Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

Did I just hear that right?

My forehead creased because of what she said. So I crouched a little so that our heights would match at para na rin hindi ako mahirapang kausapin siya. Naiilang man ay ngumiti ako sakaniya. I held her shoulders smoothly before clearing something about what she just said.

“Hey, do you know me?” marahang tanong ko sa bata.

She nooded confidently with a big smile plastered on her face.

“Yes! You're Fleur Garnet, the in- demand super model! I am your biggest fan. That's why I am happy and excited that you will be my future mommy!” puno ng saya ang boses niya habang nakangiting sumagot sa tanong ko.

“That's right, I am Fleur Garnet the in demand super model, just like what you said. But... I think you're mistaken about me being your future mommy.” saad ko.

Gosh. I was never this kind of woman who will use her title.

Her cute forehead formed into lines.

“But daddy said you will be my mom,” mahinang sabi niya at nag pout pa.

Palihim na napangiti ako sa sinabi niya. Who ever taught this little girl about me being her mom is such a prankster. She looked so happy a moment ago, then her facial expression changed. 

“Well... your father is mistaken—” I was cut off when someone barged in and interrupted me.

“She's right.” a rough dominant voice cut me off.

A bulk of man entered the shop just now. He's wearing a black business casual attire. Malinis at naka gel ang buhok niya, he still has thin beard on his face, at mas lalong nag matured ang katawan niya. But his face is still the handsome visage for me.

Dahan-dahan akong napatayo at napatulala ng makita siya. My body went from warm to cold. How did he know that I came back?

“Daddy!” the little girl run towards him.

He smiled and kneeled to carry the little girl. He gave her a peck. The little girl giggled and kissed him on the lips. 

Daddy? The daddy that the little girl has been mentioning earlier is him? My fucking ex-fiancé?!

“Did you say hi to your mommy, baby?” ang kaninang malalim na boses niya ay napalitan ng malambot na boses.

They both looked at me. The little girl nodded her head like how the puppy's tail wiggle.

“But she said she will not be my future mommy, daddy. Did you lie to me, dy?”

His dark, piercing eyes looked directly into mime. My throat suddenly run out of saliva. Ang paraan ng pag titig niya ay puno ng galit.

“No, baby, I will never lie to you. She is and will be your future mommy, okay?” he caressed the little girl's hair.

Nakita ko kung paano ngumiti ang bata dahil sa sinabi niya. Is he out of his mind?! I will never be a mother to his daughter! I wasn't even able to mother my child!

“No, No, No. Your father is crazy.” I whispered but I know Rhysand heard it.

I slapped him hard. I didn't even know why I slapped him. I just wanted to, okay?

Hinawakan niya ang pisnge niyang namumula dahil sa sampal ko. He looked at me darkly.

“What the fuck, Rhysand! Who are you to decide?” nangagalitang singhal ko.

I saw how his lip rose a bit. Mapaglaro niya akong tiningnan.

“Why? You left me for five fucking years!” he said, restraining his voice. “You just need to mother my daughter until her real mother will come back.” he remarked like he has the authority to.

How dare he accuse me of leaving him five years ago when I didn't even accuse him of not being there.

It's not a valid reason for me to mother his child!

Hindi makapaniwalang tumingin ako sakaniya. Did that past five years made him like this? Deciding for someone's life?

Napatingin ako sa batang babae na masayang nilalaro ang mga bulaklak. She's so pure and precious.

Wala pang sampung minuto ay umalis na sila bago pa dumating sina Grace. I was left alone. Nakatulala akong nakatayo sa gitna ng shop ni Grace.

Is this his welcoming gift to me after 5 years when the nightmare happened? to mother his child?

He is insane!

“Ang kapal din naman talaga ng mukha niyang ex mo ano?!” malakas na sigaw ni Mia sa akin.

“Pagkatapos niyang hindi magpakita sayo noon tapos gagawin ka niyang step-mom ng anak niya! Ha! Rhysand is unbelievable!” she almost fainted when she heard about what happened earlier.

Hinawakan ni Grace ang kamay niya, trying to calm the woman who's losing her mind infront of me.

“Calm down, Mia, mas arte ka pa maka react kesa kay Leur!”

That's true though, mas malala pa ang reaction niya sa naging reaction ko.

“May na alala ka ba, Mia?” mapang-asar na tanong ni Austin sa babae. Sa gitna ng seryosong usupan namin ay nagawa niya pa talagang mag biro.

Mia glared at him that made him shut his mouth.

“Shut up, Austin!” she look more infuriated because of what Austin said.

I left when the clock strikes ten in the evening. Ka agad akong dumiretso sa bahay namin. I was actually surprised that our kasambahay greeted me, forming a line with a “welcome home, miss Fleur” banner. They even bought red velvet cake, sila rin lang naman ang kumain at hindi pa talaga ako niyaya.

I walked elegantly up the staircase. Pinalandas ko ang mga daliri sa hawakan nito. Nilibot ko ang paningin sa bahay. It feels home.

I went to sleep after the long night. And it's visiting me again. Always. It's always visiting me in my sleep.

Tomorrow morning, I just found myself waiting for him at the café while wearing this uncomfortable black mask, black cap, black scarf, and a fashionable all-black turtleneck shirt, high-waisted black jeans paired with black high heels. 

Yes. Fashionable.

I took a glimpse of my coffee. How can I drink this without removing my mask and without getting caught?

“Nabasa niyo ba sa social media? Umuwi na raw si Fleur Harisson dito sa Pilipinas!” narinig kong sabi ng kaharap kung mga babae. They're maybe teenagers based on their uniform.

“Weh? Siya 'yong model na pinalaglag ang sariling anak para sa career niya diba?” I can vividly see the judgement on the other girl's face.

Mahinang tinapik ng kaibigan niya ang braso niya.

“That's just a rumors. Hindi naman natin alam kung ano ang totoo. We all know na gagawin nila ang lahat para siraan ang mga celebrities.” Says the girl with long jet hair as she sips her iced coffee.

Ang isang babae naman ay nilapit ang mukha sa kanila.

“Pero alam niyo ba, they said that Fleur got into a car accident, which is the reason why she lost her baby.”

Hindi ko na narinig ang sinabi nila ng mapunta ang atensiyon ko sa lalaking bagong dating at umupo sa harapan ko.

“Stop listening to them.” baritonong sambit niya na hindi ko pinansin.

He's still dumb. Of course, even though I don't want to listen, I can still do so because I have ears. 

“Why did you want to meet me? My schedule is tight, Rhysand, kaya sabihin mo na ang dahilan mo.” walang paligoy-ligoy na sabi ko sakaniya.

Hindi niya ako pinansin at nag order pa talaga siya ng sarili niyang kape. Ang walang hiya. he ignored me!

May kinuha siya sa bulsa ng coat niya at ibinigay ito sa akin. He propelled the paper to me.

“This is my daughter and my schedule. If you want the clearer one at para na rin hindi mo bitbit palagi 'yan, I can send it to you.” may kinakapa siya sa cellphone niya at bigla nalang tumunog ang phone ko.

Kinuha ko ito sa mesa at tiningnan kung sakaniya ba galing ang text. My eyebrow rose a bit. How did he know my number? As far as I know, my number five years ago and now is completely different.

Taas noo akong tumingin sakaniya. I smirked playfully even though he can't see it.

“Who says I'll mother your child? I never said I'll do it.”

I don't care if he will get angry. Then be it! Magalit siya kung magalit siya.

“You will regret it if you don't.” mariing sabi habang mariin akong tiningnan sa mga mata kahit naka sunglasses ako.

Wala na siyang sinabi pa at umalis na.

Is he nuts? He will ask his ex-fiancé to mother his child? Ha! Sa tingin niya ba matatakot niya ako at mapapapayag gamit ang nakakamatay niyang tingin? Never!

I will not mother his child. I swear my life to Him.

And that's final.