"Erisha."

Napalingon ako sa pinangalingan ng boses na iyon. It is Maria Sarmiento, their mom. She walks in a slow motion with her heads up, seems seizing the moment that she have. She still have a that confidence while walking to us, it seems that her fiercer version came back, malayo sa nakita ko sa korte. Kasama niya likod niya ang bago kong secretary, halata sa mukha niya na naistress ito sa pagpigil sa kanya. 

"Ms. Eris, pasensya na po sinubukan ko naman po siyang pigilan."

"We are fine here Aira, you may leave." Yumuko muna siya bago umalis ng opisina. 

"You may have a seat." Pag-alok ko. She did not answer, she still in her fierce expression. 

"Hindi rin naman ako magtatagal." Lumapit siya sa amin at inabot may inabot na folder.

"I just wanted to say that I will help you with your company. I willing to be your investor and aside from that I will convince your stakeholders to come back here and gain your reputation back." I am astonished what she says, I did not expect another help form her, besides Lauren has her own clothing line. She seems to support the rival company of her daughter's line. 

"Thanks for the offer Mrs. Sarmiento but we already did some control in the situation and some of the stakeholders came back. That will be enough, besides the company still reaches its quota in sales."

"I insist, Ms. Magdayo."

"Why do you it." I can't help it to spill it out. Why is this hapeening, why does she reach out for us to help? I far as I remember when we met, I know she really hates me. 

"I did that not because I wanted to help you. I am obliged to clean the mess that I made. No one deserves that, hindi naman ako kasama."

"In the business side, I know your company's reputation at hindi masasayang ang pera ko. I expect you to accept my offer, that will be a great opportunity to you." Umiling ako, I can't accept her offer, I will be happy if she use that money to help her own child, besides I can manage, sa dami ng pinagdaanan ko, I know I will gain everything back. 

"No, I know will slip a big opportunity for Amaya, pero sapat na sa akin yung sa korte, I will be forever thankful to you for that. Help Lauren instead, she need you more" Tumango lang siya at kinuha ang folder na nasa table ko.

"If you say so, it is fine. You are such a good lady Eris, you are truly worthy to my son. " Agad na siyang tumalikod at dali-daling umalis sa opisina ko. I took a deep sigh as I sit on my chair. 

"Naks, The mother approved na!" Masayang bati sa akin ni Taylor. Yeah, I should be happy too, but I don't think Nikko and I will be in the same way again, Besides I don't see myself in the relationships.  I want to enjoy my life for myself, I just want to focus loving myself. Sa dami nang nangyari, I think I lost a big part of me na kailangan ko pang hanapin. 

"I don't think that will be necessary for now, let us go back to work!" Sabi ko with matching palakpak.

"Hay Eris, don't be such a pakipot. Just like Anikka says go back to him besides he is free to mingle ever since."

"Tumigil ka nga diyan Taylor." Sabi ko at inihagis ang folder sa kanya.

"Whatever Eris!"

Nagulat kami ni Taylor nang biglang pumasok si Rina sa office ko. I just asked the guard not to let her in to my premises. Though I should properly talk to her, but I don't want to see her face this time. It reminds me of how she betrayed me. Kasi napapaisip ko, naging mabuti naman ako sa kanya. How come she did that to us. 

"Ms. Eris sino siya?" Ani ni Rina habang itinuturo niya ang bagong secretary ko. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay, now she have the guts to say that to me. Besides she is an hour late. 

"Is it not obvious, she is the new secretary."

"Pero Ms. Eris."

"You're fired." I said it with firmness. 

"Ms. Eris sorry hindi ko naman gusto yan e." Mangiyak-ngiyak niyang sabi. I now she is pleading to me right now to give her job back, how can I trust a traitor. 

"Alam mo pasalamat ka na lang at hindi kita kakasuhan or kung ano. You can still have a chance to have a new work. Pwede ka naman mag-aaply kay Lauren." Umiling-iling siya ay naging tuluyan na ang kanyang pag-iyak.

"Leave, before I call the guards."

Tumakbo siyang humihibi na palayo sa amin. I heard Taylor deep sigh, she seems did not like what happen. Ako rin naman, gusto ko siyang tanungin ng maayos bakit niya ginawa ang bagay na iyon. Pero nauunahan ako ng galit, she is been a family to me. 

"It is hard to see that coming."

"Kahit ako rin naman, I did not expect it from her."

"We have no choice, atleast you have everything in hand for a new beginning." Napangiti ako, bilang pag-ayon sa sinabi niya. Indeed I have given another chance to start over a life. This time, I'll do my best. 

"Tama ka."

...................................................

"Congratulations to all of us! everything starting goes back to normal, our stakeholders gone back" Sabi ni Taylor habang naglalagay ng champagne sa kanyang baso, they decided to have a mini-party for me, it is just Taylor, Anikka, Mitch and Yen. Dual purpose ito, una, ang paglaya ko, pangalawa, despidida party naman. 

"Eris, sigurado ka na ba sa desisyon mo?" I sigh. I know they did not want me to leave, I need to for myself. As much as I wanted to stay, lalo at nakilala ko ang tunay kong ina. I bet she will understand, besides Amaya will expand internationally, I need to be there, I know Taylor can manage Amaya all by herself her, saka babalik-balik din naman ako dito. I don't know when. Gusto ko munang lumayo, to take a break for everything happen. Sabi ko nga, hahanapin ko muna ang nawawalang parte sa sarili ko. 

"Eris look, you have just met your mom" I nod. 

"Alam kong maiintindihan din ako ni Inay. Sa ngayon kasi gusto ko munang lumayo." Umiling-iling si Anikka. For how many times na pinigilan niya akong umalis, none of them work. I need to, para rin sa sarili ko at sa Amaya. 

"Anikka may pabor ako sayo."

Ininom ni Anikka ang natitirang champagne sa baso niya bago sumagot. 

"Anything for you, ano ka ba? Sa susunod huwag kang mahihiyang lumapit sa akin, para hindi ka papasok doon sa susunod." I smiled bitterly. Yup, they said entering prison would be hell. Yes sort of, Eventually that experience makes me realize na lot of things, be positive, being thankful to God always, kasi hindi niya ako pinababayaan at kung hindi rin dahil doon, hindi ko rin makikilala ang tunay kong ina.

"I would not meet my mom, if that does not happen."

She shrugged. "Ang galing nga e, sa dami-dami ba naman na lugar na puwedeng makita mo nanay mo sa bilanguan pa." Pero kaming natawa.

"Alam mo naman, mapagbiro ang tadhana."

...............................

I sigh as I saw the airplane leaves the ground. Bakit kailangan niya pang gawin ito. Everything is settled, malaya na kaming dalawa.  I start at a diamond ring that I supposed to give to her. Yes I am supposed to ask her hand. Magpapaligoy pa ba ako? Ayoko na siyang pakawalan pa. Ever since a lay my eyes on her, she is the only one I will spent forever. Ito, halos malapit na mangyari. I never thought it will happen. 

But she left,  hindi ko man lang siya napigilan na umalis. Maya-maya ay lumapit sa akin si Anikka habang nakatingin sa kalangitan. 

"Alam mo, sinunukan ko rin siyang pigilan, ayaw paawat e." Aniya. Hindi ko siya kinibo at patuloy pa rin nakatingin sa papaalis na eroplano. I do appreciate that, she did her part. Ako dapat ang pumigil sa kanya, nahuli pa ako ng dating. 

"Alam mo Nikko wala akong karapatan na sabihin sa'yo ang bagay na ito,  pero para sa akin kailangan mo na itong malaman." That suddenly catches my attention. I am to curious to know about it? Ano ang hindi ko pa alam?

"Spill it Anikka." She bitterly smile towards me. 

"Hindi habang buhay maitatago sayo Ni Eris lahat." May inilabas siyang maliit na envelope sa bag niya. "Mukhang may alam ka na rin tungkol sa mga ibang bagay, but atleast you need to know this."

"Ano ito?" Sabi ka nang maiabot na niya sa akin ang envelope. 

"It is for you to see."

Kulang na lang tumalon ako sa tuwa ng makita ko ang larawan. It was the ultrasound of a 3 month old baby in the womb. I am indeed sure that child is mine. I do want this to happen. Bawat sabi ko kay Eris na bubuntusin ko siya. I am dead serious, I want to build a family with her. This is it! I bet Hope will be happy to see her other sibling. 

"Nasaan siya,  bakit hindi ko siya nakita?" Anikka sighed before she speaks. 

"Eris miscarriaged the child,  hindi niya alam na nagdadalang tao siya noon." Natiligilan ako sa sinabi niya na iyon. 

I don't know what to say.  Masaya ako, siymepre! Eris and I have a child, pero bakit naman nawala siya sa amin. The revelation bombarded me.  If only if I know, malamang nasa piling pa namin siya. 

"Lumaban yung bata,  pero namatay din sa sinapupunan niya.  We decided to took a picture of it kahit sa ultrasound para makita man lang ni Eris." Aniya at itinuro ang hawak ko. I am to selfish, ni hindi ko man lang naisip ang lahat ng hirap niya noong naghiwalay kami. I know she was forced to leave me because of that threat Lauren gave to her, then this happens. Ni wala man lang ako sa tabi niya, nang mangyari iyon. I was supposed to be there to say "It's fine" o kahit nandun lang ako sa kanya at iparamdam ko ang pagmamahal ko sa kanya na ni minsan hindi nawala.  I was not there on her hardships and naisipan ko pa siyang gantihan na sa una pa lang wala naman siyang kasalanan.  Nanghihina ako nang naisip ko lahat. I am a damn selfish bastard

"Kailangan kong puntahan si Eris, kailangan niya ako." Hinawakan ni Anikka ang braso ko para pigilan ako. Bakit? She just gave me enough reason to follow her in America. This is my chance para man lang makabawi sa kanya. 

"HIndi ka niya kailangan sa ngayon."

"Paano mo nasasabi ang mga ganyan Anikka." Napangisi lang siya. I clenched my fist, para makapagpigil ng inis. How can she say that na parang ang dali lang lahat para sa kanya. I owe her a lot, pero wala siyang pakialam sa magiging desisyon ko at hindi niya ako mapipigilan na sundan si Eris. 

"You  two need space, there are things that you need  to heal sa lahat nang sakit na naransan niyong dalawa." Tumalikod ako sa kanya, at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad. 

"Alam mo, mahirap magmahal ng pusong hindi pa handang magmahal." Napahinto ako sa sinabi na niya iyon saka humarap sa kanya. 

"Huwag kang mag-alala Nikko, this time kayo na." Ani ni Anikka at umalis sa airport.

What she says hit me. Tama nga siya, kailangan may mga bagay kaming ayusin na mag-isa bago kami magharap. A lot of things happen, especially for her. Paano kung hindi pa siya handa para sa aming dalawa. Handang-handa  akong maghintay para sa kanya.

Napatingin ako sa kalangitan.

"Pangako ikaw lang ang mamahalin ko Eris."

...........................................

4 chapters na lang syet! Kaiyak matatapos ko pala to