Erykah Sunshine.OfferIt's been a week. I didn’t get any calls from that damn jerk engineer. Hmp, so I failed?I hissed as I twisted my mouth, feeling so defeated. After all, what I did that day was a big fail.Sana nga pala hindi ko binigla ang engineer na iyon. Siguro matatangap pa ako. Pero wala na. Tapos na. Pinagsisihan ko na."Are you okay, Nay?"Panay ang ubo ni Nanay sa sarili. Noong isang araw ko pa ito napansin sa kanya. Sinabihan ko na siya na magpahinaga pero matigas ang ulo niya. Kaya heto, pagkatapos ko mag umagahan ay pinuntahan ko siya rito sa puwesto niya at dinalhan siya ng snacks."Ubo lang ito, anak. Mawawala rin." Ngumiti siya at ininom ang tubig na binigay ko."Mawawala? Paano mawawala kung walang gamot, Nay? Ano 'yan magic?" Bahagyang tawa ko. Lahat ng mga tao ay ganito mag-isip. Pero sa init nang panahon ngayon at pabago-bagong klima ay hindi basta-basta mawawala ang ubo kung walang gamot."Nay, we are now living in a new age. Just stay there. I will buy you
Glenn.Great. What a good timing.I did not expect to see her inside my office. She was temporarily relieving Nay Mira. I've seen Nay Mira before. Madalas ako sa opisina ko lalo na kung may mga bagong proyekto na kailangan kong matapos. Nanay only does cleaning every weekends. Day off kasi ito ng mga cleaner sa firm.I admit it. I was kind of lost a while ago, but then seeing her again took the weight off my shoulders. That's how I describe that. That was somehow how I felt earlier."Any good news?" si Drew, tinapik niyang bahagya ang balikat ko at saka naupo na sa tabi ko."Yes. I was just finalizing the paperwork," I said as I grabbed the right folder. It was on the top."May nahanap ka na ba? Beauty told me that you are looking for a responsible and trusted PA. I can help you with that.""No need, Drew. I found her." I smiled, feeling confident this time."Really? That's good. So, ano? Sasama ka sa survey ngayong linggo?""Oo. I will take my new PA with me.""That's good. Then, I
Erykha Sunshine.What a short-tempered engineer.I almost twisted my lips in dismay as I looked at him, walking back and forth while talking to someone in the line. I should be going home right now, right? I should be. Kanina pa ako rito, at tapos na ako sa pinapagawa niya. Akala ko ba may family lunch gathering siya, eh, lagpas alas dose na.Ang inakala kong janitress ay PA pala.Oh, well, not bad, as I don't mind this job. I'm okay with this. It's a big bonus twist, and I didn't expect this."Excuse me, Sir?" I interrupted with a signaled in hand.Nahinto agad siya at kunot-noo akong tinitigan. He paused talking to someone in the line when I signaled the time using my hand."You have a lunch with family, remember?" I said in a whisper signed. Kahit papaano ay alam ko kung paano mag sign language, dahil pinag-aralan ko ito.Tumango agad siya at tiningnan ang oras sa relo na suot niya. Napansin ko agad ang relo niya. Ito lang yata ang magarbo at mahal sa lahat ng nasa katawan niya.
Erykah Sunshine.What the hell?Nabilaukan ako sa sariling laway nang marinig ito mula kay Glenn. Kumurap ako at hindi ko inalis ang mga mata ko sa kanya. Seryoso siyang nakatitig sa mga magulang niya at mas lalong humigpit ang hawak niya sa kamay ko.Straight away, I converted my stare at the people around us, especially his parents."What did you say?" Glenn's father asked in a stern voice. His eyes were deadly serious."Oh, my..." Glenn's mother gasped and covered her mouth in shock.Yeah. It's bloody, oh my god!I looked back at Glenn, asking for an explanation. But all I could get from him was a tightening stare that almost havoc my troubled heart.I want to contest and explain to them because that's the right thing to do. That's what my mind told me, but something is stopping me, and it's my heart.Kaya na imbes na ipagtangol ko ang sarili ay ngumiti akong tinitigan si Glenn at ang mga magulang niya na parang wala sa sarili."Pasensya na po kung nabigla namin kayo ni Glenn. We
Erykah Sunshine.Tawang-tawa si Nanay habang kumakain. Nakikinig lang siya sa kwento ko at namula na ang mukha niya sa kakatawa."Nay, ano po ang nakakatawa?""Wala, anak. Congratulations! May trabaho ka na. May asawa ka pa! Ayaw mo ba?" Ulit na tawa niya.I rolled my eyes and shook my head. It's not funny, like how Nanay wants me to laugh at my misery, thinking that Glenn is an absolute jerk.Yes. He is a damsel jerk in distress!"Huwag kang mag-alala, Eres. Bukas na bukas iba na ang mundo mo. Malay mo, baliw lang ang amo mo, at baka bukas ay babalik na ulit ang dating anyo niya. Kaya kumain ka na. Malamig na ang sabaw."Napatango na ako at mahinang napabuntong-hininga sa sarili. Baka nga tama si Nanay. Sadyang may tupak lang siguro ang engineer na iyon, at baka bukas ay okay na siya, at siguro makakalimutan na niya ang lahat.Oo, tama nga naman. Itulog ko nalang ito, at tiyak okay na sa pag-gising ko.MAAGA AKO NGAYON SA OPISINA. Dinaig ko pa yata ang in-charge sa reception dahil
Glenn Mondragon.I know it won't be easy, but I guess Eres's personality will make it easier for me. It's better to give this contract to a stranger than to someone who knows me and my family. Eres is just perfect for the rule.My brows furrowed as I read my mother's message on the phone again. She reminded me of tonight's dinner with the family. They want to know Eres, and now I am left with no choice but to woo her again and make amends with her."The contract is simple, Eres. You will work as my PA, and our relationship at work is secret. There's no need for them to know that you are my secret wife." I started the moment I stopped the car and parked it in my designated basement spot. She looked at me in confusion, and I understood that."Ano? Are you joking, right?""No. I'm not. Come on. I'll show you around." I smiled slightly and stepped out of the car. Hindi ko na siya pinagbuksan dahil sa iba si Eres kung kumilos. Mukhang kaya niya namang gawin ang lahat. Nakasunod siya sa a
Erykah Sunshine.What the heck? Oh, my goodness!I can't believe I agreed to this type of agreement. I never in my wildest dream would someone, a stranger, for instance, come to me and offer me this type of setting out of the blue.Nanginig ang tuhod ko nang makalabas sa gusali na kung nasaan ang penthouse niya. Napahawak ako sa dibdib at humugot nang malalim na hininga.Wala na si Glenn. Nauna na siyang umalis dahil may tumawag na kliyente sa kanya. Babalikan niya raw ako mamaya at dito kami magkikita sa penthouse niya.I don't need to go back to the office anymore as he will not be around there. He doesn't want me to accompany him to meet this new client because he wants me to pack all my things and move them to his place.This is insane. It's too fast, but I have no choice. I know this is crazy, but it is temporarily the solution to my problem.It's been months since I left home without knowing what was happening there. I don't want to know about them because I know my stepmother
Erykah Sunshine.Nerve crackling. . . este, wracking.Nanginginig ang tuhod ko at sadyang pinigilan ko lang ito. Peke akong ngumiti sa mga magulang niya, at malamig pa sa ice candy silang lahat makatingin sa akin.I cleared my throat and glanced at Glenn beside me.Naghahanap ako ng kakampi, pero mukhang wala akong maasahan kay Glenn. Dahil katulad din siya ng mga magulang niya. . . malalamig sila.Maraming pagkain at ang sasarap nito. Pero hindi ako matutunawan sa gabing ito. Puno ng kaba ang puso ko at ang katahimikan nila ay dumadagdag lang sa pag-aalala ko ngayon."How did the two of you meet?" Cheska asked. I didn't expect that it was coming from her. I anticipated Glenn's parents would ask me that, but I was wrong."Uhm, we-we meet in New York," pekeng ngiti ko. Nakatitig ako kay Glenn, dahil siya naman ang katabi ko, pero mukhang wala siyang narinig. Panay lang ang pag-subo niya at ganoon din ang mga magulang niya."New York? I see. . . That's explained why kuya always go over