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
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
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