Chapter 2

I didn’t notice that Duke wasn’t here with us anymore. Kaming dalawa lang ang narito. I’m still in shock. But I forced myself to ignore and forget about it. 

“You are aware of what job you are going to do, right?” he asked. I nodded and finally looked at him. 

“Yes, Aaron.”

“His name is Azril Laurent. He’s… already five years old.” As he spoke those words, I could feel the strain in his voice. It was as if saying them was difficult for him. And yet, despite that, the coldness in the way he said them still stood out even more.

He’s referring to his son. Hindi ko pa nakikita ang kaniyang anak. I can feel my lowkey excitement inside me to meet his son. Hindi ako ganoon na expert sa pag-aalaga ng bata pero sa kabila no’n ay gustong-gusto ng puso ko sa kanila. I have tutored children in our place for years, that’s why I know how to handle them somehow. 

“When can I meet him?” 

“Later. Do you want to eat something? I bet you haven’t eaten anything yet.” 

Tama siya at hindi pa ako kumakain simula nang byahe ko patungo rito. Kaunti rin kasi ang pera na dinala ko dahil wala naman akong sariling pera talaga. I didn’t spend a peso going here. Sagot na nito ang pamasahe ko patungo rito. 

“I’ll call Dulce. What’s your request that you want to eat?” he asked and took a telephone from his desk.

“Anything, Aaron. I’m fine with anything,” I smiled.

“It’s fine, Elora. Tell me. We have the foods that you want just say it,” sabi niya sa marahan na paraan. Sinabi ko ang kung pagkain na gusto kong kainin.

“Pasta na lang.” I saw how his lips curved into a smile, pero agad din nawala iyon.

“She wants pasta, the usual.” I shifted my attention away from him and looked at my things beside me. I no longer heard what he was saying to the person on the phone because I was too busy thinking about where the rest of my stuff might be.

“We’ll eat first. After we eat, we will go to see Azril.” 

He walked and went back to where he was seated earlier, sa harap ko. I was having my time looking around his office but I can feel his stares! Muli akong tumingin sa kaniya at hindi niya talaga iniwas ang tingin sa akin. He’s taking his time by looking at me. I felt the coldness of the room again, tinitiis ko lang iyon kanina. Hinaplos ko ang mga braso ko at tinignan naman ang mga frames sa kaniyang lamesa na hindi ko nakikita ang litrato. 

I turned my eyes to him when he stood up and took something. I realize that he adjusted the temperature of the aircon. Muli siyang lumapit sa akin. “Your things are already in your room, Elora. Gusto mo bang mag punta roon?” 

I nodded. “Oo sana, may kukunin din ako.”

“No problem. Sasamahan na kita. Let’s go?” Agad akong tumayo at sinundan siya. He has long legs but he’s walking slow, at the same pace as mine. 

Patuloy ang paglalakad namin. Hindi ko mapigilang muling mamangha sa mga disenyo ng bawat sulok, at sa mga paintings na nakadikit sa dingding dito sa pasilyo. I noticed Aaron's gaze on me while I stared at those things in awe. I love art, my eyes are deeply drawn to artworks like paintings, even the sculptures don’t escape my attention. There's something about the way each piece speaks without words, and I’ve always been captivated by that silent kind of beauty.

My steps began to slow down and my mouth parted the moment I saw the largest painting in that hallway. It looks magical, like it belonged in a different world, one untouched by time. The color purple dominated the entire canvas, but it wasn't just any shade, it was deep, mysterious, almost ethereal, as if hiding a secret only a few could understand. 

It was so stunning that I couldn't look away. The artwork pulled me in like a spell.

“Beautiful…isn’t it?” a deep voice beside me. Natigilan ako roon. Huli ko nang mapagtanto na hindi na kami naglalakad, nakatayo kami sa harapan ng painting.

I nodded. “Yes. It’s beautiful,” I smiled. 

“My wife painted it." There was a faint smile on his lips as he said those words, his eyes also fixed on the painting. I looked away the moment he turned his gaze to me.

I nodded slowly, even more amazed by what I just heard. So his wife... she was the one who painted this? She must’ve been a true artist—with the way this artwork was made, there was no doubt about her talent.

Each brushstroke looked intentional, and the depth of emotion poured into the painting was too vivid to ignore. There was beauty in every corner of the canvas—raw, haunting, and delicate. And knowing it came from someone he loved… somehow, that made the painting feel even more meaningful.

“All of the paintings that you see here, it’s all hers. It’s her paintings.”

Sa narinig ay parang gusto ko tuloy makita ang kaniyang asawa. I wanted to be an artist too! Like his wife, I want to paint. I tried once before because I really love art. Pero pinigilan lamang ako ni Vince. Hindi ko naman daw hilig ang pagpipinta. That’s why I stopped.

“It’s all beautiful,” I commented. He smiled at me and nodded. 

Nagpatuloy na kaming pumunta sa magiging room ko. He stopped in front of the door. “I'll just wait for you here, Elora.” 

Kahit na ayokong maghintay siya ay tumango ako at pumasok sa loob. I left the door open for him. Malaki ang kwarto na ‘to, at hindi lang simpleng room dahil sa disenyo nito at ayos. I saw my things inside. I didn't bother to fix my things because Aaron is just outside, maybe later. I took my phone from one of the bags. 

My eyes widened when I saw Vince's missed calls. As I stared at the screen, I saw Vince's name on the screen. He's calling. Agad kong sinagot. 

“Elora! I'm worried! Mabuti at sumagot ko na sa tawag ko. Why aren't you answering my calls? Are you busy? You're not even leaving me a message.” 

I sighed when I realized that he's not home. I thought he got home. Hindi niya alam kung nasaan ako. I still don't know when I will say it. Ayoko naman na magalit siya dahil baka biglang umuwi at maabutan na wala ako roon. 

“Vince, I'm sorry. I was just b-busy.”

I heard him sighed. “It's fine. Huwag mo ng ulitin. Where are you right now? At anong ginagawa mo? Ayos ka lang ba dyan?” 

I cleared my throat. “I'm home. Nag tuturo lang ako sa mga bata kanina, at trabaho rin. Don't worry. Ikaw? How are you there?”

“I’m fine, Elora. Huwag mo na ‘kong alalahanin. Basta at mag-ingat ka. Just stay in our place. Don't leave there, okay?”

“Okay, Vince. Have you eaten? You sound tired. Trabaho ba ‘yang pinunta mo?” 

“Kumain na ‘ko, Elora. Miss ko na ang luto mo. I already missed you. Don't worry about me, I just want to hear your voice. Wala na ang pagod ko ngayon.” 

He didn't answer my question. I bit my lip and let it slide. Hindi ko na siya kinulit dahil ayaw niyang sabihin.

“Ipagluluto kita pag nakauwi ka na. Take care there, Vince. Have a rest.” The call ended. 

I looked at the open door and remembered that Aaron was waiting! Pinaghintay ko pa siya. Lumabas na ako sa kwarto. I saw him standing there with his hands in the pocket of his black pants. 

His jaw was clenched, and his eyes darkened when he turned to me. He looked… mad. Kanina lang ay ngumingiti pa siya. He sighed and looked away. 

“Let's go,” his deep and cold voice was telling me that he's really in a bad mood.

Tahimik akong sumunod lang sa kaniyang patungo sa dining area. Naroon na ang mga pagkain, nagulat pa ako sa dami no’n. I looked around, it's just the two of us here and the housemaids. Ang daming pagkain. 

I was about to take a seat when Aaron suddenly pulled the chair for me so I could sit. “Thanks.”

Umupo na rin siya sa kabisera at tinignan ako. Ngunit nasa mga pagkain lang ang tingin ko, lalo na sa pasta. It all looks delicious! Parang nasa harap ko ang lahat ng paborito kong pagkain. 

“Let's eat,” he said. 

Tumango ako at nagsimulang kumain. His eyes were still on me. I shamelessly took food without waiting for him first. He just nodded and watched me do it. I got more comfortable eating when he also started eating. Sarap na sarap ako sa pagkain at hindi ko na siya natignan pa. 

“You like it?” 

“Yes, Aaron. Thanks for the food,” aniko. Marami pang pagkain ngunit busog na ‘ko. 

“You can take a rest after this. Napagod ka sa byahe.” 

“Hindi naman. Kailan pala ako pwede mag simula sa trabaho?” I asked. He leaned back on his chair as he took a sip on his wine. Nakatingin pa rin siya sa akin. Bumaba ang mga tingin ko sa aking pinggan. 

“Tomorrow, take a rest first. You looked tired. I don't want you to face my son wearily.” 

“Sige. Uh, pwede bang malaman kung may mga bawal kay… Azril?” tanong ko. I should know all things about his son, it's part of the job. 

Hindi siya agad sumagot, ang mga tingin ay nasa kaniyang kamay. He's looking at his wedding ring. Nagbaba ang tingin ko sa aking daliri. 

“He’s allergic to seafoods. Bawal sa kaniya ang maraming sweets. He eat every food so wala siyang gaanong hindi gusto sa pagkain. He's not a picky eater.” 

Tumango ako sa mga impormasyong narinig. So Azril is also allergic to seafood. I also have allergies to seafood. Hearing things about his son makes me want to meet him.

Natapos kami sa pagkain at sinabi niyang mag pahinga muna ako kaya ginawa ko ‘yon. Pagod din talaga ako at nakaramdam ng antok. 

“Vince, okay lang ako. Mag pahinga ka na.” 

“I will, Lor. Nag-aalala lang ko. Tinawagan ko si Mrs. Trinidad, naroon ka raw kanina. Pag-uwi ko, you can stop working.” 

Napaupo ako sa kama habang kausap si Vince sa phone. “Vince, huwag mo na ‘kong alalahanin. I'm not asking about your whereabouts so stop saying that I shouldn't work. I'm working for us, and for myself. Ayokong umasa lang sa’yo.” 

Natahimik siya. “I'm sorry. Sige na, pahinga ka na. I just called to say that I might not be able to call or message you for weeks.”

I sighed. “Okay. It's fine. Just call me if you can. Take care.” 

Humiga na ako sa kama nang maputol ang tawag. I feel guilty for not telling him about this, but I couldn't also help myself to feel unfair because he's not telling me anything too. Gusto niyang mag hintay ako at ayoko ng ganon.

Hindi ko namalayan na nakatulog na ‘ko. I just woke up when I heard a knock on the door of my room. Bumangon ako sa kama at agad na nag-ayos sa sarili. 

“Elora? Can I come in?” Aaron's voice from the door. 

“S-Sure, come in.” Tumayo ako mula sa kama kahit ramdam pa rin ang antok. 

Aaron entered the room. He gave me a small smile. My eyes widened when I realized that he's with someone! It's his son! 

“I'm sorry to bother you, someone wants to meet you so bad.” 

I looked at the little boy who entered the room. His eyes widened when he saw me. 

“Mommy..."