Abala siya sa pagtitig kay Chandria. Yes, staring at Chandria makes him preoccupied. Hindi niya alam kung anong meron sa babaeng ito at kaya niyang titigan na hindi inaalintana kung gaano kalaking oras ang nasayang niya. Pero bakit naman masasayang? If it is Chandria, then his time is all gonna be worth it. Hindi sayang ang oras na kasama niya si Chandria. The company can wait. His business can function without him. But he doesn’t think he can function without her… without Chandria. Hindi niya maintindihan noon kung bakit siya nagkakaganito kay Chandria. But then the moment she came into his life, he saw how everything changed. Ayaw na ayaw niya sa lahat ang tinatarayan siya pero kapag si Chandria ay aliw na aliw pa siya. There must be something wrong with him. There must be something wrong with his heart for feeling this way towards her. Dahan-dahang gumalaw si Chandria kaya naman napakurap-kurap siya. She slowly opened her eyes and looked at her. Hinanda niya naman ang ngiti dahi

Gulat at takot. ‘Yan ang nararamdaman ni Chandria ngayon habang na sa labas ng emergency room. Hindi siya makapaniwalang nandito si Leon at na sa loob ng emergency room para mag-donate ng dugo kay Leil.“Bakit nandito siya?” tanong ni Eris sa kanya.“I don’t know,” mahinang usal ni Chandria. “Hindi ko alam kung bakit siya nandito.”“Sinundan niya tayo,” sabat ni Leo sa usapan. “He was just worried. You’re running and you’re pregnant. Nasabi sa ‘kin na mahina ang kapit ng anak mo. How are you feeling right now?”“Mommy, who is that guy?” bulong naman ni Eros sa kanyang tabi.She turned to her son. Tinapik niya ang kanyang kandungan at agad namang nakuha ng anak ang ibig niyang sabihin. Maingat itong umakyat sa kanyang kandungan at niyakap siya. She kissed the top of his forehead before looking up at Leo.“Leo, this is Eros Luke. My son,” she introduced. “Baby, this is your Uncle Leo. He is your father’s brother.”Sa halip na mag-focus sa kanyang pagpapakilala ay bumaling sa kanya ang a

Hinila niya ang upuan palapit sa kama na kinahihigaan nito. Leo called him this morning and told him Chandria lost her consciousness. Natataranta naman siyang naligo at nagbihis para magpunta sa hospital. At nang makarating siya rito ay agad na nagpaalam ang mga magulang nitong umuwi. Tinitigan niya ang buong mukha nito at bumuntong hininga. He was damn worried na halos paliparin na niya ang kanyang sasakyan papuntang ospital. He’s blaming himself for what happened to her. Nakita niya ang mga missed calls nito sa kanyang phone at naikwento rin sa kanya ni Eris na kanina pa siya tinatawagan ng dalaga. He caressed her cheeks and sighed. He feels so guilty for reacting that way. Hindi siya natulog buong magdamag. Nanatili siyang na sa sasakyan at dilat buong magdamag. Reflecting everything, weighing his every decision. And then he come to the realizations that… he’s too close minded. Siguro ay may pagkakataong nais ni Chandria na sabihin sa kanya ngunit pinapangunahan ito ng pagdadala

Malamig ang ihip ng hangin ngunit sakto lang ito para kahit papano ay makaramdam siya ng kaginhawaan kahit saglit. They’re in a garden outside the hospital and there’s only the two of them. Sobrang tahimik nila at hindi niya alam kung ano ang kanyang dapat na sabihin.“Kung hindi ko nalaman… kailan mo balak sabihin sa ‘kin?” panimula ni Leon sa usapan.She bit her lower lip and looked at him. “To be honest, I don’t know. Hindi ko alam kung kailan ko sasabihin sa ‘yo.”There’s no point of lying or denying anything. Kung maglilihim siya, siya lang din naman ang maba-bother. And besides, Leon deserves to hear her explanations and he deserves to know the truth. At hindi niya ipagdadamot ang bagay na ‘yon.Mapaklang natawa si Leon sa kanyang sagot. “So, you’re not planning to tell me about them? Until when, Chandria? How long are you gonna hide away from me.”“Hangga’t sa kaya ko,” diretsong sagot niya. “I was about to tell you about them, Leon. I mean it. But then after knowing you’re get

“What exactly the fuck are you doing here, Allysa?” nag-iigting ang mga pangang tanong ni Leon sa dalaga.Yes, it was Allysa. Nakatanggap siya ng tawag mula sa kanyang ama na dali-dali niyang sinagot, only to find out it was Allysa’s mobile number. She pulled some string for it to appear like it was his father’s caller ID.“Hindi ba pwedeng bisitahin ka?” she asked using her soft voice.Tinitigan niya lang ito. Hindi niya maintindihan kung saan galing ang galit sa kanyang dibdib habang nakatingin sa dalaga. Ayaw niya itong makita. At mas lalong ayaw niyang makita ito ni Chandria.“Leave this place, Allysa.” His jaw clenched. “While I’m still nice.”Sa halip na pakinggan siya ay matamis lamang itong ngumiti at bumuntong hininga. She then held his hand and smiled. “Why are you acting so mad at me? Is it because I chose Leo before?”Mas lalong nag-alab ang galit sa kanyang dibdib sa narinig. “Leave.”“I can choose you now,” sambit nito. “Come on, Leon. Let’s fix this. Naging sobrang mada