"WHAT ARE you doing here?" Nagtatakang tanong ni Clayton kay Rosanne. He didn't even bother to smile at her because he was perturbed by her appearance here.
"I'm here to visit you and your son. I heard that he was involved in an accident? Oh, here's the fruits basket for him."
Tuluyan itong pumasok kahit na walang pahintulot mula kila Clayton. Nagtungo si Rosanne sa side table na katabi ng patient's bed at ipinatong doon ang bitbit. Napamaang si Clarisse sa inakto nito at siniko si Clayton para siguro sitahin niya ang babae. Napahawak naman siya sa noo.
"Rosanne, we didn't invite you here."
Instead of being offended, Rosanne flashed a smile at his direction. Bumaba rin ang tingin nito kay Rence na nakamasid din sa babae.
"You really looked like your father. Hello, baby. Rence is your name, right? I'm your Tita Rosanne."
Kabanata 55 "IN THIS graph, we can see the difference between the sales from last month up to present..."Clayton was listening to the report that was done at every end of the month. Wala nga siya dapat doon dahil mas gusto niyang ibuhos ang atensyon kay Rence ngunit dahil kailangan na magpakita pa rin siya sa meeting na iyon, naglaan siya ng sandaling oras.He wanted to push this meeting to Grayson but that person also have his hands full. He's thinking of hiring a new assistant for him or for Grayson at least to divide their paper works.Grayson also needs to represent him for some of the meetings and projects since he's got his hands tied to look for his wife and at the same time, taking care of Rence.He was preoccupied by that thought when he felt his phone inside his pocket beeped and vibrated. He inconspicuously f
CLAYTON let out a tired breath as he stared at Clarisse who was holding Rence's left hand right now. Ngayon ang discharge ng anak niya sa ospital at kahit marami siyang inaasikaso sa opisina dahil may ilang problema siyang kinahaharap, pumunta pa rin siya rito.Hindi nakatiis, lumapit siya sa anak at lumuhod para magpantay sila ng mukha. Sinulyapan naman siya ng bata. "You really won't go with me, Rence? You're going to live with your Lola?"Rence just nodded his head expressionlessly but it still brought pain to him. Pagkatapos nitong tumango sa kanya ay bumalik ito kay Clarisse at doon na kumapit.Hinarap naman siya ng kapatid. "Sa amin na muna si Rence, Kuya. It's a good thing na doon muna siya sa amin. You can also accompany him.""Clarisse, we've already talked about this."And he's still annoyed with her. He knows that she just wants to help but br
"ANY news about Angielyn Fuentebella? Tatlong buwan na ang lumipas pero ni wala pa rin akong makitang improvement sa kaso niya."Hindi napigilan ni Clayton ang makaramdam ng inis dahil hanggang ngayon, wala pa ring pag-usad ang kaso ni Ann. He cooperated with the police hoping to find something about Ann's whereabouts but that didn't have a fruition. Maging ang pagha-hire niya ng private investigator, wala ring kwenta dahil wala itong maibigay na balita sa kanya.Kaya kahit tutol man ang ina sa ginawa niyang pagpapagawa ng leaflets para ipaskil sa kung saan, ginawa pa rin ni Clayton. He even helped to paste it to the walls that's authorized by the police. Pero lumipas ang mga araw na nauwi sa linggo hanggang buwan, wala siyang narinig na balita.At ngayon, pinanghihinaan na siya ng loob. Unti-unti siyang nawawalan ng pag-asa habang patuloy na lumilipas ang oras.
ANDREW looked at his phone vibrating on top of the table in front of him and he let out a sigh before he answered it."Hello, Rosanne?"“Andrew, bakit ngayon mo lang sinagot ang tawag ko? I was calling you countless times but your phone cannot be reached. Is there a problem on your end?”Ilang buwan na ngunit ngayon lang naalala ni Rosanne na tawagan siya. He wanted to correct her that she didn't call him like what she said but he held his tongue. He didn't want Rosanne to get mad at him that's why he kept silent."I don't have a problem. I'm just busy. You, how are you? Are you okay?"Andrew wanted to applaud himself for still asking about her even though he knows that Rosanne clearly didn't give a dámn about him. But what could he do? He really loves her?Kaya nga kahit alam niya
Kabanata 56 "IS THERE a chance that she will wake up?" That's the first thing Andrew asked on Ann's private doctor and also his friend who rescued Ann on the brink of death.Nilingon si Andrew ng kaibigan bago nito sinulyapan ang wala pa ring malay na si Ann habang maraming aparatong nakakabit dito. Maging si Andrew, sinulyapan ang babae at napabuntonghininga siya habang pinanonood ang ECG monitor na gumalaw.The doctor beside him also let out a sigh. "There's a chance that she will wake up since his brain is still responding. But we don't know when is it."Tumango-tango si Andrew. Kahit paano ay natuwa siya noong malaman na malaki ang pag-asa na magigising pa si Ann. Noong una kasi ay talagang nanganib ang buhay ng babae at mabuti na lang, nailigtas ito ni Nick, ang kausap niyang doktor ngayo
ANDREW brought the baby home at his villa that's near to the hospital. He even hired a private nurse that's proficient at taking care of newborn babies and also a pedia doctor for the baby that will be visit them from time to time since he doesn't know how to take care of the baby properly.She was a premature baby and just taken out of incubator. Iniisip ni Andrew na hindi pwedeng basta-basta niya alagaan na lang ang bata. Paano kung mamali lang siya ng pagpapainom ng gatas dito? He doesn't want to take a risk.And also, he's also looking after her mother. Hindi pa rin nagigising si Ann at walang kasiguraduhan kung kailan ito magkakamalay kaya siya muna ang bahala sa anak nito.Honestly, Andrew wanted to inform Ann's family about her situation, that's she's in comatose state, gave birth early to a cute baby girl but she also suffered from getting
"SHE moved her fingers? Really? You're not joking?!"Mabilis na bumalik ng ospital si Andrew noong tumawag si Nick sa kanya at sinabi nito na gumalaw ang mga daliri ni Ann. She's responding to the treatment!Does that mean that she's going to wake up?Andrew felt happy for that. Pakiramdam niya ay sulit ang lahat ng paghihirap niya dahil magigising na ang babae. Hindi dahil ibig sabihin noon ay mawawala ang pananagutan ni Rosanne dito kundi masaya talaga si Andrew dahil ligtas na si Ann.He's really hoping for that day to come. Lalo na't may anak itong naghihintay sa kanya. Andrew promised to himself that after Ann woke up, he will return her to her family. But then, he remembered Rosanne that Andrew's mind took a step back.Ah. Fúck. He doesn't know what to do. But he will figure it out. Hopefully. Hindi ni
ROSANNE looks extra happy that it caught Andrew's attention. But instead of asking her, he just quietly observed her. Naalala niya noong isang araw lang ay sobrang galit na galit ito at nagwawala dahil itinaboy ito ni Clayton. Napahiya pa raw ito nang ipatapon ng lalaki nang minsang pumunta ito sa opisina.He tried to dissuade her from going after Clayton vehemently but Rosanne retorted that he didn't have to care for her. Hayaan daw ni Andrew si Rosanne sa ginagawa kaya walang nagawa ang lalaki noong ipagpilitan ng babae ang gusto nito.Akala niya ay matatagalan pa ang galit nito ngunit noong makita niyang masayang-masaya ito, dito na nagtaka si Andrew....And eventually he found the reason why.Hindi niya alam kung paano nalaman ni Rosanne na babalik na si Ann mula sa probinsya at doon ni Rosanne isasagawa
NANINIBAGO pa rin si Ann ngayon na kasama na nila si Clayton. Isang taon din na hindi nila nakasama si Clayton dahil talagang tumira ito sa Amerika. Nasanay siya na madaling-araw pa lang ay maaga nang gumigising para ipaghanda si Rence at Sera ng babaunin para sa school nila. Kaya noong umagang iyon, maaga na naman siyang bumangon. At noong nakitang may taong nasa kusina, parang nagising siya. Nawala sa loob ni Ann na nakabalik na si Clayton. She saw Clayton busily cooking eggs and pancake. He was also flattening the leftover rice to cook as fried rice that he didn't notice her standing at the door. Napangiti si Ann. Ngayong nakikita niyang ganito si Clayton, naalala niya iyong dati. Bakit ba ngayon niya lang naalala ang mga iyon? Clayton is sweet and responsible. Lalo na noong first three years of marriage nilang dalawa. Hindi lang ito maalaga kay Rence kundi sa kanya. Kahit na pagod ito sa trabaho, lagi itong handa na tulungan siya sa mga gagawin o kaya naman, ito ang sasal
Epilogue KUMAKAIN si Rence ng footlong habang nakaupo sa hood ng kotse ni Owen. Busy siya na panoorin kung paano makipagbasagan ng mukha ang mga kaibigan nang bigla na lang may umambang susuntok sa kanya na kinabitaw niya sa pagkaing hawak dahil umiwas siya.Ilang segundo siyang nakatitig sa footlong na nasa sahig na ngayon bago siya unti-unting lumingon sa taong may kasalanan kung bakit wala na siyang kakainin ngayon.Madilim ang mukha na hinarap niya ito at sinipa sa tiyan na kinabuwal nito. "Sinong may sabi sa 'yo na pwede mo akong pakialaman kapag kumakain ako? Look at my food! You fúcking made me drop it!"Hindi pa kuntento si Rence, ilang ulit niyang sinipa ang taong ito at kahit hindi na gumagalaw, patuloy niya pa ring pinupuntirya ang kalamnan nito.Anything but his food! Kahit kunin na ang l
CLAYTON left them and went abroad by himself. Iyon ang plano nito kapag na-finalize ang annulment nilang dalawa.Iniwan ni Clayton ang custody ng mga bata kay Ann at kahit gusto pala ni Rence na sumama sa Dada nito, hindi pumayag si Clayton. He wants Rence to feel closer with Ann again and it won't happen if he's in the way, he said.Rence was sad but he understood his father. Sera was sad, too, but since she's young and easy to make peace with, naaliw ito nila Clausse at hindi na gaanong hinahanap si Clayton.It's only Ann who felt that she was stuck. Wala silang pormal na pag-uusap ni Clayton tungkol sa kanilang dalawa. Ann thought that Clayton understood what she said to him that night but no, he didn't.Noong sinabi niyang huwag siyang iwan nito, totoo iyon. She may be confused but she's ready to face her fears again;
Kabanata 85 CLAYTON was facing Ann right now with a knotted forehead. Hindi naman matingnan nang maayos ni Ann ang lalaki dahil sa ginawa niya kanina rito. She was so ashamed of what she did awhile ago and she wanted to find a burrow and go inside just to get away from it.Bakit niya ba kasi ginawa iyon! Wala ba siyang kahihiyan? Nasiraan yata siya ng bait kanina at ginawa kung ano na lang ang pumasok sa isip. Dahil nakita niya si Clayton, walang pakundangan niyang hinalikan ang lalaki.Hiyang-hiya talaga siya!"W-Why did you do that?" takang tanong ni Clayton.Umiling lang si Ann dito bilang sagot. Inaral pa ni Clayton ang mukha niya bago siya nito marahang hinawakan sa braso at iginiya sa sasakyan nito.Dahil wala pa rin sa huwisyo si Ann, nagpatianod siya ka
Kabanata 84 HINDI pa rin makapagsalita si Ann mula sa mga sinabi ni Andrew na narinig niya. Hindi siya makapaniwala, e.She never thought that Andrew after saving her from pain, he would also hurt her like this. Alam nito ang kwento niya. Alam nito kung gaano siya katakot na maloko uli; iyong takot niyang magtiwala sa ibang tao pero binigay niya iyon kay Andrew dahil akala niya hindi siya nito sasaktan tulad ng iba.Nagkamali pala siya. Maling-mali.Kaya nga kahit mas malalim ang nararamdaman niya kay Clayton - na mahal na mahal niya pa rin ang asawa, pinanindigan niya ang pagpili kay Andrew. Kasi kahit gaano man niya kamahal si Clayton, sira na ang tiwala niya rito. Ayaw niyang mamuhay araw-araw na mag-o-overthink kung saan pupunta si Clayton, kung may kikitain ba ito o ano.And Andrew
Kabanata 83 THREE weeks had passed and it's soon time for Rence and Sera's bone marrow transplant. Sinabi sa kanila ng doktor na medyo lumakas ang katawan ni Rence at maaari na itong operahan anumang sandali.Dumating na rin pala ang pamilya ni Clayton, ang ina nito at maging ang bunsong kapatid na si Clausse. When Clausse saw Ann, he welcomed her with a tight hug. Ang ina naman ni Clayton ay tinanguan siya noong muli silang nagkita.Siguro ay kinausap din sila ni Clayton dahil hindi niya nakitaan ng pagkagulat ang mga mukha nila noong makita siya. At dahil nakabalik na ang pamilya ni Clayton, sila na ang madalas na bantay ni Rence na halos hindi na makita ni Ann ang anino ni Clayton.Ayaw naman niyang magtanong tungkol dito dahil baka kung ano ang isipin nila sa kanya oras na magtanong siya.They'r
Kabanata 82 "I HEARD that you and Kuya were filing for an annulment. Sigurado na talaga kayo sa gagawin ninyo?"Inangat ni Ann ang tingin at tiningnan si Clarisse. Lihim niyang inaaral kung may galit ba sa mga mata nito tulad noong huli nilang pag-uusap at nang wala siyang makitang reaksyon dito bukod sa pagtataka, nakahinga siya nang maluwag. Marahan siyang tumango at mas lalo namang lumapit sa harapan niya si Clarisse.Nasa labas siya ng ospital dahil bumili siya ng pagkain sa malapit na ministop. Nakasalubong niya si Clarisse at ito ang naging bungad sa kanya ng babae."... You know... I'm sorry for what I said the last time. Hindi ko lang talaga nagustuhan iyong sinabi mo kaya ganoon din ang nasabi ko sa 'yo," panimula ni Clarisse.Nabigla si Ann sa ginawa nitong paghingi ng tawad sa kanya ngayon. Napaangat a
Kabanata 81 NANGILID ang mga luha sa mga mata ni Clayton at ilang ulit na lumunok. Napaiwas ng tingin si Ann dahil nakaramdam siya ng awa kasabay ng pagkastigo sa sarili dahil sa sinabing kasinungalingan.Hindi totoo na hindi na niya mahal si Clayton. Hindi naman mawawala iyon, e. Lalo't ito ang ama ng dalawa niyang anak. Mahal man niya si Andrew, mas malalim pa rin ang nararamdaman niya kay Clayton.But even though she loves him, alam niya na hindi siya mapapanatag dito. Loving Clayton is like a fire — it consumes her all. Unlike Andrew that she feels safe and guarded.Kaya mas gugustuhin niyang magsabi na lang ng kasinungalingan kaya harapin ang totoong nararamdaman para kay Clayton."Are you... are you happy with him?"Napayuko si Ann at muling nagtatalo ang
RENCE is getting weak.Iyon ang naging bungad kay Ann at Clayton ng attending doctor noong matapos nitong tingnan si Rence. At first, Rence is responding good to the therapy they planned for him. But lately, it wasn't the case.Good thing that Sera matched as the bone marrow donor of Rence. Pero hanggang ngayon, hindi pa nila napapagplanuhan ni Clayton kung ano ang gagawin. Ayaw nilang lokohin si Sera at gumawa ng desisyon na hindi kumukunsulta sa bata.Sure, it's not life threatening for her. But it will surely hurt and maybe will take a toll on Sera's health for the early years of her childhood.Before the doctor left them, sinabihan na silang magdesisyon. Bawat paglipas kasi ng oras ay mas lalong lumalala ang sakit ni Rence.Nang makaalis ang doktor, doon pinawalan ni Ann ang mga luha. Binalo