8. A good man.

Nate was indeed a very busy man. But he made it a point to drive Hannah and Elisha to school everyday -at least for already three days straight. And it should have been a good thing. But Hannah hurts every time she sees how happy Elisha was with Nate's company.

How did that happen? She never mentioned the word daddy to her so she wouldn't look for one. And Elisha never asked her about her father. Akala niya nagtagumpay na siyang burahin ang ano mang magkokonekta dito sa tunay nitong mga magulang, to Nate in particular. Pero heto, a little over a week pa lang since Nate came into Elisha's life and yet parang forever na silang magkakilala. Elisha loves her daddy so much it already hurts. Dahil alam ni Hannah that when she gets that chance na ilayo si Elisha - mahihirapan na siyang burahin si Nate sa buhay nito, If she ever gets that chance in the first place… 

 

Hannah always gets the backseat dahil gustong gusto ni Elisha sa passenger seat. She loves pestering her daddy with random childish questions that Nate would take time answering in all capacity he could. Much as Hannah didn't want to acknowledge the fact, Nate was trying his best to be the best daddy to Elisha.

 

But then again, he didn't want her in the first place so how could he go pretending he really likes Elisha's presence in his life?

 

'Hindi nga niya alam na buntis noon si Olive, 'di ba?' sagot ng utak niya.

 

"How's school?" Nate asked.

 

"Mommy?"

 

"Huh?" saka lang niya narealize na siya ang kinakausap ni Nate, he met her eyes through the rear view mirror.

 

"What's wrong with you? I'm asking you that question for two minutes now," he said, not really concerned that she zoned out.

 

"School is great. I think naka-adjust na si Elisha. She's good at making friends," sagot niya, practically talking to his back since he already returned his focus on the road before them.

 

"Good," was his short reply then it was all the talkative Elisha who kept their drive to the school alive.

 

"Bye, daddy!" Elisha kissed Nate goodbye and so Nate did to Elisha.

 

She helped herself out of his car para i-assist si Elisha pababa.

 

"Hannah," Nate called bago niya maisara ang pintuan ng kotse.

 

"Hmn?" bahagyang nakapasok ang ulo niya sa sasakyan so she could see him, her other hand holding the door.

 

"Let's talk. Tonight. Wait for me," he answered.

 

"Sure." She felt a lump on her throat, what are they going to talk about? Paalisin na ba siya nito?

 

"Great."

 

She closed the door and stayed watching his car disappear down the road. Her feet stayed glued to the ground for a good three minutes after Nate left.

 

"Mommy?" she felt Elisha's little hands tugging the hem of her skirt. Iyon ang nagpabalik sa kanya sa sarili niya. 

 

"Sorry," she murmured. "Let's go, Eli."

 

She was searching her brain endlessly throughout the day at what she and Nate could possibly talk about tonight. She felt herself tensed every hour.

 

Would he tell her to leave? Would he say he already found Olive in London and she's coming back to complete their family?

 

She failed to calm her nerves, hanggang sa sumapit ang gabi. It's past eight and she already tucked Elisha into her bed pero wala pa rin si Nate. The wait's killing her. It's like anticipating the worst. 

 

She was preoccupied with so many thoughts going inside her head when her phone buzzed beside her. It was Nate.

 

Nate: Meeting running late. Guess we'll just have to talk tomorrow.

 

Hannah: It's okay. I'll wait.

 

She better be staying up and waiting for him than lie awake in bed and wait endlessly 'til the morning comes. Tapos hindi pa siya nito makakausap bukas nang umaga at maghihintay siya ulit ng gabi. 

 

Hindi na niya kayang mag-isip nang gano'n katagal ulit.

 

Nate: Your choice then.

 

Hannah could almost see him shrugging his shoulders as she read his reply.

 

So, after an hour of being restless, she went down to the kitchen and made herself a big cup of coffee. Might not be a good choice for someone who's been nervous all day long but somehow, the coffee helped her stay calm. 

 

Narerelax siya sa init na hatid niyon sa kanyang sikmura.

 

"Trouble getting some sleep?" Paul spoke from behind her and she almost jumped in surprise. Magugulatin lang?

 

"Not really," she answered, offering a small smile at the guy who was in jeans and blue shirt. "I don't know you sleep here?"

 

"I do understand that my job is guarding the Princess?" he smiled at her ignorance, she wanted to slap her face. "So bakit gising ka pa?"

 

"Waiting for Nate. He said we need to talk." She was tapping her fingers anxiously at the table.

 

"Why do you look so nervous?" he frowned.

 

"Ka- kasi," her voice cracked, her tears threatening to fall any moment. "Kasi baka sabihin niya sa akin na kailangan ko ng umalis dito."

 

"He might not," kunot noong saad ni Paul na tinabihan siya.

 

"I don't know... If he would tell me to leave now, hindi ko kakayanin. That little girl he calls his child is my only family, Paul. She's all I got," she broke down. "Mamamatay ako kapag nilayo niya sa akin ang anak ko."

 

"Well, hindi mo pa naman alam kung 'yon nga ang sasabihin niya, 'di ba? So, stop worrying," he offered her a tissue that he grabbed from the kitchen counter. "Nate is not a bad person, Hannah."

 

"Hindi mo naiintindihan... " she sobbed. "He told me na hindi ako magtatagal dito... I can't help but worry. Elisha is my life. And I'm afraid he'd already ask me to leave soon and I'll never see my baby ever again," she continued crying, oblivious to the presence of the third person in the room.

 

"Hannah, you just got here. I'm positive na hindi ka pa papaalisin ni Nate."

 

"I don't know... I'm scared, I love Elisha so much." Just the thought of losing her child is already driving her crazy.

 

"Well– Hannah, I guess I better leave now." Tumayo na ito at tinapik siya sa balikat bago binulungan. "Nate is here."

 

"H-huh?"

 

Being caught off guard, Hannah dried her tears at once and composed herself. Nate must not see how weak she was at the issue. Baka sabihin nito iyakin siya at mahina ang loob.

 

"Y-you're here," she managed to turn around to find a gorgeous sight of Nate Sarmiento leaning against the kitchen table.

 

His coat was thrown carelessly over his right shoulder, his white sleeves were rolled up to his elbows and his tie hanging loosely from his unbuttoned collar. His already unruly hair showed how he had been running a finger through it. All in all, though he seemed undoubtedly tired, he looked effortlessly and dangerously handsome.

 

"I guess," he answered smirking, apparently at how she shamelessly studied his appearance.

 

It wasn't like she's interested but she maintained her peace. Ide-deny pa ba niya? Isyu lang?

 

"Nate," she started nervously while standing up, nearly knocking down her coffee in the process.

 

 

"There's really no need for that panic stricken face, Hannah." His eyes softened on her, nawala ang nakaka-intimidate na aura nito.

 

"What are we going to talk about? Oh please, don't tell me to leave Elisha now... Mr. Sarmiento, I know I've been quite an additional load here but please, I need time to process everything and convince myself that I cannot keep Elisha—" nagmamakaawang saad niya.

 

"I know, I heard it, alright? No need for panicking." Why did he seem so kind as he tried to calm her down?

 

Where was the inconsiderate Nate Sarmiento? Who was this man before her?

 

"You heard?" she looked at him with confused eyes.

 

"It doesn't matter. I was just going to tell you that I already found Olive." He walked over to the counter to get a glass and poured for himself cold water from the fridge.

 

"And?" She was on the verge of breaking down again, this was where Nate would break the news to her that she needed to leave asap.

 

"She already married Josh," he answered. "In London." A hurt smile spread across his handsome face.

 

She remained silent, processing what he just said and how he said it like it's the saddest thing ever. She expected the wedding at some point because they were having a baby.

 

But Nate, he was hurt. Halata iyon sa pagod na nasa mukha nito. At parang bigla ay nakadama ng simpatiya si Hannah para sa binata.

 

This was Nate Sarmiento allowing her to see na tao lang din ito at marunong masaktan.

 

"Well, I just thought you might want to know, you were friends to begin with," he let out a short sad laugh. "And you kind of protected her whereabouts from me. I'm sorry to disappoint you, Hannah, but your friend didn't care for you that much."

 

"What do you mean?" Naguguluhan niyang tanong.

 

"How do you think did I learn about Elisha?" he asked, looking at her intently like hinahamon siya nito to give him a wild but obvious guess.

 

"I have no idea," she shook her head, both to say she didn't honestly know how and to stop herself from acknowledging the idea that the only person who knew about Elisha aside from her could have possibly told him.

 

"You really see Olive as an angel?"

 

"Are you saying that–" she shook her head once again. No. Olive didn't tell Nate.

 

"She told me," he finished and waited for her to process the words he just said before he continued. "Olive, your friend, Elisha's mom, told me. In exchange for her freedom."

 

"You're lying," she narrowed her eyes on him. "She warned me about you. Sinabi niya sa akin na 'wag kong ipapakita sa 'yo si Elisha. She won't betray me, Nate!" Natagpuan niya ang sariling nagpipigil ng galit. Nate was lying to her.

 

"Well, she did. That's the kind of friend you have. Hindi ka niya inisip, Hannah. She told me I could get Elisha from you anytime..." saad nito. "That my daughter deserves the life I could give her."

 

"No." She felt her heart ache, she trusted Olive with her life. Paano nito iyon nagawa sa kanya? Alam ni Olive kung gaano kahalaga sa kanya si Elisha. 

 

Alam nito na madudurog siya kapag inilayo sa kanya ang bata. Pero higit sa lahat, nagsinungaling ito sa kanya na na-appreciate nitong napalaki niya nang maayos si Elisha. 

 

Olive had secretly doubted her capability to raise Elisha at ginawa nitong rason iyon para sabihin kay Nate ang tungkol sa bata!

 

"Your friend wasn't so secretive about their wedding. So expect it to be all over the news." Pag-iiba nito ng usapan. His face lit up with anger as he cursed under his breath. "She didn't even care how it would all turn out!"

 

"I'm sorry," were the words that came out from her mouth, for what? She didn't know. 

 

And she didn't offer an explanation when Nate looked at her with questioning eyes…

 

Ang alam lang niya, naguguluhan siya. A part of her was angry at what Olive did. Her friend betrayed her. 'Yong nag-iisang kaibigan niya na pinagkatiwalaan niya ang siya ring nanakit sa kanya.

 

Then another part of her ay nakikisimpatiya kay Nate. It seemed that he had truly loved Olive para hanapin pa ito sa kabila ng ginawa nitong pang-iiwan dito para sa ibang lalaki. 

 

If he was really a good man like Paul said, then hindi nito deserve ang ginawa ni Olive.

 

'What do you know, Hannah? You barely know him...' her mind told her.