10. Pulse racing.

Because Nate was carrying Elisha on his shoulders, na-obliga itong pumila sa counter habang sinusubukang intindihin kung nasaan ang mga itinuturo ng anak nito. 

 

Si Hannah naman ang naghanap ng mauupuan nila. Nang makahanap siya ng pwesto, naupo na siya at pinagmasdan sina Nate at Elisha. 

 

The latter was a picture of a happy kid. Nate on the other hand was a picture of a loving father. 

 

Before she knew it, a smile already crept across her face. Hindi maikakaila ni Nate na anak nito si Elisha. Tama si Olive, female version ni Nate ang bata.

 

She noticed a few people already recognized Nate Sarmiento as they began taking pictures of him in not so secret way. She knew that he knew and he didn't do anything about it. So hinayaan na lang din niya. 

 

After all, kahit hindi pa pinapakilala ni Nate sa publiko si Elisha, hindi naman nito itinatago ang anak nito. 

 

Nevertheless, she saw Paul and the other escorts stopping the crowd from taking more pictures. She almost forgot about them. Napakayaman pala ni Nate at hindi pwedeng wala itong kasamang mga bodyguards especially dahil kasama nito ang anak nito.

 

She continued to watch the two as they seemed to argue a little bit when it was already their turn on the line. Well, from where she sat, hindi naman niya alam kung ano ang pinagdidiskusyunan ng mag-ama. But she saw how Elisha's lips pouted like she always does kapag upset ito. 

 

They were given a number and shortly after were already going in her direction. She was well aware of the eyes that were on Nate and his daughter. So when Elisha suddenly blurted out the word mommy, all eyes darted to her. She could almost feel daggers being thrown her way.

 

Nate on the other hand was just so cool about the situation. So, she just shrugged her shoulders at hinayaan na lang ang mga tao sa paligid nila.

 

"Mommy! I was telling daddy that you don't like to eat rice because you love the chicken spaghetti. But he wouldn't listen," sumbong agad nito nang makalapit sila nang tuluyan. Nag-cross arms ito at tiningnan nang masama si Nate who sat across them. "He still ordered you two-piece chicken with rice!"

 

"It's okay, Eli," she assured her at sinaway ito sa masamang tingin na ibinigay nito kay Nate. "Now, don't look at your daddy like that. It's not very nice."

 

"See? I told you," singit ni Nate. "Mommy needs to eat rice so she'll gain weight." He wasn't looking at her but she could swear, he was smirking.

 

"Hindi ako payat," she found herself telling him.

 

"You are, Hannah."

 

"I'm not–" she wanted to argue but she was cut short by Elisha who was still furious about the whole chicken spaghetti thing. "Eli, it's okay," ulit na naman niya para tumigil na ito. "Daddy doesn't know, so we'll let it pass this time, are we good?"

 

"I was telling him, mommy," pilit pa rin nito. "Okay, but just this time. Next time, I get to choose mommy's meal, deal?" suko nito at parang matandang inilahad nito ang kamay sa ama nito.

 

"Alright, it's a deal then." Kinamayan ito ni Nate habang sunusupil nito ang isang ngiti.

 

Bahagya siyang natawa sa mga ito. Well, malamang sa hindi, nakuha ni Elisha ang katigasan ng ulo nito kay Nate. At aminin man niya o hindi, the two deserved to be together.

 

Hindi naman nagtagal at dumating na ang order nila. As childish as it may seem, it was their first meal together. They ate in silence. 

 

Nate, contrary to her first impression of him, was quite a humble person. Hannah loved the way he didn't brag about his wealth and acted just like any other ordinary person in that place. He blended well. 

 

Although, hindi naman maitatanggi na kahit anong gawin nito ay ito pa rin si Nate Sarmiento. Tindig pa lang, stand out na. Not to mention his handsome face that totally separated him from everybody else.

 

"Let's do this often, daddy," evident ang tuwa sa magandang mukha ni Elisha. "This is so much fun."

 

"I'm glad you're happy, anak," he answered, not hiding the affection for his child.

 

Hannah fought the urge to cry. The way Nate said anak had so much love in it. And she knew she will no longer have the courage to even plan to take Elisha away from him, not that she'll even get the slightest chance, but she certainly wouldn't want to break Elisha's heart as well.

 

And while she loved to be a part of her daughter's life, she's aware that Nate Sarmiento wouldn't let her stay in their lives forever. 

 

Sooner or later kailangan na niyang sabihin kay Elisha ang totoo bago pa si Nate mismo ang magpa-aalala sa kanya ng kasunduan nila.

 

"Mommy? Mommy?"

 

"Hannah."

 

"Huh?" She didn't notice zoning out again at base sa hitsura ng mag-ama, kanina pa kinukuha ng mga ito ang atensyon niya. "I'm sorry, what was it?" Hindi nakaligtas sa kanya ang pagkunot noo ni Nate.

 

"Mommy, I'm asking you if you're happy?" tanong ni Elisha.

 

"I am, Eli." She smiled down at her, managing one of her sincerest smiles. "How couldn't I if I'm very sure that you're happy? What makes Elisha happy, makes mommy happy." She kissed her hair, oblivious to Nate's intense gaze on her.

 

"I love you, mommy." Elisha held her one hand.

 

"I love you too, Eli."

 

"I love you, daddy," she said, reaching out for Nate's hand as well.

 

"Daddy loves you too, Elisha."

 

Wow, weren't they a picture of a happy family? Only that they weren't really a family to begin with. 

 

Hannah pushed away the thought at the back of her head. Bago makapasok iyon sa utak niya and she'll think about it over and over again.

 

Feel na feel ni Elisha ang pagkakaroon ng mommy at daddy. The way she held both her hand and Nate's, she thought her family was already complete. 

 

How will Hannah tell her na hindi siya ang tunay nitong ina? Or worse, how will she bid her goodbye?

 

Nang palabas na sila, Paul and the others had to literally restrain the crowd, particularly the media, who unbeknownst to them found out that Nate's gone public with a mother and child company. 

 

Hannah was surprised na napakaraming mga camera at mga reporters ang naghihintay sa kanila, all eager to ask the same questions. Sino sila ni Elisha at kung sila ba ang dahilan ng hiwalayan nito at ni Olive.

 

Nate was still carrying Elisha in his arms so when he suddenly grabbed her hand and pulled her closer to him, Hannah's mind stopped functioning. 

 

Shocked and surprised were both understatements. She looked up at him as he protectively led her and Elisha out of the crowd. He acted as though they were his precious belongings that people shouldn't treat like some kind of money making gossip.

 

Napakagulo at napaka-ingay but that didn't stop Hannah from feeling the fluttering in her stomach. It was like something was doing flip flaps inside her. The touch of Nate's skin from his hand that held hers was sending electricity to her veins. A feeling that's causing her heart to beat rapidly and set her pulse racing.

 

"Get in." Nate almost shoved her and Elisha inside his car. "We have to get out of here," he added, muttering a curse under his breath as he entered the driver's seat.

 

They were quiet for most of the drive until Nate accidentally caught a glimpse of her in the rear view mirror.

 

"D*mn it!" he exclaimed as he pulled the car to a sudden halt, almost throwing her and the already sleeping Elisha from their seats.

 

"What?" Hannah was confused at how Nate was suddenly so furious, napahampas pa ito sa manibela before getting out of the car and opening the door to her side. "What?" She asked nervously when he held her chin and tilted her head to the left like he was checking something at the right side of her head.

 

"D*mn!" He cursed again. "You got hurt, Hannah!"

 

"Huh?!" Litong-lito siya, but then her eyes grew wide when she saw blood in his hand that touched her temple. "What? How?" Paano siyang nasugatan nang hindi niya nararamdaman?

 

'Dahil busy ka sa pagkakahawak niya sa kamay mo, Hannah.' A part of her mind told her.

 

'Was it even possible?'

 

Paano at kailan siya nasugatan?

 

"Let's get you to the hospital," he said as he gently wiped her blood with his handkerchief.

 

"Is it that serious?" She asked, preventing herself from hyperventilating at Nate's proximity to her.

 

"No, but we have to make sure," he answered, pulling away to return to the driver's seat.

 

"Then there's no need. I didn't even notice it, Nate. It doesn't hurt at all."

 

"I insist." Bumwelta ito pabalik para pumunta sa ospital.

 

"I've already caused you enough trouble. Please, it's not even hurting me!"

 

"We are going to the hospital. End of discussion," he said firmly, causing her to shut her mouth involuntarily.