His Secret Child (Del Fuego Series 2)

Kabanata 2

Unexpected

Mabilis pang lumipas ang mga araw. Dumating ang araw ng flight namin. I woke up early to check everything. Ayokong may makaligtaan ako dahil baka hindi na kami bumalik pa rito.

I want to settle in Manila kung pagbibigyan pa ako ng tadhana. After all, doon ako lumaki at maraming pinagdaan. I want to expand Keira Cosmetics there and settled there for good.

Philippines is always been my home. Talagang naging masakit lang sa akin ang panahon kaya umalis ako. Pero gusto ko pa ring doon palakihin si Izzie.

“Infairness kay Izzie, simula ng malaman na daddy niya si Cade, hindi nagsawa sa pictures ng daddy niya,” natutuwa na sinabi ni Steffie.

We're currently in airport, waiting for our flight. Kumakain lang kami sa buffet bago ang boarding namin.

Tumingin ako sa anak na busy sa kanyang mundo. She's busy staring at his father in the internet.

When I told her about Cade, mas naging masaya pa siya. Mas naging excited na makita ang ama. Hindi naman ako umangal noong nakita ko na sini-search niya ang pangalan ni Cade sa internet noong isang araw.

I think it's just normal for her to longed for her father. She hasn't met him ever since. Natural lang na makaramdam siya ng pangungulila sa ama niya.

“Mabuti at hindi ulit nagtanong sa’yo tungkol sa daddy niya?" Baling ni Diego sa akin.

“Hindi na naman na. I already told her it's complicated pero tutuparin ko naman ang pangako na sasabihin ko kay Cade ang tungkol sa kanya pag nagkita kami sa Pilipinas," sagot ko.

“Alam mo sana magkita na kayo agad para ma-settle na ang kailangang ma-settle sa inyong tatlo," si Steffie na nasa tabi ko.

Bumaling ako sa kanya. “I just want to talk to him about our daughter. Sa kanilang dalawa, labas na ako doon."

If ever Cade and I cross paths again, I want him to know about Izzie. Wala ng iba dahil wala kung tutuusin, wala naman kaming relasyon para mag-usap ng tungkol sa aming dalawa.

We had a one night stand and that's it. Nabuo namin ni Izzie. Maybe what happened to us eight years ago was a mistake because I was engaged to someone when we had a one night stand. But Izzie is not part of that mistake.

Ngumisi sa akin si Diego. “Paano kung wala pang pamilya si Cade ngayon?" Makabuluhang tanong niya.

“That's good, then. Hindi ako mahihirapan na sabihin sa kanya si Izzie."

“Keira, this is just what if. What if he want you and Izzie after? Paano kung may gusto pala sa’yo?"

Umirap ako sa kaibigan. “Hindi na nagiging maganda ang pagiging OA mo, Diego," batid ko sa kanya.

“What if nga lang, e."

“Anong he wants me? Si Izzie lang dapat, Diego. Wala kaming relasyon noon. We barely knew each other so stop asking stupid questions!"

Natahimik lang siya. Tumayo naman ako para tabihan ang anak. She immediately went closer to me.

“Mommy, I can't wait see to daddy," she whispered while staring at his father's picture.

Hinaplos ko ang buhok niya. “I’ll find a way to talk to him, okay?" I said softly to her.

Tumango lang siya bago nag-angat ng tingin sa akin. She then, smiled at me like it's already made her day.

“I read that he's famous in the Philippines. Pati po ang pamilya niya'y kilala dahil kilala ang mga business nila."

I smiled at her softly. I didn't stop her for looking at Cade through internet. Wala akong karapatan dahil tatay naman niya ang hinahanap niya at wala siyang ginagawang masama.

She's longing for her own father. Kahit hindi niya sabihin ngayon, alam kong gusto na niyang magkita silang mag-ama. And I made a promised to her. Ayokong baliin ‘yon.

Marahan akong tumango sa kanya at hinalikan ang pisngi niya.

She smiled more. “Mommy, I know you’ll talk to him about me but I won't going to force you if you don't want that. Okay lang kung ayaw niyo pa po ngayon na makausap siya. I understand that since I know na mahirap din sa inyo ‘to."

Napangiti ako. Hinapit ko pa siya palapit sa akin at niyakap na ngayon.

“No. Pag nakita ko siya, kakausapin ko siya agad. I know how much you want to see him."

“Okay lang naman po kung matagalan ng kaunti. I can still wait for that. You're busy also because of your career, so no need to rush, mommy," she whispered as she wrapped her small hands around my neck.

My smile didn't fade. Izzie is smart. Sobrang natutuwa lang ako dahil naiintindihan niya ang sitwasyon namin.

I haven't told her yet na kaya komplikado ang lahat dahil one night stand lang ang nangyari sa amin ng Daddy niya. I don't want to her to know that because I don't want her to feel that she's a mistake.

Izzie is not a mistake. Simula nang malaman ko na buntis ako walong taon na ang nakalipas, alam ko sa sarili na ang batang nasa sipupunan ko’y hindi kasalanan.

She's a blessing to me. She's my salvation and everything. So, I won't let her know about that.

Nang makarating kami sa Pilipinas, nagpahinga lang ako. Diego already made a schedule for my contract in Florence.

“Next Thursday, 2pm sharp ang contract signing mo sa Florence,” Diego said as he sat down on my sofa.

Tumango lang ako. "Okay."

“I already made clear to the media na walang merging na mangyayari sa dalawang kompanya. You’ll be only their model as it is written in your contract."

I didn't know my products were this popular here. May mga na e-export kami galing America papuntang Pilipinas noon, but I didn't know na ganito kasikat ang mga cosmetics products ko sa bansa. This is beyond my expectations since I never promote any of my products here.

Somehow, I was amazed. I thought, there'll be no reason for me to stay here in the Philippines anymore. Pero ngayon, nabigyan ako ng rason para ipagpatuloy ang ginagawa ko.

“Kaya dapat lang talaga na magtayo ka na ng sariling kompanya at factory ng nga products mo rito sa Pilipinas," ani Steffie.

I smiled at them. “I’ve been thinking about it since we got here. Magandang idea iyon kung magkakataon."

I only planned to come back here because of Red and David. Gusto ko silang pabagsakin kaya nga magandang idea na sa Florence ako magtrabaho bilang model dahil iyon ang malaking kalaban nila.

Hindi ki na naisip ang Keira cosmetics pero dahil sa nalaman ko, I want really to expand my products here in the country. Red will be crazy if she knows about me and my products.

“Alam mo napakagandang idea no’n, Keira. Imagine, Florence lang ang matinding kalaban ng Red Cosmetics tapos kung dadagdag ka, baka mas lalong sumabog si Red. Sa ganda ng sales mo rito sa Pilipinas," Diego smiled devilishly.

I smirked. "I bet she already knows about my products.”

"Kaso mas lalong magagalit ‘yon kung malaman niyang dito ka na magse-settled at ipagpapatuloy ang manufacturing ng mga products mo,” pagpatuloy ni Steffie.

I held my red wine glass and took a sip. I already imagine Red if that's really happened.

“Sa pagkakaalam ko, hindi maganda ang takbo ng Red Cosmetics ngayon dahil sunod-sunod na natatalbugan sila ng Florence ng ilang buwan na. If she knew about you being a model of Florence and launching your products here, baka mas sumabog siya sa galit."

I smirked more. Mukhang nagiging maganda ang takbo ng tadhana sa akin. Tama lang talaga ang dating ko.

Her company is on edge. And knowing her, alam ko na alam na niya ang tungkol sa pagdating ko at sa kontrata ko sa Florence.

It's been 8 years already but I still know Red. Ayaw niyang nalalamangan ko siya o kahit ni Elle noon. Sa aming tatlo, siya palagi ang nasa huli.

Elle was very popular when we were in high school. Siya ang sikat sa aming tatlo lalo na sa lalaki. Elle is a Del Fuego and she's smart and badass. While me, I’m the quiet one. Sila lang ang kaibigan at tanging kinakausap ko. Si Red, noon pa lang ma-attitude na pero akala namin gano’n lang talaga pero mabuti siya sa amin.

I even tolerate Red for the bad things that she had done before. Because she was my best friend. Ako ang pinakatahimik at siya ayaw niyang patalo ka Elle dahil nasa dalaga na ang lahat.

I was wrong for that. Dahil kung nalaman ko agad na malandi siya at lalandi niya si David, dapat lumayo na ako kaso hindi. I didn't do that because I trusted her because she was my friend. Akala ki simpleng pagkakaibigan lang din ang meron sa kanila ni David.

Mapait na lang akong napangiti nang maalala ang masakit na ginagawa ng kaibigan ko. Akala ko tunay siyang kaibigan, mali pala.

Now I understand why Elle suddenly distances herself from Red. Habang patagal kasi ng patagal, mas lumalala ang inggit niya kay Elle. She started dating Elle ex-boyfriends and Elle didn't like it because it's a girl's code.

But I said, I tolerated her behavior. Noong lumalayo si Elle sa kanya, sa akin siya palagi. Kami na noon ni David. David was my first suitor and boyfriend so kung nasaan ako, nandoon din si David at Red.

And I remember, Elle told me before David started courting me, Red already liked him. Pero nag sa walang kibo ako. I really made a big mistake but thankfully namulat ko ang mga mata.

Nang dumating ang araw ng contract signing namin ng Florence, maaga pa lang ay inihanda ko na ang sarili. I’m wearing a black high waist trousers and paired it up with white tube and black blazer.

Nakatali ng buhok ko ng mataas at light lang ang makeup ko. I grabbed my bag when I saw Izzie walking towards me.

I smiled at her. “Ready ka na?" I asked her.

Tumango siya. “Yes, mommy."

Gusto niyang sumama sa akin dahil balak ko ring ipasyal siya pagkatapos ng pirmahan ng kontrata. Saglit lang naman ‘yon dahil private iyon gaganapin.

Pumayag na ako dahil kasama naman niya si Yaya Mercy. They will be waiting in the lounge area and there will no reporters inside the building kaya panatag ang loob ko.

“Okay. Let's go now."

Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya. Sumakay kami sa itim na van na si Diego ang nagmamaneho.

Nang makarating kami sa building ng Florence Modeling Agency, I couldn't help but amazed. Sobrang ganda ng kompanya nila. Mabilis kaming in-assists ng nga tao roon.

“Good morning, Ms. Keira." Binati kami agad ng isang babae na naghihintay sa amin.

I smiled at her.

“Dito po tayo."

Sumunod kami sa kanya. I left Izzie at the lounge with Yaya Mercy. Ang tanging kasama ko lang ay si Diego at Steffie na secretary ko.

“Keira?"

Were on the way to the office when I heard a familiar voice. Agad akong napalingon at halos manlaki ang mga mata ko ng makita si Elle na may malaking ngiti sa labi.

My lips parted. Lumapit siya sa akin at niyakap ako agad bago ako hinalikan sa pisngi.

“Oh, God! Ikaw nga!" She sounds so overwhelmed.

“E-Elle…" I almost whisper.

“Yeah, It's me! You know, when I heard about you signing an exclusive contract with Florence? Umuwi agad ako kahit na nasa honeymoon pa kami ni Nolan.”

I smiled at her. I don't know how to react. Pasimple akong tumingin kay Diego. I saw him shook his head and just like me, confused.

"Yeah, I heard you got married last month," tanging nasabi ko lang at palihim na kinalma ang sarili.

She giggled. “Yep! And I’m pregnant too!"

Umawang ang labi ko ngunit walang lumabas na salita. I only smiled at her awkwardly. I didn't know I would meet her today.

Bakit siya nandito?

“Congratulations!" I said again when I composed myself.

Tumingin din ako kay Nolan na nasa tabi niya. I smiled at him too, and didn't know what to say anymore.

“Ngayon pala ang contract signing mo, ‘no? I’m sorry, I’m late. We had to go to my ob-gyn first…” napangiwi siya pagkatapos. "Or else, my husband won't let me see you today and I can't miss this chance. Walong taon ang lumipas na hindi tayo nagkita kaya hindi ko hahayaan na hindi ka makita ngayon.”

I don't know what to say. I was shocked to see her today. And she sounds so excited.

Huminto siya pagkuwan at nakagat ang labi. “You were probably shocked to see me…”

Umiling ako. “N-no… I.. I-I just… didn't expect this.”

She smiles sweetly. "Ako rin, e. Akala ko noong una jini-joke lang ako ni Kuya Cade tungkol sa paglipat mo rito sa Florence."

Napakuraprap ako sa binanggit niyang pangalan.

“Kayo may-ari ng Florence?" Si Diego na ang nagtanong.

Elle nodded happily. “Yes. Partly, Kuya Cade built this company years ago and I just helped him sometimes because you know… he's busy with other things.”

I was stunned. Sana mali lang ang pagkakarinig ko.

“Cade?” Namamaos na sinabi ko.

"Yes. And he assigned me to handle you for a meantime lalo na sa contract signing since wala siya. Nasa ibang bansa kasi siya ngayon may inaasikaso lang but he'll back to meet you."

My heart stopped for a moment. I didn't expect all of this. This is so absurd!

Tell me, I am dreaming?