Hindi mapakali si Samantha habang nakikipag-usap silang dalawa ni Mandy kay Madam Liza. Paano, panay ang sulyap sa kanya ni Aaron, na para bang siya ang may kagagawan ng lahat ng kasalanan sa mundo.
Hindi naman ganoon kalaki ang kasalanan niya. She just denied that she knows him. What's the big deal?
Yes, it's a big deal. You lied. Three damn times! panenermon ng isang parte ng isip niya sa kanya.
She swallowed hard, her conscience slowly getting under her skin.
Bakit ba kung itinanggi niyang kakilala niya ito, na dati niya itong boss? Kapag ba inamin niya rito na oo, kilala niya ito at dati siya nitong empleyada, will it change a thing? Will it change everything she had gone through? Will it heal her broken heart? Will it undo her past? Their past?
She cursed herself silently and secretly shook her head. She should not be thinking about those things anymore. She had promised herself that she’ll never think of anything about Aar
Nakita ni Samantha kung paano tinakasan ng kulay ang mukha ni Aaron. Umingay din sa pandinig niya ang malakas na pagsinghap ni Madam Liza.“Y-you were part of the m-mass retrenchment?” alanganing tanong ni Madam Liza.She tried to speak but her voice failed her. The hurtful words when Aaron had heartlessly dismissed her from her job four years ago burned in her memory like it was just yesterday. She recalled how low and helpless she felt that day. She remembered her struggles and how she strived to live for Charlie.The hurt, the shame, and the anger were all imprinted on her—an awful memory she wanted to forget but couldn’t.Maya-maya pa, naramdaman niyang inabot ni Madam Liza ang kamay niya at marahan iyong pinisil. Napilitan siyang mag-angat ng tingin.“I’m so sorry, Sam. We were… in so much mess that time. And…” Umiling ito, tila naghahagilap ng sasabihin. Dumaan ang matindin
Nang matapos ang dinner nila, nagprisinta ulit si Aaron na ihatid siya sa bahay niya gamit ang sasakyan niya. Hindi na siya tumanggi. Pinagbigyan na lang niya ito. Besides, that’s probably the last she’d see Aaron for a long time. Baka pagbalik niya sa pagtatago—nila ng anak niya, kasal na ito at si Kristine.A familiar pain rose from her chest at the thought. And as she settles herself inside her car, she tried to take in as much of him as she could, for she might not have another chance in the future to be that close to Aaron. She’d indulge herself this time. Hindi man maaring maging kanya si Aaron, at least she’d have this memory of him aside from that night.Bahagya niyang nilingon ang kanilang likuran nang sandali silang maipit sa traffic. Nakasunod ang sasakyan nito sa kanila. He said his bodyguard were driving his car again and will follow them wherever they’d go.“Why did you
Samantha looked at herself in front of the mirror. She was wearing a beautiful one-of-a-kind day dress she had bought in Mateusche, one of her favorite dress shops in LA. She paired that with her classic Manolo Blahnik nude pumps. Her make-up was light and natural and her long straight hair was cascading on her back like a black waterfalls.She looks… fine. And yet she can’t help herself to feel anxious about today.“Mommy, you look so pretty!” ani Charlie na nasa harapan niya at pinagmamasdan siya. Her daughter’s eyes were shining in admiration and she can’t help but smile.Yumukuo siya at marahang pinisil ang maumbok nitong mga pisngi. “Thank you, sweetheart. You are pretty as well,” sabi niya, ginawaran pa ng magaang halik ang ulo nito. Muli siyang tumuwid ng tayo at humarap sa salamin.“Mommy, can I come with you?” tanong ni Charlie habang kinakabit niya ang kanyang pearl earri
Napalunok si Samantha sa lakas ng pagkabog ng dibdib niya. Her mind was in a panic and she can feel her knees shaking.Bakit ba sa tuwing lumalayo siya kay Aaron, lagi na lang gumagawa ng paraan ang tadhana para muli silang pagtagpuin. Ano ba ito, nananadya?Aaron extended his hand for a handshake. Alanganin niyang tinanggap iyon. His grip was strong and firm and his eyes were still fixed on her.Agad siyang napakapit sa braso ni Lucas nang bitiwan ni Aaron ang kamay niya. Nang magsalita ang MC, iginiya siya ni Lucas sa uupuan nila. At sa malas niya, her seat was in between Lucas and Aaron.She was on edge the whole of the short program. Moreso when Aaron seemed to be so relaxed and casual while she’s panicking and losing her composure by the minute she stays there. Napakaraming tumatakbo sa isip niya. Mga tanong. Mga alalahanin. At lalong lalo na ang alaala ng pinagsaluhan nilang halik ilang araw na ang nakararaan.And he
Samantha didn’t know what to think or how to act. There were many emotions coursing through her. And her mind is muddled with so many questions. Iisa lang ang alam niyang gawin, ang umalis doon, sa harap ni Aaron bitbit ang anak niya. But her damn legs won’t work! She wanted to kick herself in utter frustration! Maya-maya pa, naglakad si Aaron palapit sa kanilang mag-ina. Her hand violently hammered inside her chest. Hindi niya alam kung anong gagawin nito sa paglapit nito. Napatingin siya kay Charlie na ngiting-ngiti. She’s praying hard to the heavens na sana hindi makita ni Aaron ang pagkakahawig nito sa anak niya or she’ll be doomed! Nang tuluyang makalapit si Aaron sa harap nilang mag-ina, mabilis itong sumulyap sa kanya bago lumuhod sa harap ng anak niya. “Hi, Charlie. My name is Aaron. I’m a friend of you Uncle Lucas,” pagpapakilala ni Aaron sa sarili nito. Charlie beamed at him, like her daughter had known him for a
Matapos ang hapunan, inaya ng Daddy niya si Aaron sa lanai para mag-kape. After dinner, she planned on taking Charlie to the entertainmet room para doon na ito magpa-antok. Pero may sariling palang plano ang anak niya. Sumali ito sa lolo nito at kay Aaron sa pakikipagkuwentuhan kaya wala siyang choice at pumunta rin doon.And now, there all seated on the coffee table while Charlie serves them with her invisible English tea.“Mr. Aaron, here is your tea. It doesn't have any magic but it’s hot,” sabi nito bago inabot kay Aaron ang laruan nitong teacup and saucer.“Thank you, teamaster, Charlie,” sabi ni Aaron bago kinindatan si Charlie. The gesture earned a giggle from her daughter. Hindi niya tuloy napigilan ang mapangiti.Maya-maya pa, magkasasabay na silang inabutan ni Charlie ng Daddy niya ng teacup sets, repearting what she said to Aaron. After that,they all indulged her kid to the play and took a sip o
Tensiyonado si Samantha habang nasa entertainment room sila. Aaron was still holding Charlie in his arms, her daughter not wanting to let go no matter how hard she tries. Kaya wala siyang choice kundi hintayin na makatulog nang tuluyan si Charlie. And with her daughter’s favorite movie playing, she’s sure kaunting oras lang ang ipaghihintay niya at makakatulog na ang anak niya.“When did she hurt her arm?” pabulong na tanong ni Aaron sa kanya maya-maya.She turned to him and willed her heart to not go into overdrive. Magkatabi lang kasi ang inuupuan nilang lazy boy and napakalapit nito sa kanya. His natural manly scent and presence enveloping her again, pushing her to the edge.“N-noong dinala mo ‘ko sa Tagaytay,” sagot niya, alanganin.Hindi ito sumagot. Ibinalik lang nito ang tingin sa malaking projector screen na nasa harap nila bago marahang hinagod ang likod ni Charlie. The caress he did to Charlie was
“That’s it! You can now play with both of your hands, Charlie,” masayang balita ni Dr. Tejada, and pedia-ortho ng anak ni Samantha.Lumuwas sila ng Maynila ni Charlie dahil kailangan nang alisin ang cast sa braso nito. They would have been earlier there kung hindi lang sila na-traffic na mag-ina. Ang gusto ng Daddy niya, mag-chopper na lang sila papunta ng Maynila at pabalik sa San Gabriel. Subalit tumanggi siya. Kaya naman niyang mag-drive. Besides, she wanted to talk to Mandy personally today for updates on their projects. She and her daughter would need to sleep in their house in Quezon City today for a day or two.Charlie buried her weight on her as the doctor tried to stretch her daughter’s injured arm. “No!It will hurt,” natatakot na sabi nito, lumabi.“Trust me, sweetpea, it won’t,” paniniguro ng doktor bago muli ay marahang inunat ang braso ng anak niya. Makailang beses iyong ginaw