CHAPTER SEVENTY-FOUR
Looking at the little girl, I was somewhat amazed. Bibo si Badiday at maraming kwento although some of the things she was saying were unfamiliar to me. Hindi rin siya magaling mag-pronounce ng pangalan. She calls Sioux ‘Soks’ and she calls me ate barbie. According to her, mukha raw akong barbie. Isa pa, nahihirapan siyang banggitin ang pangalan ko. And she’s more reliable in the kitchen than Sioux.
Siguro mas matanda sa kanya si Photia. And they could probably have been friends. I haven’t asked her age. Ipinapaala niya ang baby ko. I blew a loud breath while staring at her face from a far.
Muntik pa kaming mag-away ni Sioux dahil sa bata. She let the little kid alone in his yacht. Sinundo niya ako ng walang kasama si Badiday. Yes, he has men around. But it wasn’t enough. What if may masamang mangyari kay Badiday habang mag-isa siya? Accidents happen all the time. He’s not think
CHAPTER SEVENTY-FIVE “Sioux!” I called from the cabin. Sinusuklay ko ang buhok ko sa vanity mirror na kaharap ko. I saw him emerged. He was topless. Basa ang kanyang buhok, mayroong towel na nakasukbit sa balikat niya. For sure, he went swimming again. “You need anything, babe?” Lumapit siya sa tayo ko, dumukwang siya para halikan ako sa labi. “We need to go shopping. I’m running out of undergarments.” I informed him. Tumaas ang sulok ng labi niya. He raised a brow. “Do you still need them?” mayabang niyang tanong. “I prefer no undergarments at all and you being naked under the sheet.” Inirapan ko siya. “Ha-ha. Funny. Of course, I need them, idiot.” He shook his head. “Anything for my queen.” masuyo niyang sambit. Dinampian niya ang noo ko ng isang halik. I don’t feel like dressing up, so I chose to wear a p
CHAPTER SEVENTY-SIX “Oh,” mahinang ungol ko. It was wholesome kind of ungol if there is. Nagising ako sa masarap na sensasyon. “Right there, babe…” “Like it?” Sioux asked with that serious expression on his face. Nagco-concentrate yata. He brought it to the next level. I moaned louder. Sarap na sarap naman ako. Sarap na sarap sa masahe niya. I was really tired and I appreciate his gesture. It was helping me at ease. Alam kong napapagod din siya, but his motto would be me before anyone else even himself. Ipinagpatuloy niya ang pagmasahe sa paa ko hanggang tuluyang guminhawa ang pakiramdam ko. “Thank you, babe.” Dumukwang siya papalapit sa akin para bigyan ako nang masuyong halik. I caressed his face. “Feel better now?” I nodded. “Good,” he replied tucking the hair behind my ear. “Let’s
CHAPTER SEVENTY-SEVEN There are good and bad times. That’s reality. It’s not always rainbows and butterflies. If the bad times come, we only need hope and faith that the better days are coming and they usually do. I am already in the better days. If the bad ones come around again, I’m ready to face it. Not alone. But I’m with someone whom I’m trusting my lifetime with. Kasama na rin doon sina Manang. They are my treasures. Walang katumbas na kahit ano mang salapi. “Babe,” ungot ni Sioux nang pumasok siya sa office ko sa cruise ship. Yes, I have one and it was enormous. Tahimik na bumukas ang door. Kanina pa siya patunghay - tunghay sa labas ng office. Well, I have literally everything in here. There’s my office, gyms, movie theater, boutiques only for me and everything that I want and need, name it. “It’s already late, aren’t you tired? Have some rest.”
CHAPTER SEVENTY-EIGHT Naupo ako sa kama nang makaramdam ako ng pagkahilo. Hindi ko ipinahalata iyon kay Sioux. He can be so dramatic at times. Sakto namang mayroong nag-door bell sa cabin suite namin. Hindi na niya nagawa akong i-interrogate. Sinulyapan niya muna ako bago siya tumungo sa pinto para pagbuksan ang unlucky creature. Sioux was mean towards his men, he doesn’t want to be disturbed when he is with me. Hinintay ko siyang bumalik. When he did, he is pushing a cart with different foods. Mostly, they are my favorite. Nagpaluto siya ng pagkain kaya natagalan pa siya ng ilang minuto sa pagsunod sa akin. “If you still don’t want the food, just tell me. I’ll ask the chef to cook again.” seryoso niyang wika. “I just don’t want you starving, you haven’t eaten anything.” Itinapat niya sa akin ang food cart. Napanguso ako. I don’t
CHAPTER SEVENTY-NINE Hindi naman ako binigo ng mahinang dasal ko. When I looked at the pregnancy test kits, mayroong two lines na nakalagay doon. Namuo ang luha sa mata ko. I can’t control my tears from flowing. I am pregnant. Oh my God. The ecstatic feeling enveloped my being. Masayang - masaya ako. Agad kong hinanap si Manang para i-kwento ko sa kanya ang magandang news. She was with me during the darkest phase of my life, it is only right that I share my joyous moments with her. I know the news will excite her more than anyone. What makes me happy, makes her happy. Natagpuan ko si Manang sa kitchen. She was giving instructions to everyone in there. In-excuse ko siya sa maraming taong naroon. Dinala ko siya sa open terrace kung saan kami nag-breakfast kanina. “Nagsumbong sa akin si Sioux kanina, hindi ka raw kumakain nang maayos. Kapag nagkasakit kang
CHAPTER EIGHTY “Grabe, I felt proud being part of this big event!” masayang komento ni Lolay sa tabi ko nang makalabas kami ng studio. I was looking for Sioux’s car. Medyo malapit na siya sa area. “Be good and you’ll be part of more fashion shows.” I told her. “Don’t you really want to finish a degree?” She shook her head. “I’m happy with my current job, Miss Sy. Isa pa, school isn’t really for me.” Nagkibit - balikat siya. I didn’t push the idea. Lolay knows what she wants. “Ay, teka!” bigla na lang niyang sigaw. May pag-aalala sa boses niya. “Nalimutan ko ang phone ko, naipatong ko yata sa table. Okay lang ba kung balikan ko, Miss Sy?” I wasn’t sure why she had to ask me that, but I nodded. Hurriedly, she went inside the studio. While she was in the studio, sinulyapan ko naman ang phone ko kung mayroon ng reply si Sioux. He told me he’s already near.
CHAPTER EIGHTY-ONE “Good morning, Sioux. Why are you looking at me like that?” I asked when I saw him staring at me intently. “I know I am perfect, no need to drool. Ako lang ito, babe.” Isiniksik ko pa ang katawan ko sa kanya. I was still sleepy. He kept on combing my hair using his fingers. “I’m just admiring you, babe. I love you.” He kissed my forehead. “I wonder what our kids will look like.” “Let’s sleep, please. I want to sleep pa.” Humigpit ang yakap ko sa kanya. Just glad that I am in his arms. Glad that nothing happened really bad. These days, I am just happy. Sioux makes sure of that. Pasayahin at asarin ako. Ilang araw akong naka-bed rest ng dahil sa nangyari. Hindi naman naapektuhan ang little pea sa loob ng sinapupunan ko sa spotting. I had my check up already in the cruise ship. Kompleto naman ang pasilidad nito. And just like what I pred
CHAPTER EIGHTY-TWO I waited for Lolay in the sun deck. She was wearing casual dress with a cheap sunglasses. Feel na feel niya ang hangin na tumatama sa kanyang balat. I’m sure she gets the relaxation she wants every Friday. I don’t know where Sioux is, but I am sure he’s just around. Hinahayaan naman niya ako tuwing kasama ko ang assistant ko o kaya si Manang. Napairap ako sa ere ng kumaway pa siya sa gawi ko. “Good morning, Miss Sy!” masayang - masaya bati ni Lolay. Mayroon siyang dalang maraming folders na ipinatong sa table. She also got a bag of fast food. The one with a bee mascot. Sobrang daming cheese ng spaghetti nila. Gusto ko iyon. Manang fed me that before. Inalis niya ang suot na salamin nang tumapat sa harap ko. “Fitting na next next week. I got you the list of the models, Miss Sy.” Ini-scan ko ang ibinigay niyang fo