Don't Let Him Know ( Completed )

Chapter 06

MY days went back to it's normal routine like nothing happened. Hindi na ako pinagpipiyestahan ng mga paparazzi nang ipagtanggal ang article sa newspaper. I don't exactly know who did that but I think it's among Dad and Lolo Phillip.

The dinner date we had was the last. Dad mysteriously stop bothering me about it like he wasn't part of the set up of that date. Wala akong narinig na tanong o sermon mula sa kanya pagkatapos ng gabing ‘yon. I don't know why.

Hindi naman na rin ako nang usisa pa dahil ayoko na ring alalahanin.

Pagod na sumandal ako sa aking swivel chair. Dinagdagan na ni Dad ang gawain ko na hindi ko malaman kung ipagpapasalamat ko ba o hindi. I was massaging my neck when I heard three knocks from my door. Sunod na pumasok doon si Mom.

"I brought Gideon extra lunch," imporma ni Mom. Naupo siya sa sofa at inilapag ang dalang echo bag sa maliit na lamesa. "And I also brought lunch for my good and busy daughter."

Napatingin ako sa aking wrist watch. I didn't notice the time. Napabuntonghininga ako. "I forgot."

"You always forget, Ryleigh. You're already a mother yet you can't still take care of yourself well. Malapit ng mag-ala una pero hindi ka pa rin kumakain," sermon ni Mom.

Tumayo ako at lumapit sa kanya. Kumalam ang sikmura ko nang maamoy ang aroma ng pagkain.

"You're not spending much time to Gideon, Ryleigh. Ikaw dapat ang naroon at nag-aasikaso sa kanya sa pagpasok niya sa school yet here you are, working your ass off," saad ni Mom.

Mahina akong napabuga ng hangin. Mom's right. Hindi na ako nakakapag-spend ng mas maraming oras sa anak ko. After Reagan's appearance, I became too caught up by him at ngayon naman ay sa biglang pagbigay ng dobleng gawain ni Dad.

"I want to spend time with Gideon but I can't dahil sa biglang pagbagsak ng gawain ni Dad sa akin. Pero kapag nakaraos ako, I will take a vacation para maalagaan si Gideon," wika ko.

Inabot ko ang tupperware na may lamang kanin at ulam saka nagsimulang kumain.

"Huwag ka sanang magtampo sa Daddy mo. After the set up date with you and Reagan failed, he wants to ready you so once he retired, hindi siya mag-aalala sa kalagayan mo. The board can be pressuring and stressful sometimes, ayaw niya lang mahirapan at mangapa ka," paliwanag ni Mom.

"What it has something to do with Reagan?" tanong ko.

"Reagan is known as a wise and unpredictable businessman. He know how the business world works like the back of his hand. With him as your husband, hindi na mag-aalala ang Dad mo kung sakaling ipasa niya sa ‘yo ang pagiging Chief Executive Officer dahil nariyan si Reagan para tulungan ka. Reagan is also capable of handling our business if you ever realize that it wasn't for you," sagot ni Mom.

"I can handle the business just fine, Mom," paniniguro ko. "I've been practicing and working for years here as chief operating officer. Business is not common to me anymore."

"Kilala mo ang Dad mo, Ryleigh. He always wanted to make sure everything will really turn out fine," saad ni Mom.

Sumimangot ako. "Bakit na parang business lang ang mahalaga kay Dad? Doesn't he care about my feelings? About my well-being?"

Napailing-iling si Mom sa hinaing ko. "Of course he do, anak. Hindi mo lang nalalaman o nakikita pero ikaw lagi ang iniisip ng Dad mo sa tuwing gumagawa siya ng hakbang o desisyon. Sa buhay man niya o sa negosyo. He doesn't want you to suffer if he ever make wrong decision. Just understand him, okay? Your father loves you."

Tumango ako. "Okay."

Ngumiti si Mom kapagkuwan. "Mag-ama nga talaga kayong dalawa. Parehong matatapang magsalita at parang mga pakialam but deep inside ay malalambot. Kaya hindi na ako umaasang lagi kayong magkakasundo ng ama mo."

Hindi ko napigilan ang sarili kong mapailing at matawa sa sinabi ni Mom. It's indeed like father, like daughter.

"I have to go now. Maggo-grocery pa ako. Take care of yourself, Ryleigh, and please. Think about what I said to you before about Gideon and his father," saad ni Mom.

Tumango ako. "I'll think about."

Muling nagpaalam si Mom bago tuluyang umalis, leaving me alone again inside my office.

Napatigil ako sa pagsubo nang biglang tumunog ang cellphone ko. Tumaas ang dalawang kilay ko nang makita kung sino ang tumatawag. It was my best friend, Alessia Tejero. Minsan ko na lang siya makausap simula nang manirahan siya sa Canada kasama ang asawa na si Markus Williams, isa sa mga kaibigan ni Reagan.

"What?" bati ko.

"I am good. How are you too?" sarkastikong tanong niya sa kabilang linya.

Napaismid ako. "Don't use sarcasm at me pagkatapos mong hindi magparamdam ng isang buwan. Kung ayaw mong sunugin ko bahay mo."

Malakas siyang tumawa sa kabilang linya. "Joke lang, eh! Ito naman! I was busy with my kid. First birthday niya last week kaya todo handa ako! Speaking of birthday! Regalo ng inaanak mo!"

"Paano ko ibibigay ang regalo ko, eh, nandiyan kayo ng inaanak ko?"

"Speaking of! Again! Uuwi na kami! — Ops! Hindi pala! Nakauwi na kami!"

Lumaki ang mga mata ko. "What?! Kelan pa?"

"Just yesterday. I was actually planning to visit you in your house." Bigla akong kinabahan. "Kaso naisip ko na nasa trabaho ka."

"A-Ah. . . Y-Yes, nasa trabaho ako. Huwag ka nang pumuntang bahay. We could just—ahm. . . Meet outside like coffee shops or mall," suhestiyon ko.

Thank God! Hindi siya tumuloy or else, she would've seen Gideon. Although, I trust Alessia. Kilala ko naman ‘to pagdating sa asawa niya. Kapag nalaman niya ang totoo , she would probably slipped the truth to Markus. Knowing Markus, he would instantly report to his damn friend.

"Okay! Let's meet tomorrow!" excited na sang-ayon ni Alessia bago nagpaalam.

I released a harsh breath when the call hang up. Bakit para yatang paliit nang paliit ang mundo sa anak ko at kay Reagan?

I MEET up with Alessia to the nearest mall in our company building. Balak niya raw kasi bilhin ng mga bagong damit ang five month old baby boy niya. I agreed. Para naman nakakapaglakad-lakad kami while catching up with things.

Pagkatapos ko sa trabaho ay dumiretso na ako sa mall. I found her inside a clothes shop for kids. Naghahanap ng damit kaya tinulungan ko na.

"What do you think is better? Dark blue and baby blue?" tanong niya. Sabay angat ng dalawang magkaibang damit pambata.

"Baby blue," sagot ko.

"I knew it! Mas babagay ito kay Izaac," natutuwang saad tukoy niya sa anak.

Tumango naman ako at muling nagsalita, "Yes, and not also the color but the texture of the clothes. Hindi maiirita ang balat ng anak mo riyan."

Lumapit ako sa isang stall para sa mga three year old kid. Pasimpleng tumitingin ng damit para kay Gideon. Sumunod naman sa akin si Alessia.

"How do you that? Nakapag-alaga ka na ba ng baby noon?" tanong niya nang makalapit.

Nagkibit-balikat lang ako. Hindi ko naman puwedeng sabihin sa kanya na oo dahil ayokong magkaroon siya ng idea. Alam niyang wala pa akong naalagaan dahil busy ako sa buhay ko and even though she was gone for three years, which I could use to say I had taken care of a baby. I don't want to lie anymore. Ayoko nang dagdagan pa.

Pagkatapos naming mag-shopping, huminto muna kami sa isang restaurant para kumain. Habang naghihintay ay patuloy lang kami sa pag-uusapan, until she opened a topic about him.

"Reagan's here," saad niya. "I saw the article by the way."

Napaismid ako. "That's pure bullshit. Alam mong hindi ako naghahabol sa kahit sino o ano."

"I know, but it's kinda entertaining though. Muntik akong maniwala na gusto mo nang makipagbalikan kay Reagan," nang-aasar niyang saad.

I glared at her. She's obviously want to tease because she knew that would never happen. She was there from the very beginning.

My glare didn't faze her. Mas lumaki pa nga ang ngiti sa labi niya.

"Stop it," banta ko sa kanya. "I don't want to talk about him."

"You're still mad at him?" taas-kilay niyang tanong. "Tatlong taon na ang nakakalipas, Ryleigh. Hindi mo pa rin siya napapatawad?"

Saglit na natigil ang usapan namin nang dumating ang in-order naming pagkain. Kaagad akong kumain dahil nakaramdam na ako ng gutom.

"He destroyed my relationship for his own gain. Tama ba ‘yon?" naasar kong tanong.

Sumubo muna siya bago nagsalita, "I understand but what I don't understand is. Mukhang naka-move on kana kay Tristan pero bakit kay Reagan, hindi pa rin? Sure ka bang dahil lang sa ginawa niyang pag-agaw sa ‘yo?"

"Of course!" mabilis kong sagot. "May iba pa bang dahilan bukod doon?"

Ramdam ko ang nagsususpetya niyang mga mata kaya hindi ako nag-angat ng tingin sa kanya.

"Who knows? Baka may iba ngang dahilan. Ayaw mo lang aminin sa sarili mo," makahulugan niyang sambit.

Napailing na lang ako at hindi na siya inimikan. Kumain na lang ako ng tahimik.

"But honestly speaking. I don't really like your ex-boyfriend, Ryleigh. Although mali si Reagan sa ginawa niyang pagpumilit na maging fiance ka despite of knowing your relationship to Tristan. Why do I have a feeling that he saved you from him?" nagtataka niyang sambit.

I frowned at her statement. "Anong sinasabi mo?"

Nagkibit-balikat siya. "I don't know. Basta! I don't like the energy from that man."

Hindi na lang ulit ako umimik dahil hindi ko rin naman siya maintindihan. Isa pa, matagal naman na ‘yon. Kung nasaan man si Tristan ngayon. I hope he's doing well. I don't deserve him after all.

"Anyways! Back to Mr. Grey Eyed Bachelor, Reagan Iverson," may pang-aasar niyang sambit na ikinaikot lang ng mga mata. "I'm sure you heard and seen his rumored girlfriend or fiance, right?"

"Hindi siya fiance ni Reagan. She was just an old acquaintance," saad ko. Na sana hindi ko na lang pala isinaboses dahil mas lalong lumaki ang ngisi sa labi ni Alessia.

"Updated, ah!"

"I didn't ask about her. Sinabi lang iyon sa akin ni Dad. Stop assuming," naasar kong depensa.

"Whatever," hindi naniniwalang saad niya. "Anyway, I don't think she was just a simple old acquaintance. You know that Reagan's already twenty-eight going twenty-nine this year, right?"

Biglang bumagal ang pag-ihip ko sa mainit na sabaw sa aking kutsara. I don't know why but I suddenly don't want to hear what she's about to say.

"In their family, an heir or heiress is very important." Alessia's eyes bore on me meaningfully. "Since you'd turn him down. He needs to find another, and based on what I've heard. Vivian Samonte is the best candidate for the spot you've left."