Her Scent

Lorenzo’s POV

Tahimik akong nakaupo sa head chair ng dining table.

Typical na Montemayor breakfast — long table setup, linen napkins, fresh fruits, pandesal, and the usual imported cheese na never ko naman hihanap. Si Mom naman busy Kay Lian sa pagkarga. Si Lucas nakakalong Kay Dad. Si Lorraine, of course, masayang kausap si Lucas habang pinapainom ng juice.

Ako?

Tahimik lang. Observing.

“Lorenzo, you didn’t even say hi to your kids properly,” ani Mom,

“I carried Lian. That’s enough.”

Matipid kong sagot. Hindi ko pinansin ang irap ng mata ni Lorraine.

Pero sa gilid ng paningin ko…

Nandoon siya.

Mhiya. Naka tayo malapit kina mom and Dad, pinapakain si Lucas and Lian, habang may hawak na baby spoon. Tuwang-tuwa ang bata habang pinapasubuan niya.

Walang makeup. Nakapusod Lang. But she's beautiful.

Bakit parang… hindi ko matanggal ang mata ko sa kanya?

Sa dami ng babaeng nakakasam ko sa business circles — bihis, mayayaman, maganda at ka fling ko — bakit siya

Bakit ‘tong dalagang to, na halos kapantay pa ng assistant ko sa edad, ay parang may bigat na hindi ko mabaliwala?

“Kuya, you're zoning out.”

Si Lorraine na naman, napapailing.

“You haven’t even touched your food. You want me to call Mhiya and feed you, too?” kahapon ka pa akala mo di nakita ginawa mo Kay mhiya nun kinuha mo si Lian

Napatingin ako sa kanya, seryoso.

“Stop it, Lorraine.”

Umirap siya pero tumawa lang. Alam kong alam niya kung kailan ako hindi nagbibiro. Pero sa loob-loob ko, ayoko sanang ipahalata kung gaano ko na-observe si Mhiya.

Kanina pa.

To how she gently wiped Lian’s chin nang tumulo ang pagkain.

That kind of softness…

That kind of calm presence…

The kind of love their own mother couldn’t even give.

My ex-fiancée who cheated on me..

She gave them birth… but never presence.

Busy siya sa sarili niyang mundo — parties, travels, image.

No milk. No sleepless nights. No lullabies

I pay attention to them.

“Sir Lorenzo, more juice po?”

Si Lhey. Nakahawak sa pitcher.

Tumango lang ako.

Pero habang nagbubuhos siya ng juice, napatingin ulit ako kay Mhiya.

This time, nagkatinginan kami.

Because something in that one-second stare — ‘yung awkward ngiti niya, ‘yung pag-iwas niya ng tingin — hit something I’ve buried for 1 and half Years

No.

She’s the nanny.

She’s just the nanny.

But my hands?

They were clenched under the table.

It shouldn’t have felt like anything.

But it did.

But… maybe she’s just pretending.

Just like the others.

That brief look — the way she glanced at me, then looked away — was it real shyness? Or part of the same pattern I’ve seen too many times?

A soft smile.

A bit of humility.

Gentle with the kids, always nearby.

And then slowly… they try to get close.

To me.

I’ve seen it before — women using kindness as a strategy.

Some were nannies, others were assistants, even business partners. Some tried seduction, some tried silence. But the goal? Always the same.Just to Get my attention.

And Mhiya?She might look simple — too young, too tired, too quiet. But those are just the kinds who slip under the radar. The ones who try to win your sympathy first, then your heart. But not me.**Not anymore.**

I’ve learned.

The woman I gave everything to? She cheated. She walked away from me. From her children one year ago.

But that doesn’t mean she’s different.

Maybe she’s just better at playing the game.

So I remind myself:

Because I’m Lorenzo Montemayor.

May sarili akong mga batas.

Strict rules.

Business rules.

At house rules.

“No woman gets close.”

Not for love.

Not for comfort.

But Fuck! I can still remember until now mhiya scent it's smell like vanilla milk.

Why the hell do I remember something like that?

I’ve stood next to women wearing designer perfumes that cost more than my suits — and I forget them instantly.

But this?

Her scent burned into my senses.

Like my body remembered it even after I forced my mind to forget.

I clenched my jaw.

This can’t happen.

I won’t let it.

That goddamn vanilla and milk was still stuck in my head.

“Lorenzo!”

I blinked fast. A voice snapped me back to the table.

“Do you even hear what I’m saying?”

“Sorry… Mom?”

She was frowning. "You're Dad, talking to you, anak."

Kasunod nu’n, bigla namang sumabat si Lorraine. “Kuya, seriously? What are you thinking?”

I cleared my throat, sat straighter.

“I was… just thinking about the business in New Zealand.”

But Lorraine didn’t look convinced.

“Are you *sure*, Kuya? Kasi kanina pa kita pinapansin — and you keep closing your eyes. Tapos 'yung tingin mo kay Mhiya… medyo intense, ha.”

“What? No—” I cut in, defensive. “That’s not—”

“Oh come on,” sabat ni Mom this time. “We all saw it.”

Dad stayed quiet, but even he raised a brow with meaning while looking at me.

“Hindi ka naman ganyan sa past nannies, Kuya. ‘Di ba usually, di mo nga tinitingnan. Pero kay Mhiya? Grabe titig mo..

“I was just watching her with the twins,” I muttered, forcing my tone flat. “She’s… doing her job well.”

“Yeah. Doing her job *too well*? You-

I looked away. Straightened the napkin on my lap.

Damn it. I didn’t even notice na hawak ko pa rin ang fork pero walang bawas ang pagkain ko.

“Para kayong mga bata.”

Lorraine scoffed. I rolled my eyes.

“Anyway,” Dad continued, composed but firm, “I was actually talking about our family reunion this coming Sunday.”

“We need to prepare, as always,” he added, “and Lorenzo, you can invite close friends to our gathering.”

I gave a polite nod. “I’ll see who’s available.”

Mom didn’t stop there. “We also need to discuss something important with Aiden Ryan. The foundation’s scholarship program.”