One more chapter and then epilogue.
Panay ang patak ng luha ni Lauren habang dinadala siya ng nurse sa loob ng delivery room. She wanted Kiel to be there with her, see for himself the birth of their daughter. Kaya lang…“It’s okay, Lauren. I know you can do this. Mukhang excited talagang lumabas ang baby ninyo ni Kiel dahil alam niyang excited na rin kayong makita siya. Sometimes, babies do that, you know," sabi ni Doc Angel habang nagsusuot ito ng gloves. Inalalayan na siya ng nurse at pinahiga sa delivery bed. She can't help but tremble when the nurse helped her to put her feet on the stirrup. Impit siyang dumaing at lumuha. Ngayon siya nagsisisi kung bakit pumayag-payag pa siya na umalis si Kiel noong isang araw. Subalit alam niya, kailangang kailangan ang presensiya ni Kiel sa Malaysia kaya siya mismo ang pumilit dito na pumunta.They had a birth plan. It’s been finalized for months. Part of the birth plan was Kiel would be with her as she push their baby out into the world. But that most important thing is missin
Buhat-buhat ni Lauren ang isang taong gulang na niyang anak na si Amara habang pinipindot ang top floor button sa elevator. “Dad,” sabi pa ng kanyang anak bago yumakap sa kanya. It has been three days now since Kiel has been coming home late. Paano ba naman kasi, inaasikaso nito ang muling pagba-branch out ng Ace Logistics sa Indonesia at Singapore. The move was brought by the huge success Ace Logistics had in Malaysia. Wala sa kanilang pamilya ang nag-expect na papatok nang ganoon ang services ng Ace Logistics sa ibang bansa in just a year at that! Kaya naman napagdesisyonan nilang dalawa na mag-branch out na sa iba pang bansa sa Southeast Asia to cater the needs of their clients. But there is a downside, Kiel needs to work for more hours para asikasuhin ang negosyo nito. At nito ngang nakaraang mga araw, halos hindi na nagpapang-abot ang mag-ama dahil maagang umaalis si Kiel sa umaga at late na rin na dumarating sa gabi. Even their baby can sense his absence. Madalas nitong hanap
Seeing her reflection on the elevator’s wall, marahang inayos ni Lauren ang kanyang damit habang paakyat siya sa hotel suite na nirentahan ng boyfriend niyang si Jerome Nacionales ngayong gabi. It’s her boyfriend’s birthday today. And while Jerome’s mother, Tita Emily, planned a big celebration for her son, mas pinili ni Jerome na ituloy ang plano nitong intimate celebration na sila lang dalawa. And who is she to complain? Bilang chief-operating-officer ng NTS Broadcasting Company, isa sa pinakamalaking tv at radio company sa bansa kung saan siya isang contract artist, palagi siyang may kaagaw sa oras ng nobyo. At sa nakalips na halos isang taon na relasyon nila, mabibilang pa lang sa kamay ang mga pagkakataon na nakakapagsarilinan silang dalawa. Sometimes, even during their dates, bitbit pa rin nito ang mga concerns mula sa kumpanya nito. And she had no choice but to always be patient and understanding dahil palagi nitong sinasabi na para din naman daw iyon sa kinabukasan nila at ng
Shit!" usal ni Lauren nang matapunan ang kamay niya ng mainit kape. She was fixing herself a cup of coffee when her cellphone rang.Dashing her way out of that stranger man's suite earlier that morning had made her nervous-wreck.She should be! She just spent the night with a handsome stranger named Kiel! Too much about gifting her virginity to her husband on their wedding night.She huffed and went to the sink. Hinugasan niya ang kamay niyang nabanlian ng mainit na tubig bago sinagot ang tawag sa kanyang cellphone. It was her assistant Micha, ang baklang agent niya dati sa mga beauty contests."Thank god, sumagot ka na! Saan ka ba galing, Lauren? Halos buong gabi akong mulat kaka-contact sa 'yo!" bungad agad nito sa kanya sa kabilang linya. "Muntik na 'kong mag-file ng missing person's report sa sobrang taranta ko dahil panay-panay ang tawag sa akin ni Sir Jerome, asking where you are! Hindi ba kayo nagkita kagabi? 'Di ba sa Gold Hotel ka dumiretso after ng shooting mo sa Antipolo?"
"A third party, seriously? How could you do that, Kiel? Out of all women you could have, pinili mo pa talaga ang kilalang may sabit! And it's not just some couple you messed with! It's Jerome's woman for pete's sake! Now they have used their media power to hit us with whatever mud they can throw at us, especially at you and Ace Logistics!" mataas ang boses na sabi ng kapatid niyang si Aaron. His brother was anxiously pacing to and fro the receiving room of their family's penthouse at SSL. Naroon din si Joshua, his other brother and of course, his mother, who's calm demeanor is scaring the shit out if him more.He huffed and went towards the bar. He just spent the last few minutes explaining his side on the scandal. He's parched, pissed and perturbed. Damn right, he needed a drink for that."Seriously, you need a drink right now? Nakikinig ka ba, Kiel?" si Aaron ulit, tunog saway. "Joshua, talk to that bother of yours before I'd punch the shit out that dickhead!"Nag-angat ng tingin s
Maingat na bumaba ng taxi si Lauren. It was just a few minutes past midnight and she just spent the whole day hiding in some cheap motel in the city. Hindi siya tumuloy sa San Ildefonso. Nang malaman niya ang tungkol sa viral video niya at ni Kiel, she stepped out of the plane immediately. People were angry. She heard them talking inside the plane. They called her names—awful names. She deserved it… for being so careless and weak. Besides, Jerome also has a following for he listed as one of the most eligible bachelors in the country. And no, she cannot endure almost an hour flight inside a plane with people angry at her in it. That's why she unboarded the plane and spent the rest of the day crying and hiding. Kusa rin niyang ini-off ang cellphone niya. But even then, her anxious thoughts just won’t stop inside her head. Alam niya, kahit na nagtatago siya at wala siyang balita sa mga nangyayari, pinagpipiyestahan ng mga tao ang video nila ni Kiel. That and she also had to deal with a
Isang marahas na tapik sa balikat ang nagpagising kay Lauren kinabukasan. Her head was pounding from lack of sleep and her eyes were throbbing from crying too much. “Mabuti naman at gising ka na, Lauren. Bumangon ka na riyan at ipagtimpla mo ko ng kape,” utos agad sa kanya ni Tita Lileth. Nakaayos na ang kanyang tiyahin, bagong ligo rin. Ipinagala niya ang kanyang tingin sa may dingding. It’s just eight in the morning. Last time she checked the time, it was 5:30 A.M. Meaning, she just had two and half hours of sleep. Pero heto na naman ang tiyahin niya at inuutusan siyang magtimpla ng kape nito. “Bilisan mo na riyan. Pupuntahan ko ngayon ang mga kakilala ko. Susubukan kong ayusin ‘yang gulong pinasok mo. Pero hindi ibig sabihin na gumagawa ako ng paraan, hindi mo na gagawin ang pinagapagawa ko sa 'yo. Makikiusap ka pa rin kay Jerome sa ayaw o sa gusto mo,” anito, mabilis na humithit sa sigarilyo at naglakad patungo sa kitchen. She released a slow breath. She really can’t have a bre
Lauren’s breathing hitched. She got easily distracted by his minty breath fanning her face. Not to mention his presence screams authority, as if forcing her to make a full surrender. But she refused to back down. Sa Tita Lileth lang niya siya takot, hindi sa ibang tao. And so she composed herself, lifted her head a fraction and spoke. “I-I don’t know what you’re talking a-about,” she said in a half-shaky voice. “And how did you get inside my house? Don’t you know I can sue you for trespassing?” dugtong pa niya, pag-iiba sa usapan. Kiel grinned, amused, taking a few steps away from her. “You left me no choice. I had to use my connections to get to you.” Agad na nagsalubong ang kilay niya. He must have sensed her confusion, that’s why he continued. “I told you last night, we need to talk. You did not reply. There are things that I need to discuss with you. Urgent.”He spoke the word urgent in a dark tone, making her tremble a little. Kakasuhan din ba siya nito for dragging him into th