Tiningala ni Samantha ang mataas na gate na nasa harapan niya. Ayon sa traysikel driver na naghatid sa kanya roon, iyon daw ang bahay ni Joseph Aguinaldo. Tanghaling tapat at masakit sa balat niya ang sinag ng araw. Kaya lang, parang nag-aalinlangan siyang mag-doorbell kahit na naroon na siya.
Malayong malayo sa determinadong estado niya kanina nang tumakas siya paalis ng Maynila. Hindi alam nina Bettina at Aling Ness ang tungkol sa pagbisita sa kanya ni Mrs. Esteves ilang linggo na ang nakararaan. Nakukunsensiya man siya, sadya niyang pinili ang maglihim sa mga ito.
Alam niya, sa oras na malaman ng mga ito ang balak niyang hanapin ang totoo niyang ama, pipigilan siya ng mga ito dahil sa kalagayan niya.
Ngunit malakas ang udyok ng kung ano man sa dibdib niya na kailangan niyang puntahan ang ama sa San Gabriel. Kaya heto siya ngayon, bumiyahe ng higit limang oras upang sa huling sandali ay mag-alangan lang din.
Wala sa sarili siyang nap
“Anna, my late wife, tricked me when she agreed with the annulment. Hindi niya tinotoo ang sinabi niya na siya mismo ang magfa-file ng annulment namin. Nagsumbong siya sa mga magulang namin. They threatened me. And I was willing to be stripped off of everything I have, makasama ko lang kayo ng Mama mo. But… Anna’s parents said they will haunt your mother and do what’s necessary.” Humigpit ang pagkakahawak ng Daddy niya sa kamay ni Samantha. Natigilan din ito, dumaan ang takot sa mga mata. Nakaupo silang mag-ama sa sofa habang tahimik siyang nakikinig sa paliwanag nito. “Call me weak or a coward, but at that time, I know I was doing the right thing. Anna’s parents were powerful because his uncle was the chief of police at that time. With their connections, I know their threats weren’t empty. At natakot ako para sa inyong dalawa ng Mama mo. Kaya pinili kong h’wag na lang magpakitang muli. Naging sunud-sunuran ako sa mga magulang ko at kay Anna sa sumunod na ilan
A tight smile broke into Samantha’s lips as soon as she heard the pre-landing announcement of the plane she was in. There was a bittersweet feeling stirring inside of her—a thing she had never felt for the past four years. Maybe that’s what you really get when you are going back to a place that broke you.At least now you’re home, anang isip niya.Home.Again, she smiled bitterly. Home is supposed to be a place of comfort, of joy, of beautiful memories. But for the last few years she had spent in the country was far from comfortable, joyous and beautiful.So, paano niya naisip na tahanan niya ang Pilipinas?Marahan siyang nagbuga ng hininga bago bumaling sa bintana. The morning rays of the sun was greeting her-- shifting her thoughts to the positive side of things.And then she realized, if it weren’t for those hardships, she wouldn’t become half of the woman she is now—e
Maingat na isinara ni Samantha ang laptop niya bago pagod na sumandal sa kanyang upuan. She just finished interviewing the last applicant for Charlize Elizabeth Events, her new company named after her daughter.Isang linggo na halos mula nang makabalik siya sa Pilipinas. And she hadn’t stopped working since. Mabuti na lang tinulungan siya ni Lucas na maghanap ng space for her to set-up her new office kahit noong nasa California pa siya. Of course, her brother used his connections to get the best deal on the best spot in the city. Ito na rin ang kumuha ng construction company to get her new space ready. It was almost done now. She just needed to set up her new office with couches and a few display cases to get her office up and running.She leaned on her chair some more before staring at the ceiling of her office. The white walls and ceiling instantly relaxed her. Hindi siya talaga nagkamali sa piniling minimalist design ng office niya. His bro
Samantha was stuck in the d*amn traffic. It’s almost 10 in the evening and she’s really dead tired. Kanina pa tumatawag ang Daddy niya sa kanya dahil hinahanap na raw siya ni Charlie.Kanina, matapos ang maayos na meeting niya sa mag-inang Cobarrubias, bumalik siya sa opisina upang i-check kung na-deliver nang tama ang mga items na in-order niya sa furniture store. She had the delivery of the items expedited. She rented a truck para lang mai-deliver ang mga binili niya on the same day. Good thing the store she went too had an in-house interior designer who helped her picked the things that goes well with her offices’ theme. Pagpatak ng alas nuwebe, sabay-sabay na silang umuwi ng mga kaibigan niya—with Mandy agreeing to drop Bettina home para makauwi na rin siya agad.But here she is, stuck in the endless traffic for almost half an hour na hindi niya alam kung saan nagmumula!Umusad ang kotseng nasa harap niya. But it was just for a few me
Aaron was driving furiously. He received a call from Kiel. Itinakbo raw sa ospital ang Mommy nila dahil bahagyang nahilo at napaupo sa banyo. And though his youngest brother assured him that their mother is fine, he wants to see for himself that she is really fine. He doesn’t want to take chances. The last time he did, someone dear to him died. He quickly shook his head and concentrated on driving. He knew being distracted at this of emergency will not do him any good. He needs to get to the hospital fast. But the damn traffic was not letting him! He cussed under his breath and tried dialing Joshua’s number. Nang tawagan niya ito kanina bago siya umalis sa penthouse niya, ang sabi nito susunod ito sa kanya sa ospital. But that was 20 minutes ago. Baka nga nauna na ito sa kanya roon. “Josh, are you already at the hospital?” mabilis na tanong niya sa kapatid nang sagutin nito ang tawag. “Aaron,” said the familiar voice of a woman on the other line. “Ana, where is Josh?” he hurrie
“You go and sleep, Aaron. I’ll be fine, son. Besides, we’re already in the hospital. What could go wrong?”anang Mommy ni Aaron nang sila na lang dalawa sa hospital suite na kinuha niya para sa ina. He was sitting on the couch while his mother was on the bed.“I will wait for you to fall asleep, Mom. You heard what the doctors said, you need rest,” he declared before fishing out his phone from his pocket. Alam niyang hindi rin siya makakatulog agad ngayon. So he better check his emails now.Maya-maya pa, naramdaman niyang natahimik ang Mommy niya. That’s when he lifted his gaze on her and found his mother intently looking at her.“Mom?” tawag niya rito.His mother forced a smile and gently patted the space beside her bed. Agad siyang lumapit sa kama at umupo sa mismong espasyo na sinabi nito. His mother immediately gathered his hands on hers before looking at him again.“You h
Samantha flashed her satisfied grin as she looked at the event styling of the party about to be held country club located inside the subdivision. Her styling team decorated the bare walls and makeshift stage with flowers, balloons and a single seater swing framed with pink poenies just like what Tita Elaine had requested. She had learned that the soon-to-be-mother, Charlotte, loves pink poenies. And though the event is really to celebrate the upcoming birth the grandchild of Mrs. Cobarrubias, she made sure that the mother would also be happy for the event. Knowing your customer“Sam, the guests are arriving,” bulong ni Mandy sa kanya maya-maya. She took a quick glance on her wristwatch.“Just right on time,” she mumbled before lifting her eyes to Mandy. “Tell the on-the-day coordinators to get ready and man the areas I have assigned them to,” she commanded in a professional tone. Agad namang tumalima si Mandy.Mu
The party was going well. The host Samantha booked for the event was very professional and knows how to entertain the crowd. Hindi lang din iisang beses siyang nilapitan ni Tita Elaine at pinasalamatan. Sabi nito, irerekomenda siya nito sa mga kakilala nito. And she’s really looking forward to it.“Sam,” tawag ni Mandy sa likuran niya. She quickly turned and saw the familiar face of a woman that was with Mandy. She was wearing a lavender dainty dress that perfectly suits the occasion. Her hair was down, revealing the highlights on her soft curls.“Nicole?” aniya, natutop pa ang bibig.“Hi, Sam!” anito bago walang sabi-sabing yumakap sa kanya. Nang pakawalan siya nito, pinaglipat-lipat nito ang tingin sa kanya at kay Mandy. “Oh my god! I never thought I’d see you two again!” anito bago mabilis na hinawakan ang kamay nila ni Mandy.“E bigla ka naman kasing naglaho rin noon. Kayo