Imbes na sa loob ng bahay, sa gazebo idiniretso ni Sophie si Rob. Ayaw niya kasing makita pa ng Daddy niya si Rob. Baka kausapin pa ng Daddy niya si Rob kung sakali, magtagal pa ito sa bahay nila na ayaw niyang mangyari.
Marahan niyang inilapag ang dala nitong bouquet sa garden set na nasa gazebo bago siya sumandal sa balustre ng gazebo, ilang hakbang ang layo kay Rob.
Uncomfortable silence came afterwards. Nanatili si Rob na nakatayo at nakatitig lang sa kanya. Halatang marami itong gustong sabihin subalit hindi nito alam kung saan mag-uumpisa.
He turned to you to scratch his itch!
Umiwas siya ng tingin at kinagat ang kanyang pang-ibabang labi. Magkasabay na bumangon ang galit at sakit sa kanyang dibd
"Sige mukmok galore ka diyan!" paninita ni Raine sa kanya na bahagya pang humikab bago nagtungo sa kitchen ng condo niya upang i-on ang coffee maker. Kanina pa siya nakatanga sa malaking bintana ng unit niya.Madilim pa nang lumabas siya ng bahay nila kanina. Sleep was elusive the whole night. At dahil hindi rin lang siya makatulog, nagpasya siyang magmukmok na lang sa ibang lugar. Doon sa kung saan siya malayang umiyak, sumigaw, magwala at mapakabaliw. Doon sa lugar na malayo kay Rob. Kaya heto siya ngayon, nasa condo unit niya at kasama si Raine.Subalit ngayon, habang tumatagal ang pananatili niya sa unit niya, she's slowly realizing how stupid she was to go there. Even her very own house reminded her of Rob. Of course it would. They did the deed there!Nagbu
"What's this, Sophie? I said, I want you to lose some weight in your mid- section. But you gave me another two pounds instead!" Ms. Elle frustratedly sighed and brushed her hair with her fingers.She wanted to speak, to explain herself. But words just won't come out of her mouth. She was standing in the middle of Ms. Elle's huge office surrounded by glass wall panels, overlooking the stupendous view of the city of Paris. She just couldn't stand to see the disappointment on Ms. Elle's face. Elle De Rossi is the owner and manager of the modelling agency she's been working with for the past two years.Nasa mid-fifities na si Ms. Elle ngunit maganda pa rin. The woman has shoulder-length blonde hair and still has an attractive face despite the fine lines and wrinkles due to aging. Ito ang naka-discover sa kanya sa isang mall sa Makati
Nasa ganoon silang pag-uusap nang sabay silang napalingon nang biglang kumatok si Juliette, ang sekretarya ni Ms. Elle. Nang pumasok ito, kasunod nito ang isang taong pamilyar sa kanya."Tyrone?" bulalas niya, napatayo pa sa settee."There you are!" ani Ms. Elle bago nilapitan ang bagong dating at bineso.Ngumisi si Tyrone nang bumaling sa kanya. "Hi, sweetheart," bati nito sa kanya sabay kindat."Oh yeah, I forgot! You're both Filipinos. Well I guess, there's no need for introduction," ani Ms. Elle, ngiting-ngiti."What are you--""He now works for us, Sophie. Just like you, we will be grooming him to be the latest Asian eye candy.
Pinilit ni Sophie ang magmulat nang marinig niya ang doorbell sa kanyang pinto. She quickly looked at her bedroom's window, maliwanag pa. Mabilis siyang bumaling sa orasan sa kanyang bedside table. It's past 5 in the afternoon.Sino naman kaya ang bisita niya?Pahirapan siyang bumangon sa kama. Sandali niyang kinalma ang sarili nang makaramdam siya ng hilo. Masama pa rin talaga ang timplada ng katawan niya. She really needs to visit her doctor soon.When she felt she's ready to stand, patamad niyang tinungo ang pinto ng unit niya at agad na sumilip sa peep hole."It's me sweet--err, Sophie," ani Tyrone sa labas ng pintuan.She sighed. She's unsure if she'd let him in or not.
"This way please, Monsieur," anang may katandaan nang lalaki habang iginigiya si Rob sa loob ng elevator. Humugot siya nang malalim na hininga habang papaakyat ang lift sa tutuluyan niyang apartment habang nasa Paris siya.Huminto sa penthouse ang lift-- the owners lair. Just like what he instructed to Prime Holdings when he bought that building early that year."Thank you, Antoine. Just leave my things there," sabi niya nang nasa gitna na sila ng malawak na sala."Oui, Monsieur," anang manager ng apartment building. "Before I forget, here are the documents your secretary told me to give you.""Okay, just leave it on the table," ani Rob.Tinanggal niya ang coat niya at isinampay iyon
Nahihilo man at nanghihina, kumurap-kurap si Sophie upang hamigin ang sarili. Marahas siyang nagpunas ng luha.Is she really seeing Rob right now? Or maybe she wished too hard and she's seeing things."Sophie, what's wrong?" tanong ulit ni Rob bago humakbang palapit sa kanya. Tinambol ng kaba ang dibdib niya. Her mind is not tricking her. Naroon talaga si Rob sa bahay niya.Nang makalapit ito sa kanya, napapikit siya nang halos payakap siya nitong binuhat.Oh God he's really real!Muntikan na siyang maluha. It's been months since she ended their friendship. And ever since she learned that she's pregnant, no matter how illogical it might be, she longed for him more and
"Is the idea of marrying me that bad?" tanong nito sa mababang tinig.She wanted to tell him no. That's he's all she had ever wanted. That she loves him so much. That her life wouldn't be life at all without him in it. But... she knew, in the end, Rob is not for her to keep."Don't make me answer that, please," bulong niya. "Isipin mo rin ang magiging anak ninyo ni Rachel."Agad na nagbuhol ang mga kilay nito. "She's not pregnant.""Oh yes she is!" she retorted. "Nakita ko 'yong ultrasound report niya. Ipinakita niya sa 'kin."Napahilot sa sentido si Rob. "And when was this?"Umiwas siya ng tingin. "When you were still in Malaysia."
"Anong gusto mong kainin?" masuyong tanong ni Rob kay Sophie habang binubuksan nito ang ref.She made face while she was standing in the middle her living room. She was watching him take out all the food inside the fridge on to the kitchen island. It was as if he was sorting the food she can and cannot eat.He's acting like a loving husband caring for his pregnant wife.She gave a faint smile. He had always been protective of her and somehow with the gesture, she had a glimpse of how a loving father he would be to their child.She sighed. The thought made her happy and weary at the same time. Nakauwi na siya galing ospital. Nakaubos siya ng dalawang bote ng suero at maayos naman na ang pakiramdam niya. Pero bakit tuwing nakikita niya