“Yes, mother. No, I have yet to know today, if the Aguinaldos would let me. Yes, I will tell Sam. No, I’ll probably stay here for a while. Okay. Bye.”Mabilis na isinuksok ni Aaron ang cellphone niya sa kanyang bulsa. It was barely six o'clock in the morning saubalit nakaligo na siya at nakabihis. He barely slept last night. He was excited for today. He promised Sam that he’ll be there when she wakes up kaya siya maaga ngayon.He just got a little bit distracted when his mother called and asked him where he was. Ayaw pa sana niyang sabihin ang totoo, subalit sinabi na rin niya to ease his mother’s troubles. As expected, his mother was ecstatic. Ang gusto nga nito magpunta agad sa San Gabriel upang makilala si Charlie. But of course he had to explain the situation. Hindi pa nga niya nakakausap ang Daddy ni Sam at ni Lucas.There are still things that needed to be discussed with the Aguinaldos. And of course, ang tungkol

 Hindi mapakali si Diego habang hinihintay niya ang tawag ng bago niyang boss na si Joshua Sandejas, ang bagong CEO ng Sandejas Shipping Lines. Today will be the first time that his new boss will be meeting the board. At hindi niya alam kung ano ang dapat niyang asahan. He had met Sir Joshua a few times before. Maayos naman ito, mukhang friendly. Subalit alam niyang nag-iiba ang ugali ng magkakapatid na Sandejas pagdating sa trabaho. They all looked serious and would accept no non-sense when it comes to work.“Ready na ba ang board room?” tanong ni Ms. Viviane sa kanya.“Ayos na, Ma’am. I checked it out myself,” sabi niya, kampante.“’Yong mga reports ng bawat departments, handa na rin ba?” anito.“Handa na po. Nakalagay na sa folders, ready for distribution.”Tumango-tango ang matandang babae. “Good,” sabi nito bago tumayo mula sa swivel chair nito. “I have

 Muling nagpumiglas si Samantha. If this person holding her right now was really there to hurt her, she needs to fight back in every possible way she could. She will not let this person win. She will not—“Babe, stop moving. You might hurt yourself,” anang pamilyar na tinig ni Aaron sa likuran niya.She instantly relaxed and turned to him. She saw his familiar eyes that takes away her breath every time. Noon pa lang siya tuluyang nakahinga nang maluwag.“Are you trying to kill me?” gigil niyang tanong rito sa pagitan ng malalim na paghinga. Hindi pa rin humuhupa ang kaba sa dibdib niya.Aaron chuckled and snaked his hand around her waist. “Nagulat ka?” naaliw na tanong nito. She rolled her eyes in annoyance.“Anong klaseng tanong ‘yan? Would I squirm so badly if I wasn’t scared?” she replied just above whisper. “At saka anong ginagawa mo rito, lurking in the dark?&

 Masayang pinagmamasdan ni Samantha sina Gael at Charlie habang naliligo ang mga ito sa dagat. She was by the shore sitting on the sand under a big umbrella. It’s just 9 in the morning subalit masakit na sa balat ang init ng araw. And while a tan skin still looks good on her, she doesn’t want to get sun burned hence the umbrella.Tinanggal niya ang shades niya upang mapagmasdang mabuti ang anak niya na naglalaro sa tubig, ilang metro ang layo mula sa puwesto niya. Charlie was on her floaters while Gael expertly dives around her little girl. And every time Gael would resurface from the water, Charlie would giggle. Her daughter’s laughter was ringing in her ears and she can’t help but smile too. It has been a while since Charlie have had fun like that.   Iyon na ang ikatlong araw mula nang makilala niya ang batang si Gael. And her daughter couldn’t get enough if her newfound friend.Kung sabagay, Charlie doesn’t

  “Daddy, please do my hair like Mommy does,” ungot ni Charlie kay Aaron habang pinupuno nito ng buhangin ang kulay yellow na toy pail nito. Natatawang tumingin si Sam kay Aaron. The leaves of the coconut tree from above them was casting a soft shadow on his handsome face. They were by the shore again enjoying the morning sun. Aaron turned to her  too with a horrified look on his face. He looked confused and worried. Sigurado siya na kung may choice lang ito, baka kanina pa ito tumakbo. But it was his idea that today would be a Daddy and Charlie day.  Ibig sabihin, she cannot interfere to help Aaron with whatever Charlie wants and needed to do for that day.  Mula kaninang magising silang mag-anak, si Aaron na ang nag-asikaso kay Charlie. He helped their daughter with her breakfast and her vitamins. He even patiently answered all of Charlie’s questions that are getting weirder by the day. At nang mag-aya si Charlie na gumawa ulit ng