His Secret Child (Del Fuego Series 2)

Kabanata 9

Weird

Akala ko hindi na 'ko papansinin ng mga taong ayokong makita ngunit nagkamali ako. I closed my eyes firmly when they walked towards us. Elle, on the other hand, rolled her eyes.

“Keira, it's been a long time," plastic na sinabi ni Red nang makalapit sa'min.

I just gave her a fake smile too. “Yeah…”

Gumawi siya ng tingin kay Elle na nakangiwi sa kanya ngayon. Her smile didn't fade.

“Elle, you look nice! Anyway, congratulations on your marriage."

"Drop the fake smile, Red. It’ll not work on me.”

Red rolled her eyes. Siya lang ang lumapit sa'min habang sila David at magulang ko’y busy sa kausap nila.

“You’re still the same Elle.” She fake laugh again.

"Actually, I’m matured now unlike you… you're still the same immature and fake person I’ve ever met." Elle smiles but a fake one. “Keep it up, Red. Tumanda tayong paurong."

I couldn't help but chuckled. Nakita ko ang pagkairita ni Red kay Elle. Ever since before, Elle just couldn't resist Red being fake to everyone. I mean, sino ba kasing magtitiis sa kanya?

Oh… me. Natiis ko pa siya ng kaunti dahil sa aming tatlo, ako ang pinaka maintindihin. I understand Red before because she doesn't have a parents. Akala ko noong una, okay lang na that's why I even shared my parents to her because I pitied her.

Ngayon ko lang na realized kung gaano pala ako kabobo noon. And now seeing her with my parents broke me.

Muling bumalik ang tingin niya sa akin at matamis akong nginitian.

“Anyway, David and I are getting married!" She exclaimed as If I care.

"Wow! He tolerate someone like you?” Sarkastiko pa ring kumento ni Elle.

While I acted like it was a surprise. "Congratulations! You both deserve each other… pathetic,” I sweetly commented.

She raised her brows. “Inggit ka lang, Keira. I have everything right now… David, people… and your parents… anyway have you met them again?”

Umigting ang panga ko sa galit pero hindi ko pinakita ‘yon. I won't stood low for someone like her especially na nasa ganitong event kami. She just wants to crash me right now at gumawa ako ng eskandalo para mapag-usapan.

I knew her. She smirked at me before I heard her call David. Lumingon sa amin ang lalaki at halatang nagulat nang makita ako.

“Honey... Mom, Dad Keira is here…” ani Red.

Hindi ko mapigilan na magulat sa tinawag niya sa magulang ko. My parents looked at me onwards. At halos manlamig ako dahil wala akong emosyon na nakita sa kanila.

“K-Keira…” Si David habang nakatingin sa'kin.

Ngumiti ako. Tinago ang lahat ng nararamdaman ngayon. Elle on the other hand, stared at me worriedly.

He smiled. “You're beautiful…”

"Thanks...” that's all I can say.

Pumulupot naman ang mga kamay ni Red sa braso ni David.

"I already told her that we're getting married.”

David ignored it and just stared at me. His lips were parted a bit.

“How are you? It's been a long time since the last time I saw you," ani pa niya.

“I’m great. I have a daughter and we're okay.”

He smiled more. "Yeah, I saw a lot of your interviews. You always mentioned her.”

I saw Red rolled her eyes again. Napangisi tuloy ako.

“And you're husband?" David asked again.

Umiling ako. “O… wala. I’m a single mother," sinabi ko ang totoo.

“O, really?"

“Who's the father?" I heard my father asked.

Tumingin ako sa kanya at kinalma ang sarili. Ayokong magsabi ng kung ano dahil ayokong makarinig ng kung ano sa kanila.

From the look of my mother's, I knew she still blamed me for what happened. And that makes me mad at them more.

When I didn't open my mouth, I heard my mother scoffed. “Well, I bet you didn't know the father of your daughter."

Red chuckled. “Mom, don't be mean. She's your daughter."

Nayukom ko ang kamao sa galit.

“I don’t have a daughter who gave herself to every man she meet.”

I gritted my teeth. There's a hole in my chest and suddenly, I can't breathe. I’m suffocating right now. Nanghina ako.

“With all due respect, you pathetic people, can you leave out of my sight? Hindi ko po matiim na makita kayo ngayong gabi at masira ng tuluyan ang gabi ko,” si Elle ang nagsalita at hinawakan ako.

Red snorted and shook her head. Inalalayaan ako ni Elle na umalis sa kanila at pinunta sa mga ibang pinsan niya.

My hands are cold kahit ang katawan ko’y malamig. I am not okay and I'm hurt right now! Ramdam ko ang luha sa gilid ng mga mata ko.

“The hell of them!" Halata ang galit sa mukha ni Elle.

We stopped and she looked at me worriedly. I could feel my tears pero pigilan ko na tumulo ito. I’m not going to break down tonight. Not like this.

“Keira…”

Pilit akong ngumiti. "I’m fine… I just gonna go home…"

Tumango siya. “I’ll escort you."

Agad na tinawagan ko si Diego para sunduin ako. When he arrived, he immediately escorted me through his car. He didn't say anything while we're on our way home. Ako naman ay tulala lang.

Nakauwi kami na gabi na. Nagpaalam si Diego at diretso naman ako para maligo. And while I’m in the shower, I couldn't help but think what happened tonight.

I saw Red and David with my parents. My parents insulted me. And it hurts… it really hurts knowing they still hated me. It's been eight years and yet galit pa rin sila sa'kin.

Agad kong pinunasan ang luha ko at tumingala. Galit ako sa kanila, pero masakit pa rin pala ang realidad. I was okay, that's what I thought, I’m okay right now without them… kaso masakit pa rin na ganoon ang tingin nila sa akin.

I gritted my teeth. I’m mad at them… I’m so mad right now that I found myself crying. Masakit pa rin… sobrang sakit pa rin.

I found myself in Izzie’s bedroom. Dahan-dahan kong binuksan ‘yon at nakita ang anak na mahimbing nang natutulog. And all those feelings that I’m feeling vanished when I saw her.

Naglakad ako palapit sa kanya at dahan-dahan na tinabihan siya. I’m very careful not to wake her up. Niyakap ko siya at bahagya siyang gumalaw. She slowly open her eyes.

“Mommy…”

“Yep. Go back to sleep," I whispered to her.

She smiled lightly before she hugged me. Malungkot na lang ako napangiti bago siya dinampian ng halik sa buhok niya.

“I love you, my little one."

I feel sorry for what's happening to us… to her right now. And I couldn’t help but blame myself for it. Kung hindi ako umalis noon at naging matapang lang sana, siguro kasama niya ngayon ang daddy niya.

Cade doesn't know we have a daughter and It's my fault. Hindi ko sinabi sa kanya noong nalaman kong buntis ako. I’m ashamed of myself for what happened to us. And I was the one who told him to forget that night and he respected my decision.

Kung sasabihin ko sa kanya na buntis ako, wala akong mukhang mahihirap kay Cade. Hindi ko alam kung tatanggapin niya ang bata kaya mas minabuti ko na huwag na lang sabihin at itago ang totoo.

I know it's my fault. I didn't do anything. I'm scared, I was hurt and I was broken that time. Naduwag ako. Kasalanan ko… it's my fault why my daughter doesn't have a father. It's my fault.

“Ms. Keira, start po tayo ng 5 minutes,” ani ng production team.

Tumango ako. "I’m ready.”

Lumabas siya ng dressing room ko habang ako naman ay muling tiningnan ang sarili sa malaking salamin. Today is my photoshoot for Florence products and I’m excited dahil maraming tao ang nag-aabang nito.

It's been a week after the grand ball and I’m just thankful dahil kahit papaano ay hindi nagtanong si Diego sa nangyari. He knew I’m not okay during this past few days. Siguro alam naman na niya ang nangyari.

“Keira, pagkatapos nito, nasa linya si Mr. O’Brian," ani Diego ng makapasok sa dressing room ko.

“Ikaw na muna kumausap."

Tumango siya. “Nakausap ko na. Pagkatapos na lang daw ng shoot mo siya tatawag ulit para sa soft launching ng products mo rito."

Mr. O’Brian is the one who helped me para mas mapadali ang pagdating ng products ko sa bansa. Sa susunod na linggo na kasi ang soft launching kaya pagkatapos ng shoot ko rito ay magfo-focus muna ako sa kompanya ko.

“And I contracted Mr. Chavez para sa pagpapatayo mo ng manufacturing dito sa bansa."

Umawang ang labi ko. “Yeah, I totally forgot about that! Pumayag ba siya?"

He smiled. "You're pacing out these days kaya ako ng kumausap sa kanila ni Hank.

James Damian Chavez is one of the finest and the best architect right now. While Hank Mervyn Fuentes is currently the famous engineer right now. Sila ang napili ko para sa pagpapatayo ng sariling kompanya rito sa bansa. Parehas silang magaling at nasa angkan na nila ang pagiging magaling sa ganitong larangan.

Ngumiti lang ako sa kanya ng matamis. “Thank you."

My photoshoot started fine. Nandoon si Elle at Cade para panoorin ako ulit. I did some incredible pose and I always saw Cade eyeing on me.

“Ang ganda, Keira. One more pose," ani ng photographer.

I smiled and pose again. From the corner of my eyes, I saw Cade. Seryoso siya habang nakatingin sa akin. Umiigiting ang panga niya habang nakakrus ang mga bisig. He's very serious and sometimes I saw him talking to Elle.

Elle were smiling, no… more like smirking. She seemed teasing Cade habang si Cade umiirap lang sa kanya. Nakita ko na tumawa si Elle.

“Change clothes na tayo!" Ani Elle nang matapos kami sa isang set ng shoot.

Nakita ko ang pagkakunot ng noo ni Cade. Halata ang iritable sa mukha niya kaya hindi ko mapigilan na hindi ma-curious.

“Isang pose pa, Mrs. Ravonte and let's do the 2nd set."

Niri-touch ang mukha ko at pati ang buhok habang hindi nawala ang tingin ko sa dalawang magpinsan. Cade looks pissed right now which made me nervous.

Sa akin ba siya galit? Is there a problem with my pose? He doesn't like it?

Natapos kami at agad akong pumunta ng dressing room para magpalita ng damit. Iibahin din ng makeup ko at mas magiging makapal na ‘to. Lahat ng gamit na produkto ay galing sa Florence which is why I’m amazed because it's very light products at sakto lang din sa akin.

Binigay ang susunod na wardrobe ko sa products nila. My makeup is very dark and daring. Inayos lang ang buhok ko bago ako mag-start ulit ang shoot.

“Bakit masama yata ang timpla ni Cade?” Narinig kong takang tanong ni Steffie habang siya ang nag-aayos ng mga gamit ko sa likod.

Back up na kami after nito at gust ko na ring umuwi ng maaga kaya inaayos na niya.

I turned my head to her. "I don't know… kanina ko pa nga rin napapansin. He seemed very irritated and mad. Baka may hindi siya gusto sa set? O kaya sa akin?”

Hindi ko tuloy mapigilan na hindi kabahan. I did my best today and my pose are incredible.

"Baka personal problem?”

Nanliit ang mga mata ko. "You sure? Maybe he doesn't like my poses?”

Steffie chuckled. "Bakit naging conscious ka agad diyan?”

Ngumuso lang ako. "I mean, I’m endorsing his products. Baka may hindi siya nagustuhan. Is there a problem with my pose today?”

It's normal na may ganitong mangyari pero sana kausapin niya ako kung may hindi siya gusto. I'd be very much happy to listen to his criticism about me today… I mean, there's always a room for improvement.

“Keira, you did incredible today. Hindi ‘yon sa’yo galit. Your poses are good and clean."

I sighed. "Sana. He's freaking me out.”

Ngumisi siya. "He's freaking you out or you just find him intimidating while staring at you the whole time?”

Umirap naman ako. Tumawa siya.

"I can't believe him. I mean, talaga bang every shoot mo manonood siya? Because I found it suspicious to be honest, Keira. Hindi lang ikaw ang model ng Florence pero sa’yo lang yata siya nanonood ng shoot mo.”

"Maybe... I don't know."

Nagkibit na lang ako ng balikat bago lumabas na para ipagpatuloy ang photoshoot. Sa paglabas ko’y sumalubong agad sa akin si Cade.

“Hi…” he said.

Ngumiti ako. "Hi. May kailangan ka sa akin?"

He bit his lips abruptly. “Yeah.. actually, yes. I have something to say to you."