"How are you? Masakit pa ba?" tanong ni Leila makalipas ang tatlumpung minuto.Bumalik sa normal ang paghinga ni Stefano dahil unti-unti na ring nawawala ang pananakit. Mas nakatulong ang pananatili ni Leila sa tabi niya, mas magkakaroon siya ng lakas. "I feel better now, baby. Thank you.""Why suddenly you have a headache?"Because he remembered what happened to him before he had an accident.Ang pangyayaring iyon na nagpabagsak sa kanya, hindi lang sa katawan niya kundi maging ang pag-asa na pinanghahawakan niya para sa kanila nito. Ang pangyayaring iyon na nagparamdam sa kanya ng matinding sakit at pagkabigo. Iyong akala niyang matayog niyang pader ay walang sinuman ang makakapagpabagsak, pero nagkamali siya."Maybe because of the sudden change of weather, that's why I suddenly got a headache," he lied so she wouldn't worry about him anymore. Mainit ang klima ngayon sa Spain sa ganitong buwan ng Agosto. And like in France, the day is long here also.Stefano didn't want to tell his
Leila was busy dealing with the other guests when Patty whispered something to her. Parang isang malakas na tambol ang tumunog sa tainga niya nang marinig iyon."Your future mother-in-law is here..."She gave Patty a questioning look."What? I have nothing to do with that," tanggi nito nang makuha ang kanyang ibig sabihin."I congratulate you on the amazing exhibition of Miss L's institution!" saad ng dalawang matandang lalake na panauhin nila nang makita sila."Thank you, gentlemen," magkapanabay na sagot nila ni Patty, nakangiti."We will go ahead. We will check the beautiful works of the children.""Sure. Thank you again," siya na ang sumagot bago umalis sa kanilang harapan ang mga ito. "Where is she?" pagharap niya muli sa kaibigan."I saw her there talking to one of the guests," pagturo ni Patty sa kaliwang direksyon kung saan nakahelirang naka-display ang ibang mga painting.Nagtataka siya kung sino ang nagbigay sa ginang ng imbitasyon. Hindi na kasi niya ito nabigyan nu'ng naka
Alam ni Leila na nagkita si Lara at si Stefano kagabi. And even before the said meeting happened, the two called her first and asked her for permission if she would agree. She agreed because she didn't see anything wrong with it and her sister just wanted to vent her frustration at Stefano's sudden proposal to her while she wasn't by her side and didn't witness one of the happiest events in her life. Ang hindi niya lang alam ay kung pati ba sa nangyayari sa kanilang ama ay napag-usapan ng dalawa na lingid sa kanyang kaalaman.Kaya ba hindi pa ito nakakauwi sa Mallorca o sa Paris dahil sa kanilang ama? Pinagsinungalingan ba siya nang sabihin sa kanya ang rason sa negosyo ng kanilang abuelo na inaayos nito rito? Why didn't she even tell her that something like that had already happened? Did their abuelo also know about their father's situation and didn't tell her?Sa kanilang dalawa ni Lara, alam niyang ito ang mas naaapektuhan ngayon na nakalaya ang kanilang ama, kahit pa sabihing pans
Pinaglalaruan ni Stefano ang kanilang kamay na magkasalikop, hinahalik-halikan nito iyon maging ang daliri kung saan nakasuot ang kanyang engagement ring. Leila was leaning against his chest as they were in the backyard near the pool area, sitting on a three sitter rattan chair with foam as her feet rested on the chair. Umiinom ito ng beer habang siya ay in Sign Up gatas na ipinatimpla nito kay Manang. She doesn't like milk because she prefers wine and champagne, but since that's what her boyfriend wants her to drink while they're outside getting some fresh air, she just obeyed.She likes the place that he chose to build his house, it's in the high hills of Antipolo. That's what the housemaids told her earlier when she talked to them. She was used to seeing beautiful and big houses, but she still couldn't stop being amazed when she saw the entirety of the house and its design. It's an American style glass house."Stefano," tawag niya rito.Naramdaman niya ang paghalik nito sa kanyang
"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
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
"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
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