Chapter 3

Irish’s POV

Miss Hermosa looked at me, then at Gavriel. “Oh, I didn’t know you and the CEO are…”

CEO? Who? Si Gavriel?

Agad akong umiling. “Ah, no, Miss. You’ve got the wrong idea. He—I mean, Mr. Buenafe does not have that… kind of connection to us.”

“Oh, my bad.” Pagak siyang tumawa.

Lalapit na sana ako sa anak ko pero nagulat na lang ako, pati ang mga investor na kasama, nang tumayo si Gavriel habang buhat-buhat si Nathalie.

As if ignoring the big shots, his eyes were focused only at me.

“You’re…” His jaw clenched. “the mother of this girl?”

Before I even got to answer, Nathalie yelled, “Yes, she’s my mom!”

Parang nandilim naman ang paningin ni Gavriel sa narinig. Nagbasa ako ng labi, at napahinga nang malalim.

“I’m really sorry about this, Mr. CEO. I’ll take my daughter back, so we won’t cause further distur—”

“It’s alright.” Nilayo pa niya si Nathalie nang bahagya, saka humarap sa investors. “Please enjoy your meal, everyone. Let’s all meet at the conference room later.”

Wala na akong ibang nagawa kundi sumunod sa kaniya nang magtuloy-tuloy siya palabas ng resto.

“Mr. CEO—”

Tumigil siya sa paglalakad kaya bumangga ako sa likod niya. I lost my balance, but his arms swiftly wrapped around my waist.

Our eyes met again. There was this intensity in his gaze I couldn’t quite pinpoint.

“Mommy! Are you alright?”

Nilayo ko ang sarili ko at mabilis na kinuha si Nathalie mula kay Gavriel, hinayaan niya naman ako.

I firmly looked at my daughter and asked. “Nathalie, why are you here? Where’s your brother?”

“I don’t know, Mommy. Kuya just ran off somewhere!” She pouted. “I tried finding him, but I got hungry. So I asked Mister here to give me food.”

Nilingon ko si Gavriel, matiim lang siyang nakatitig sa aming dalawa. Nag-iwas ako ng tingin at binaling ang atensyon sa anak ko.

“Where’s Reg? Aren’t you guys supposed to play at the park with him?”

Nathalie played with her fingers. “Probably still playing hide-and-seek there…?”

“Reg?” Nakakunot-noong lumapit lalo si Gavriel sa amin. “Is he the father of your children?”

Nagbasa ako ng labi, pinipilit na tingnan siya mata sa mata kahit tinatambol ng presensya niya ang dibdib ko. “I believe that’s a private matter I’m not supposed to be sharing with my boss, Mr. CEO.”

He smirked at me. “We’ve shared far more than that, Natalia.”

Parang may nagbara sa lalamunan ko dahil sa paraan ng pagtawag niya sa akin. Mula noon hanggang ngayon, siya lang ang tumatawag ng pangalan kong ‘yon. And heck, it's making my knees weak.

Tiim-bagang kong nilagpasan si Gavriel. “Please excuse us.”

“You’re still on the clock, Miss Flores, may I remind you.”

Natigilan ako sa paglalakad at nilingon siya. “It’s actually my lunch time, Mr. CEO.”

“If that’s the case…” He glanced at my daughter. “Why don’t you ladies share a meal with me?”

“Yes, please!” agarang sagot naman ni Nathalie.

“Nathalie!” saway ko sa kaniya. “We have to find your brother.”

“Ah, that… My secretary actually found a boy around your daughter’s age loitering around in front of my office.” Napalingon ako kay Gavriel. Nakipagtitigan naman siya sa akin. Parang nanghahamon ‘yong tingin niya.

Was it really my son? And if so, anong ginagawa ni Nathaniel doon?

I heaved a sigh. “We’ll just go fetch my son, Mr. CEO.”

He shrugged. “Sure. Whatever eases your mind, Miss… Flores.”

YUMAKAP sa akin si Nathaniel pagkapasok ko sa opisina ni Gavriel.

“Mommy!” humihikbi niyang tawag sa ‘kin. “I’m so, so sorry. I should have just stayed at the park.”

Hinimas-himas ko ang likod niya. “Ssh… it’s fine, it’s fine. Mommy’s here.”

Nakita ko si Gavriel sa gilid ng mga mata ko na kinandong si Nathalie in his office chair, then he started feeding our daugh—I mean, my daughter.

Napakagat ako sa pang-ibabang labi at binuhat si Nathaniel. I called out to my daughter, “Nathalie, tara na. Ipapahatid ko kayo kay Reg.”

“But, Mom—”

“Let them stay here for a while, Natalia.”

Matalim ang tingin na pinukol ko kay Gavriel. “Thanks for the offer, Mr. CEO. But we wouldn’t want to intrude on you any further.”

“You’re not intruding, Natalia.”

Nahigit ko ang hininga dahil sa narinig. No, Irish. Get a hold of yourself. Walang ibang ibig sabihin ang sinabi ni Gavriel. He’s just being kind to the children, as he always were.

“Besides…” Nilingon niya si Nathaniel. “The little boy there looked sick. I’ll call for our stay-in doctor to get him checked.”

Kinusot-kusot ni Nathaniel ang mga mata at ngumiti kay Gavriel.

Nagbuga ako ng hangin. Me and my children, being in the same room as the man I decided to cut off our lives six years ago. I don’t think this is a good idea at all.

I heard Nathalie’s sobs. “Mommy, please… Kuya looks pale, oh.”

Mariin akong napapikit. When I opened my eyes again, I felt them soften while looking at my daughter… and his father holding her—not that any of them knows it, para saan pa? He left me hanging years ago, who’s to say he wouldn't do the same thing now?

Nasaktan na niya ako noon. Hindi ko hahayaang masaktan niya rin ang mga anak ko. Kahit ano pang pakulo ang gawin niya.

He’ll see, hindi ako magpapatinag.

“Then, I’d like to take you up on that offer, Mr. CEO.”

Sinunod nga ni Gavriel iyong sinabi niya at nagpaakyat ng doktor sa opisina. He even lent the room connected to his office to let the twins rest.

Pinasalamatan ko siya at babalik na sana sa trabaho ko, but he blocked the door with his huge build.

“Mr—”

“Yes, Miss Flores?” He lowered his head, leaning closer to my face. “Or is that not the surname you go by anymore?”

Kinunotan ko siya ng noo. He didn’t just change in terms of appearance. Pati pag-uugali niya, nagbago rin.

Ang dating Gavriel ko, kung anong nasa isip, ‘yon din ang labas ng bibig. But now, he seemed to be using a mischievous front to get on my nerves. Six years in the States must have really changed him.

“I should go back to my duties now, Mr. CEO.” I flashed him a professional smile.

“Didn’t your manager tell you?” Mula sa pagkakapamulsa, unti-unting umangat ang kamay niya sa akin.

Nanlalaki ang mga matang napaatras ako. But his hands already caught the name tag from my chest. Pinaglaruan niya ‘yon sa kamay niya.

“Aside from your usual duties, you’ll be reporting directly to me from now on.” He put my name tag over his lips, his eyes dangerously locked on mine. “I’ll be in your care… Natalia.”