CHAPTER SEVENTY-SEVEN
There are good and bad times. That’s reality. It’s not always rainbows and butterflies. If the bad times come, we only need hope and faith that the better days are coming and they usually do.
I am already in the better days. If the bad ones come around again, I’m ready to face it. Not alone. But I’m with someone whom I’m trusting my lifetime with. Kasama na rin doon sina Manang. They are my treasures. Walang katumbas na kahit ano mang salapi.
“Babe,” ungot ni Sioux nang pumasok siya sa office ko sa cruise ship. Yes, I have one and it was enormous. Tahimik na bumukas ang door. Kanina pa siya patunghay - tunghay sa labas ng office.
Well, I have literally everything in here. There’s my office, gyms, movie theater, boutiques only for me and everything that I want and need, name it. “It’s already late, aren’t you tired? Have some rest.”
CHAPTER SEVENTY-EIGHT Naupo ako sa kama nang makaramdam ako ng pagkahilo. Hindi ko ipinahalata iyon kay Sioux. He can be so dramatic at times. Sakto namang mayroong nag-door bell sa cabin suite namin. Hindi na niya nagawa akong i-interrogate. Sinulyapan niya muna ako bago siya tumungo sa pinto para pagbuksan ang unlucky creature. Sioux was mean towards his men, he doesn’t want to be disturbed when he is with me. Hinintay ko siyang bumalik. When he did, he is pushing a cart with different foods. Mostly, they are my favorite. Nagpaluto siya ng pagkain kaya natagalan pa siya ng ilang minuto sa pagsunod sa akin. “If you still don’t want the food, just tell me. I’ll ask the chef to cook again.” seryoso niyang wika. “I just don’t want you starving, you haven’t eaten anything.” Itinapat niya sa akin ang food cart. Napanguso ako. I don’t
CHAPTER SEVENTY-NINE Hindi naman ako binigo ng mahinang dasal ko. When I looked at the pregnancy test kits, mayroong two lines na nakalagay doon. Namuo ang luha sa mata ko. I can’t control my tears from flowing. I am pregnant. Oh my God. The ecstatic feeling enveloped my being. Masayang - masaya ako. Agad kong hinanap si Manang para i-kwento ko sa kanya ang magandang news. She was with me during the darkest phase of my life, it is only right that I share my joyous moments with her. I know the news will excite her more than anyone. What makes me happy, makes her happy. Natagpuan ko si Manang sa kitchen. She was giving instructions to everyone in there. In-excuse ko siya sa maraming taong naroon. Dinala ko siya sa open terrace kung saan kami nag-breakfast kanina. “Nagsumbong sa akin si Sioux kanina, hindi ka raw kumakain nang maayos. Kapag nagkasakit kang
CHAPTER EIGHTY “Grabe, I felt proud being part of this big event!” masayang komento ni Lolay sa tabi ko nang makalabas kami ng studio. I was looking for Sioux’s car. Medyo malapit na siya sa area. “Be good and you’ll be part of more fashion shows.” I told her. “Don’t you really want to finish a degree?” She shook her head. “I’m happy with my current job, Miss Sy. Isa pa, school isn’t really for me.” Nagkibit - balikat siya. I didn’t push the idea. Lolay knows what she wants. “Ay, teka!” bigla na lang niyang sigaw. May pag-aalala sa boses niya. “Nalimutan ko ang phone ko, naipatong ko yata sa table. Okay lang ba kung balikan ko, Miss Sy?” I wasn’t sure why she had to ask me that, but I nodded. Hurriedly, she went inside the studio. While she was in the studio, sinulyapan ko naman ang phone ko kung mayroon ng reply si Sioux. He told me he’s already near.
CHAPTER EIGHTY-ONE “Good morning, Sioux. Why are you looking at me like that?” I asked when I saw him staring at me intently. “I know I am perfect, no need to drool. Ako lang ito, babe.” Isiniksik ko pa ang katawan ko sa kanya. I was still sleepy. He kept on combing my hair using his fingers. “I’m just admiring you, babe. I love you.” He kissed my forehead. “I wonder what our kids will look like.” “Let’s sleep, please. I want to sleep pa.” Humigpit ang yakap ko sa kanya. Just glad that I am in his arms. Glad that nothing happened really bad. These days, I am just happy. Sioux makes sure of that. Pasayahin at asarin ako. Ilang araw akong naka-bed rest ng dahil sa nangyari. Hindi naman naapektuhan ang little pea sa loob ng sinapupunan ko sa spotting. I had my check up already in the cruise ship. Kompleto naman ang pasilidad nito. And just like what I pred
CHAPTER EIGHTY-TWO I waited for Lolay in the sun deck. She was wearing casual dress with a cheap sunglasses. Feel na feel niya ang hangin na tumatama sa kanyang balat. I’m sure she gets the relaxation she wants every Friday. I don’t know where Sioux is, but I am sure he’s just around. Hinahayaan naman niya ako tuwing kasama ko ang assistant ko o kaya si Manang. Napairap ako sa ere ng kumaway pa siya sa gawi ko. “Good morning, Miss Sy!” masayang - masaya bati ni Lolay. Mayroon siyang dalang maraming folders na ipinatong sa table. She also got a bag of fast food. The one with a bee mascot. Sobrang daming cheese ng spaghetti nila. Gusto ko iyon. Manang fed me that before. Inalis niya ang suot na salamin nang tumapat sa harap ko. “Fitting na next next week. I got you the list of the models, Miss Sy.” Ini-scan ko ang ibinigay niyang fo
CHAPTER EIGHTY-THREE Bahagya akong kumawala sa pagkakayakap niya. Humakbang ako nang mabilis patungo sa cabin namin. “Babe!” Sioux called. Alam kong nakasunod siya hanggang sa cabin. “Babe, do you not want to ride me?” seryoso niyang tanong. Seryosong - seryoso rin ang expression niya. Gago talaga. Hindi ko alam kung matatawa ba ako sa kanyang mukha. Everything amuses me, really. And I’m free to laugh. No need to box myself in a terror demeanor when I am with him. “I’m tired, babe.” mahina kong turan. Naupo ako sa side ng kama. His face softened. “Do you want a massage?” Lumuhod siya sa harapan ko. Oh no, not to propose. Nalimutan na niya yata iyon. Tinanggal niya anng suot kong flats. “I’ll massage you.” “Yes, please. Baby demand.” I told him smiling. Sinimulan niyang i-massage ang foot ko. Hinawakan ko ang kanyang buhok, I slowly combed his hair using
CHAPTER EIGHTY-FOUR With hands intertwined, dumalo kaming dalawa sa binyag ni Volcan. All of those good-looking beasts are godfather to the little guy. Probably, they will also be the godfathers of my baby. The horror. Just like Sioux, most of their gifts are impractical. Who would give a baby a yacht or a helicopter as a gift? So flashy. Hindi naman niya iyon magagamit. He’s just a baby. I just gave Volcan a set of tiny formal coats. I did what he wore for the christening. “Sioux,” I whispered in the air when he came back to our seat. Katatapos lang paliguan ng holy water si Volcan ng pari. The baby boy cried, kaya ang sama ng tingin nilang lahat sa priest na mukhang oblivious sa ideya. It looked funny to me. I almost laughed at middle of the ceremony. Kinuha niya ang kamay ko at muling pinagsalikop iyon. “Hm, babe?” He glanced at me and urged me to sp
CHAPTER EIGHTY-FIVE (SPG) Nakarinig ako nang pagtikhim. Someone hugged me from behind. I smelled his new scent. It was the same with my girly perfume from Victoria’s Secret. Pure Seduction. Ayaw namin ni little peanut sa dating perfume niya. Sioux nuzzled my neck. “Even baby Volcan can’t resist your charms, babe.” He released me from his hug. Umikot siya sa table para harapin ako. He’s topless and sweating and flexing his muscles. Marahan niyang ginulo ang kanyang buhok. Reminds me of his face every time we are doing the nasty. He showed me his manly grin. Makalaglag panty ang ganoong klase ng ngiti. Mahilig na ngiti. I rolled my eyes at him. “How has been your stay so far? Do you love me? I mean, the island?” He sit on the chair next to me. Itinaas pa niya ang kanyang paa sa table. He’s staring at me intently. Iyong nakakatunaw na titig. There are times that I can’t still st