"Gabella Ariana, what dress do you think will suit me for tonight's celebration?" tanong ko sa anak ko habang pinagmamasdan ang sarili ko sa salamin. I am holding two dresses to choose. It's my birthday and me and my daughter will have a dinner tonight with Anna and Jeffrey.   "The Red one, Mom. It will fit the figure of your body. I'm sure that if you wear that, you're going to be the star of the night." sagot ng anak ko nang sumulyap sya saakin. Pagkatapos nya sabihin 'yon ay muli nyang binalik ang kanyang intensyon sa librong binabasa nya. She's just 7 years old but she can already read books properly. She likes reading mystery English novels because she said that it can improve her knowledge. Isa rin siguro 'yon sa dahilan kung bakit napakatalino nya na kahit bata pa lang sya. She even act more mature than the other kids who have the same age as her.   Maybe she got that talent from me. Mahilig rin ako magbasa noong maliit pa ako at 'yon

"Tell me everything, Geneviève. Maiintindihan ko ang lahat. Kahit na pitong taon na ang lumipas, susuportahan pa rin kita sa kahit na ano tulad lang din ng dati." Queenie mumbled, still caressing my back. Halos kalahating oras na kaming nakaupo sa lapag ng second floor habang parehong umiiyak. She's still hugging and comforting me. Si Freska at Fiona naman ay nasa first floor para asikasuhin ang mga trabahong kaylangan gawin. I know the the both of them were confused but they still respected my privacy and left us here. Siguro ay nag-aalala sila pero sigurado rin akong alam nila na may kaylangan kaming pag-usapan ngayon ng kasama ko. "Y-You're still a cry baby." bigla nyang sabi at mahinang tumawa. "So are you." Mas hinigpitan ko ang pagyakap ko sa kanya. I really missed her warmth. I really missed hugging her. I missed the whole her, my bestfriend. "Why did you broke your promise? Alam mo ba

"A-Anak..." My mother tried to walk closer towards me with her surprised expression. Nakaramdam ako ng takot kaya napaatras ako nang dahan-dahan. Why are they here? I'm not yet ready to meet them. "Ma'am and Sir, please leave." Naglakad papalapit sa harapan ko si Ate Kyla para protektahan ako sa kanila. My body was trembling because of fear. Napansin 'yon ng mga anak ni Wein kaya yinakap nila ako para pakalmahin ako. Hindi nagpatinag si Mommy. She's crying while staring at me, while my father was looking at me with his mouth slightly open. Halatang pareho nilang hindi inaasahan na nandito ako. "Anak please..." My mother begged but I just looked away. "Ikaw ang nagbigay ng dugo sa pinsan mo." My father's cold voice brought shivers down to my spine. "How surprising. You always obey my orders back then with a cold stare. You were dull before. Emotionless. Your attitude is the thing I really hate. I can'

Halos lumabas na ang puso ko dahil sa lakas ng pintig nito. My body shivers when I saw the man I never wanted to saw again. Yumuko sya habang kausap ang anak ko at ngumiti dito. Gabella is also smiling at him as if they're talking about something interesting. Ano ba ang ginagawa nya dito sa lugar na 'to? Dating himself? Hindi ako mapakali. I want to pull my daughter away from him right now but I couldn't move. Something is stopping my body. I'm telling my foot to step forward pero hindi ko pa rin magawang gumalaw. I really hate this feeling! It's my fear that's stopping me to move. Maya-maya, may binigay si Storm kay Gabella na isang maliit na stuffed toy. I saw how my daughter's eyes glimmered when Storm gave her that. Why is she so happy? I always buy her stuffed toys too, pero bakit parang mas masaya sya sa bigay ng lalaking 'yon? Hindi naman alam ni Gabella na sya ang ama nya. 'Sya ang ama nya.'

Awkward and tensefull silence filled the whole office room. Bahagyang kumunot ang noo ko dahil patuloy nya akong tinititigan. It's been a while since I last saw his deep, black eyes that can drown anyone into darkness. Maganda ang pares ng mga mata nya pero delikado. Years ago, I fell in love with these beautiful pair of eyes but not anymore. Kontento na ako kay Gabella Ariana at hindi ko na sya kaylangan sa buhay ko. Hindi ko na sya kaylangan sa buhay namin. "No..." he insisted as I expected. "I won't divorce you Geneviève. Kung hihiwalayan kita, sana dati ko pa pinirmahan ang divorce papers na iniwan mo. Pero hindi ko ginawa. I will never divorce you, Geneviève. Babalik ka saakin." he uttered with finality. Napalunok ako. Mukhang seryoso talaga sya sa sinasabi nya. He's seriously looking at me as if he's telling me that there's nothing could change his mind. Mukhang buo na talaga ang desisyon nya na hindi ako hiwalayan.