-(GELAL THEODEN FRANCISCO POV)-~âŞ~As the meeting was held, I couldn't do anything but listen, nod, and give my opinion to their suggestions, and I must say, I am liking what they are offering.Ilang oras din ang nakalipas hanggang sa matapos ang board meeting, hindi na rin ako makapaghintay na makita si Evolet.âIt was a pleasure talking to you, Mr. Francisco.â Giit ni Mr. Serrano sa akin.âAnd to you as well, Mr. Serrano.â Sagot ko sa kanya pabalik at saka nakipag-kamay rito.Unti-unti silang umaalis sa con room, at sakto rin na may tumawag sa cellphone ko na naging dahilan upang tingnan at sagutin ko iyon.âHello?â Tanong ko nang masagot ko na ang tawag, at saka lumayo ng bahagya dahil nandito pa si Ms. Romualdez.âI saw Emy at the pharmacy a while ago.â Sagot niya sa akin.âWhat the heck was she doing there?â Tanong ko na naka-kunot ang noo.âI asked the pharmacist, and she said she brought a pregnancy test.â Sagot nito muli.What the fuckâŚâWhat the heck does that mean?â I asked
-(GELAL THEODEN FRANCISCO POV)-~00:45~I was currently in our room, Evolet sleeping peacefully beside me as I lit up a smoke while reading a book.Just then, I received a phone call, causing me to answer it even though I was curious on who it was.âHello?â Tanong ko nang masagot ko ang tawag.âI saw Dean leaving.â Sagot niya.âWhat did I tell you?â I asked again. âDiba sabi ko tigilan mo na ang pagma-manman?ââThis is serious, Theo.â Sagot niya muli. âI saw him leave with boxes, and I saw Emy begging him.ââWhat the fvck does that mean?â I asked confusingly.âMaybe heâs leaving her?â He answered unsurely.Leaving her?Sounds interestingâŚI smirked. âBook me a flight to Florida, and trace that bastard.ââWhy?â Tanong niya.âIâm just going to talk to him.â I plainly answered. âUpdate me if you successfully booked one.ââOkay.â Giit niya at saka binaba ang tawag.Placing the phone on my nightstand, I checked if Evolet was awakened by me, and it was a relief that she wasn't.The smirk on
-(EMERALD CORLYN VERDANIO-FRANCISCO POV)-~â˘~âKuya.â Tawag ko nang makapasok ako sa office niya.He hummed in response before taking his glasses off, quickly looking up to me.âWhat is it?â He asked and closed his laptop.âI'm craving for something.â Sagot ko at saka ngumiti ng bahagya.âAnong cravings mo?â Tanong niya at saka tumayo mula sa kanyang kinauupuan.âGusto ko ng durian.â Sagot ko na ikinatigil niya.âBut you don't like durian-â Naputol ang kanyang sasabihin nang sumagot ako.âPlease.â I pleaded. âNung isang linggo ko pa gustong kainin yun.âHe sighed and strode forward, hugging me as soon as he reached me. And I didn't hesitate to hug him back.âIâll call my secretary, okay?â He mumbled. âPasok ka dun sa private room.âTumango na lamang ako bilang tugon at nagtungo ruon, casually closing the door afterwards and sat on the edge of the bed as I wait.Napatingin ako sa may salamin at napansin ang sarili kong katawan, and everything changed since I got pregnant.My face, my b
-(EMERALD CORLYN VERDANIO-FRANCISCO POV)-~â˘~âAte, tara na!!!â Sigaw nina Clydel mula sa baba.âIn a minute!â Sigaw ko pabalik habang nagiimpake ng gamit sa kwarto.âEmy? Ayos na ba ang lahat?â Tanong ni Maria nang dumungaw ito sa pinto.âTeka nakalimutan ko yung sunscreen.â Sagot ko at saka kinuha sa vanity table ang sunblock.And just as I was about to put the sunblock inside the bag, another contraction was felt, causing me to groan slightly and drop the sunblock on the bed.âIs she kicking?â Maria asked curiously as she grabbed the bottle from me.âShe's only six months, Ria.â I muttered anxiously.âWant me to call Momma?â She asked anxiously.âOw..â I groaned once again, holding my belly once again as I felt a kick.âIâll call her, you sit down.â Wika niya at saka lumabas ng kwarto.Dinig ko ang pagtawag nito habang ako'y nasa kwarto, and every kick that she did just hurts me.âWhat happened?â Tanong agad ni Momma nang makapasok sila sa kwarto.âAng sakit ng tiyan ko.â Sagot ko
-(EMERALD CORLYN VERDANIO-FRANCISCO POV)-~Two months later~âHere, these are your calcium and ferrous sulphate. Take them once a day, okay?â My OB reminded me. âYou did get a tetanus shot too, right?ââYes, I did.â I answered with a nod.âGood, balik ka na lang kung may nararamdaman kang kakaiba o di kaya kapag naubos na ang vitamins mo.â She proclaimed. âOkay po, salamat po talaga.â Sagot ko. âMatanong ko lang din po kung ano ang nakalagay na due date ko sa chart niyo.ââRight.â She answered back. âIt says here, March 21st is your due date.ââOkay, salamat po dito, Doc. Aalis na po ako.â Wika ko sa kanya.âSige, mag-iingat ka. Wag mong kalimutan ang prenatal vitamins mo.â Paalala nito muli.I nodded in agreement before heading out, my hand caressing my belly as I head to my brother's car.âSo? How did it go?â Lez asked me as soon as I made the final step.âDoctor Fernando gave me vitamins, of course.â Sagot ko.âWala naman silang nakitang complication? Kay baby?â Tanong niya at sak
-(EMERALD CORLYN VERDANIO-FRANCISCO POV)-~âŞ~âHi, how are you?â Tanong ni Ria nang makapasok na sila ng hospital room.âStill sore.â Sagot ko at saka tumawa ng bahagya.âGroggy?â Tanong ni King.Tumango ako. âAsan si Momma?ââNasa labas, hinihintay si Dad.â Sagot ni Lez nang masara niya ang pinto. âWe're so proud of you, Ems.ââYeah, nakayanan mo ang lahat. And we are thankful for that.â Wika ni Clydel.âI couldn't have done it without you guys, you helped me a lot.â Sagot ko sa kanila. âEspecially Ria and Lez.âNapalingon kami nang bumukas muli ang pinto, and seeing Dad teary-eyed as he stared at me caused me to smile a bit.âNasaan si baby?â Biglang sambit ni Momma nang makalapit ito sa akin.âNatutulog.â Sagot ko at saka tiningnan ang baby na nasa tabi ko.âMay pangalan na ba siya?â Tanong ni Dad.âNag-iisip pa ako, eh.â Sagot ko.âLet's name her Marie.â Saad ni Ria. âPara pareho kami.ââKayla.â Suhestiyon ni King. âKayla Marie.ââPwede rin yun.â Wika ni Lez. âOr, Ria Corleen.ââI
-(JEAN EVOLET LUXEMBOURG POV)-~§~âWhat?â She asked shockingly.âYou heard me, Iâm pregnant.â I answered happily as I talked with her through the phone.âOh my gosh, Iâm so happy for you Eve. Congrats.â She answered back. âYou are finally going to have a baby.ââGod does indeed answer prayers, Lyn.â I intoned. âAnd I can't wait to see her.ââMake me a godmother once she's in your arms.â She answered happily.âSure, Iâll never forget about that.â I said. âWe should celebrate right now.ââCelebrate?â She asked. âWhere?ââHere, at our place.â I answered. âIâll text you the address.ââYou're in the Philippines, right?â She asked. âIf you're in some country, I can't go.ââYes, weâre in the Philippines right now. My husband's working here for the meantime.â I retorted.âOkay, Iâll bring my daughter with me if that's fine.â She said. âI don't want to leave her.ââOf course, that way I can meet her too.â I answered happily. âI'll hang up now, Iâll text you the address.ââOkay, bye bye.â She
-(EMERALD CORLYN VERDANIO-FRANCISCO POV)-~â˘~As the car came to a halt in the driveway, hindi ko maiwasan ang kabahan dahil pamilyar na pamilyar ang bahay na nasa harap namin.Puta..âLetâs go.â She started as she opened the driver's door.Akmang sasagot pa ako ngunit lumabas na ito ng kotse, at hindi ko maiwasan ang pagpawisan ng malamig dahil sa nakikita at nararamdaman ko.âMa, nasaan po tayo?â Tanong ni Deanna.âNasa bahay tayo ni Tita Eve, nak.â Sagot ko na lang at saka lumabas ng kotse.Pinagbuksan ko na rin ng pinto si Deanna at pinalabas ito, and seeing my plants outside of the yard thriving had me teary-eyed.âMommy, are you alright?â Tanong nito muli.âIâm fine, darling.â Sagot ko. âTara na, pasok na tayo.ââBeautiful, isn't it?â Eve asked as she waited in front of the doorstep.âIt is.â I answered with a small smile.Heading inside, the first thing I saw was the painting I painted for him. It was still hanging on the wall, yet everything around it changed.From the walls p
-(EMERALD CORLYN VERDANIO POV)- ~2 years later~ âDeanna! Halika na at malelate ka na!â Tawag ko habang nilalagay ang mga kailangan niya sa trunk. âMomma, I can't find my other shoe!â Sigaw nito na nagmumula sa loob. Nagtungo ako muli sa loob at kinuha ang lunchbox niya sa coffee table at tinulungan siyang maghanap, at mabuti na lang ay nakita ko ito. âOh, ito. Suotin mo na.â Utos ko habang ina-alalay siya. Nang masuot na niya iyon ay kinuha ko na rin ang bag ko at sabay kaming lumabas, locking the door before heading to the car and made her sit at the back seat. âMomma, are we going to school?â Tanong niya habang ina-adjust ko ang seat belt nito. âYes, darling. Youâre going to school and Mommaâ Momma is going to work.â Sagot ko at saka siya hinalikan sa pisngi. âIsn't daddy ninong going to take me to school?â Tanong niya ulit. âNo honey, because daddy ninong has work to do.â Sagot ko at saka nagtungo sa driver's side. Dali-dali ko nang pinaandar iyon at umalis, 30 minutes d
-(EMERALD CORLYN VERDANIO POV)- ~â˘~ As I pulled up to the side of the road, nagtataka ako kung bakit may mga elf truck sa harap ng bahay nina Gelal, at ang daming lalaking naglalabas at nagpapasok ng mga gamit. âWhat the heck?â I whispered to myself and got out of the car. May namataan akong isang lalaking may hawak na clip board, ngunit bago ko ito tawagin ay may tumawag sa pangalan ko. âYes?â Tanong ko nang namataan ko ang isang babaeng patungo sa akin. âYouâre Emerald, yes?â Tanong nito pabalik na may bahagyang ngiti sa labi. âAko nga, baât mo ako kilala?â Pagtataka ko habang hawak ang isang envelope. âKuya told me everything about you, darling.â Sagot niya habang hindi umaalis ang ngiti sa labi. âOh, okay. Kuya mo si Gelal?â I asked. âNever mind, nandito ba siya? Kailangan ko lang siyang-â âHeâs not here, Emerald. He left.â Sagot nito sa akin. âSaan siya pumunta?â âHe left for France, went to see hisâ I don't know. Wife?â Giit nito na parang hindi sigurado. âOhâ but, w
-(GELAL THEODEN FRANCISCO POV)-~â˘~Nang makapasok ako sa bahay ay inexcuse muna ni Mr. Luxembourg ang sarili dahil may aasikasuhin daw ito, at bago kami makasagot ay nagtungo na ito sa taas.âEve-â Tawag ko ngunit nagtungo ito sa hallway.Sumunod naman ako rito bitbit ang aking mga bagahe, kahit pagod at puyat ako ay kinaya ko iyon.âThis will be your room for now.â She stated.âHow are you?â Panimula ko nang maituro niya sa akin ang guest bedroom.Kaming dalawa lang ang naroon, kung kayaât inipon ko ang makakaya upang makausap siya.But even so, she didn't answer and just opened the door for me with the words âDinner will be ready in 20.âAnd before I could say anything, she left. With no choice and due to exhaustion, I entered the guest room to settle my things.Patuloy kong minumura ang aking sarili habang inaayos ko ang mga gamit ko sa closet, at alam kong sinira ko ang kanyang tiwalaâ Big time.-(JEAN EVOLET LUXEMBOURG POV)-~â˘~As I was making some food for Gelal to eat, numer
-(GELAL THEODEN FRANCISCO POV)-~Tuesday~âSir, I have postponed every meeting you have including with your meeting with Mr. Ameer.â Panimula nito nang makapasok siya sa opisina.Tumango na lamang ako bilang tugon at saka ipinagpatuloy ang ginagawa, ngunit hindi ko pa rin makalimutan ang sinabi ni Emy sa akin nung nakaraan.(Tatanggapin ko kahit may kahati ako.)âDamn it, Ems.â I mumbled to myself and rubbed my forehead.âSir, is everything alright?â Sambit ni Silas na naging dahilan upang mag angat ako ng tingin rito.âYou're still here.â Sagot ko.âAkala ko po kasi may sasabihin pa kayo.â Sagot niya pabalik.âWala, you may leave.â Utos ko rito na naging dahilan upang tumango ito at lumabas.Heaving a sigh, sumandal ako sa backrest ng swivel chair ko at tiningnan ang oras, seeing it was 4:40 in the afternoon.Sakto rin na tumunog ang aking cellphone, kaya kinuha ko ito at upang tingnan iyon.Eve: When are you arriving?She texted, yet I wasn't ready to reply. At least not yet.-(EMER
-(EMERALD CORLYN VERDANIO-FRANCISCO POV)-~2:00~Patuloy akong naghihintay kay Gelal habang nasa harap kami ng bahay nito, at kahit ayokong umalis sa puder ni Callum ay mapipilitan ako.âMomma, why are we here?â Deanna asked as she yawned.âWe're just waiting for Daddy Lal, okay? Kaunting tiis na lang.â Sagot ko at saka ito niyakap.âBut I want to sleep na, Ma.â She yawned once again.Ngumiti na lamang ako nang bahagya at saka ito binuhat, letting her sleep in my arms as we waited.âPasensya ka na kung nadamay ka sa gulo namin, nak.â Bulong ko rito at saka hinalikan ang kanyang noo.The cool breeze kept blowing as I waited, and I couldn't help but feel sleepy.A few minutes passed by, but there were still no headlights heading towards this direction, which caused me to sigh and close my eyes for a bit.-âŞ-âEmy.â Someone murmured my name, and all of which seems to be a blur.âEmy.â It called once again. âEmy, wake up.âAs I came to my senses, with my vision getting clear once again, I
-(EMERALD CORLYN VERDANIO-FRANCISCO POV)-~That night~âBabe, ayos ka lang ba?â Tanong ni Callum habang ako'y nakatingin sa may bintana.Nasa kwarto ako ngayon at pakiramdam ko wala akong ganang kumain, and to be honest, I want to be alone with my thoughts for a while.âHey, what's wrong?â Tanong ulit nito, at ramdam kong lumubog ang isang parte ng kama.âNothing.â Sagot ko na lang. âI want to be alone for a while.ââBut Deanna is looking for you.â Sambit nito, forcing me to look at him as I felt his thumb and finger on my chin.Even though he said something, I didn't feel the need to answer him, and just looked away once again.âCan you please tell me what's wrong, Emy?â Tanong nito sa huling pagkakataon, ngunit hindi pa rin ako sumagot.Silence enveloped us and there was nothing I could think of an answer for him, all I could do was stare and remember the scene where-âAre you thinking about him?â He asked again.âWho?â I asked and looked at him.âGelal.â Sagot niya, and there was s
-(EMERALD CORLYN VERDANIO-FRANCISCO POV)-~Friday~âNasaan si Gelal?â Panimula ni Lez nang makarating ito sa hospital.âParating na yun.â Sagot ko at saka nilagay sa bag ang aking cellphone.âSana sa kanya nga si Deanna, hindi ako papayag kung ang gagong yun ang ama.â Wika nito at saka tiningnan ang bata sa tabi ko.âI thought you hated each other? Bakit parang nag-iiba na ang ihip ng hangin ngayon?â Biro ko sa kanya.Tumawa na lamang ito bilang tugon at nag-usap muna kami ng ilang minuto habang hinihintay si Gelal, hanggang sa dumating na sina Dad ay wala pa rin ito.âNasaan na ba ang asawa mo, Emerald?â Tanong ni Dad sa akin habang nakakunot ang noo. âMay aasikasuhin pa ako sa opisina.ââBaka po na-stuck lang sa traffic.â Sagot ko. âTawagan ko na lang po ulit.âKinuha ko muli sa bag ang aking cellphone at akmang pipindutin ang kanyang numero, nang biglang sumigaw si Deanna at saka umalis.âDeanna!â Tawag ko ngunit nakita ko na sinalubong pala nito si Gelal.Pinanood ko itong buhatin
-(GELAL THEODEN FRANCISCO POV)-~â˘~âSilas.â Tawag ko mula sa intercomm.âSir?â Tanong naman niya.âNakapag-book ka na ba?â Tanong ko rito. âPumunta ka nga dito sa office.âNang inalis ko ang aking daliri sa intercomm ay sakto rin itong pumasok sa loob, all while holding a cup of coffee and a croissant.âWhat is it, Sir?â He asked again and took a bite.âGusto ko lang malaman kung bukas ako aalis, or next week.â Panimula ko at saka inikot ikot ang ballpen.âNext week Wednesday ang flight niyo, Sir.â Sagot niya. âBakit po?â âNothing, I just realized I still have a shitload of work to do.â I intoned. âYou may go.â Tumango na lamang ito bilang tugon at saka umalis, leaving me alone with my thoughts.(If you don't arrive within a week, I will blow you to bits.)Heaving a sigh, I rubbed my forehead due to frustration. And there was nothing I could do except finish these before leaving.-(EMERALD CORLYN VERDANIO-FRANCISCO POV)-~Verdanio Residences~Kasalukuyan kaming nasa main residence
-(EMERALD CORLYN VERDANIO-FRANCISCO POV)-~â˘~Habang ako'y nasa trabaho ay laking gulat ko nang makareceive ako ng mensahe mula kay Gelal, at nagtataka rin ako kung bakit.Theo: Iâm dropping Deanna at your place, I need to be somewhere urgent.Tiningnan ko ang oras, seeing it was 10 in the morning. Kaya walang alinlangan akong nagreply rito.Ems: Last week mo lang siya kinuha, why so sudden?Theo: Evoletâs bleeding.Just by seeing his reply, I couldn't help but worry for his wife. And worry for his safetyâŚ-(GELAL THEODEN FRANCISCO POV)--âŞ-âSilas, is everything booked?â Tanong ko habang kami ay papunta sa office.âYes, Sir.â Sagot nito. âYour flight will be on Wednesday night.ââSige, cancel my meetings from Thursday to Saturday.â Utos ko rito bago ibaba ang tawag.Hindi ko maiwasan ang hindi kabahan para kay Eve, at pilit kong sinisisi ang aking sarili dahil sa sinapit nito.Kailangan ko na rin ipa-DNA test si Deanna, para bago ako umalis ay panatag ako na akin siya.âDaddy, where