6. Indefinite leave.

Moving in with Nate Sarmiento never crossed her mind in the slightest. How could she if she despised the man for treating both Olive and Elisha heartlessly?

 

Kadarating lang nila sa bahay ng binata. Napansin niya na madami itong tao at puro pormal ang mga itsura. Mula sa mga gwardiya hanggang sa mga katulong ay parang mga empleyado ng hotel. Well, bahay nga pala iyon ng isang hotelier...

 

"Let me get this clear with you," Nate said once Elisha was out of earshot. "You will resign from your work and be full time in watching my daughter."

 

"But—"

 

"I'll pay you, of course," he added insultingly, like napaka-importante no'n sa kanya. "I just don't want Elisha to think that I'm not treating her 'mommy' well."

 

"I do plan to tell Elisha  –and I've already told Olive– that I am not her mother. But not until she can already understand."

 

"That's actually my plan, Hannah. You're coming with us just so you can have enough time to break it to Elisha gently," Nate said and she resisted the urge to argue. What's important right now was he allowed her to see Elisha. She would have died of depression kung tuluyan na nitong inilayo ang bata sa kanya. And much as she didn't want na mawalay sa kanya ang anak, at this point she knew she couldn't keep her forever. Not if Nate Sarmiento was determined to be a father to Elisha.

 

 

But Hannah wouldn't give up without putting up a reasonable fight. Kung paano, ‘di niya alam. She couldn't probably go to the court, Elisha didn't even come from her and suing Nate might just turn the table against her. Although legally ay siya ang guardian ni Elisha, may silbi ba ang mga papel sa pera ng isang mayaman at maimpluwensyang tao? Mahihirapan siguro ito kahit papaano, pero hanggang saan niya kayang tiisin ang magiging emotional trauma ni Elisha kung sakali? 

 

Gusto ba niyang malito ang bata sa murang edad nito para lang i-justify niya sa kanyang sarili na siya lang ang may karapatan dito? She couldn't do that to Elisha.

 

"Please, Elisha wouldn't understand if I tell her now," she tried to reason.

 

"I didn't say now, Hannah. But I'm expecting you to tell her ASAP. This setup is not going to last long. Once I found Olive, we will complete our family and that will leave you no place in my daughter's life," he answered and Hannah wanted to cry at the thought. "By the way, thanks for staying faithful to Olive by not telling me her whereabouts –but really, you shouldn't have," tinalikuran na siya nito.

 

'What did he mean?'

 

Nate was still looking for Olive. Did he love her so much that even when her friend already ran away with another man, he still wouldn't give up on her? Worse, he plans on completing his family with her dear Elisha. Kapag nangyari 'yon, Hannah will be back to living alone. And she wasn't sure if she could still survive without Elisha.

 

She shook her head. It's never a good habit to dwell on something that hasn't even happened yet.

 

'Be positive, Hannah. There can still be another way out of this...'

 

-----

 

"Indefinite leave?"

 

"Yes, Mrs. Everett... I'm sorry if this is all so urgent," she phoned her boss to explain her sudden disappearance from work. Hindi na siya nakapasok sa araw na iyon dahil ayaw niyang palampasin ang pagkakataon na makasama ang kanyang anak. "But my daughter needs me." She looked at the sleeping Elisha on her gorgeous bed, courtesy of her very rich father.

 

Kahit kailan hindi niya ito napahiga sa ganoon kaganda at kakomportableng kama.

 

"You see, Hannah, there's a reason why I keep you around," Mrs Everett answered for about one minute after her last word. "And I'm positive Nathaniel will also see that."

 

"Nathaniel?" ulit niya.

 

"Nate Sarmiento."

 

"Oh!" How did she know? Hindi naman niya binanggit ang tungkol kay Nate.

 

"I know our company is not as big shot as the Sarmiento's but believe me, I know that boy very well." Kung nasa harapan niya si Mrs. Everett, sigurado siyang nakakunot noo ito habang nagsasalita.

 

"But how did you know about–?"

 

"He told me. Apparently, he didn't want to mess with an old woman like me," she let out a short laugh. "So Hannah, don't worry about your post."

 

"Thank you, Mrs. Everett. It means a lot to me." Mangiyak-ngiyak siya, her boss of ten years never talked to her that way before, actually natatakot siyang magpaalam dito sa pamamagitan lang ng pagtawag. So she was thankful na malumanay ito.

 

Kahit paano, nabawasan ang alalahanin niya.

 

"You've been an excellent employee Hannah with zero lates and absences. You deserve a break." She could almost see her frowning deeply and looking at her through her glasses, with a small smile on her lips.

 

She just said thank you once again. Hindi na niya palalawigin ang usapan na 'yon. Hindi naman niya alam kung ano ang sinabi ni Nate sa amo niya, so she'll just rest her case. Ang importante, Nate saved her the trouble of explaining further why she couldn't come to work. On how ever he learned she's working for Mrs Everett, who he supposedly knows, she wouldn't be so puzzled how having a lot of money works.

 

"Mommy."

 

"Yes, baby?" Nagising na pala si Elisha at nag-aabang lang na matapos siyang makipag-usap sa telepono. "Did I wake you?" Nilapitan niya ito at masuyong hinalikan sa pisngi.

 

"No." She shook her head.

 

"Do you want something to eat?"

 

"No, mommy... I want you to sleep here with me." Naka-pout ito at naka-puppy eyes.

 

"What did daddy say?" She reminded her about Nate's rule na hindi na sila pwedeng magtabi sa pagtulog, pointing out that Elisha needs to learn to sleep alone in her own room.

 

Syempre hindi naman siya manhid para hindi malaman na paraan nito iyon para sanayin si Elisha na wala ang presensya niya.

 

"But I miss you already, mommy," paawang sagot ng bata.

 

"Eli, we are in daddy's house right now. And he has rules that we need to follow," she told her gently.

 

"But I'm afraid, mommy."

 

"I'll just be across your room Eli," sabi niya, trying hard to make Elisha feel okay. "I can still check on you from time to time. And I'll stay here until you're snoring."

 

"I don't snore!" protesta ni Elisha na humalukipkip pa kahit nakahiga.

 

"I mean when you're already sleeping like a rock." She laughed at Elisha's reaction. "Come on. Get back to sleep."

 

"Okay mommy. I love you." Bumangon ito saglit at yumakap sa leeg niya bago h*****k sa pisngi niya.

 

"I love you too, my sweet little girl."

 

She stayed there until Elisha fell asleep. Ayaw niya itong iwanan. But a part of her told her to abide with Nate's rules para hindi nito gawing mahirap ang buhay niya. She needed this time with Elisha. Hell, she didn't even know how long would Nate allow her to stay by her daughter's side. Pwedeng anytime ay paalisin siya nito kapag ‘di siya sumunod sa mga inilatag nitong patakaran.

 

"I love you, Eli... Mommy's going to fight for you," she whispered as she kissed her good night.

 

Nate was just kind enough na tapat ng kwarto ni Elisha ang binigay nitong kwarto sa kanya. At least pakiramdam niya malapit pa rin siya sa anak.

 

She went to her room nang masigurong tulog na tulog na si Elisha.

 

She felt that empty feeling once she was in her bedroom. Malaki ang silid. Pakiramdam nga niya naka-check in siya sa isang five star hotel. But no matter how glamorous her life could be in Nate's house, she wouldn't forget that he took her there to tell Elisha that she's not her mother. And before she would know it, he's going to kick her out and she'll never see her daughter again.

 

How heartbreaking would that be? Losing the only family you have when you already have your future together all planned out?