Chapter 6: The Secret Daddy

Navarro Holdings – The Next Day

Elise avoided Gabriel like the plague.

Since the coffee incident, the teasing, and the nonstop meetings, she’d had enough.

“Miss Ramos, Sir Gabriel’s looking for you—”

“Tell him I’m on break!” mabilis niyang sagot habang nakayuko sa mga sketches.

Her officemates giggled.

“Uy, may tampuhan ba kayo ni boss?”

“Ganyan talaga, pag may chemistry!”

“Walang chemistry!” she hissed, but her cheeks betrayed her — namumula.

Truth was, Gabriel Navarro was driving her insane.

One second he’s cold and intimidating, the next he’s teasing her like they’ve known each other for years.

And the way he looked at her sometimes — parang may tinatago ring kwento sa likod ng mga mata niya.

 

“Sir,” sabi ng secretary, “your next meeting is in Makati, 2 p.m. Traffic will be heavy.”

Gabriel nodded, closing his laptop. “Alright. Let’s go.”

Paglabas niya ng building, tumigil sandali ang sasakyan sa isang stoplight malapit sa isang small café — “Sweet Bean Corner.”

He glanced outside casually, then froze.

Sa tapat ng café, may maliit na grupo ng bata — mga elementary students — and in the middle of them was a little girl, umiiyak habang hinahawakan ‘yung lunchbox niya.

“Wala ka namang daddy!”

“Hindi ka kasama sa Father’s Day drawing namin!”

Gabriel’s chest tightened.

The little girl’s eyes — big, brown, and shining with tears — looked hauntingly familiar.

“Sofia…” he whispered.

Without thinking, he opened the car door.

“Sir?” tawag ng driver.

“Wait here,” sabi ni Gabriel, sabay lakad papunta sa mga bata.

“Hey,” he said, calm and firm. “Anong ginagawa niyo?”

The kids froze. They recognized authority when they saw it — tall man in a suit, serious face.

“W-wala po, sir…” bulong ng isa, sabay takbo ng grupo palayo.

Gabriel knelt down to the crying girl. “Hey. Are you okay?”

Sofia sniffed, wiping her tears. “They said… I don’t have a daddy…”

Gabriel’s heart clenched so tight it hurt.

“Well,” he said softly, “maybe they just don’t know your daddy is awesome.”

She looked up, confused. “Ha?”

Gabriel smiled, the first genuine smile he’d felt in a long time.

“Because I’m your daddy.”

Sofia blinked. “T-talaga?”

He nodded. “Yes. But… secret lang muna natin, ha? Surprise natin kay Mommy.”

The little girl’s lips curved into a shy smile. “Okay po, Daddy…”

Something in his chest cracked — something that had been cold for years suddenly felt warm again.

“Sir?” dumating ang call ng secretary niya. “We’re already at the café near your meeting place.”

Gabriel looked down at Sofia, who was now holding his hand, trusting him completely.

He looked away, took a deep breath.

“Cancel the meeting,” he said.

“Sir, it’s with the regional—”

“I said cancel it,” he repeated, voice low but firm. “I have something more important to do.”

“Daddy, gusto ko ng Jollibee!” sabi ni Sofia habang nasa loob ng car.

Gabriel smiled. “Jollibee? Sure. Let’s go.”

Pagdating nila sa branch, halos maiyak si Sofia sa tuwa.

Habang nakapila sila, tinitingnan lang siya ni Gabriel — amazed how natural it felt.

She clung to his hand, humihirit ng,

“Daddy, gusto ko po ng Chickenjoy, tapos may gravy, tapos may sundae!”

“Chickenjoy, gravy, sundae…” Gabriel chuckled. “You’ve got good taste.”

“Mommy says masarap daw dito nung bata pa siya,” Sofia shared proudly.

Gabriel’s throat tightened again.

He could see Elise in her — the smile, the way she talked, even the dimple on her left cheek.

They found a table near the window. Sofia ate happily, talking nonstop about her school, her teacher, her best friend who had a dog.

“Daddy, gusto ko rin ng dog,” she said between bites.

“Really? What kind?”

“Yung maliit, tapos malambot. Para may kakulitan ako pag wala si Mommy.”

Gabriel smiled. “You really love your mom, huh?”

“Super po!” sabi ni Sofia, sabay lagay ng ketchup sa rice. “Kasi kahit wala akong daddy, sabi ni Mommy, love ko daw siya doble. Kaya love ko rin ‘yung daddy ko kahit hindi ko pa siya kilala.”

Gabriel had to look away.

He felt that sting in his eyes — the kind men don’t admit.

He forced a smile. “Well, now you do.”

Sofia giggled. “Oo nga no! Pero secret lang ‘to, diba Daddy?”

He leaned closer, whispering conspiratorially, “Super secret. Promise?”

“Promise!” Sofia did a pinky swear.

He laughed, shaking his head. “Deal.”

They walked out of Jollibee with balloons, a take-home toy, and a bag of fries.

Gabriel carried her halfway to the car.

“Daddy?” Sofia said quietly.

“Hm?”

“Pwede po ba tayo ulit kumain bukas?”

He smiled sadly. “Maybe soon. Pero remember, surprise natin kay Mommy ‘to, ha?”

Sofia nodded seriously. “Opo, Daddy. Secret lang.”

“Good girl.”

He helped her get into her mom’s tricycle driver’s line — Gabriel didn’t want to make a scene, so he asked one of his men to discreetly follow her home and make sure she got there safe.

Then he stood by the sidewalk, watching her go — clutching her balloon, laughing again like nothing happened.

 

Elise was busy preparing dinner when Sofia came running in.

“Mommy! Mommy! Kumain ako sa Jollibee!”

Elise looked up, surprised. “Ha? With who?”

“Secret!” Sofia giggled, covering her mouth. “Surprise daw!”

“Secret? Sofia, kanino ka sumama?”

“Sa mabait na tito!” sagot ng bata, smiling innocently. “Sabi niya, love niya ako. Pero secret muna kay Mommy.”

Elise froze, heart pounding.

“Sofia… anong sabi mo?”

“Secret, Mommy!” Sofia said again, hugging her tightly. “Pero safe ako! Promise!”

Gabriel sat on the couch, still wearing his shirt from earlier, tie loosened.

He stared at the Jollibee toy on the table — Sofia had insisted he keep it “para maalala mo ako, Daddy.”

He smiled faintly, running a hand through his hair.

Then whispered to himself, almost like a confession—

“Don’t worry, Sofia. Daddy’s here now.”

But deep down, he knew the hard part was yet to come.

Because sooner or later… Elise would find out.

And when she did —

there’d be no turning back.