DEVOTED HEART

BABY DADDY

TRENT

Shock will be an understatement the moment I realized who bumped into me. It was none other than the woman I hated more than anyone else. It was the face I loathed for five f*****g years. It was the woman who broke me beyond repair. 

Alisson Garcia, my ex-girlfriend.

Tinalikuran ko s'ya at lumabas na ng restaurant, not minding to lose a deal with an important client. I don’t wanna deal with her knowing I might hurt her. Sa sobrang galit ko sa kanya, gusto ko s’yang saktan sa lahat ng paraan. And that won’t do me any good. It will be bad for my image. I now have a reputation to worry about.

I won’t let myself be further ruined by her. Hinding-hindi ko na ulit sisirain ang buhay ko para sa kanya. Never again.

I saw Alisson following me to my car. Such a shameless woman.

Nakikita ko pa lang si Alisson, nagdidilim na ang paningin ko. I was never violent, lalo na sa mga babae. Pero pagdating sa kanya, nangangati ako na manakit. Gusto ko na iparanas sa kanya ang sakit na ibinigay n'ya sa akin.

I confronted her and I threw her my insults. She deserves every spiteful word. She deserves to know how much I despise her. She deserves to meet the monster she made when she left me for that jerk brother of mine.

Dapat na malaman n'ya kung gaano kasakit na pinagpalit n'ya ako, at sa mismong kapatid ko pa. Dapat na malaman n'ya kung ano na ngayon ang Trent na itinapon n'ya para sumama sa lalaki na wala namang ibang higit na maibibigay sa kanya kundi ang pera at mga materyal na bagay.

Napakawalang-kwentang babae n'ya, at pinagsisisihan ko na minahal ko s'ya.

"I-I, I-I love you."

Her words were like cold water that rattled my system. It pulled me from the trance which drawn me into kissing her, touching her, and feeling her heat.

She loves me? Was she kidding?

Oh! She loves my money. She's a gold-digging b***h, even after all these years.

I can't imagine that I fell in love with that kind of woman. And I hate myself for still being attracted. I despised her and her ambitious persona. I gave her my everything and yet she managed to ditch me for some jerk who can give her more.

I left her and went back to the restaurant. I'm sure that my client was still there. I arrived thirty minutes earlier when I met Alisson.

"I'm sorry I'm late, Mr. Jackson," I shook hands with my new client.

"No, no, Mr. Villasis, you're still five minutes early," he chuckled.

We're in the middle of business when I noticed Alisson got out of a taxi.

I frowned. Was she following me?

I watched her every move. I clenched my fists. There's a distaste building within me.

She walked towards a car and searched her bag for something. I noticed that she changed her blouse. She entered a silver Porsche.

So, she can afford a Porsche now. I wonder how many men she f****d for that car.

Halos masuka ako sa naisip ko.

"Mr. Villasis?" tawag ni Mr. Jackson sa atensyon ko.

Napatingin naman ako sa kanya. "I'm sorry, Sir," I apologized.

"It's okay," ngumiti s'ya sa akin, "You know miss Alisson Garcia?"

"Huh?" bahagyang nagulat na tanong ko. Kilala pala niya si Alisson?

"Alisson. You're staring at her," he smiled while motioning the direction I was staring.

"Ah. Yes, I know her," I said after clearing my throat.

"She's so beautiful and hardworking. I like her a lot," he said with an obvious adoration.

I can't help but frown. He may be one of Alisson's resources. He's rich, and he can feed Alisson's luxurious ambitions.

"Anyway, about what we're talking earlier..." and we got back to business.

Thinking about her won't do me any good.

I should simply let her stay on my past and move on with my life.

Hindi ko na dapat hayaan ang sarili ko na sirain na naman ng isang babae.

ALISSON

I drove my way home. I'm tired and I need to rest. I had a rough day.

And Sarah needs me.

"Hello there, princess," I kissed Sarah's cheek.

Humarap ang bata sa akin at nagpakarga.

"I miss you mommy!" she beamed then kissed me on my lips.

"I miss you too, baby," malambing na tugon ko at mahigpit s'yang niyakap.

Sarah's my four and a half-year-old daughter. The one who made it possible for me to survive five long years without Trent. She's the reason to wake in each day, knowing that I have to face another miserable day ahead of me.

"How's your week?" tanong ko sa kanya sa malambing na tono.

Isang linggo akong hindi nakauwi dahil sa isang deal ko out of the country. I already have my own advertising company. Kaya naman hindi ko kailangan ang perang sinasabi ni Trent.

"It's boring," malungkot na sabi ng bata.

"Mommy will make up for that," I smiled at her.

"Yehey! We'll go shopping?" excitement was obvious in her voice.

"Yes, baby. But for today, mommy will cook your favorite sinigang," I ruffled her hair then I kissed her before we went to my room.

"Then we'll go to the mall?" she innocently asked.

I just smiled at her. Kahit na pagod pa ako ay kailangan kong pagbigyan si Sarah. Kailangan ko kasing bumawi sa kanya.

After our lunch ay umalis na rin kami ni Sara papuntang mall. My daughter loves shopping. Halos nalibot na namin ang buong mall. Madami na rin akong bitbit na paper bags, pati na rin ang yaya ni Sarah ay hindi na magkanda-ugaga sa pagdala ng mga pinamili namin. Mahilig si Sarah sa mga damit… manang-mana talaga.

I smiled at the thought.

In my life full of miseries, Sarah’s my light.

"Mommy, let's eat. I'm hungry," Sarah pouted. She’s an adorable kid.

I smiled at her. "Okay. Then, we'll go home, alright?"

"What? We're going home already?" she gave me a pleading stare. Her puppy eyes that never failed to melt my heart.

I simply nodded. She pouted even more "Okay, I want to eat later. Let's go to the toys store first."

Natawa na lang ako sa kanya. Naglakad na kami papunta sa gusto n'yang tindahan ng mga laruan. Nagpabili lang siya ng tatlong Barbie dolls at lumabas na kami.

"Alisson.”

Napatigil ako sa paglalakad nang may tumawag sa akin. It was none other than the devil himself.

Jack Ramos was staring at me. After a while he shifted his gaze on the woman clinging to his arm. Nakikita ko na tinitimbang n’ya ang sitwasyon nang bumalik sa akin ang atensyon n’ya.

Jack Ramos is Sarah's father. How can I ever forget him? Kahit yata gustuhin ko ay hindi ko s’ya makakalimutan. S’ya lang naman ang sumira ng buong buhay ko. He ruined my relationship with Trent.

At pambihira rin naman ang paglalaro ng tadhana sa akin. Matapos kong makita muli si Trent, who would have thought that I’ll see Jack the same day.

"Let's go, baby," mariing sabi ko at hinawakan ko nang mas mahigpit ang kamay ni Sarah. Kailangan ko nang lumayo. I really want to punch him straight in his f*****g face.

"Wait, Alisson," nagmamadaling sumunod s'ya at humarang pa sa harap ko.

Kung hindi ko kasama si Sarah, malamang na nasapak ko na si Jack. Malaki ang galit ko sa kanya. Kinamumuhian ko s'ya!

"What do you want?" I coldly asked.

"Matagal tayong hindi nagkita. Mind to have dinner with us? By the way this is Trixie," pakilala n'ya sa babae na matalim na ang titig sa akin.

"Ayaw ko na makasama ka. Ni hindi ko na nga gustong makita ka pa," prangkang sabi ko sa kanya. Hindi naman kami maiintindihan ni Sarah dahil English lang ang alam n'ya.

He simply shrugged his shoulders then smirked. Still the same old confident bastard I knew. "Still into it? It's been years, Alisson, move on," he chuckled.

He bent down to face Sarah. Kinabahan naman agad ako.

"Hi, missy," malambing na tawag ni Jack kay Sarah.

Sarah didn't answer him. I told her not to talk with strangers, and my daughter was always obedient.

Jack stood up. "Your daughter?" tanong n'ya sa akin.

"So?" mataray kong sabi. Hindi dapat ako magpahalata na nababahala ako sa kanya. Ayoko na maghinala s'ya.

"With Trent? She's as snob as him," Jack said with a grin.

I simply ignored him then walked pass him. Nagtama pa ang mga balikat namin dahil nakaharang s'ya.

Mabuti na lang at maliit ang utak ni Jack. Nakakatawa na si Trent pa ang inisip n'yang ama ni Sarah, samantalang kapareho ng mga mata n'ya ang sa bata. Maging ang labi at kulay ay pareho sila.

"Mommy," tawag sa akin ni Sarah, ilang sandali matapos namin makalayo kay Jack.

"Yes?" malambing na tanong ko. Palagi akong malambing sa anak ko. I want her to have all the love she needs.

"Is Trent that he's talking about my dad?" she innocently asked.

I felt a pinch on my chest. I met her gaze. "No baby," I honestly answered in a gentle tone. "Your dad's dead," I lied.

It's better for her to think that her father was dead than to know that she got a jerk for a father.

"Okay. My mommy is more than enough," she smiled.

There were times that Sarah spoke maturely. And I felt proud that I raised her that way.

"Where do you want to eat?" I sweetly asked her.

"Fried chicken house!" she enthusiastically replied. That’s how she called a famous local fast-food restaurant.

Tahimik lang na nakasunod sa amin ang yaya n'ya.

After our dinner ay umuwi na rin kami. Nakatulog na si Sarah after mag-shower. Tinabihan ko na muna s’ya sa higaan n’ya at magaan na hinaplos ang buhok n’ya.

"Baby, today you just met your dad. Forgive me if I have to hide the truth. I don't want you to meet him as your dad. I don't want to ruin you," I kissed her forehead. A tear escaped my eye, then another, then another. I'm crying once more.

I've already cried a liter for this day.

Sana kapag maayos na kami ni Trent ay matanggap n'ya si Sarah.

Bumalik na ako sa kwarto ko para magpahinga. Nasa isip ko pa rin ang pagkikita namin ni Trent nang makatulog ako. Kahit hindi maganda ang nangyari sa amin, Masaya pa rin ako na makita ulit s'ya.

Masaya akong makita na maayos ang lagay n’ya at mukhang naging matagumpay s’ya sa buhay.