Kabanata 1

The sound of my heels on the tiles gave me a wrecking nervousness, we are walking on our way to the backyard where the party goes. I stopped walking as I can't resist the temptation... Light looks at me with worried eyes.

"I can feel your heartbeat from here.. face the crowd, Kish.. you don't have to hide your identity anymore.. you can live again peacefully." I just nod and walk strongly but I can still feel my knees trembling.

I see the people looking at my brother's together with Alondra and Sebastian. They're smiling at the people.. our friends. Nakauwi na nga pala si Alondra, nauna nga lang kami.

"I'd like to thank all of you, my dear friends for being with us tonight for a big news flash announcement. I missed you all so we have a little gathering here tonight," he stopped and heavily sighed, "After 7 long years..." he stopped again to look at me, he smiled sweetly causing our friends to look at us.

I heard and saw them shock in awe, they all look at me.. especially the little girl beside me. Clueless. Questionable.

"Of waiting.. here she is. Standing firmly." Von's voice continues what Kuya Veron's didn't say. The three of us walked near our friends. I saw Avianna and Veronica's teary eyes, the boys were still shocked.

I stand below the small stage, still holding my daughter's hand. I look at her down, she's already staring at me with her innocent eyes. I cleared my throat before looking at my friends.

"Thank you, for being patiently waiting. Sorry for not being able to bid my goodbyes to you, guys." I heavily sighed and look up to the twinkle stars, preventing my tears to flow, "7 years ago.. a tragedy happens to me.. and now, I'm asking for forgiveness to all of you." I smiled and look at them as my tears backward.

"I'm here to finally say that me... together with... Aurora, my daughter.. the 1st born baby Castel.. will be staying here for good," I sighed heavily and look at my daughters' beautiful eyes and next to Light who's looking at me.

"You okay?" he mouthed, I nod.

"For the people who are looking for me, thank you. For the ones who stay through the end of my destination, I promised to be better. Nothing more, I'll end it here." I smiled sweetly, I saw Veronica holding her heels while running towards me with tears flowing down on her cheeks and hugged me tightly.

I saw Avianna to one of my runways in Spain years ago, I think. But we didn't had the chance to talk since may dumating na epal kaya umalis siya agad. Good thing she decided to come here sa Philippines quickly.

They cried on my shoulders while I'm just laughing and hugging them both. I can hear their loud curses causing the others to laugh.

"Umalis nga kayo d'yan, sinisira ninyo ang damit ko! Nakakainis kayo!" Nilayo ko sila sa akin, tinignan ko silang dalawa at pinunasan ko ang mga luha nila. They both look at my daughter who's looking at us innocently.

"Is... is she my niece?" Avianna said.

"Gaga ka, anong 'my niece' ka d'yan? Inaanak ko din 'yan, 'wag mong solohin." I burst into a laugh with what Veronica said.

"Everyone, she's Aurora Constanciandra. My first baby." I look at them while they are looking at Aurora who's being carried by Light.

"The firstborn baby Castel." Kuya Veron corrected me. He stands beside me and kissed my head. "Finally... you don't have to hide anymore," I whispered. I smiled.

The party went well, we eat and drank a few drinks. Aurora is with me, thanks to Light who didn't leave us. Inikot namin siya ni Light sa buong barkada kaya masakit ang paa ko. I sit at a round table with Alondra, Avianna, and Veronica with it.

"Leche ka, Mave! Nakakapang-selos si Alondra lang ang may alam na nabuntis ka pala at sa America ka pala pumunta!" Avianna pulled my hair. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin at inayos ang buhok kong nagulo niya.

"Favorite niya kasi ako, girl. 'Wag na kayo magtaka," pagmamayabang ni Alondra at hinawi pa ang buhok. 

"Tanga ka?" Veronica raised her brows at Alondra. She just rolled her eyes and look at me, "May utang kang kwento, gawin mo ngayon at nag-iinit ang ulo ko sa'yo." I glance at Aurora who's sitting beside Light and the boys in the round long table na pinagduktong-duktong nila.

I sipped on my glass of tequila as I finished telling them my story... the reason why I left the country and how I grew up in America with Aurora and Light beside me.

"Fuck? So Light is not the Father of... Aurora? It's... O. My. God!" shocking voice of Veronica.

"Freaking shit. You look like a happy family though, bagay kayo! Pero I didn't know that he's not the father." Kung mas nakakagulat ang boses na pinalabas ni Veronica ay mas kagulat-gulat ang boses ni Avianna. They probably think that Light is the father of Aurora because she kept on calling him "Dada".

"At doon nagtatapos ang MMK ni Miss Markisha. At ikaw naman, Mave, tignan mo 'yang anak mo at isinasayaw na ni Kampon ng Dilim," I look at the dancefloor and saw Aurora looking up with Dark, he's smiling at my daughter. He was whispering something to her kaya tumatawa si Aurora.

The party went well, they all planned to sleep here in the house. There is 7 guest rooms available, but they only use 3 guests room each room consists of 5 people, and Avianna, Alondra and Veronica planned to sleep in my room since I have an extra bed which I didn't use.

Avianna, Alondra, and Veronica shared the same bed. While Aurora's still on their bed, they're asking her some questions about her school. Tomorrow is Friday, I will enroll Aurora in a private school, she's currently upcoming grade 2. I slept first not minding them, I feel really tired.

And I woke up early, its 8:30 in the morning. No one's still up, probably sleeping. I cooked many dishes bacon, scrambled eggs mixed with tomatoes, hotdog, I also fried rice. After fixing the plate, I went upstairs and they're still sleeping. I change my clothes into a black sports bra and a black dolphin shorts, I'll just work out in the living room.

I bring my phone with me and I turn on the Bluetooth and minimum the volume, after 30 minutes of working out, I maximum the volume of my sounds.. para magising na ang mga tao.

Pumunta ako sa kitchen at uminom ng 3 basong tubig, hindi ko na inalintana ang tubig na bumababa sa bibig ko papunta sa dibdib ko at nahaluan ito ng katerbang pawis ko.

Bumaba silang lahat at sabay sabay akong minura ni Alondra, Avianna at Veronica dahil sa lakas ng music ko. We ate breakfast and lunch, hapon na ng mapag-isipan nilang umuwi na dahil babalik na sila ng trabaho nila bukas.

Kakalabas ko lang ng mini stop sa tapat ng village namin dahil nagpabili si Aurora ng ice cream, kasama niya si Kuya Veron at Von.. naglalaro sila ng PS4, although marunong ako.. ginawa lang nila akong utusan. Pinagluto ng dinner at ngayon ay pinagbili ng ice cream.

Pagkapasok ko ng bahay ay nadatnan ko ang kotse ni Light. Pumasok ako at nandon si Kuya kasama si Von at Aurora na nage-XBox, si Light ay naka-dekwatrong naka-upo sa single sofa. Umupo ako sa long couch at nilapag ang ice cream.

"Light, ah.. are you busy. Tomorrow night?" I said while looking at Aurora, namana niya sa akin ang pagsasayaw dahil leader ako ng dance club namin noon.

"My time is always free for you, why? Saan ang lakad natin?"

"Auction in BGC, fetch me tomorrow. Ie-enroll ko muna si Aurora sa school."

"Sure, I'll go with you." He said and stood up. "I'll go home." Nagpaalam na rin siya sa mga kapatid ko at hinalikan niya kami sa ulo si Aurora. I just smile at him.

If ever I'll ask God to give me a deserving man to love with all my heart, I'll shout Light's name. He deserves the world more than he deserves anything.

I woke up when I felt someone's jumping on the bed and it stopped to shake both of my shoulders.

"Mommy! Mommy! Wake up! Wake up!" I heard Aurora's voice. "Mommy we'll enroll in my school, wake up, wake up!" I opened my eyes and saw her wearing her cute dress and her hair is a new comb.

"You up early?" She nodded and I go straight to the bathroom. A quick shower and blow-dried my hair. Wearing my white tank top and black high waist pants with my black pumps.

I drive until we reach the school, we walk around until we saw the registrar's office. I signed up some papers and pay using my debit card.

"Where do you want to eat, Aurora?" I said while we are entering the mall.

"I want to eat some American foods, Mom."

"I miss, Dada, Mom. When can I see him again?" Since she grew up with Light's beside her, her day will not be complete without Light beside her.

"Maybe later, Light and I will be going to ang event later. Iiwan kita kay Tita Alondra mo para bantayan kita. Okay?"

"Okay, Mom. How about my real father? When can I meet him? I want to see him and be with him.. so we are a complete family!" Since she's 2 years old, she's asking about her real father.

"Soon, anak." That's always my answer. I always lied to her because I don't have any connections with him ever since I left the country. She nods innocently.

I wear a cream long gown fitted dress, it's deep V-neck causing my cleavage to be exposed, I wear black pumps and carry my white pouch.

I saw Light sitting on the couch with his dark blue tuxedo and black slacks and shiny shoes. He stood up and take 5 steps on the staircase to help me go down.

Inilahad niya ang kamay niya sa'kin at nagkatitigan kami ng may ngiti sa isa't-isa. He seems very handsome, chills, lumabas lalo ang gwapo niya dahil maayos na nakataas patagilid ang kanyang buhok, he looked more matured.

Nawala ang titig ko sa kaniya nang may marinig at makita akong flash at click ng camera. I saw Alondra holding her DSLR Camera.

"Come here, Aurora. I'll upload this on my I*******m story, not bad.. right?" Aurora just nodded and look us with a smile.

We got off the car and the media quickly went to us as they saw me with the heir of Light's Company. I stopped walking, Light wrapped his hands on my waist.

"Miss Castel, where did you buy your dress?"

"Mr. Light Sanchez gave it to me when we were in America."

"The kid you were with is that your daughter?"

"Yes. Please, excuse us," they still follow us but there were bodyguards protecting us until we reach the grand ballroom where the auction will happen.

Some are looking at us.. They probably didn't expect me to come here tonight. I look around and see different paintings on the wall. So this is a painting auction... Mom didn't tell me.

Tumaas ako ng tingin kay Light. Kinurot ko siya sa braso kung saan nakakapit ang kamay ko. Tumingin ito sa akin, nginuso ko ang magandang painting.

It's a painting of a man and girl upside down.

"Good evening, Miss Castel and Mr. Sanchez." I heard someone. But my eyes were glued on the painting. This painting looks familiar. "This painting was painted 8 years ago.. And was given for us for free."

"8 years ago?" Wala sa sariling tanong ko, "Mind telling me if who's the painter?" Kunot noo kong tanong habang nakatingin sa painting.

"The painter kept unknown, Miss Castel. I'm sorry, excuse me."

see you in my next one, :))!