CHAPTER 4

Third Person’s Point of View

“Mr. Del Valle, the clients from Singapore are waiting in the conference room.”

Dave nodded coolly, adjusting his cufflinks as he strode down the hallway. Crisp white shirt, polished shoes, confidence in every step—parang commercial ng luxury watch. Employees straightened up when he passed, but the real hush fell when another pair of heels clicked behind him.

Daphne Wilson.

She swept in like she owned the building, cream suit hugging her frame, red lipstick screaming power. Ang mga empleyado, agad na  bumati, “Good morning, Miss Wilson,” with smiles bordering on worship. If Dave was the king, Daphne was the queen everyone already accepted.

Ayah watched from her desk, pen tapping against her notepad. “Ay wow. Barbie in real life. Kung may coronation sa office, siya na ang naka-sash at crown. Queen of Everything, pati printer siguro luluhod sa kanya.”

Siyempre, jackpot si Ayah—kasi siya ang coordinator na assigned kay Daphne. Out of all employees, siya pa talaga. “Lord, ito ba ‘yung tinatawag na malas in disguise?”

Later that day, Ayah trailed behind Daphne with a stack of files. Dave was walking beside them, a casual smile plastered on his face.

“Daphne, thanks for dropping by,” he said smoothly.

“I thought I’d surprise you,” Daphne replied, voice calm but commanding. “Besides, I should always remind you why I invest in this company.”

Ayah forced a neutral expression, but her inner voice was screaming, “Pa-surprise daw. Eh sana nagdala ng ensaymada, hindi presensya.” she rolled her eyes behind Daphne letting Dave witness kung paano siya makipag-plastikan sa sugar business woman nito.

In the pantry, two employees whispered:

“Bagay na bagay sila, no? Miss Wilson and Mr. Del Valle.”

“Parang power couple. Ang lakas ng aura.”

Ayah sipped her coffee, rolling her eyes. “Power couple? Eh ‘di wow. Baka pati electricity, sila na rin ang supplier.”

Pero nang marinig niya yung, “Ma’am, nagsabi raw na nag-dinner sila last week,” her grip on the mug tightened. “Dinner? Sure. Baka pati dessert, kinain din. Congrats, queen.”

Time ran so fast at gabi na, Dave leaned on her office doorway.

“Working late again, Miss Cruz?”

Without glancing at him, she muttered, “Some of us actually work, Mr. CEO. Hindi puro gala at dinner.”

His smirk deepened. “Dinner, huh?”

Ayah finally looked at him, arms crossed. “Or should I say… Daphne?”

“Jealous?”

She scoffed. “Of what? Lipstick stains? Hindi ako mahilig sa collectibles.”

Dave chuckled. “But you noticed.”

Ayah narrowed her eyes. “Everyone noticed. Sir, you’re too obvious.”

For a second, Dave laughed under his breath, clearly entertained. “Still feisty.”

And then, out of nowhere, Ayah blurted, “Alam mo, ‘di ka naman ganyan kagaling mag-English nung una. Kairita ka.”

Dave blinked, then laughed, shaking his head. “What does that even have to do with this conversation?”

Ayah suddenly giggled, covering her mouth. “Ewan. Nairita ako sa’yo, okay? You have no choice, so deal with it.”

Dave tilted his head, studying her, his smile softening in a way that unnerved her. “Still the same Solene,” he murmured.

Ayah rolled her eyes, trying to shake off the weird flutter in her chest. “Still the same pain in the ass,” she shot back, though the corners of her lips betrayed her as they curved into a reluctant smile.

Then she grabbed her bag and brushed past him. “Umuwi ka na, Mr. CEO. The queen might be waiting.”

As she marched down the hall, she whispered to herself, “Sana sumabit ‘yang necktie mo sa pinto.”

The days blurred, filled with meetings, Daphne’s demanding presence, and Dave’s teasing smirks. At first, Ayah thought she was just stressed—pero lately, mas mabilis siyang mainis, mas sensitive siya, at minsan bigla na lang siyang natatawa kahit walang joke.

“Grabe, mood swings ba ‘to o possession? Kung hindi hormones, baka multo.”

One day while at the meeting room, dumating si Daphne in another power suit, this time bright yellow. Employees immediately gushed, “You look amazing, Miss Wilson!”

Ayah’s jaw clenched. “Wow, highlighter edition. Kumpleto na yata rainbow collection niya. Next week, baka violet na with a matching magic wand.”

Then Daphne leaned toward Dave, whispering something that made him chuckle. Ayah almost rolled her eyes out of their sockets. “Ay nako, kung pwede lang ipasa sa akin yang joke na sinasabi mo, ihahalakhak ko nang malakas. Feeling mo ikaw lang nakaka-entertain sa kanya?Eh, ako nga apple of the eye ng siraulong ‘yan.”

At hindi pa natapos doon. “Miss Cruz,” Daphne said sweetly, handing her a folder, “make sure the tabs are color-coded. I prefer pastels.”

Ayah forced a smile. “Of course, Miss Wilson.” Pero sa loob-loob niya,  “Pastels? Ano ‘to, art project sa kindergarten?”

Pagkatapos ng meeting, umalis agad si Daphne na nag-iwan pa talaga ng matamis na halik sa pisngi ni Dave. 

After that some time, Dave walked beside her. “You were quiet today.”

Ayah snapped, “Because if I open my mouth, baka masabi kong hindi ka naman ganyan ka-fluent noong ako’y nag-aaral pa. Kairita kayong pareho! Lumayo ka nga, nangangamoy kang sunog na karne!”

That night, inihatid pa rin siya ni Dave sa apartment niya. Pero bago ‘yon, nagpadaan muna siya sa botika dahil lately stressed na ata ito sa work, kaya naman bumili ito ng stress tabs but ended up buying something making Dave not notice it.

Nakaupo itong mag-isa sa kusina ng apartment, hawak-hawak niya ang isang maliit na kahon na kanina pa niya tinititigan, hindi makapaniwala. Nanginginig ang mga kamay niya habang binuksan iyon, ramdam ang kaba na parang sasabog ang dibdib niya.

At doon nagsimula. Pumasok siya sa banyo upang gamitin ang test kit, then after some minute… 

Ayah sat frozen, staring at the pregnancy test in her trembling hand.

Clear. Bold. Two red lines.

Her knees buckled. “No… no, no, no…” she whispered, voice cracking. Tears blurred her eyes.

Pero kahit nanginginig, hindi niya napigilang magbitaw ng sarcastic thought. “Congrats, Ayah. From secret fling to… secret baby. Next level ka, girl.”

She laughed shakily, half-hysterical, half-terrified. Covering her face, she muttered, “Lord… please tell me this is just an expired kit. Kasi kung hindi… paano na ‘to?”

And just like that, the girl who swore she’d never fall again was staring at a future she never signed up for.