Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

I just found myself looking lost while standing infront of their mansion. The Cousins mansion to be exact. What the heck am I even doing here?

I took deep breathes before going in.

Seriously, wala talaga akong ka alam-alam bakit napapayag niya ako na maging temporary mom ng anak niya. Its just that something is pushing me to.

“Ano po ang gusto niyong inumin, ma'am?” their maid asked.

Tumingin ako sakaniya at ngumiti gamit ang mga mata.

“Water will do,” I answered.

Didn't know that they hired a maid. Noon kasi wala sila maid at sila lang rin ang gumagawa ng gawaing bahay. I even remembered the way they're all fighting when they were doing the general cleaning.

Nilibot ko ang paningin sa kabuoan ng bahay nila. It's still the same. Kahit ang sofa at ang ibang furniture nila ay hindi nag bago.

Napadako ang tingin ko sa isang sulok sa mansion. My face heated when I remember something.

Pupunta na sana ako sa kusina para kumuha ng sariling tubig kasi hanggang ngayon hindi pa nakabalik ang babae kanina.

I stopped walking when I heard them talking behind my back.

“Grabe noh, bumalik pa talaga siya pagkatapos ng ginawa niya kay Sir Rhysand.” one of them said.

“Kaya nga e, ang kapal kapal ng mukha. Kung hindi lang siya sikat baka tinarayan ko na yan kanina.” sabi ng babaeng nagtanong sa akin. She was pouring the water from the pitcher to the glass.

Seriously? Hindi ba nila alam na nandito ako? And what? I didn't do anything to their Sir.

“What are you doing?” a baritone voice suddenly spoke behind me.

Napaigtad ako at lumingon sakaniya.

“N-Nothing.” I stuttered but remained my face looking unbothered. kahit hindi naman.

I cleared my throat, “Where is she?”

Lumingon siya sa malaking pintuan at lumabas doon ang tumatakbong batang babae.

“We will go to my house.” sabi ko habang hinawakan ang kamay ni Vanilla.

Bago paman maka react ang lalaki ay ka agad kong dinugtungan ang sinabi ko.

“Don't worry, i-uuwi ko rin siya pagkatapos mag dinner.”

Temporary mother or Babysitter? which one suits my situation right now? funny.

I opened the car door for her to step inside. Isinira ko naman ito ng makapasok siya at ka agad akong umupo sa driver's seat.

“I am happy that you agreed to be my mom!” she giggled.

Ngumiti ako sa sinabi niya. Oh dear, I didn't agree. Someone forces me to.

Nang makarating kami sa condominium ni Mia ay nalilitong tumingin sa akin si Vanilla.

“What are we doing here, mommy?” she asked obviously didn't know where we are.

Tumingin ako sakaniya at binigyan siya ng ngiti.

“We are visiting your tita,” tanging sabi ko na ka agad niya namang tinanguan lang.

The door opened revealing Austin's annoying face. Naka suot siya ng maong pants at puting t-shirt.

“Fleur! Anong ginagawa mo dito?” masayang tanong nito at napadako ang tingin sa batang babae na kasama ko.

He look at her, puzzled, and then turned his gaze at me. Nalilito niya kaming tiningnan pabalik-balik kaya napa irap nalang ako.

“I'll explain it later. Let us come in first.” I guided Vanilla inside.

Parang tangang nakatingin silang tatlo kay Vanilla na nasa harapan nilang nakatayo at walang ka alam-alam sa nangyayari.

Vanilla looked at me, looking cute with her clueless eyes. Hindi na niya ata nakaya ang titig ng mga kaibigan ko kaya kusa na siyang nagpakilala.

“I'm Vanilla Elaine. My father is Rhysand Velarde.” she softly introduced herself while looking at them, not breaking the eye contact.

Napasinghap silang tatlo sa huling sinabi ng bata at sabay na tumingin sa akin. They looked at me like I just did something wrong. Like I betrayed them.

“Hindi mo sinabi na anak siya ni Rhysand!” malakas na saad ni mia habang tinuro si Vanilla.

“You didn't ask!” pagtatanggol ko sa sarili.

Vanilla looked at them, bedazzled.

“You know my father?” may saya sa boses niya pero nananaig parin ang kuryosidad.

Napatigil si Mia at nginitian ang bata.

“Of course! Who wouldn't, right, guys?” nilakihan niya ng mata ang dalawa na ka agad naman sumagot.

“Yes! We were, ah, actually studying at the same University when we were in college.” halatang kinakabahang sagot ni Grace.

“Yeah right. Your father is a jerk.”

Mahina man ay rinig pa rin namin ang sinabi niya. Pinanlakihan namin siya ng mata kaya pineke niya ang kaniyang ngiti.

“What is a jerk?” inosenteng tanong ng bata sakaniya.

Nataranta namang tumingin sa akin si Mia.

“It means your father is good.” she fake a cough before going to the kitchen.

Napasapo ako sa noo dahil sa sinabi niya. Oh god, I think bringing Vanilla here is a wrong decision.

After that I decided to bring Vanilla to a restaurant for dinner. I booked the whole resto so that I can eat in peace with her, without people staring at us.

Napapangiti nalang ako sa tuwing salita nang salita ang bata habang nag dadrive ako patungo sa resto. She was talking since we left the condominium. Hindi ata siya nauubusan ng kwento at laway kaka salita niya. She's talkative, I wonder kung saan siya nag mana.

Vanilla giggled ng makitang sineserve na sa amin ang pag kain na kanina niya pa hinihintay. Her mouth is watering while looking at the food.

Palihim na napangiti naman ako. How cute.

“Their food is great, mommy! Thank you for bringing me here!” puno ang bibig na sabi niya sa akin.

“Do you want to eat dinner here everyday?” tanong ko sakaniya.

Her eyes widened and aggressively jiggle her head.

“If it's okay then yes!”

“Daddy never bring me to a restaurant since. But he asked tito Scefan to be our personal chef!” masayang sambit niya sa akin.

Scefan as their personal chef? Buti naman pumayag ang pinsan niya. That's new, huh?

Napatigil ako sa pag-nguya nang makita ang bulto ng tao na papalapit sa amin.

Wearing his usual business attire paired with aysoti shoes and a briefcase. Rhysand with his impassive visage walked toward us. Ang isa niyang kamay ay bitbit ang briefcase niya at ang isa naman ay naka tago sa bulsa ng black trousers niya.

How did he know that we are here?

“Daddy!” Vanilla jumped from her seat and run to greet her father.

Rhysand then carry her before facing me.

I wiped the side of my lips with napkin before looking back at him.

“What are you doing here?” kunwaring kalmadong tanong ko sakaniya.

“To have dinner with you,” diretso niya akong sinagot.

My eyebrow rose. “I rent this whole resto for me and Vanilla. How did you managed to get in?”

“Scefan own this resto and I'm his cousin that's why they let me in.” he answered.

My eyes widened a bit. Nagulat ako dahil sa sinabi niya but I act normal. Didn't know Sean owned this restaurant.

“So? I didn't remember inviting you to have dinner with us.”

“I'm Vanilla's father.”

“I don't care. You're not the one I'm going to look after but your daughter. And ang anak mo lang ang gusto kong kasamang mag dinner.” walang prenong sabi ko sakaniya.

“You can have dinner on your own. Tutal malaki ka naman na.” pagpatuloy ko at binaling ang atensiyon sa batang babaeng tuwang-tuwa habang kinakain ang dessert niya.

There's chocolate on here face. She's a dirty eater when it comes to dessert and sweets.

Rhysand didn't managed to talk back. Instead, he just sat beside Vanilla and help her wipe the chocolate on her face. Madilim niya akong binalingan ng tingin bago sinubuan ang anak nito.

Totoo naman ah. I didn't remember inviting him. Ang kapal naman ng mukha niyang i-invite ang sarili na hindi ko man lang alam.