"Mrs. Monaco, we're here for your make over." nagulat si Kaylee nang may biglang nagsalita sa likod n'ya. Nasa sala siya at sobrang focus n'ya sa binabasa n'yang libro na hindi n'ya na namalayan na may bisita pala sila. "uhh hi, are you the people that my husband sent?" she had to make sure kasi nawala talaga sa isip n'ya ang party for an hour. tumango-tango ang mga ito sakanya. "Yes po, we have your gowns and everything you need to be more pretty tonight." ngumiti si Kaylee dito. "oh okay.." tumingin si Kaylee sa relo n'ya at saktong alas kwatro na iyon ng hapon. Magsisimula ang party ng bandang alas syete ng gabi kaya kailangan n'ya ng kumilos. Pinapunta na n'ya sa isang kwarto ang mga ito at hinayaan ni Kaylee na ayusan siya ng mga ito. Hinayaan din siya ng mga ito na pumili ng gown na gusto n'yang suotin at nahihirapan siyang pumili dahil lahat iyon ay maganda. "May napili na po ba kayo ma'am?" tanong sakanya ng head ng stylist team na pinapunta ni Alexander sa bahay nila.
Kaylee could not hide her nervousness habang papunta sila sa venue ng event at napansin iyon ni alexander. "relax, your hands are obviously shaking." anito pa sakanya at malalim na nagbuntong hininga si kaylee para mapakalma nya ang sarili nya. its the real first time that she will met the whole family of alexander dahil noong wedding nila ay kakaonti lang sa mga ito ang nasa pi;ipinas at hindi ito makauwi dahilan para maging thanful si kaylee dahil hindi nya talaga alam kung paano ang mga ito patutunguhan lalo nat hindi naman nya lubos na kilala si alexander sa mga panahong iyon, Pero iba na ngayon dahil halos lahat ng business partners, investors at pamilya ni alexander ay nasa masque
kinalabit ni kaylee si alexander nang hindi parin siya nito binibitawan. nang lumingon ito sakanya ay nginitian nya ito. "can you let go of my hand for a second? i want to go to the restroom." she said to him. tinitigan muna siya ni Alexander na para bang gagawa siya ng masama gayong gusto nya lang naman mag banyo."make it quick." he saaid at binitawan ang mga kamay nya." inirapan ito ni kaylee."you have to relax, okay? im not gonna do something stupid. im not gonna make something that will both ruin my family and you familys image." sabi nya pa dito habang tumatayo."i do not trust anyone. some people will do something that will lead to people to misunderstood it and spread rumors as if it is based on facts." tugon naman nito sakanya."dont you trust me as well?" she leaned closer to him when she asked that.tumitig sakanya si Alexander at parangg nag-iisip pa. "sometimes i do but sometimes i dont. you make stupid choices when you are mad." sadyang humina ang boses nito pagkasabi n
"what took you so long?" kaagad na tanong sakanya ni alexander nang makabalik na siya sa table nila."i saw my mom on the way here and we talk for a bit." tugon nya naman dito na hindi maipinta ang mukha. naiinis siya habang naalala ang usapan nila ng mommy nya. at that point, nawawalan na ng pag-asa si kaylee na magbabago pa ang mommy nya but at the same time she's glad that her father are slowly changing."it seems like the talk didn't go well.." rinig nya na bulong ni alexander sa tabi nya narinig parin naman nya kahit pa sobrang hina na ng pagkakasabi nito. "what did she tell you that makes you that mad?" tanong nito sakanya. tumingin si kaylee sa asawa nya at nagbuntong hininga."nothing much, im just annoy how she said like i owe her my life even though she is absent most of the time while i was growing up. i never wished to be born, only if she knew how i dispise this life." she said sabay cross ng dalawang braso sa dibdib nya. narinig nya ang buntong hininga ni alexander kaya
that masquerade ball was quite wierd for kaylee and that's all because of the sudden change of alexander's attitude towards her. "hey, I'm gonna be home late tonight because i have a meeting with a very important business partner and we'll be having dinner together. I'm sorry, hindi kita masasabayan." anito pa sakanya habang kumakain sila ng breakfast dalawa. and that's one of the examples that kaylee is talking about.its been 2 days since that masquerade ball and since then, Alexander is nothing but a sweet and gentle husband to her. they don't even fight anymore and alexander always pays attention to her unlike before. kaylee keeps wondering if it's still part of their pretending in front of the maids but even in their own room, where there's only the two of them, alexander is nothing but a sweet and gentle one to her."kaylee? are you okay?" napalingon si kaylee sa asawa nang tawagin nito ang pangalan n'ya."huh? what is it?" para siyang nawala sa sarili dahil sa pag-iisip kung b
"how was your day?" bungad na tanong sakanya ni alexander nang dumating na ito galing sa trabaho."it was good, me and my friends had ice cream at celeste house while catching up with each other's life. ikaw, kamusta work? medyo matagal ka tonight, it's almost 12 a.m" aniya pa dito.nagbuntong hininga si alexander at naupo sa kama habang hinuhubad ang sapatos nito. "yeah, i'm sorry. napasarap ang usapan namin ng mga business partners ko at hindi na namin namalayan ang oras. did you wait for me though?" there is hope in his voice while have teasing smile. tumawa ng bahagya si kaylee dahil sa tanong nito. "whatever you think that i did." sabi nya nalang dito dahil ayaw nya din namang umamin dito na hinihintay nya ito na umuwi kahit iyon naman ang totoo talaga. nagbabasa lang siya ng libro habang hinihintay nya ito."well, an indirect responds from you is what keeps me me going.." naguluhan si kaylee sa tugon nito. what does he mean by that? keeps him going in what? "what time did you g
"let's eat first." aya sakanya ni alexander nang makarating na sila sa mall. excited naman na tumango-tango sakanya si kaylee."yeah, let's do that. kanina pa ako nagugutim." aniya pa dito."why didn't you tell me that you were already hungry?" may inis sa mukha nito pero natawa lang si kaylee dito."relax, hindi naman ako sobrang gutom, medyo lang. and i only felt it when we arrive here." aniya pa at hinila na si alexander sa isang restaurant. alexander told her that he made a reservation into that one restaurant, its a famous restaurant and also an expensive one. that's where alexander brought her and kaylee think the restaurant is quite fine."what do you want?" tanong sakanya ni alexander habang pareho silang tumitingin sa menu. kaylee saw a steak from the menu at nataka siya. "i wat steak. make it meduim rare." aniya pa sabay baling ng tingin sa waiter na naghihintay sakanilang mag order. "also steak with bourbon garlic cream sauce, and outback steakhouse tasmanian chili. and i
"good morning?" ngumiti kaagad si kaylee ng marinig ang boses ni alexander kahit pa nga hindi nya pa binubuksan ang mga mata nya."good morning." she responded with a smile on her lips. she slept feeling happy last night and so she woke up feeling happy as well."you seem in good mood. you clearly had a good sleep." anito pa na mababakas ang ngiti sa mga labi nito. binuksan ni kaylee ang mga mata nya at tumingin kay alexander na ngayo'y inaayos ang neck tie nito."i did, i had a good sleep." aniya pa na ikinangiti naman ni kaylee. limapit si alexander sakanya, nabigla si kaylee sa ginawa nito na akala nya hahalikan siya nito sa labi dahil sobrang lapit ng mukha nito sa mukha nya. "i'm glad that you had a good sleep." anito pa at hinalikan nga siya pero hindi sa labi kundi sa noo nya. "let's have breakfast." anito pa. hindi nakasagot kaagad si kaylee dahil sa ginawa nito. "hmm? let's go?" nilahad nito ang kamay sakanyaat tumikhim si kaylee bago nagsalita."i have to wash my face and t
2 days had passed but there's still no improvement with Alexander and Kaylee's relationship. Alexander is still mad with the lies and the fact that Kaylee doesn't have the plan to tell him about their daughter which is valid and Kaylee is afraid to talk to Alexander at the same time she's also still mad at him for what he did in the past, valid as well. Both have a valid reason why they're mad. "Hello? I brought you something.." Alexander is grinning from eat to eat as he is approaching their daughter in her room, hiding something from behind him, a surprise for his daughter. Alexander always come home from work na may dalang toy para sa anak n'ya and his daughter loves it everytime. "What is it po, daddy?" his daughter ask, giggling in excitement. Napangiti ng mas malaki si Alexander dahil sa reaksiyon ng anak nito. "I bought you this big barbie. A human size, barbie." napatalon sa tuwa ang anak nito. She is so happy and immediately hug the toy that he bought for her. Mat
"Daddy? are you mad at mommy?" tanong ng anak n'ya sakanya habang nasa loob sila ng sasakyan at nagmamaneho si Alexander pauwi sa Manila. Kaylee is in the passenger seat while their daughter is in the backseat. Alexander throw a glance to Kaylee sa mirror but Kaylee is just facing the window. Not facing him at all. And she's still in her uniform. "No, baby. Daddy's not mad on mommy, just disappointed but not mad.." tugon n'ya sa anak n'ya. Pawang katotohanan, ayaw n'yang magsinungaling sa anak n'ya. "Then why are you guys not talking to each other po?" tanong pa nito ulit. "Mommy is just tired from work and daddy needs to focus on driving. That's just it, baby." tugon n'ya ulit sa anak. Tumango-tango naman ang anak n'ya sa sinabi n'ya. "You can sleep there, baby. It will take a while before we'll arrive at our house in the Manila." aniya pa ulit sa anak. "Is our house big po ba sa Manila? excited po kasi ako makita kasi sabi ni mommy sa'kin dati na big daw po ang house n
"Alright, schedule the meeting at 4 pm today, I'll be heading home now." Alexander utter to his secretary om the other line. "Noted, sir. Have a safe drive, sir." his secretary replied and Alexander just nodded like his secretary can see it and he ended the call. He's now packing his clothes and ready to check out that hotel room that he lived for how many weeks. Matapos sabihin sakanya ni Kaylee ang lahat ng masasakit na salita na dapat n'yang marinig, naisipan n'ya munang bigyan ito ng space. Uuwi muna siya sa Manila para sa trabaho n'ya. He doesn't know how long he will give Kaylee a space, maybe he will just watch her from afar and protect her from afar for awhile before showing himself to her again. Alexander knows that Kaylee was really pissed and angry at him every since and even now, he doesn't want to add fuel to that by adding more frustration to her. After that night, Alexander didn't go to restaurant when morning came. He was just at his hotel room and spacing ou
"Alexander, ako na kasi." Alexander wanted to take the tray of food from Kaylee's hands para tulungan ito lalo na't marami-rami ang hawak nito at may drink pa na daldalhin. "I'll take this and you take the drinks." aniya pa dito. "You take the drinks and I'll take this. Hindi ka pwedeng magbuhat ng mabigat, kakagaling mo lang sa sakit." naiinis na tugon ni Kaylee sakanya. "Maayos na ang pakiramdam ko, anong pinagsasabi mong hindi pa ako magaling. Sige na, ako na ang magdadala nito at ikaw na doon." tinuro ng dalawang nguso n'ya ang drinks. "Gusto n'yo ako na magbuhat?" may biglang nagsalita sa likod nila. It's the unwanted guest of Kaylee. bumaling ang tingin ni Alexander dito at tinaasan ito ng kilay. "You shouldn't be here. This is for the employees only, you're not an employee so please get out." pagtataboy ni Alexander sa lalaki. "Alexander—" "am I wrong, Kaylee? tinaboy mo ako from here before, ba't parang sasawayin mo pa ako dahil pinapalabas ko itong bisita mo from the k
When everyone is working, at 2 pm in the afternoon, a customer enters the restaurant. It's a man that was very familiar to Alexander's sight. Naningkit ang dalawang mata n'ya ng bigla itong lumapit kay Kaylee at saka nakipag-beso dito. Tinitigan ito ng maigi ni Alexander, dahil sa selos at para narin maisip n'ya kung saan n'ya ba nakita ang binatang lumalapit-lapit kay Kaylee. "Anong ginagawa mo dito? bibili ka ba ng pagkain?" nakangiting tanong ni Kaylee sa lalaki. Sobrang laki ng ngiti ni Kaylee dito, ngiting hindi nito naibigay sakanya simula nang dumating siya sa lugar na iyon. "No, I just came to visit you." kumindat pa ito kay Kaylee na mas lalong ikina-inis ni Alexander. Who does he think that he is to do that to his wife? Mas lalo pang nainis si Alexander when the guy leaned closer to Kaylee para may maibulong dito at nagtawanan silang dalawa matapos iyon. "That's Colin, palagi iyang andito dati minsan kapag day off ni Kaylee si Kaylee ang pumupunta sakanya sa Manila." an
Morning came and Alexander felt better than last night. bumaba na rin ang lagnat nya, but Kaylee is not on his room anymore. She has left at nag-iwan lang ng note pati gamot at saka pagkain sa bedside table nya. binasa ni Alexander ang note na iniwan ni Kaylee para sakanya."I already check you, you're fever are already down but you still need to eat and drink your meds to prevent it from striking back again. Don't come to work today, just stay at home at magpa galing ng todo, don't be stubborn." napangiti si Alexander sa letter na iniwan nito matapos nya itong basahin."even in letters, she's still so bossy and mataray. I can hear her voive with only this letter." he jokingly said to himself and chuckled afterwards. Tumayo na si Alexander mula sa pagkaka upo sa kama at dinala ang pagkain na hinanda ni Kaylee sa maliit na dining table ng hotel room nya at doon kinain iyon pati narin ang gamot nya ay doon nya narin ininom. Matapos iyon ay inopen nya ang laptop nya at email nya para e-
Alexander woke up feeling tired ay dawn. Hindi na masakit ang ulo n'ya pero nanghihina parin ang buong katawan n'ya. He woke up still feeling sick but his eyes wants to see Kaylee. Hinanap ng mga mata n'ya ang asawa n'ya, umaasa siya na andoon parin ito at inaalagaan siya. At hindi nga siya nabigo dahil nakita n'ya ito sa study table n'ya na naka-upo habang may kausap sa cellphone nito. Hindi mapigilan ni Alexander na mapangiti. "Yes, I'll be home this morning, okay? you have to sleep na. It's way way past your bedtime already." anito pa sa kausap nito sa sobrang mahinahon at sweet na boses. Hindi naririnig ni Alexander ang kausap nito kaya hindi n'ya malaman kung sino at ano ito. "Alright, goodnight. I love you. Go to bed, it's 1 am already, bye." anito pa ulit at saka pinatay na ang tawag. Alexander can't help but to overthink that maybe Kaylee has a boyfriend already. "Who was that?" he asked hoping that she will not say that it's her boyfriend or what. "It's nothing that you
Alexander keeps yawning while working in the restaurant. 6 am na siya nakatulo dahil sa dami ng trabaho nya kagabi, at 8:45 am na din siya nakapasok sa trabaho na ikinagulat din naman ni Kaylee. He was never late, in the past weeks na nagta-trabaho siya sa restaurant na iyon, sa araw na iyon lang siya late."you keep on yawning, ano ba ginawa mo kagabi at wala kang tulog?" pang limang tanong na iyan ni Kaylee sakanya sa araw na iyon and it's not even lunch yet."nothing, hindi lang ako nakatulog talaga. insomnia." aniya pa dito. ayaw nyang sabihin sa asawa nya kung ano ang ginawa nya dahil baka magalit ito. he is overworking himself."talaga lang huh? baka naman kung saan-saan ka pa nagsusuot kagabi?" she is interogating him."saan naman ako pupunta?" tanong nya din pabalik sa asawa at tinaasan siya nito ng kilay kaya ngumisi na lamang si Alexander dito. "i swear, umuwi ako kaagad pagka hatid ko sa'yo, i just really had an insomnia kaya matagal akong nakatulog. you don't have to worry
A week has passed and Alexander is consistent in helping and winning Kaylee's heart again. Every hour, minute and seconds of everyday, he never fails to make her feel na he's being true to what he feels and his intentions is pure now. No more pretentious or lies. Even though Kaylee's trust are hard to earn again, it's alright because he's willing to work on it for however long it takes. "Let me help you with that." aniya pa sa asawa niya na may bit-bit na namang tray na marami ang food na order ang laman. "You have a customer and I can perfectly put that tray into my customers table." walang emosyon na saad nito sakanya. "I know but I'm willing to help you and besides, hindi pa luto ang order ng customer ko and iyong ibang customer na andito ay may mga waiter na so my hands are free." matamis siyang ngumiti sa asawa at inirapan nalang siya ni Kaylee na mas lalong ikinangiti ni Alexander. Those rolling of eyes may be mean but better than no emotions. "Put that in table 5. I'll go g