CHAPTER 03

It's already ten in the evening.

Only the light from the lampshade made from precious capiz shells pacifies the study room. I'm currently keeping myself busy to divert my mind thinking into something. I need to finish my paperwork because I'll be having an important meeting with an International client on Friday.

"Argh!"

I messed up my hair out of frustration. I'm slowly losing my attention to what I am doing because I suddenly feel hungry. I want to eat something cold and sweet.

I twitched my lips about that thought. Napatingin ako sa orasan at nakitang mag-aalas-diyes nap ala ng gabi. Mas lalo tuloy akong tinamad na bumaba ng condo para magpunta sa pinakamalapit na convenient store para sa cravings ko.

My body has been craving something different to eat ever since I discovered I was pregnant. That sensation of wanting something that can be ordered from a distance or that comes in an odd culinary combo.

Pregnancy hormones are causing me to have cravings, mood swings, and excessive sleepiness lately.

I stared at the five pages of paperwork in front of me, trying to focus. I reviewed the first three pages after making some changes, and I'm currently working on a couple more before we discuss it on the meeting.

Nakailang basa pa lang ako sa panghuling pahina pero hindi pa rin ako mapakali lalo na ng biglang kumulo ang aking tiyan at makailang beses akong napalunok.

I got an idea!

Kinuha ko ang aking phone na nasa tabi at tinipa doon ang number ni Elisha. Siya lang talaga ang maaasahan ko kahit pa magha-hatinggabi na. Hindi rin naman kalayuan ang condo niya rito sa akin.

[Es ist spät, und ich habe mich in eine Disney-Prinzessin namens Dornröschen verwandelt, also wende dich bitte an Joseff, wenn du geschäftliche Anfragen hast. Auf Wiedersehen─] {It’s late, and I've transformed myself into a Disney Princess named Sleeping Beauty, so please contact Joseff for any business inquiries. Bye─}

"E, it’s me." Agap ko.

[Hey B! Sorry. What happened? Are you okay? Napatawag ka?] Sunod-sunod niyang tanong sa akin.

"Hmm, Did I disturb you?" I asked her.

[Not really. I just got home from Singapore.] She said while yawning from the other line.

Ang busy naman ng friend kong ito. Nag-aalangan na tuloy akong magsabi sa kanya. I know she's tired. Kanina, hindi na ako pumasok sa office dahil maaga akong sinumpong ng sama ng pakiramdam. Pinahatid ko na lang sa sekretarya ko ang mga importanteng dokumento na kailangan kong pirmahan para ma-approve.

[Huy! Ano na? You won't call me if you don't need anything.]

"Elisha kasi ano, ah─"

[Say it now, Bilis!] She sound's annoyed.

“Thélo pagotó!” {I want ice cream!}

A long church-like silence filled between the lines. The clock's tick-tock and our breathing were the only sounds I could hear clearly.

[Oh god! Cravings!]

“Sorry, E. I know you’re tired.─”

[Sus! Tigilan mo ako B. Eto na, tatayo na saka pupunta d'yan. Naku! Kung hindi lang kita kaibigan!]

Hindi ko alam pero napangiti ako nang marinig iyon. Hindi talaga ako matitiis ni Elisha.

“Thank you E. Ang dami ko nang utang sayo,”

[Tse! Mas malaki pa rin yung utang ko sayo.] I heard her laugh. [So, what flavor do you want?]

I want strawberry and avocado pistachio flavor. She said okay and she’ll be here in twenty minutes. Can’t help myself from drooling just thinking about the ice creams.

I rested my back in the chair I was sitting in. I felt so relieved because Elisha was there to the rescue. Imagine how weird my craving are? Gosh! Sana hindi tuwing ganitong oras ako sumpungin ng paglilihi sa pagkain dahil mahihirapan talaga ako ng sobra kapag nagkataon.

While waiting for her, I shifted my attention to the City Lights though my glass wall. I’ve been living here for three years but I think, this is the first time I was able to acknowledge the beauty and solemnity of the night life here of Manila.

Even if it’s going to midnight, the streets down there were still busy. There are tiny silhouette of human, walking down the lane experiencing the freedom from an exhausting daywork. The luxurious lights across those towering building nearby making the whole metro alive.

Siguro nga, sa nakalipas na taon ay masyado kong ginugol ang aking sarili sa pagtatrabaho at pagpapalago ng aking kompanya, at hindi ko namalayan na marami na rin pa lang nagbago sa paligid ko.

How about him?

It's been decades since I've heard anything about him. When our paths crossed a month ago, I couldn't ask or find out how he was doing in his life. Anything was too late for me to do so because I just discovered that it was him when I dared to peek beyond his mask.

Out of nowhere, I grab my laptop and opened the G****e site. I tried searching for his name on it. I don’t I know why I am doing this. I mean, I am just curious about his present doing. His profession, career and his lovelife.

Gusto ko lang malaman ang tungkol sa buhay pag-ibig niya para alam ko rin kung paano ko masisigurado na hindi niya malalaman ang tungkol sa amin ng anak ko. Ayoko lang na makasira pa ako ng relasyon ng iba dahil lang sa nangyari sa amin.

Architettura de Casteliogne's Billionaire Bachelor Founder & CEO once again won three prestigious awards in Architecture; (Pritzker Architecture Prize), (The Aga Khan Award for Architecture), and (AIA Gold Medal) which also made him the Architect of the year and proved that he truly deserved to be called as the world hottest renowned Architect of all time. His company won 5 awards under the Architecture Category Global Future Design Award in London.

I can't help admiring him. It turns out he's come a long way and is now an illustrious architect.

He did a great job establishing himself. These honors carry far more weight than gold medals, and winning one required exceptional achievement in your chosen field in order earn this kind of recognition. In addition, I recall that my company took home three awards in the interior design category and one in the product design category from the Global Future Design Awards.

He never failed to amaze me.

Masuyo kong hinimas ang aking tiyan. Kung sana hindi lang mali ang pagkakataon ay buo ang kasiyahan ko na ikuwento sa anak ko ang tungkol sa kanya.

"You must be proud of him too, baby…" sambit ko na halos pabulong lang.

I can't really smile because my child will never know him or the connection they share, but I feel proud for his accomplishment. He deserves it, after all.

I tried searching for more to delve info about her personal life but I failed to locate one. Almost every article emphasizes that he is still a bachelor. There are women who are linked to him, including famous artists, businesswomen, and models, but no one has confirmed the relationship.

Natigil ako sa pag-iisip nang marinig na tumunog ang doorbell. I exit the g****e web page immediately and cleared the searched history. Tumayo ako at pinagbuksan ang kung sino man ang bisita ko.

"Here comes your ice cream, Ma’am!" bungad sa akin ni Elisha pagkabukas ko ng pinto.

She's holding a paper bag, but that's not what I noticed the most. I tried my best not to laugh at her. She's wearing a silk pink nightgown with a channel sling bag on her right shoulder. Her feet fit a woman's Nike Benassi JDI Swoosh slide sandals in pink color.

Fashionista talaga ito kahit nakapantulog lang.

"Thanks, Eli." I smiled at her and got the paper bag.

She simply rolled her eyes and entered my home. We headed straight to the kitchen, where I watched her grabbing a bowl and spoon from the organizer. I placed the ice cream on the island counter and take it out of the paper bag. I can't wait to take a taste of it because all the flavor I wanted were granted.

“Oh!” Inilahad ni Elisha ang isang maliit na mangkok at kutsara sa akin.

"Hindi ka galit?" I asked her.

Ayoko lang na baka isipin niya na inaabuso ko siya just because I'm having unexplained mood swings and cravings.

Elisha arched her right brow. "Do I look like one?"

I can't help but to smile. "Thanks, Eli! Thank you! Thank you so much!"

Mabilis ko siyang niyakap at pinanggigilan. Rinig ko pa ang bigla niyang pag-ubo.

"Hey! Kalma, baka maalog 'yong inaanak ko d'yan sa sinapupunan mo! Umayos ka nga!" Pilit niyang tinatanggal ang mga braso ko sa kanya.

She squinted in amusement when she saw me enjoying the mixed ice cream on the bowl.

"Maghinay-hinay ka nga lang at baka mangilo 'yang ngipin mo," paalala pa niya.

"It's okay, don't worry!" I assured her.

Hinayaan niya na lang ako saka naupo sa isa sa mga high chair dito sa kitchen counter.

"I'm gonna sleep here tonight. Can’t drive home since I’m really sleepy na…" she said while she keeps on busy with her phone.

“No problem. The other room is always ready for you,”

“I know, right!”

Nakita kong naghikab ang kaibigan ko. Bakas na rin sa kanyang mata ang matinding pagka-antok. Parang na-guilty tuloy ako dahil sa pang-aabalang ginawa ko sa kanya. Hindi na siya kumuha ng ice cream matapos niyang maka-ubos ng isa at kalahating maliit na mangkok.

"By the way, maaga tayong pupunta kay G bukas!”

Oo nga pala, bukas na yung check-up ko. It was Geordane who rearranged our visit to fit her schedule. Therefore, I must be there tomorrow.

Binilisan ko na lang ang pag-ubos sa ice cream para makapagpahinga na rin si Elisha. Sa sobrang sarap kasi ay hindi ko na namalayan na masyadong marami na ang nakain ko. Isang scoop pa ang kinuha ko ng may maramdaman akong kakaiba. Para bang biglang hinalukay ang tiyan ko at mabilis akong napunta sa sink at naduwal.

This time, I cried because of the pain I had within my tummy and my throat to exert effort to puke.

"What happened?"

I felt a soft hand massaging my back. A worried face of Elisha is what I saw when I look back.

"I t-throw up."

"Yan kasi! Lamon ng lamon ng malamig,"

Patuloy pa rin ako sa pagduwal kaya naman kumuha na si Elisha ng tubig sa fridge at inabot sa akin. Nahimasmahasan naman ako nang kaunti dahil doon. Nanghihina akong bumalik sa island counter habang sapo ang aking tiyan.

She asked me if I am okay now, and I said yes. Tiningnan ko ang aking bowl at nakitang hindi ko naubos ang ice cream. I suddenly lose all my appetite to finish it.

"Magpahinga ka na, ako na mag-aayos nito," She started to clean the quartz table top and stacked the empty bowl.

"Are you sure?" I said when I unexpectedly yawn. Oh damn! I can't be sleepy.

I still have paperwork to get done. Hindi ko iyon pwedeng ipagsabukas dahil maantala ang iba kong gagawin pero masyado na akong hinihila ng antok.

"You better get some sleep." rinig kong sita ni Elisha matapos ang huli kong hikab.

Wala akong nagawa kundi umalis doon at dumiretso sa kwarto ko. Bumungad sa akin ang mga dapat ko pa sanang gagawin pero hindi ko na kayang pigilan pa ang aking antok.

I did a quick shower and blow-dried my hair before getting laid. Inayos ko na lang din ang mga papeles sa aking mesa at nilagay sa isang folder ang lahat ng mga natapos ko. I want my things organized first thing in the morning.

Before I went to sleep, Elisha already finished cleaning the kitchen and she dropped by to say good night.