Lahat ng Kabanata ng Forbidden Affair: Kabanata 31 - Kabanata 40

Naalimputangan ako dahil sa halik na pumupupog sa mukha ko. Kinusot ko ang aking mga mata at dinilat ito. Bumungad naman sa mukha ko si Jarren na nakangiti at may bahid ng chocolate ang mukha.Inabot ko ito at pinahiran ang kayang pisngi. "Where did you get this?""Good morning, mommy! Get up now!" Hinila ako nito pabangon. "Your breakfast is ready!"Bahagya akong natawa sa inaakto nito. "Where did you get the nutella smudge, Jarren? Did you play with grandmommy?""Nope," he replied. "It was me and daddy.""Granddaddy?" paglilinaw ko ngunit umiling muli ang bata."It was daddy Daze." Umupo ito sa kama at ngumiti. "He said sorry to me this morning and asked if how will he make it up to me. I told him he'll make me pancakes, but he don't know how."The happiness lingering on his eyes gave me relief. I ruffled his hair and kissed his forehead. "Susunod si mommy. Maliligo lang ako."Tumango lang ito at nagmamadaling bumaba ng kama. Walang lingon na itong lumabas ng silid at hindi pa nag-a

Maaga akong lumisan sa resthouse ni Daze para mahabol ko ang flight ko sa alas sais. I need to go home. Ayokong mag-stay sa lugar na maraming alaala ang nakaukit. "... we have just landed at—"Hindi ko na pinakinggan pa ang cabin crew na nagsasalita. Isinukbit ko ang dala kog bag sa aking balikat tumayo na para sa paglabas. Nagsitayuan din naman ang mga kapwa ko pasahero. Nang makababa ako ng eroplano ay hinugot ko ang aking cellphone sa bulsa at ini-unlock ito habang naglalakad. I immediately dialed my mother's number and waited for them to pick the phone up. "Hello, Vielle?" si papa ang sumagot. I took a deep breath and continue walking. "Hey, pa. Gising na po ba si Jarren?" "Ah, tulog pa ang bata. Naglaro kami ng xbox kagabi kaya inabot kami ng alas dose." I can sense father is grinning. Napagkawala ako ng mahinang tawa, sakto namang nakalabas na ako ng paliparan kaya agad akong tumawag ng taxi. "Sige, po. Pauwi na po ako, pa. Call you back later." I heard him hummed on the

Nagising ako dahil sa pagtunog ng alarm clock. Pikit-mata ko itong kinapa sa nightstand at ini-off. I covered my mouth to yawn and slowly opened my eyes. I blinked several times to adjust from the brightness of the surroundings. Ramdam ko rin ang mabigat na bagay na nakapatong sa tiyan ko. The moment I opened my eyes and my vision cleared, I spotted someone's arms wrapped around my waist. Ngayon ko lang din na napansin na hindi pala unan ang inuunan ko kundi ang braso ni Daze. Nakatanday ang binti nito sa hita ko dahilan para hindi ako makagalaw.I lifted my hands and slightly tapped his cheeks. "Daze..." He groaned and tightened his hug on me. "What?" "It's already six. May trabaho ka pa sa opisina. I still need to go home," I replied. He groaned once again before he slowly opened his eyes. His eyes landed on me and a genuine smile formed on his lips. "You're here," he murmured."Of course I'm here." Napapantastikuhan ko itong tinignan. He chuckled and pulled me more closer. "I

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome onboard Flight 3B9 with service from New York to Philippines. We are currently third in line for take-off and are expected to be in the air in approximately seven minutes time. We ask that you please fasten your seatbelts at this time and secure all baggage underneath your seat or in the overhead compartments. We also ask that your seats and table trays are in the upright position for take-off. Please turn off all personal electronic devices, including laptops and cell phones. Smoking is prohibited for the duration of the flight. Thank you for choosing Emirates Airlines. Enjoy your flight," anunsiyo ko. Matapos ay agad akong nagtungo sa Economy class dahil doon ako naka-assigned. Pasimple kong tinapunan ng mga tingin ang mga pasahero kung nakasuot na ba sila ng kani-kanilang seat belts. I saw kids happily and cheerfully talking to their parents. Bigla ko tuloy naalala ang anak kong si Jarren, at kapag naaalala ko siya ay hindi ko maiwasang mapabuntong-

“Papa,” I called him. He's standing near the glass wall. Nakatitig ito sa malawak na siyudad ng Manila. We're here in a very wide and big condominuim of Rial Condo. Malaki ang espasyo ng sala nito, kusina at may terrace pa. May tatlong silid at ang isa ay inuukupa ni mama Amelia na hanggang ngayon ay tulog pa.He turned his head to look at me and smile. He motioned me to come over, and that's what I did. Nilapitan ko siya at agad niya naman akong niyakap. Parang biglaang gumaan ang pakiramdam ko sa uri ng yakap ni papa. He's hugging me as if I was lost for many years. I could feel his longing between our hugs. “I never thought my babygirl was alive,” he murmured. I hugged him back, much tighter than his. Diniin ko ang mukha ko sa kanyang dibdib at hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili kong umiyak. Hindi ko rin inakalang hindi ako nabibilang sa pamilyang Martinez.“Dad,” said by a voice behind us. “Can we talk?”Kumalas ako sa yakap kay papa Edcel at bumaling kay Art na seryoso ang mukh