Chapter 5

Halos hindi ako makatulog sa kakaisip sa nangyaring 'yon. 

Paano kung maalala niya ako? Paano kung nakita niya sa mga mata ni Cayden ang sarili niya? At paano kung dahil sa nakita niya, maghinala siya? 

Hindi ko na alam kung ano ang mas nakakakaba: ang posibilidad na makilala ni Damon ang anak niya… o ang matinding galit niya sa'kin kapag nalaman niyang tinago ko ang bata sa kaniya ng limang taon.

Hindi pwede... Hindi niya pwedeng malaman na may anak siya. He already paid me millions... Millions that saved my grandmother's life pero wala na ang lahat ng 'yon. Naubos na lahat at wala na rin si lola. All I have left is my son and I can't let him take Cayden away from me. 

Hindi ko kakayanin kapag nilayo niya sa akin ang anak ko. Hindi ko hahayaang gawin niya 'yon. Mas pipiliin kong umalis na lang at magtago sa ibang bansa. Kaya kong maghirap at magsakripisyo, wag lang mawalay sa'kin ang anak ko. 

And what hurts even more is if Cayden will find out and if Damon won't accept him. Mas matatanggap kong ako na lang ang masaktan, wag lang siya. Gagawin ko ang lahat para maprotektahan si Cayden. 

Nag ayos na kaagad ako at nagluto ng agahan. I should still go to work or else baka makahalata siya na may tinatago ako sa kaniya. 

Maya-maya pa'y bumangon na rin siya at ngumiti sa akin na para bang walang kahit anong masama sa mundo.

"Mommy, can we go back to the bookstore later?"

Ngumiti ako, kahit may kirot sa dibdib. “Maybe next week, anak. Mommy needs to work.”

He nodded obediently, and for a moment, nakalimutan ko ang lahat—ang takot, ang lihim, ang pangamba. But when I entered the company building, everything came rushing back.

I was praying, God, please let today pass without incident.

Pero pagkapasok ko sa office ni Damon bilang sekretarya, his first words made my stomach drop.

“Had fun yesterday?”

I froze.

“Sir?”

“I saw your son again in the lobby this morning. Cute kid.”

“Thank you po, sir,” I answered as calmly as I could, kahit nanginginig na ang mga kamay ko.

His eyes locked on mine. “He has... striking eyes.”

I looked down immediately. “Yes, sir. Mana sa lolo niya.” tinago ko kaagad sa likod ko ang nanginginig kong kamay habang pinipigilan kong manginig rin ang boses ko. 

"Talaga?" he said, clearly unconvinced. “What’s his name again?” I froze with his question.

Why does he look interested with my son? May alam na ba siya? Nakahalata na ba siya? O di kaya... Nakapaimbestiga na siya. 

Mayaman siya... He's a billionaire and he can use his money to know everything he wanted. He even used it to get me. Why is he asking me so many questions? Is he trying to trap me? 

Sana hindi... Sana nagtatanong lang siya dahil gusto niya, hindi dahil may alam na siya. 

“Cayden po," sagot ko matapos ang mahabang katahimikan. 

He leaned back on his chair and nodded slowly, as if processing something. “Nice name.”

Pagkatapos no'n, tahimik lang siya habang ako ay tuloy sa pag-organize ng files, kahit pa ramdam ko ang titig niya sa akin. 

Hindi ako nagtangkang salubungin ang mga titig niya. I'm afraid that one more look in those eyes... I might not be able to control myself. 

Ang bawat tunog ng orasan ay parang bomba sa utak ko. Hindi ko alam kung binabasa niya ako, o kung pinaglalaruan lang niya ako para matakot.

Nang matapos ang trabaho ko, tinext ko agad si Alyana para masiguradong okay si Cayden.

Then, just when I thought I could leave peacefully—

“Ms. Alcantara,” he called before I reached the door.

“Yes, sir?” humarap ako sa kaniya ngunit ang tingin ko ay nanatili sa aking paa, takot na baka mabasa niya kung ano ang iniisip ko at kung ano ang kinakatakot ko.

“I’d like you to accompany me to a client dinner tonight.”

Bigla akong napatigil. “S-sir?”

“You’re my secretary. It’s part of the job.”

I couldn't say no without raising suspicion. So I nodded. “Yes, sir.”

I left his office and immediately called Alyana.

I had her prepare Cayden’s dinner and tucked him in early. Wala akong sinabi sa kanya tungkol sa dinner. He was used to me working late anyway.

Dumating ako sa restaurant kung saan naka-reserve si Damon. He was already there, dressed sharply, commanding attention without trying. But what caught me off guard was how his eyes instantly flicked to mine as soon as I entered—as if he’d been waiting.

“You clean up well,” he said casually.

“Thank you, sir.”

Dinner went as expected—strictly professional. But the moment the client left, and it was just the two of us at the table, the air changed.

“Maria.”

I almost choked on my water. He said my name.

Not Ms. Alcantara.

Maria.

I looked up, trying to mask the panic in my chest. “Sir?”

“You said we’ve never met before.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Are you sure?” His voice was low, suspicious.

I clenched my fists under the table.

“Because I remember someone who looked just like you. Same eyes. Same voice.”

I forced a laugh. “Maybe you just met someone who looks like me. There are a lot of people in the world who look the same even though they're not blood related”

He leaned in, elbows on the table, eyes boring into mine. “Maybe.”

But I knew he didn’t believe me.