His Secret Child (Del Fuego Series #2)

They said first love hurts like hell. When you love someone for the first time and think that person will love you and stay with you until the end. But that is just a phase of your life you’ll go through. Because the first person you're going to love is the one who will hurt you the most. The one who will break your heart into pieces. First love hurts. First love sucks. First love never lasts. Especially when you really love that person. Iyong akala mo, hindi ka lolokohin pero hindi, mali ka. Kasi may mga tao talagang sasaktan ka ng sobra. May mga lalaki sa mundong ‘to na hindi marunong magtino sa isang babae. At may mga lalaki talagang cheater. It hurts but that's true. Minsan mapapatanong ka na lang bakit mo minahal ang taong ‘yon. Bakit niya ginawang manloko? Bakit ka niya sinaktan? Saan ka nagkulang? If they didn't love you anymore then why break up first before they started entertaining other girl? Bakit hindi nila masabi na hindi ka na nila mahal at talagang lolokohin ka pa? Kung hindi mo na mahal, hiwalayan mo na! Masakit. Pero iyan ng realidad. Meron pa ngang aalukin ka ng kasal tapos kung kailan malapit na ang kasal niyo saka mo malalaman na may babae pala. And worst, he's already cheating on you a long time ago. Kapal ng mukha ‘no? Bakit ang mga gan’yang lalaki ay hindi na lang masunog nang diretso sa impyerno? Masakit magmahal. Masakit masaktan lalo na kung iyong taong iniisip mo na pang habang buhay mo ng makakasama, iyon pa ang mas lalong mananakit sa’yo. I once had a first love who hurted me. He cheated on me with my best friend. Kung hindi ko pa malalaman nang araw na ‘yon, siguro hindi ako magigising. Binuklat ko ang isang folder at binasa ang nakalagay doon. My lips rose and tilted my head to Diego, my manager. He raised his brows. “What do you think?" I shrugged my lips as I continued to read the information of Florence Modeling Agency. “Maganda ang background. Bago pa lang pero marami na agad silang sikat na model. And they also have a good standard lalo na internationally," sagot ko habang patuloy sa pagbabasa. He giggled. “I told you and they are also starting to make their own cosmetics products featuring their models." Napatango ako sa sinabi niya. “Yeah…" Halos isang taon pa lang nang mag-released sila ng cosmetics products pero maganda na agad ang naging takbo nito kaya mas nadagdagan pa sila at nagpatuloy. “Sa bansa natin ngayon, Keira, isa sila mga kinikilala ang produkto. And because of it, they became the strongest rival of Red Cosmetics Company.” He grinned at me when he said that. Napatingin ako sa kanya na may ngisi sa labi. “I think this is the one…” tugon ko sa kanya. “I told you! It's gonna be a win-win situation for you and the company. And I called them already and they wanted to have you as their exclusive model." Mas lalong lumawak ang ngisi ko. Pinag-dekwatro ko ang hita ko at sumandal swivel chair ng opisina ko. “I think it's time to go back…” nakangisi na sinabi ko sa kanya. He giggled. “Book na ako ng flight natin." Tumango lang ako. “Ikaw nang bahala. Tell them that we're going back to the Philippines next week. Then, we’ll talk about the contract after." I can't wait to go back because I can finally do my plan. Siguro nga tama na rin na bumalik dahil gusto ko ng pabagsakin ang dalawang taong nanakit sa akin. I won't hurt them like they did to me. I will just get my little revenge and get even for what they did to me. After all, hindi ako kasing demonyo nila. Sadyang gusto ko lang na gumapang sila sa hirap. Gusto ko lang maramdaman nila kung paano gumapang nang walang tumutulong sa’yo. Because they deserve it. They hurt me. I trusted them yet they broke my heart. I once had my first love but thank god I knew he was a cheater before we got married. Kasi kung hindi, baka mas lalo akong nasaktan. Lumabas ako sa laboratory kung saan ongoing ang ilalabas kong produkto sa susunod na buwan. I took off my white lab gown and sanitized my hands after. Lumingon ako kay Steffie na secretary ko. “I’ll go home now. I’ll check again the process tomorrow," ani ko sa kanya habang naglalakad ng mabilis sa opisina ko. “Yes, Ma’am," she answered quickly as she followed me. “Tumawag ba ulit si Izzie?” Tanong ko sa kanya. "The last time she called was about 30 minutes ago, Keira.” “What did she say?" “She just wants you to go home as usual," sagot niya na alam kong may ngiti sa labi. Lumiko ako sa pasilyo kung nasaan ang opisina ko. I entered my office and walked through my table. Kinuha ko ang cellphone mula sa bag at nakita ang mensahe ni Izzie. My baby: Mommy, go home now. Tito Diego said we're going to the Philippines! Come on! Get back here and let's talk about it. Napangiti ako sa text ng apat na taon kong anak. I heard Steffie chuckled. “And she's very excited," she said as she shook her head. I sighed and put my phone back inside my bag. Kinuha ko na ang bag ko saka tumingin sa kanya. “I can't believe Diego told her. Ang lalaking ‘yon talaga!" Napairap ako sa hangin. Tumawa siya. “Alam mo naman ‘yon pag-excited, nadudulas." Napalabi ako. “Babalik ako bukas para tingnan iyong lab ulit. I have a shoot until late night so…” Tumango siyang nakangiti. "Don't worry, I’ll call you…" “Sige na. Mauna na ako. I still need to explain to Izzie," paalam ko na. “Go, Keira! Baka magtanong na ‘yon lalo tungkol sa Daddy niya.” Napabuga ako ng hangin at umirap sa ere. “Please! Don't say that!” "Why? I bet she's already curious about her father. At ikaw ang nagsabi na nasa Pilipinas ang tatay niya. Ngayon na next week ang flight natin pabalik sa Pilipinas, for sure she wants to know more about her Dad." I runs my hands through my hair because I suddenly feel pressure. Pressure na magsabi ng katotoohan sa anak ko. Steffie raised her brows at me. "Bakit mo kasi sinabi ‘yon? Izzie is growing. Hindi na mawawala sa isip niya ang mga sinabi mo.” "Because I don't want to lie to her!" Umiling siya. “Then, just tell her the truth so she won't get her hopes high." Napanguso ako at bumuga ulit ng hangin. Hindi ko alam kung paano sasabihin o kahit saan mag-uumpisa sa totoo lang. “Keira, matalino ang anak mo. She’ll understand but you have to take it slow.” Bumagsak ang balikat ko. "Fine." I should be ready now to tell her about her father. Lumalaki siya at alam kong sa nagdaan na apat na taon simula nang maipanganak ko, gusto na rin siya magtanong tungkol sa tatay niya. Nagpaalam ako kay Steffie bago umalis. I immediately went to my aston martin and drove all the way to our house. Nang makarating sa bahay, agad kong pinara ang kotse sa garage. I stepped outside my car at pumasok na sa loob ng bahay. “It's mommy!" From the front door, I could hear my 7 years old daughter. Maya-maya lang ay nakita ko siyang patakbong lumapit sa akin na malawak ang ngiti sa labi. I couldn't help but smile and open my arms for her. I immediately hugged her with my arms. Her small arms wrapped around my neck para mabuhat ko siya. I kissed her cheeks. “How are you, baby?" "I’m fine mommy. I had a blust day with Yaya mercy as usual. We go to the playground after she was done with grocery and she cooked me a delicious mac and cheese,” bakas ang tuwa sa mukha niya habang kinukwento sa akin ang nangyari sa buong araw niya. Pumasok kami sa living room at nakita si Aling Mercy na nililigpit ang mga laruan ni Izzie. “Did you eat already?" I asked my daughter again. Tumango siya. “Already done. I was just waiting for you to come home because Tito Diego said we're going to the Philippines next week," she blurted it out with a beam smile on her lips. Kahit na alam ko ang susunod niyang sasabihin ay hindi nawala ang ngiti ko sa labi. After my hectic day, seeing her at night make me at ease. After everything that happened to me, she’s the reason why I’m happy right now. Siya lang naging rason ko para marating ang narating ko ngayon. My daughter is my salvation. She means everything to me. And seeing her everyday pagkatapos ng nakakapagod kong trabaho sa lab ay nawawala talaga ang pagod ko. I grinned at her. “You're excited to go to Philippines?" Tanong ko ulit sa kanya. She giggled as she nodded. “Yes! I am very excited!” She exclaimed. I let out a soft chuckle and ran my hands through her red hair. She really likes me. She looks like me, a little Keira. Ang pinagkaiba nga lang, she also got her father's blue eyes which are blue. “Kanina pa ‘yan excited," narinig kong sinabi ni Aling Mercy. “Of course, I’m excited because I’m gonna see my daddy if we go to the Philippines!" Maligalig na sagot ni Izzie. I bit my lips and sighed. Umupo ako sa mahabang sofa namin at kinalong siya sa hita ko. Her smile didn't fade as I stared at her softly. Ang ganda-ganda ng ngiti sa labi niya at ayokong mawala ‘yon. But I also know that she's growing up. She'll be curious about her father as days pass. At alam kong normal lang naman ‘yon sa kanya. She stared at me with her soft eyes. “Mommy, are we going to see him there? You said he was living in the Philippines. If we go to the Philippines, then we’ll meet him, right?" Like I expected, she asked so many questions again about him. At ayokong magsinungaling sa kanya. Not long ago when she started asking me about her father. I told her that her father was living in the Philippines but that's it. Wala na akong ibang sinabi pa dahil baka maguluhan siya. Pero alam kong kailangan kong ipaliwanag pa sa kanya ng maayos bakit ganito ang naging sitwasyon namin ng tatay niya. She needs to know him, actually and I don't want to take that away from her. And she needs to know about her father. Kaso nga lang, hindi ko alam paano sasabihin. I’m scared because she's too young right now and she might not understand it. Her eyes sparkled. “Once we go to the Philippines, I’m finally gonna see dad, right?" She asked again slowly. I sighed and cupped her cheeks. “Baby, I don't know yet,” mababang sagot ko sa kanya. Her lips parted. Nakita ko ang lungkot na dumaan sa mga mata niya. "But, you said he was there,” bumaba tinig ng boses niya. “Iyon ang alam ko. Pero hindi ko alam kung magkikita ba kayo. And I don't want you to get your hopes high. I don't want you to get hurt. You know… it's complicated.” Lumungkot na ang mukha niya. And I hate myself for it. Bumuntonghiningi ako at marahan na tiningnan ang anak. "But I can work with that,” dugtong ko bago ngumiti sa kanya. She looked at me lovingly. “I’ll try to meet him if you really want to know him. I’ll try my best to talk to him about you… if you really want to see your dad, I will do it,” I said what I said. It's her right to know about him. He probably didn't know he had a secret child right now. He probably didn't know about our daughter but I will work things out for my Izzie. “Really?" Tumango ako sa anak. “Yes, baby. I’ll try my best. Pero huwag kang masyadong umasa, a? He probably have a family right now, but don't worry, ipapakilala lang naman kita sa kanya. Hindi tayo mangugulo." She smiled and nodded. “I understand. I know it's very complicated and different." Ngumiti ako. I’m glad she understood it. Hindi na ako mahihirapan pang i-explain sa kanya bakit hindi namin kasama ang tatay niya ngayon. “I just want to see him. I just want to know him. But, mommy, kung may pamilya na siya at ayaw niya sa atin, then, it's fine for me. At least, I met him. That's all I need," she said softly as she hugged me tightly. “I need you more than anything. I love you, mommy." I hugged her and kissed her hair.