LOGIN“Shit.”
Last night.
Protection.
Or rather—
the lack of it.
Huminto siya sa red light.
Her stomach dropped.
Sa dami ng emotion
One hour passed.Then another.Nasa loob ng BMW si Angela, nakabukas ang design folder sa passenger seat at hawak ang tablet habang nagre-revise ng ilang details.Kung maghihintay rin lang siya—she might as well work.Sa labas, tuloy ang campaign shoot.Makeup retouch.Lighting adjustment.Another angle.Retake.Wardrobe change.Another retake.Break.Then a
Hindi alam ni Angela kung anong oras eksaktong nakauwi si Caleb.Nakatulog siya habang katabi ang tablet matapos matapos ang dalawang preliminary concepts para sa first challenge ni Madison sa Goddess in Gown. Kinabukasan, saka lang niya nalaman kay Tita Fe na dumating pala si Caleb bago mag-umaga.“Mga halos alas-kuwatro na po yata, Ma’am.”Napatingin si Angela mula sa coffee niya.“Four?”“Opo.”Tita Fe placed toasted pandesal and eggs on the table.“Nakita raw po kayong tulog na, kaya sa guest room n
Pagkabukas pa lang ng elevator doors sa floor ng Everhart Fashion House, sinalubong na agad si Angela ng pamilyar na ingay ng isang office na nagsisimula nang maging abala. May dalawang staff na may bitbit na garment bags na mabilis na bumati sa kanya, may isang production assistant na halos tumatakbo habang may kausap sa headset, at mula sa kabilang bahagi ng studio ay naririnig na ang sunod-sunod na tunog ng sewing machines. Normally, sapat na ang ganitong environment para agad mailipat ni Angela ang isip niya sa trabaho. Kapag nasa Everhart siya, mas madaling itulak sa likod ng utak ang mga personal niyang problema. May sketches na kailangang tapusin, samples na kailangang i-check, suppliers na naghihintay ng sagot, deadlines na walang pakialam kung brokenhearted ka, at staff na umaasa sa kanya bilang Acting Design Director.“Good morning, Ma’am!”
“Shit.”Last night.Protection.Or rather—the lack of it.Huminto siya sa red light.Her stomach dropped.Sa dami ng emotions kagabi, hindi niya iyon naisip.Normally, she was careful.Very careful.Especially now.Especially after Caleb had only recently thrown out the idea of having a child like it was some kind of solution to their broken marriage.Absolutely not.
“Good night.”His smile slowly disappeared.“Angela.”“No more talking.”He stayed silent.A few seconds later, his arm returned around her waist.She considered removing it.Then decided she was too tired.Not everything needed to become another battle.She closed her eyes.Her thoughts remained tangled.Simon.Vanessa.Madison.
she kissed him.Si Caleb naman ang nanigas.For several seconds, hindi ito gumalaw.Then its hand wrapped lightly around her wrist.Not to restrain.To stop her enough to look at her.“Wait.”Angela met his eyes.“Are you sure?”Tahimik siyang tumingin dito.That question mattered.Because only moments ago—she had said stop.And he ha







