na sabi ni Stefano habang nilalagyan ni Leila ng shaving foam ang panga hanggang baba nito. Nakaupo siya sa sink countertop ng kanilang banyo habang nakatayo naman si Stefano sa gitna ng kanyang mga hita."Remember, Riza has a business meeting at your father's company and your mother wants me to go with her." Hinalikan niya ang tungki ng ilong nito dahil mas lalo lamang gumwapo ito sa kanyang paningin kapag ganitong may hindi nagugustuhan o naiinis.She can't be with him today because his mother told her last night that they are going somewhere today. His mother didn't tell her where they were going so she didn't know anything. Maging ito nang tanungin ang ina kung saan siya dadalhin, tanging sagot lang ay 'surprise' raw. Kahit anong pagpilit nito sa ina na sabihin kung saang lugar para alam raw nito kung saan sila pupunta ay wala ring nagawa. Hinabilin na lamang nito na ipapasama sa kanila
Malakas ang kabog sa dibdib ni Leila. Kinakabahan siya. Ngayon na papalapit na sila sa kanilang pupuntahan ay mas lalo lamang dumoble ang kanyang nararamdaman."Your hands are cold, baby." Hinalikan ni Stefano iyon. Paanong hindi manlalamig kung matinding kaba at takot ang kanyang nararamdaman sa sandaling ito?He held her shoulder and made her face him. He looked at her intently in her eyes. "Relax, baby. My parents won't do anything to you as long as I'm by your side, hmm?""I can't help it, Stefano. Your whole family is there." Yes, they have a family dinner with his whole family, his parents and sister Riza.She has been here in the Philippines for more than a week already and just yesterday Stefano's mother called to him and said that they are back here in the Philippines. His mother talked to her also and invited her for a dinner that will happen right now.Naikuwento na niya kay Stefano ang nangyaring pagpunta ng ina nito sa event niya't pag-uusap nila. At first, he was surpris
"What? Where is she?" tanong ni Stefano. Kausap niya si Juan sa kabilang linya pagkatapos mismo ng kanyang meeting."Narito po sa loob ng kotse niya, sir, underground car park," sagot nito na agad niyang binabaan.Stefano held his cellphone tightly as if it was going to break. Kung hindi pa nagpadala ng mensahe si Oscar sa kanya kanina na narito si Olivia at pumasok pa mismo sa kanyang opisina kung saan natutulog si Leila sa silid ay hindi pa niya malalaman.Agad niya pinaakyat si Juan sa kanyang opisina upang ilabas ito at paghintayin sa lobby dahil nais niya rin harapin ito.Stefano looked at her wristwatch, it was eleven o'clock. Their meeting lasted three hours because of the problems they discussed and resolved. Bumukas ang elevator pagkarating sa underground car park at agad siyang lumabas. Hinanap ng mga mata niya ang sasakyan na ginagamit nito 'pag narito sa Pilipinas. Agad niya nakita iyon dahil sa labas niyon ay si Juan na nakasandig at nakahalukipkip."Sir..." Napatayo ng m