"Ma'am, okay na po ba 'tong design for a rest house?" tanong ng isa kong co-worker na mas mababa sa akin ng position sa company. I looked at her draft and I nodded. 

"I think it's best if it has floor to ceiling windows here on the back yard because the location of where this is going to be built is in Antipolo, right? Great views of city lights for the clients to see." I suggested and he nodded before going back to his desk.

Nag ring ang phone ko at nakita ko na tumatawag si Luca.

[Caitlyn, nakausap ko na si Zayn. He said he agreed pero hindi pa sure kung anong oras ngayong araw. Busy daw sa firm, update na lang kita ha.]

"Oo sige, basta samahan mo 'ko mamaya ah? Salamat."

I ended the call agad and continued with my work. 

I am excited and also nervous for later. Kahit tinarantado niya ako 4 years ago, nawala na ang galit ko sa kanya dahil lumabas na si Zai. She completed my world when he broke me to pieces. That's why I am very thankful that I have a daughter right now. 

She fixed the whole in my heart that Zayn was supposed to fill. 

Ang plano ko ay 'wag muna sabihin kay Zayn na hindi ko pinalaglag ang bata.  Malay ko ba kung maalala niya na sinabi ko sa kanya na buntis ako? I am just going to tell him about my father's situation and we'll go from there.

It's weird because some part of me is hoping that he's single, para matanggap niya ng buo si Zai. Sabihin niyo na tanga ako pero umaasa din akong maayos namin ang iniwan namin 4 years ago. Malakas din kasi kutob ko na may ibang dahilan pa, but he  was forced not to say the truth and lied.

Lawyers are good liars.

A cliche line but a true one.

Tatlong araw na akong bumalik sa trabaho at hati naman ang kaisipan ko. Half of me is thinking about work and the other half is thinking about Zai and Zayn. 

It was around 4 pm at 2 hours na lang bago matapos ang trabaho ko when Mom called. Weird, bakit siya tumatawag? Ibinaba ko ang hawak kong lapips bago sagutin ang tawag.

Video call pa siya, "hello?" nakita kong nasa playroom iyon. 

"Hi mommy!" bati sa akin ni Zai and I smiled before greeting her too. "What time are you coming home, Mommy?" she asked while cuddling her panda plushie toy. 

"Later pa anak, may gagawin pa si Mommy after work eh." I told her at nalungkot naman siya agad. "Are you going to see Daddy?" simula nang makabalik ako sa trabaho there was never a time na hindi niya tatanungin kung nasaan si Zayn.  

Nalipat naman sa mukha ni Mom ang telepono. "Kanina ka pa namimiss ng anak mo, saan ka pa pupunta? You promised to be home for dinner to Zairah." she said at tsaka ko naalala na sinabi ko nga yon sa kanya.

"Shit.." I whispered. "Uh, Mom, can we talk in private?" tanong ko at tumango naman siya bago lumabas ng kwarto.

"What is it about? Make it fast, I still have to cook." sabi niya sa akin and I sighed. "Look, don't tell Zai yet but, I'm going to meet up with Zayn-" hindi pa natapos ang sasabihin ko nang magreact agad si Mommy. 

"WHAT?! Why? How? Makikipag balikan ka ba?" sunod sunod na tanong niya sa akin. Agad naman ako napatampal sa aking ulo dahil hindi niya man lang ako pinatapos. 

Pero pansin ko lang kung dati ayaw na ayaw nila sa dugo ni Zayn ngayon gusto nila na mag ayos kami ni Zayn just for the sake of Zai not growing up in a broken family. May point naman sila, Zairah deserves to know the truth and her father.

"Kalma lang Mommy, patapusin mo kasi ako." I said slowly, "I'm planning to meet up with him kasama si Luca maybe over dinner? I'm going to discuss the case of dad, thinking he should represent dad for his so called illegal actions; and when the right time comes I'll maybe tell him about his uh... daughter." I told her at tumango tango naman siya.

"Alright, honey. Be safe, take care of your heart." she teased and before I even countered she already ended the call. 

When the clock hit 6 o'clock, I gathered my stuff and went to the bathroom into a more casual outfit. I changed my slacks into a beige one and removed my blazer before putting down my hair. 

My phone vibrated and it was a text message.

Luca: i'm already outside the firm that Zayn is working, and rumor has it that he owns that firm

Woah, yumaman pala talaga ang gago. Successful na din siguro, I'm proud of him. Proud of what we both have become.

I guess chasing different stars lead us to what we are right now. I believe that God made us separate for a reason, and maybe it's this reason. For us to become successful and stable before we both come back into each other's arms.

Caitlyn: okay, i'll be there in 15.

I drove off to the address Luca gave me and when I arrived my jaw-dropped. A very modern building for a law firm huh? But the building seems oddly familiar like I've already seen it somewhere.

Wait, isn't this the building I drew 3 years ago when I was back in Mindoro? WHAT THE FUCK? Mayroong nagpadala sa akin ng sulat sinasabi na kapag gumawa daw ako ng 3 story modern building for an office bibigyan ako ng medyo malaking halaga. I didn't expect na ito pala iyon!

Coincidental lang kaya 'yon? Or alam talaga ni Zayn na naroon ako sa Mindoro all along? Pero bakit hindi niya ako pinuntahan? Or hinanap? Teka, bakit ko ba 'to iniisip. Dapat hindi ko 'to iniisip. 

Nakita ko si Luca sa may kaliwang bahagi sa labas ng building at kumaway naman ako. "Ano naman idinahilan mo kay Zayn kung bakit gusto mo makipag kita?" tanong ko sa kanya he shrugged.

"I told him I have a client that needs his help. Don't worry hindi niya alam na ikaw iyon. It'll be like, surprise nandito ex mo!  ganon." I rolled my eyes at him bago sabayan siyang pumunta sa entrance.

Pagpasok namin ay maaliwalas ang lugar at reception area pa lang ito ah. Medyo marami ring lumalabas pasok dito, siguro mga interns niya at co-lawyers ni Zayn.

"Hi, good evening po ma'am, sir. Do you have an appointment?" the receptionist asked and I looked at Luca. "Uhh, yes. For Attorney Domingo." he answered. "Mrs. Domingo or Mr. Domingo?" she asked at agad ako nakaramdam ng kirot sa aking puso. 

Tangina, may asawa na si gago. Fuck! Paano na si Zai? Hindi naman ako magiging selfish kapag gusto ko  ipakilala anak ko sa tatay niya 'di ba?

Should I back out? Nandito na eh, wala na 'kong magagawa. Bigla akong hinawakan ni Luca sa likod and gave me a comforting smile. Napansin niya ata na nagiba ang itsura ko. I'm so transparent, it sucks.

"Mr. Domingo," Luca said at tumango naman ang babae. "Take the elevator on the 3rd floor, last room on the right." the lady smiled at ngumiti din naman kami. 

Habang nakasakay sa elevator at tahimik lang ako, syempre iniisip ko kapakanan ng anak ko. She would be so sad kapag hindi niya nakilala ang Dad niya, especially asang asa na siya na makikita niya na siya.

Nang makalabas kami ng elevator doble kaba ang naramdaman ko. This is the first time in 4 years that I am going to see him. Hindi kasi counted ang mga news and articles na nakikita ko sa internet na may mukha niya.

When we reached the end of the hall Luca looked at me to check if I was ready I gave him a slight nod before knocking. "Who is it?" I got shivers hearing his voice. It's like it became more deeper and huskier. 

"Luca." 

"Come in, it's open." 

Pagpasok ni Luca sa loob Zayn greeted him but he was left stunned when he saw me after Luca. He stared at me with a blank expression. Bigla ko siyang hindi mabasa but for us to continue I gave him a  soft smile at agad naman siyang tumalikod para umiwas ng tingin. 

Bakit naman siya iiwas? Parang ako pa ang may kasalanan sa mga nangyari noong panahong hiniwalayan niya 'ko ah.

"You guys can take a seat," he said before clearing his throat. Umupo siya sa swivel chair niya bago kami harapin. He looked uncomfortable and unease, weird. 

"So, how may I help you?" he asked formally. "Are you here to file a case against someone?" 

Siniko ako ni Luca bago tumingin kay Zayn. His facial features have even more matured, damn he is so fine. No! Focus, Caitlyn! Hindi time para lumandi.

"I need your help..." I started and his gaze turned to me and I saw him gulp. "Someone pressed charges against my dad, he said that he has been doing illegal transactions and recently had been caught, just to make more money and save our company. A few months ago our sales went down; the reason my family is finding a lawyer to represent him in court." I told him and he nodded before getting something from his drawer. 

He jotted some notes down before turning to me again, "have you eaten yet?" he asked at agad naman kumunot noo ko. "No, but that's not important. Are you going to represent my dad?" I asked and loosened his neck tie before removing his blazer.

Yung kaninang lamig sa kanyang office parang napalitan ng init. Parang uminit ata bigla, ano na nangyayari huhu. 

"Okay," he replied. "But you first have to sign a contract that if I don't win your case... hindi kita sagot." sabi niya sa akin but I raised a brow. "But you have to defend my Dad! You can't lose the case, my family is willing to pay any amount." I told him and he scoffed.

"Caitlyn, hindi naman porket ako ang magrerepresenta sa Dad mo ay hindi ko maipapangako na mananalo. I don't know how dirty the other prosecutor and lawyer on the other side will play just for your Dad to lose the case." he told me, wow first name basis? Tumango naman ako.

"When is the hearing? And I have to talk to your Dad. Is he free tomorrow?" he asked me and I checked my schedule first tomorrow, kasi gusto ko din malaman kung ano naman ang paguusapan nila.

"Yes, he's always free. And as far as I remember, the hearing is next week Monday." I answered him and he got a piece of paper from the organizer and wrote something on it. He gave it to me and I saw a phone number there. 

Tumaas kilay ko and he sighed, "look I know you're mad at me or whatever but let's be professional here, okay? This is for your dad's sake." he said and I rolled my eyes before getting the paper and placed it inside my bag.

"Contact me every time you have questions about the case and I'll contact you whenever I have questions regarding your dad. Do you already have a place in mind where we could meet up for tomorrow?" he asked and I squinted my eyes at him.

Hindi naman sa assumera ako pero feeling ko gusto niya lang ako ulit makita. Don't worry, Zayn. We're going to get tired of each other's faces because of my Dad's case.

"Siguro sa bahay na lang namin, if that's okay with you? Ayaw kasi ni Dad ngayon lumabas ng bahay." I told him and he nodded before standing up and putting out his hand. 

I shook his hand before giving him a smile and Luca did the same too. We were about to leave the room when he spoke.

"Caitlyn..." he called me and I turned to meet with his gaze.

"Hmm?"

"It was... nice seeing you again."