His Secret Child (Del Fuego Series 2)

Kabanata 6

I’m sorry

“You okay?" Tanong ni Diego nang makarating kami sa penthouse.

Hindi ko siya sinagot at agad na hinanap si Yaya Mercy. Nakita ko siyang nasa kusina at kumakain.

“Si Izzie tulog na?" Tanong ko.

“Hindi pa pero tapos na siyang kumain. Hinihintay kang dumating."

Tumango ako. “You can rest now. Ako ng bahala kay Izzie."

“Okay, Ma’am."

Kumuha ako ng tubig at naglagay sa babasagin na baso. Diretso ako sa sala ng penthouse at nakita na nakaupo sila Steffie at Diego sa sofa. I joined them and drink my water.

“Are you gonna tell Izzie?" Steffie asked.

I sighed before I put down the glass of water in the table. Tumingin ako sa kanya at tumango.

“I have to…”

"How about Cade?” Diego asked this time.

Nakagat ko ang labi bago umiling. "I don't think I can tell him…" I sighed again.

May pamilya siya at anak. At mukhang may sakit pa kaya paano ko sasabihin sa kanya ang tungkol kay Izzie? He looked really scared earlier as if he don't want to lose Ali. Of course, anak niya ‘yon!

Kung may sakit ang anak niya at ipapasok ko si Izzie sa buhay niya ngayon, hindi ko alam anong mangyayari. There's a tendency he might reject our daughter.

His daughter is sick. At mukhang nandoon lang ang focus niya ngayon. Ayokong masira ‘yon, hindi ako gano’ng klaseng tao.

“So, what's your plan now?”

Umiling ako. "Hindi ko alam. He was scared earlier and Ali seemed very sick. Kung sasabihin ko ang tungkol kay Izzie, baka magulo lang ang pamilya niya.”

"You're not really gonna tell him the truth?” Si Steffie.

"Sa ngayon, hindi muna,” sagot ko.

"If that's what you want,” ani Diego.

Ngumuso ako sa kanila. "I don't to ruin his family. Lalo na ang relasyon ng anak niya sa kanya. Kung sasabihin ko ang tungkol kay Izzie, baka makagulo lang kami sa pamilya niya. And I don't want Izzie to get hurt. Kanina pa lang malungkot na siya ngayon pa kaya?”

It's really hard to tell him about our daughter. Ayokong makagulo ng pamilya. Yes, I want him to meet our daughter because Izzie needs a father at alam kong may mga bagay na hindi ko kayang ibigay sa kanya na si Cade lang ang makakapagbigay.

Izzie need a father figure. Gusto ko na kahit papaano magkasama silang dalawa. Magkita at maging masaya… kahit na may sariling pamilya si Cade. Pero kung ganito ang sitwasyon, ang hirap pumasok sa buhay nila.

Lumapit sa akin si Steffie at hinawakan ang kamay ko. She squeeze it gently and smiled at me.

“Kung iyan ang naisip mo para sa ikabubuti ng lahat, then do it. As long as you're not hurting anyone especially your daughter. Mahirap, alam namin ang sitwasyon niyo pero for sure, you’ll go through this, okay?" She said softly.

Tumango lang ako bago siya niyakap ng marahan.

“Thank you."

“You're Keira. Ang dami mo ng pinagdaan but still you're here. Happy, stable and still fighting."

Somehow, I calm down. Gusto kong maiyak sa totoo lang dahil alam ko sa sarili kong magiging sobrang hirap ng sitwasyon. Lalo na kay Izzie at Cade.

It will be so hard for Cade to accept Izzie knowing the situation right now. I was stuck in the middle right now and I don't know what to do first. Magsabi kay Cade o huwag nang sabihin pa sa kanya ang totoo. But what will happen to my daughter?

I sighed as I stared at Izzie's door. Nasa labas na ako ng kwarto niya at kanina pa nakatayo. Iniisip ko kung sasabihin sa kanya.

Pumasok na ako sa loob at nakita ang anak na nakahiga. She was busy with her iPad when I entered her room. Nang mapansin ako’y agad siyang lumingon sa gawi ko.

And she smiled. “Mommy, I was waiting for you."

Ngumiti ako at tuluyang lumapit sa kanya. I lay down besides her, slowly grabbed her iPad and pulled her closer to me. Hindi siya nagreklamo at niyakap lang din ako.

“How are you today?" I asked softly.

She stared at me. “I saw dad and I was happy to see him."

Sinuklay ko ang buhok niya.

“Talaga?”

She nodded but her eyes were sad. Ngumuso siya pagkuwan.

“Yes. And I think he’s nice but…” she trailed off.

"Ano ‘yon, anak?”

She let out a small sigh. "He said I can call him Tito. It's ridiculous because he's my father!” She sounded so disappointed.

I knew she was feeling this way. Sa reaksyon pa lang niya kanina.

Sinapo ko ang pisngi niya. “I am so, sorry, baby. It's my fault. He doesn't know you…”

Seeing Izzie getting hurt, hurts me more. At ngayon pa lang, ganito na ang nararamdaman niya. She's too young to understand of all this.

“Mommy, it's not your fault. I know you hide me to protect me and I love you so much, so don't blame yourself. I understand."

Hinapit ko siya palapit pa sa akin. She embraced me also. Malungkot akong napangiti.

“Sorry for getting you in this position. I know you really want to meet your father but…” I sighed and closed my eyes.

Ayokong umasa siya. Ayokong masaktan siya. At mas lalong ayokong magsinungaling sa kanya.

I stared at her sadly. Feeling sorry for what's happening to us right now. May kasalanan ako, alam ko sa mga nangyayari ngayon.

“Baka hindi ko muna makausap si daddy mo tungkol sa’yo." There I said it.

“Why?"

Napalunok ako. “K-Kanina… w-where having a dinner remember?"

She nodded and pay all her attention to me.

“N-nalaman k-ko… n-na… may pamilya na siya at anak. And it looks like his daughter is very sick. She was rushed to the hospital, that's what I know. And then, sumunod ang daddy mo to check her up.”

She just stared at me. I was waiting for her to say something but she didn't. Inayos ko ang buhok niya.

“Say something, baby,” I whispered softly. "Say what you're feeling. It’s okay. Kung gusto mo pa rin na kausapin ko ang daddy mo tungkol sa’yo gagawa ako ng paraan… but for now, let's also try to understand his situation lalo na’t nasa hospital ang anak niya.”

May lungkot na dumaan sa mga mata niya bago malungkot na ngumiti.

“You're afraid he might reject me if you tell him about me…” mahinang sinabi niya.

I let out a sighed. "I don't want you to get hurt. Kaya mahalaga sa akin ang opinion mo rito, anak. Do you still want to meet him?”

She pursed her lips. Marahan lang akong nakatingin sa kanya ng yakapin niya pa ako ng mas mahigpit.

"I love you, Mommy,” she said softly.

"I love you, too, baby. I’m sorry for putting you in this position. Kakausapin ko si Cade pag nalaman ko na maayos na ang lagay ng anak niya. I don't want to meddle to his problem right now.”

She smiled. "I do want to meet daddy. I want to talk to him about everything, about his favorites, baka may pagkaparehas kami, his work… I want to know him. I want to tell him how my day was at ganoon din po sa kanya. Gusto kong makasama siya sa pagtulog. And I want him to cook me my favorite mac and cheese.”

Hinaplos ko ng marahan ang pisngi niya. "Then, I’ll talk to him when his daughter is okay, okay?”

“But if he rejects me, then, I’ll be okay, Mommy.”

"Izzie…"

She smile sadly. “I’m a big girl now, mommy. He has a family and a child so there's a tendency he might don't want us in his life right now. I understand it… may mga bagay po siguro na hindi mo makukuha ng buo. Kasama ko naman po kayo. You're all I need.”

Izzie is too young but she understands our situation. Malungkot ako dahil hindi ko man lang mabigay ang isang gusto niya. All she wanted is to meet his father and yet hindi ko pa magawa.

“Don't think like that. I’m sure magiging masaya siya kung malaman niya na anak ka niya. You said, he’s nice and that's for sure. Gagawa ako ng paraan. Don't lose hope, Izzie. I’ll do everything for you.”

Nakita kong kuminang ang mga mata niya bago tumango.

"He seems really nice. I can see it earlier when he talks to me.”

"Mabait siya kaya huwag kang mag-alala. I will find a way to talk to him about you.”

"Okay, mommy. Hindi naman po ako nagmamadali. He's your boss right now so we still going to meet especially pag nagwo-work ka. Sa ngayon po, kikilalanin ko rin muna siya.”

I couldn't help but a small smile plastered on my lips. Hindi ko alam ang ginawa ko para maintindihan ako ng sariling anak. She's smart and very intelligent kahit na bata pa siya.

“Mahal kita," I whispered lovingly to her.

She giggled and kiss me. “I love you, too, mommy. Ikaw lang ang gusto kong makasama ngayon wala ng iba."

I hugged her more and kisses her hair. Wala na rin akong hihiling pa ngayon. All I need is her wala ng iba.

I arranged my schedule for my upcoming photoshoot. Balak ko na kasing asikasuhin ang pagpapatayo ng sariling building at manufacturing dito sa Pilipinas. Next month na rin ang official release ng skin care products ko.

I had so many meetings with my staff online. Balak ko na i-soft launch ang product ko dito sa bansa a week before ma-release ito sa US. I already contracted my staff for that.

Bukod sa pag-aayos ng sariling kompanya, naging mas focus din ako sa mga magiging projects ko sa Florence. Marami akong photoshoot at runaway sa kanila bukod sa ako ang magiging bagong model ng products nila. I’m excited for that.

“Keira, did you see the article about Red Cosmetics?”

Papasok si Diego sa opisina ko ng matapos ako sa online meeting namin ng mga staff ko kasama ng mga taong tutulong para mapabilis ang re-launching ng products ko next month.

"Kakatapos ko lang sa meeting ko,” sagot ko sa kanya.

He was smiling devilishly as he walked towards me. Umupo siya sa upuan sa harapan at inuwestra sa akin ang iPad niya.

“Read this."

Nakakunot ang noo na kinuha ko ang iPad niya. Tiningnan ko ‘yon at nabasa na isang article na feature ang Red Cosmetics. It got my interested. Nagtaas ako ng tingin kay Diego.

“Red Cosmetics not threatened to Keira Cosmetics and Florence Modeling Agency rumors collaboration." Nakataas ang kilay na basa ko sa title ng article.

“You better be ready…”

Nagkibit ako ng balikat at pinagpatuloy ang pagbabasa ng article. I smirked when I read it. Nasa kalahati pa lang ako pero alam kong media play lang ito ni Red.

It was stated in the article, based on Red’s interview to the press. Nabanggit doon ang paglipat ko sa Florence at sa rumors ng collaboration ng dalawang kompanya. She stated na wala raw dapat siyang ikabahala sa paglipat ko at masaya siya para sa Florence at Keira's Cosmetics. Nakasaad pa roon na hindi naman ito hahadla sa kompanya nila dahil sa paglipat ko.

Florence stocks went up by 10% when I signed an exclusive contract from them. Puro ako at ang nasabing kompanya lang ang makikita mong balita at mukhang kailangan ma-threaten ni Red dahil doon.

I smirked more.

“See? She looked threatened to you by publishing that article. I mean, wala namang balita tungkol sa kanila simula ng lumipat ka sa Florence tapos sasabihin diyan sa article na hindi sila takot sa’yo at sa Florence?”

Tama si Diego. Magkalaban ang Florence at Red pero wala naman akong nababalitaan na ganito ng dumating ako sa bansa. I think people forget about her and her stupid company.

“Media play ‘yan para lang may masabi ang mga tao sa kaniya," ani ko at nilapag na ang iPad niya.

I didn't read the whole article. It looks scripted. Talagang gusto lang niya ng atensyon ng tao dahil palugmok na siya.

Diego rolled his eyes. “She's getting on my nerves."

“She loves attention because she's an attention seeker."

Napailing ako. Hindi pa rin pala nagbabago si Red. She's still the same person I knew eight years ago. Kaya alam ko kung paano siya kalabanin ngayon.

“Naku, Keira! Baka kung anong masabi niya sa’yo sa grand ball sa susunod na linggo para lang mapunta sa kanya ang atensyon ng mga tao roon.”

I flicked my tongue. "I bet she won't… especially the past. People knew I was engaged to David kung magsasabi siya ng kung ano, siya lang din ang mapapahiya."

She might do everything to get people's attention pero alam kong hindi niya iu-ungkat ang hiwalayan namin ni David. People knew the wedding were cancelled because I back off. I didn't say anything though pero maraming rumors noon tungkol sa issue.

Nadadawit din siya dahil palagi silang nakikita ng mga tao na magkasama ni David. If she open her mouth about the past, people will going to dig what really happened lalo na’t sila ni David ngayon.

Red loves attention and fame so much. At ayaw niyang masira siya sa tao pero kaya ko siyang sirain sa mga tao.