Lahat ng Kabanata ng That First Night With Mr. CEO : Kabanata 171 - Kabanata 180

"Saan daw po nagpunta? Wala pong sinabi kung kailan ang balik?" narinig ni Charlie na tanong ni Gael sa katulong ni Dr. Andres. Naroon sila sa bahay ng doktor upang sana magpa-check up. Subalit mukhang wala roon ang doktor. She's was having an upset stomach for 2 days now in a row. At sobrang nag-aalala na ang asawa niya sa kanya kaya naman pumayag na siya sa hiling nito na magpa-check up. At base sa narinig niyang usapan ni Gael at ng katulong, baka kailangan nilang humanap ng doktor na maaring tumingin sa kanya. Maya-maya pa, bumalik na sa kotse si Gael. Umayos naman ang pagkakaupo niya sa passenger's seat. The car is older than that of Gael's car kaya hindi siya masyadong kumportable sa upuan niya. Sir Eric exchanged Gael's car with that old one as part of their precautionary measures while they settle there. "Kailangan daw nating pumunta sa susunod na bayan para magpacheck-up sa doktor na kakilala ni Dr. Andres sabi ng katulong," ani ni Gael nang makaupo na ito sa driver's

Ilang sandali pa, natanaw na niya ang dulo ng daan ng tinatahak nila. It was a clearing on the edge of the mountain. A chopper was seating in the middle of it. “Gael, kanino ‘yong chopper?” tanong niya ulit. But like the first question, he didn’t answer. Maya-maya pa, itinigil ni Gael ang sasakyan ilang metro mula sa chopper. Walang imik itong bumaba ng sasakyan bago siya pinagbuksan ng pinto. She’s still confused and full of questions but she did climb out of the car anyway. Gael quickly cupped her face as soon as she was able to stand. His beautiful gray eyes were filled with sadness. “G-Gael…” “I am doing this because I love you. So much. I am doing this for you, Charlize,” he declared in a hurried voice. Her brows furrowed. “I-I don’t understand, Gael. What are you—“ Her next words remained lodged inside her throat when she saw familiar faces coming out of the chopper. Una niyang nakita si Axel, kasunod nito si Jacob. Then her father’s assistant, Diego. Agad siyang pinan

“How are you?” malumanay na tanong ng Daddy niya kay Charlie. Bahagya nang humupa ang bigat at galit na nasa mga mata nito kanina, subalit mababaanag pa rin doon ang bigat ng emosyon. Naroon silang mag-ama sa mini-library ng kanilang penthouse. Kanina pa sila nakaupong dalawa sa magkabilang dulo ng mahabang sofa, tila hindi magkadugo at tila walang balak magkibuan.Gabi na at ilang oras na rin ang lumipas mula nang makauwi si Charlie sa kanila subalit ngayon lang sila nagkaroon ng pagkakataon na mag-usap ng Daddy niya. Not that her father did not insist talking to her earlier habang nagpapahinga siya. But her mother was not having any of her father’s reasons. Ipinagpilitan ng kanyang Mommy na kailangan niya ng pahinga. At sobrang ipinagpapasalamat niya na kahit paano, naiintidihan siya ng Mommy niya. Now that she had collected a little of herself, she had decided to talk to her father. She knew this talk is inevitable. So the sooner she’s done with it, the better.“I’m fine, D-Dad,”

Malakas sa tainga ni Charlie ang tunog ng kung anu-anong monitors na nakakabit sa katawan ng Daddy niya. He was already transferred to the hospital suite. And now that she’s alone there with him, her heart hurts so much knowing that it was her who caused her father to be in that state.She did that to him. Her defiance did that to her father.Her father looks fine now but she will never forget the look in her father’s face as he struggled for air. Her father was dying in front of her and she cannot do anything.Muli siyang humikbi, marahang inabot ang malayang kamay ng Daddy niya. “I-I’m so s-sorry, Dad. I’m so s-sorry,” aniya sa pagitan ng paghikbi.All her life, her father had loved her. He shielded from anything bad, from everything that hurts.Why didn’t she believed him when he said that Gael wasn’t good for her? Why did she welcome Gael into her life again? Why was she so blinded by love?Humagulgol na siya. Questions. There were so many questions. And she doesn’t seem to know h

“Hindi po talaga nagagawi rito si T’yo, Aling Myrna?” nag-aalalang tanong ni Gael sa dati nilang kapitbahay sa may aplaya. Doon siya dinala ng paghahanap niya sa tiyuhin. Mula nang iwan niya si Charlie sa Antipolo kahapon ay hindi na naalis ang bigat na nasa dibdib niya. He did not just thought of turning the car around once to get Charlie back. But he willed himself not to.Madalas sabihin sa kanya ng T’yo Berting niya noon na ang tamang desisyon ay mahirap gawin. That thought gave him the assurance that he was doing the right thing for his wife. He maybe hurting right now and he knew Charlie too, but in the long run, his decision will both do them good. Minsan nang nailagay sa alanganin ang buhay niya. Hindi na niya hihintayin pa na si Charlie naman ang mapahamak dahil sa pagtatago nila. Isa pa may sakit ito. Ang importante sa kanya sa ngayon ay ang mapagamot ito nang walang inaalalang anumang panganib. That’s why he came home to his unfinished beach house in San Gabriel. Gusto n