Chapter 42Pinakiramdaman ni Catalina ang malamig na simoy ng hangin. She was standing in front of her parent's grave. Napilitan siyang umuwi ng Iloilo ng wala sa oras para bisitahin ang puntod nito. Hugo caressed her shoulder and hugged her from behind."Babe..." Hugo whispered."Why would mom hide?" Catalina inhaled a sharp breath. "Why would she hide for the past 20 years? Bakit siya magtatago sa amin?"Masuyong hinalikan ni Hugo ang balikat ni Catalina. "Calm down, babe, maybe your mom has reasons..."Catalina inhaled a sharp breath. They stayed a little longer in front of her parent's grave. Catalina was staring at the white familiar flower on the stone. Agad niyang nakilala ang bulaklak kahit na napakahirap nitong hanapin.Nagpaalam sila ni Hugo sa puntod ng ama ni Catalina bago bumalik sa kotse. Catalina confirmed that their mom was indeed alive because she saw her mom's favorite flowers on her dad's grave. Skeleton flowers are rare and only blooms in June and July, unless they
Chapter 43Naalimpungatan si Catalina dahil sa sinag ng araw. She covered her eyes but it wasn't enough, she was still drowsy. Umikot ng higa si Catalina, but to her surprise Hugo was still asleep beside her. She smiled. Hindi niya napansin ang higpit ng hawak ni Hugo sa baywang niya. She buried her face in his neck and kissed him there."Catalina..." Hugo groaned and kissed her forehead. "Five more minutes, babe..."Umiling si Catalina sa leeg niya. "We're hungry..."Agad na napadilat si Hugo at hinanap ang labi ni Catalina. When he found it, he immediately kissed it and smiled."Good morning, babe and my babies..." He caressed her tummy."We said morning, too," Catalina answered with a smile."What do you want for breakfast?""Steak?"Hugo hissed. "Babe, that's not breakfast."Ngumuso si Catalina. "But we want steak!""Wala na bang ibang choices?""Apple and honey...""You don't like apples..." Hugo was speechless."Honey and chocolate?"Napakurap si Hugo at bumangon, tinignan niya
Chapter 44Pinagkrus ni Hugo ang mga braso habang nakaupo sa tabi ni Catalina. They chose a spot not too far from where Artesia was sitting. Paano ba naman, binigyan ng ideya ni Catalina ang ina nina Hugo at talagang pumili ng law student."Babe... I'm sorry..." Catalina whispered."No.""Won't you look at me?" Catalina "Catalina.""Babe..." Makaawa ni Catalina para tignan lang siya ni Hugo."Isa.""Daddy?"Natigilan si Hugo at napalingon sa kaniya. "What did you say?"Ngumisi si Catalina sa kaniya. She mouthed him a kiss which Hugo replied with a frown."Are you still mad?" Catalina asked."I'm not mad, babe. I'm annoyed."Ngumuso si Catalina, marahan niyang kinagat ang balikat ni Hugo. Hugo just let her be but he possessively placed his hand in her thigh."Behave."Umirap si Catalina at ngumuso. Muling bumalik ang tingin nila kina Artesia na naghi
Chapter 45Pumasok si Catalina sa kwarto nina Hugo at nadatnan itong nag-aayos ng necktie habang may katawagan sa telepono. Kumunot ang noo ni Catalina."You're receiving calls already?" Catalina asked.Marahang tumango si Hugo sa kaniya. "Contact the client and prepare the beta version. I personally don't like the graphics, tell the team to fix it after the meeting... Sure... Alright," binaba ni Hugo ang tawag. "Yes, babe?"Lumapit si Catalina kay Hugo at niyakap ito sa baywang. "Are you late? What time is your meeting?""It's a dinner meeting, do you want to come to the office?"Napatango si Catalina. "Yes, please... Can we buy shawarma before heading to the company?"Hugo smiled at her and hinalikan ang noo ni Catalina. "Sure, go get changed."Napngiti si Catalina at masayang pumasok sa walk-in closet nila bago nagpalit ng damit. Since Hugo was wearing a midnight blue suit and slacks, Catalina picked a navy b
Chapter 46Marahas na napahiyaw si Catalina nang maramdaman niya ang malamig na ngipin ni Hugo sa hita niya. She harshly kicked him away."Sebastian Hugo!" Inis na saway ni Catalina sa kaniya."Stop crying already, we already confirmed that she's your mom," Hugo sighed.Catalina sobbed. "But I'm sad, babe...""Do you want strawberries?"Marahang tumango si Catalina. "Can I?"Hugo smiled, he was wearing his suit and tie while Catalina was just on the bed and watching her favorite series in Netflix. Pero imbes na manood ito ay panay ang iyak nito kahit comedy naman ang palabas.Marahang pinunasan ni Hugo ang luha ni Catalina. "Are you coming with me in the office?"Umiling si Catalina. "I have a photoshoot later..."Tumaas ang kilay ni Hugo. "Photoshoot?"Tumango si Catalina. "But I cried...""You're still gorgeous. Kailan ka pa nagkaphotoshoot?"Nagkibit balikat si Catalina. "Everyone is waiting for me to accept their photoshoots... Ilalagay daw nila sa magazine...""What kind of photo
Chapter 47Hugo cleared his throat while caressing Catalina's thigh that was crossed. Pasimpleng kinurot ni Catalina ang tagiliran ni Hugo habang nakaupo sila sa sofa at nakaharap sa kanila ang mga camera. Napapnsin ni Catalina ang pagkailang ng staff dahil sa pagkaasiwa ni Hugo. He's totally annoyed and everyone is noticing it."Hugo, calm down, will you?" Pasimpleng bulong ni Catalina sa tabi niya.Kunot noo siyang nilingon ni Hugo. "Fck, I can't. They're all looking at you, can't I just take off their eyes?"Catalina widened her eyes at him. Hindi sumagot si Hugo at binitiwan ang hita niya. He sat straight and crossed his legs like Catalina before entwining there fingers. Huminga ng malalim si Catalina, wala na talagang pag-asa si Hugo.Tumikhim ang interviewer sa kanilang dalawa. "We're starting..."Napatango si Catalina habang si Hugo ay magkasalubong na naman ang kilay. Huminga ng malalim ang interviewer dahil sa takot na magkamali. Two big shots are sitting in front of her, nak
Chapter 48Nilahad ni Catalina ang kaharap na upuan. Marahang ngumiti si Catherine bago naupo sa harap ni Catalina. They don't even know how to greet each other, it's like they've never known each other.Nakaupo sila Catalina ngayon sa loob ng Starbuck, Robinson's Jaro. They planned to meet here in a crowded place to avoid commotion. Ramdam ni Catalina ang takot ni Catherine mula sa kinauupuan niya. She was fearing something and Catalina couldn't tell what."You look well, dear..."Maliit na ngumiti si Catalina. "I look like you, ma..."Napangiti si Catherine sa tinuran ng anak. "Can I hug you?"Marahang tumango si Catalina at tumayo para lumapit sa ina. Catherine embraced her in her arms as if she wasn't letting go. Niyakap siya pabalik ni Catalina at marahang hinaplos ang likuran ng ina."H-he's behind us... Isn't he?"Sinilip ni Catalina ang lalaking nakatakip ang mukha at pabalik-balik ang lakas. "Is he why you're scared ma?"Umiling si Catherine. "He's always around me...""I can
Chapter 49Bumaba sa kotse si Hugo at sinalubong si Catalina ng mahigpit na yakap. Hugo even kissed her temple and checked her whole body."Are you alright? What happened?"Iniwas ni Catalin ang braso niyang may daplis at pasimpleng ngumiti kay Hugo."I'm fine babe, but you should brace yourself..."Kumunot ang noo ni Hugo. "Why?"Hindi sumagot si Catalina sa kaniya at binuksan ang pintuan ng mansion. Hugo was shocked to see everyone. Halos bawiin lahat ng hangin sa katawan niya nang makita niya ang buong angkan ng pamilya nina Catalina. He gulped and blinked twice to make sure that he wasn't just dreaming."Say hi to everyone..." Catalina whispered.Hugo cleared his throat. "Hi."Napngiti ang lahat sa tinuran ni Hugo. Catalina pulled him inside the mansion and left him with her uncles. Naramdaman ni Hugo ang marahang pagtapik ni uncle Vermont sa balikat niya."Vermont Sinfuego I, I'm sure you know me..." Uncle Vermont chuckled.Nakipagkamay si Hugo sa kaniya. "Yes, sir.""Call me unc