Chapter 4: Almost

“Ma,” Sofia whispered habang pinipinturahan ang drawing book niya, “Bakit wala akong Daddy?”

Elise froze.

Nasa kusina siya, nagluluto ng ginisang ampalaya — paborito ni Sofia, kahit ayaw ng ibang bata.

“Nasa langit na ba siya?” dagdag ni Sofia. “O galit lang siya sa’tin?”

Elise turned slowly, forcing a smile. “Hindi siya galit, anak.”

“Eh nasaan siya?”

Silence.

Elise knelt beside her daughter.

“Yung Daddy mo… hindi niya alam na nandiyan ka.”

“Bakit?”

“Dahil… matagal na ‘yon. At hindi ko siya kilala nang buo.”
At ayoko siyang guluhin.

Sofia looked down at her drawing — a picture of her, her mom… and a blank space.

“For now,” Elise said softly, brushing her daughter’s hair, “ako muna ang mommy at daddy mo, ha?”

Sofia nodded, pero may lungkot sa mata.

---

Gabriel didn’t know why he was there.

Nakaupo siya sa loob ng black SUV sa tapat ng apartment building ni Elise.

Unprofessional. Creepy. Stupid.

Pero he couldn’t ignore the gut feeling.

Then she appeared — Elise, hawak kamay ang isang maliit na batang babae.

Gabriel leaned forward.

The child.

Chinita eyes. Light brown skin. Small frame.
And those damn eyes — just like his.

He felt like the wind got knocked out of him.

Is that… my daughter?

They were laughing. The kid hugged Elise tightly.

And Gabriel, who never imagined himself as a father, suddenly couldn’t look away.

---

6.5 years ago

Two pink lines.

Elise stared at the test strip on her bathroom sink. Nakaupo siya sa sahig, tulala.

“No… no no no…”

She checked again. Then again.

Panic. Guilt. Takot.

Her hands trembled. Tumulo ang luha niya habang hawak ang tiyan niya.

Sa isang gabing wala sa sarili, eto na ‘ko ngayon. Buntis. Walang asawa. Walang ama ang anak ko.

She remembered his face — blurred. His voice — low.

She didn’t even know his name.

How the hell was she going to do this?

But deep down… may parte sa kanya na humawak sa katotohanan:

“This baby is mine. Kahit mag-isa lang ako.”

---

(after 1 week naka tangap ng text si Elise na natangap na sya sa trabaho, kahit alam niyang delikado she  took the risk saying "walang makaka alam kung hindi ko sasabihin, para 'to kay sofia")

Next day..

Elise was walking to her desk in the design department unang araw niya pero…

“Miss Ramos,” a familiar voice said behind her.

Gabriel.

She turned — calm face, but heart racing like a thunderstorm.

“Yes, Sir?”

“Do you have a moment?”

He didn’t bring her to his office this time — he brought coffee.

They sat sa maliit na pantry. Casual. Mukhang harmless.

But Elise knew… this wasn’t small talk.

“You live near the south, right?” he started.

“Yes po…”

“Do you have family with you?”

“Just me and my daughter.”

“And the father?”

Elise blinked. Fast.

“Wala po. He’s… not around.”

Gabriel stirred his coffee slowly. “Did he leave before you gave birth?”

Or did you just never tell him?

She forced a light laugh. “It’s complicated, Sir.”

Gabriel nodded.

“I see…”

Silence.

Then: “How old is your daughter again?”

“Six.”

Pause.

“Six and… ilang buwan?”

Elise’s hand tightened around the mug.

“Six and two months po.”

Another pause.

Gabriel looked up. Calm. Calculating.

But in his eyes?

Doubt. Anger. Curiosity.

She’s lying.

She knows I’m close.

And she’s hiding something big.

----------------------------------

NEXT DAY

“Coffee run, Miss Ramos?”

Napalingon si Elise sa boses.

At ayun — si Gabriel Navarro mismo, nakatayo sa likod niya.

The CEO.

As in. The boss of everyone.

At ngayon, nakatayo sa gilid ng cubicle niya na parang ordinaryong empleyado lang.

“Ah— Sir?” halos mautal si Elise. “Ako po ba?”

“Yes,” sagot ni Gabriel, calmado pero may ngiti sa gilid ng labi. “I figured, since you’re new here, I should personally check how the design team works. Coffee break daw sabi nila.”

Tahimik ang buong department.

As in, literal tahimik.

Lahat ng empleyado, nakatitig sa kanila.

Si Sir Navarro, the untouchable CEO, ngayon ay nakikipag-usap kay Elise Ramos — the newbie.

“Uh… sure po, Sir.”

“Good.” He smiled faintly. “I’ll wait by the elevator.”

Pag-alis ni Gabriel, biglang sumiklab ang usapan sa paligid.

“Girl, si Sir Gabriel ba ‘yung nag-aya sa’yo mag-coffee?!”

“Tangina, first day mo pa lang!”

“Grabe ‘yung aura niya, parang sa K-drama CEO na may pa-slow mo smile—”

“Hoy, baka ma-fall ka! May Celeste Ybañez na yon!”

Elise forced a laugh. “Guys, hindi ganun! Work lang ‘to.” pero sa isip-isip niya duh! di naman sila nung Celeste!

Pero kahit siya, hindi sigurado kung naniniwala siya sa sinabi niya.

---

Tahimik silang dalawa at mag katabi

‘yung tahimik na ramdam mo hanggang buto. Napakamot nalang sa batok si Elise

Gabriel pressed the button for the 20th floor lounge.

“Elise,” he said casually, “how are you finding your first day so far?”

“Okay naman po, Sir. Medyo adjusting pa.”

“Adjusting,” he repeated, as if testing the word. “You’ll fit in fast, I’m sure.”

She smiled awkwardly. “Thank you po.”

Then silence again.

Hangin lang ng elevator at tibok ng puso niya ang maririnig.

Tumingin siya sa salamin sa harap — at nakita niyang nakatitig sa kanya si Gabriel sa reflection.

Napakunot noo siya. “Sir?”

“Nothing.”

Pero ‘yung ngiti niya — that subtle, knowing smirk — parang nang-aasar.

---

Elise stirred her latte like it was the most important thing in the world.

Gabriel, on the other hand, looked completely relaxed — sleeves rolled up, tie loosened, parang wala sa board meeting kanina.

“So,” he said, “you live in the South, right?”

“Yes po…”

“Traffic must be hell.”

“Medyo po, pero sanay na.”

“Hmm.” He leaned back slightly. “You should move closer to the office. I know some places.”

Elise blinked. “Ah—hindi po, okay lang. Malapit school ng anak ko.”

“Right. Sofia.”

Gabriel said the name so smoothly, it made her choke on her coffee.

“P-po?”

He smirked slightly. “You mentioned your daughter yesterday. Cute name.”

“Ah… oo po. Thank you.”

“Does she look like you?”

Elise’s grip on the cup tightened. “Bakit niyo po tinatanong?”

Gabriel shrugged, pretending to look innocent. “Curious lang. You talk about her like she’s your world.”

“She is,” Elise said firmly.

For a second, may seryosong tingin sa mata ni Gabriel — parang may gusto siyang sabihin pero pinipigilan niya.

Then he looked away, chuckling softly.

“Don’t worry, Miss Ramos. I’m not interrogating you. I just like knowing more about my team.”

“Team?” she repeated, confused.

“Yes,” he said, eyes glinting. “You passed. You start officially on Monday.”

Elise almost dropped her coffee. “Wait—seriously po?”

Gabriel grinned. “You earned it. Congratulations.”

---

Later That Day

Pagbalik ni Elise sa department, halos sabay-sabay ang mga bulungan.

“Si Sir Gabriel daw mismo nagdala ng kape para sa kanya!”

“May pa-smile pa raw si boss!”

“Girl, baka ikaw na ‘yung next HR scandal!”

Elise just sighed, pinagsikapan i-ignore ang lahat.

Pero ilang minuto lang, dumating si HR Assistant.

“Miss Ramos?”

“Po?”

“Sir Gabriel’s asking for you. Again.”

Elise’s jaw dropped. “AGAIN?!”

Lahat ng katrabaho niya biglang sabay-sabay:

“AAAAAYYYY!”

---

Inside Gabriel’s Office

Pagpasok niya, hindi niya mapigilang magtaas ng kilay.

“Sir, may kailangan po kayo?”

Gabriel looked up from his laptop, serious face pero may hint ng amusement.

“Yes. I need your input on a design proposal.”

“Input… ako po?”

“Yes. You have a good eye. I trust your opinion.”

Hindi alam ni Elise kung matutuwa o maaasar.

“Sir, first day ko pa lang po.”

“All the more reason,” sagot ni Gabriel, deadpan. “Fresh perspective.”

Elise exhaled, tumayo sa tabi niya.

Habang tinuturo niya sa monitor ang layout, napansin niya kung gaano kalapit si Gabriel.

Amoy niya ‘yung aftershave. ‘Yung cologne na pareho sa lalaking nakasama niya pitong taon na ang nakalipas.

Napakapit siya sa mesa, trying to focus.

“Miss Ramos?”

“Yes, sir?”

“Are you okay? You’re… blushing.”

Putik.

“Ah—init lang po ng aircon,” palusot niya.

Gabriel’s lips curved into a small smirk.

“I see. Maybe we should lower the temperature more?”

“Sir!”

He laughed quietly — first time she heard it.

At ‘yung tawa niyang ‘yon? Nakakainis. Pero nakakakilig.

---

Paglabas niya ng office, pinapadyakan niya ‘yung hangin.

“Bakit ba ang kulit ng lalaking ‘yon! Ugh!”

Pero habang naglalakad siya pabalik sa desk, hindi niya mapigilang ngumiti.