Chapter One

To rise again after a hard and painful fall isn't easy, but there is just that one thing that will make you want to rise again, it will urge you to have the courage and the will to go on with life.

In my case, a someone very special in my heart, someone who had become my lifeline and someone I had come to treasure so much had pushed me throughout the journey, had lifted me up to reach the better me and had taken me from the mud of my downfall. Siya iyong naging dahilan kung bakit nagkaroon akong muli ng pag-asa.

Itinaas ko ang suot kong wayfarer sa ulo ko paglabas ko ng gates ng eroplano para hanapin ang sundo ko habang nakatayo ako sa isang gilid ng arrival area. Matapos ang halos isang taon kong pananatili sa Pilipinas para sa Eve's Manila, nandito na naman ako sa Korea. It really just became a habit for me, a routine, travelling back and forth.

Maraming tao sa arrival area ng Incheon Airport, nag-aabang sa kani-kanilang mga kakilala na galing din sa labas ng bansa para sunduin.

Humigpit ang hawak ko sa itim kong travel bag habang inililibot ang mga mata sa dagat ng mga tao para hanapin ang lalaking iyon na siyang susundo sa akin. Nang tumawag sa akin si Aly kanina ay sinabi niyang nandito na raw ito at naghihintay sa pagdating ko. Hindi nila ako masusundo dahil kailangan nilang maghanda since ngayong araw ang ribbon cutting ng panibagong branch ng Eve's na pamamahalaan na ni Aly.

That was one of the reason why I had to be here again, isa pa, ang lalaking iyon ang madalas na sumusundo sa akin sa tuwing lumilipad ako pa-Korea kahit na noong ay may trabaho pa siya.

Palaki na nang palaki ang negosyong itinayo namin nina Evah five years ago. Pangatlong branch na ito actually, ang una ay ang sa Seoul na siyang pinamamahalaan nilang tatlo at ang pangalawa ay nasa Pilipinas na pinapamahalaan naman namin ni Chelsea. Now, Evah extended it again in Incheon due to the number of the survey result we had conducted, since a lot of people always looked for Eve's branch here in Incheon.

Kumunot ang noo ko nang sa gitna ng maraming mga taong nagtataas ng kani-kanilang placards ay nahanap ko ang para sa akin.

'환영합니다, 설!'

"Welcome back, Seol!" I read what was written on the placard with my brows highly raised, the scribbles were in a familiar penmanship.

It had been exactly two years since I had started properly studying Hangul. Of course, it wasn't easy. Lalo na at sobrang layo ng pagkaka-iba ng English alphabets at Korean Alphabets pero kinailangan kong gawin iyon dahil sa madalas na pagpunta-punta ko rito sa Seoul at para rin sa pinakamahalagang tao sa buhay ko ngayon. Luckily, thanks to my great tutor, I could now read Hangul. Naiintindihan ko na rin ang ilang mga Korean phrases pero hindi pa ako confident sa pagsasalita. I had thought it would take more time but then, I was still learning until now.

Matututo rin ako.

Nilapitan ko ang lalaking nakaputing T-shirt at denim short, naka-cap at may suot na backpack na siyang may hawak ng placard na para sa akin. He had cropped bangs with his coconut cut black hair, pair of small eyes, small nose and full pale lips. He looked too tall with his getup. Nang makita niya akong palapit ay agad niyang ibinaba ang placard na hawak niya at matamis akong nginitian na para bang ginagawa namin ito noon pa.

Sumimangot ako. "Where's your boss?" I asked him in a firm tone, irritated for I didn't see that certain guy I was expecting. Akala ko ba ang lalaking iyon ang pupunta rito para sunduin ako sabi ni Aly? Pero bakit itong P.A niya ang nandito?

As far as I knew, matagal na siyang walang regular na trabaho kaya huwag niyang sabihin sa aking busy siya. Fine, did being a stockholder demand lots of his time? Hindi niya puwedeng idahilan sa akin busy siya dahil pagdating sa akin, alam kong hindi siya kailanman magiging busy. Ngayon lang ata niya ako hindi sinundo at hindi kinontak.

Sa tuwing malalaman niyang lilipad ako pa-Korea ay siya pa ang nauuna sa akin dito sa airport at naaabutan ko na lang siyang pinagkakaguluhan ng mga tao, airport staffs would then get rattled about his appearance and would send him to a better and peaceful accommodation. That was as I would try my very hardest not to get noticed by his fans, the last thing I wanted to happen now was to get tangled again with another idol in another scandalous issue.

I had had enough of that, and well, I was done with that.

Nawala ang ngiti ng lalaking nasa harap ko dahil sa sinabi ko saka dahan-dahan siyang yumuko. "He's waiting in the car," sagot niya sa mahinang tinig.

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin dahil sa paraan ng pakikipag-usap niya sa akin. He was talking to me informally. Alam ko ang tungkol doon dahil isa iyon sa mga pinaka-hinay-light sa akin noong magaling kong tutor noon. That I had to keep in mind how to differentiate if someone was talking to me formally or informally, most especially if I was older.

And we were not still close enough for him to be speaking informally to me. Lalo na at mas matanda ako sa kaniya ng dalawang taon. Ni hindi ko nga siya madalas makasama dahil masyadong independent iyong boss niya. I didn't even know why that guy even hired him.

Nag-iiwas ng tinging sinubukan niyang kunin ang dala kong travel bag ngunit tinalikuran ko na siya at nauna nang maglakad patungo sa exit ng airport ngunit napahinto rin naman ako dahil hindi ko alam kung nasaan ang sasakyan. He seemed to notice it so he walked past me and lead me the way to where the car was.

Malapad na ngiti ang isinalubong sa akin ng lalaking nasa loob ng puting Ford nang buksan ko ang pinto ng backseat. His haircut and hair colour changed, wow, again. Noong huli ko siyang nakita ay one-sided ang gupit ng blonde na buhok niya at medyo mahaba ngunit ngayon ay naka-undercut na ang kulay pula niyang buhok.

"Get inside, Seol," nakangisi niyang sabi, ang mga mapupulang labi ay binat na binat at nawawala ang mga singkit na mga mata. Wow, he looked too happy.

I rolled my eyes at him as I harshly threw my travel bag to his side inside the backseat that made him jump before I closed the door, making a face at him after. Umabante ako sa pinto ng passenger's seat at doon pumasok para gantihan ang pagpapa-asa niya sa akin. Hinanap ko siya kanina tapos si Bok lang pala ang makikita ko?

"Hey, your seat is here beside me!" agad na talak niya sa akin mula sa backseat matapos kong ikabit ang seatbelt. His P.A just alternately stared at us while sitting at the driver's seat, amusement mirrored his eyes.

Nilingon ko si Bok at sinenyasan na paandarin na ang kotse bago ako sumandal sa headrest ng upuan at mariing pumikit, tuluyan nang iniignora ang papansing presensiyang nasa likod ko.

Hindi naman ako nahihilo dahil sa ilang beses kong pagpaparoo't parito rito sa Korea ay nasanay na ang katawan ko sa air ride. Gusto ko lang umidlip dahil iniisip ko kung ano ang magiging reaksiyon ni Eve kapag nakita ako matapos ng halos isang taon na naman naming hindi pagkikita. She wasn't really fond of me and it was truly hurting me.

Hindi ko nakikitaan ng excitement ang mga mata niya sa tuwing magkikita kami pagkatapos ng mahabang panahon naming paghihiwalay. Naiintindihan kong dahil iyon sa distansiya namin sa isa't isa habang lumalaki siya pero nasasaktan pa rin ako. We shouldn't be like this.

"Let's drop by Eve's school first," sabi ko sa gitna ng pag-iisip ng maraming bagay habang nakapikit.

Nang tumawag si Aly kanina ay sinabi niyang nasa school pa si Eve kasama si Jessie kaya sinabi ko sa kaniyang dadaanan muna namin ito bago dumiretso sa restaurant dahil gusto ko na itong makita. Hindi ko rin mapigilang maawa kay Eve. Her classmates must be very happy with their parents but she only had her nanny with her, not even a mother and a father. Minsan ay sina Aly ang kasama niya pero siyempre, mas mabuti pa rin kung parents ang kasama niya.

Buong biyahe ay tahimik lang kami sa sasakyan. I was glad that they were both being considerate of me. Ganoon naman palagi. Simula nang maging malapit sila sa akin ay puro ako na lang ang iniisip nila, lalong lalo na siya. Ever since their group had disbanded, he had poured all his time for me and Eve as if we were his.

Alam ko naman iyon e… alam kong may nararamdaman siya para sa akin. Of course, I acknowledged every bit of his help and kindness but I couldn't just accept him easily. Not now that I had Eve and I was all contented with just her in my life but I was not closing doors for him, he had also been a part of my life.

Pagdating namin sa pre-school na pinapasukan ni Eve ay naglalabasan na ang mga bata. My heart in my ribcage started beating so fast when I saw Eve together with her nanny at the waiting area. Naka-upo sila sa isang bench malapit sa parking lot. Eve was just silently drinking yogurt with her cute pair of pigtails while Jessie was just looking around, watching the other kids play while waiting for their parents.

Si Eve ay tahimik lang imbis na dapat ay naglalaro rin siya. One thing I had found out about her, she played like any other normal kids would do but only when she was around the people she was comfortable with and not when at crowded places like this with other kids.

Parang… parang ako lang noong bata pa ako.

"Tito Bien!"

Unti-unting bumagal ang paglalakad ko patungo sa kanila habang pinapanood ko kung gaano siya kasaya na makita si Bien gayong isang mabilis na sulyap lang ang iginawad niya sa akin. She ran towards Bien with her yogurt in hand and quickly jumped him an excited hug. Niyakap niya agad ang leeg ni Bien at pinaliguan ng halik, tuwang-tuwa siya.

The former idol immediately carried her little form in his arms, willingly offering his smiling face for her to kiss. They looked like father and daughter to be honest and I would be subtracting myself from the equation since being Byun Bien's wife shouldered a heavier responsibility. I would love to but I was not yet ready for that.

"How's my Pretty little princess, huh?" Bien softly asked, chuckling at the happy little girl.

"I'm Pretty, but am I really pretty, Tito Bien?" the little one managed to hand Jessie the box of yogurt she was holding, not taking her eyes from Bien. She was Pretty, it was her first name and it suited her well.

Well, if she wasn't the prettiest little bean I had ever seen in my life, biased opinion be damned, then I didn't know.

"You're the prettiest baby I've ever seen, now for fairness, I should only be the most handsome for you," sagot ni Bien saka kiniliti si Eve sa leeg gamit ang buhok kaya mas napayakap sa kaniya ang bata.

Agad na nagkuwento si Eve kay Bien ng mga nangyari sa kaniya sa loob ng school. She even showed him her hand that had a red star on it and told him how she had got praised by her teacher for her performance. Sobrang saya ng hitsura niya.

Pumikit ako ng mariin dahil sa pinaghalong saya at sakit na lumulukob sa puso ko. She never smiled at me like how she was smiling at Bien right now, she never got excited to see me like how she was getting giddy right now and she never looked at me like how she was looking at Bien. But then, this was how I should pay right? Kailangan kong tiisin ang ganitong pakikitungo niya sa akin kasi para rin naman sa kaniya ito. I had to distance myself from her because it was for her own sake. Kaya kahit na sobra-sobra akong nasasaktan sa tuwing ganito siya ay nagtitiis ako dahil masaya na akong nakikita siyang masaya.

At least, Bien could give her all that I deprived her.

"Ma'am Hanselle, welcome back po."

I quickly fixed my composure when I heard Jessie's low-pitched voice. Tipid akong ngumiti sa kaniya bilang tugon. Gusto kong matawa. Mas malapit pa sa totoo lang ang loob ni Eve sa nanny niya kaysa sa akin.

"Let's go, Bien. I still need to prepare for the ribbon cutting," sabi ko kay Bien at nauna nang magtungo sa kotse dahil kahit naman lumapit ako kay Eve at humingi ng halik ay hindi niya iyon ikatutuwa.

Bien just smiled sadly at me as he nodded curtly, following behind me while carrying my daughter.

Sa sasakyan, si Jessie na ang nasa passenger's seat habang ako, si Bien at si Eve ang nasa backseat. Napapagitnaan namin pareho ni Bien si Eve at ramdam na ramdam ko ang pagiging out of place sa kanilang dalawa. Sobrang dami nilang napagku-kuwentuhan samantalang kapag kami ni Eve ang magkasama ay sobrang tahimik niya na para bang estranghero ang kasama niya.

Three years ago, she was still a baby when Bien came to our life. Hindi si Eve iyong tipo ng batang naghahanap ng kalinga ng isang ama pero sa nakikita ko, higit pa sa pagiging uncle ang turing niya kay Bien. He had been with her while she was growing up so I would understand if she was seeing Bien as a father material. Dahil walang ibang taong nagpaparamdam sa kaniya noon kung hindi si Bien lang, ni hindi ko nga magawang maging matinong ina sa kaniya.

They were so close with each other. As for Bien, he was extra close with Eve. Hindi naman niya ito anak pero nakikita ko kung gaano kahalaga sa kaniya ang bata. And somehow, I wanted to thank God for bringing Bien to our life. Kasi napupunan ni Bien iyong mga bagay na hindi ko magawa para kay Eve. I was not jealous. I was just pure guilty because it should have been me but I couldn't do it for her.

It should have been me… but I deprived her that.

Pumalakpak kami nang tuluyan nang magupit ni Aly ang pulang ribbon habang malapad na nakangiti. Aly just wore a simple red collar dress to match the color of her ribbon, a pair of black stilettos and had her now long hair gathered in a French braided bun.

Hindi na ma-ipagkakailang siya nga ang mamahala nitong panibagong branch.

I walked towards her and gave her a light hug while whispering her my congratulations. Ganoon din ang ginawa nina Evah at Em na parehong masayang-masaya rin sa panibagong achievement ng Eve's. Not a moment later, Aly got swarmed and taken away from us by some of the invited guests to talk to her, probably, to also send her their congratulations.

Five years ago when we started this business and exactly four years after its first development. Sa unang taon nito, kasabay ng pagbubuntis ko ay napakahirap. We were still looking for our target market. Maganda naman ang lokasyon namin pero dahil foreign para sa mga Koreans ang Filipino cuisine, nahirapan kaming makalikom ng maraming customers. But we didn't give up. Paunti-unti ay nagkaroon kami ng customers.

We had to be very generous, we had given giveaways and well, souvenirs so that they would come back. Hanggang sa may ilang mga Filipino na rin ang naka-alam ng restaurant na itinayo namin.

We named it Eve's not because of my daughter, it was just a pure coincidence since mas naunang itinayo ang Eve's bago ko isinilang si Eve. Christmas Eve noon noong nag-bi-brainstorm kami ng magandang pangalan para sa restaurant that was why we came up with Eve's. Isa pa, Christmas Eve was an occasion close to the heart of every Filipino.

My daughter's name wasn't fruited from Eve's too. Nakuha ko lang ang Eve sa second pangalan niyang Heaven, Pretty Heaven, that was her English name na ako mismo ang nagbigay samantalang sina Aly ang nagbigay sa kaniya ng Korean name which was Hyechan. Hindi na ako nagprotesta pa kahit na hindi ko alam kung saan nila napulot ang pangalang iyon tutal ay sila naman ang nagpa-register noon sa Korean municipality. Well, sila rin ang pumilit sa aking gamitin ang surname na Park para kay Eve since Park naman talaga siya, biologically, pero sa English name ni Eve ay apelyido ko ang gamit niya.

Her nickname Eve was taken from Heaven.

I didn't know since when she had a very complicated name. Isa pa, suportado naman ang Park na surname ni Eve ng ilang taong may surname ring Park so I thought, it was legit. So she was both Park Hyechan and Pretty Heaven Ursula or simply Eve Ursula.

Tuwang-tuwa din si Evah noon nang mapagpasyahan kong gawing Eve ang nickname ng anak ko dahil Eve ang English translation ng pangalan niyang Evah.

The first ever woman that walked the earth and the first lady of the centuries.

"So how's the business in the Philippines?" Aly asked while we were eating in a long table with full of different delicacies.

Sinulyapan ko muna si Eve na nasa tabi ni Bien na nasa tabi ko lang din bago ko muling binalingan si Aly. Evah and Em who lined up with her at the other side of the table were both staring at me as if wanting to hear my answer too.

Dito na kami sa bahay nag-dinner pagkatapos ng event kanina sa bagong Eve's dahil maaga namang natapos. We also invited Bien and his P.A of course, kasi alam ko namang hindi pakakawalan ni Eve si Bien.

"Don't worry, it's going well. Si Chelsea ang naiwan doon ngayon kahit na ayaw ni Kuya Haynes dahil maselan ang pagbubuntis niya," sagot ko habang naaalala kung paanong nagkasagutan sina Kuya Haynes at Chelsea sa mismong office ko sa Eve's noon bago ako lumipad patungo rito sa Korea. But then, seemed like my brother had been being under her skirt since she was a weird pregnant woman. He couldn't just say no to her because it would be bad if she got upset. He couldn't just stay long arguing with her because he needed to think of the babies inside Chelsea's womb.

And well, Chelsea was very stubborn, a stubborn weird pregnant woman.

My brother handled his pregnant wife so well because he had experience when it came to that. Siya ang kasama ko noong pinagbubuntis ko si Eve kaya malamang ay alam na niya ang mga dapat niyang gawin. Ang mood swings lang naman ang hindi niya talaga kayang i-predict kay Chelsea dahil magka-iba kaming dalawa, she was a weird pregnant woman!

"Magdalang-tao ka ba naman ng kambal? Sana nag-hire na lang tayo ng specialist para sa mga ganitong pagkakataon. There are really times that you have to be here and leave the business in the Philippines," nakangusong sabi ni Evah na halatang nag-aalala para kay Chelsea bago isubo ang pagkaing naka-ipit sa chopsticks niya.

Si Chelsea ang katulong ko sa pag-ma-manage ng Eve's sa Pilipinas. My brother had invested a big amount of money for the extension in the Philippines, the reason why the extension had happened in the first place and he had it named to Chelsea. That was, after they got married two years ago.

Hindi na nakasama si Chelsea patungo rito sa Korea dahil sa matigas na pasya ni Kuya Haynes na mananatili siya sa Pilipinas hanggang sa maipanganak niya ang kambal nila, which was, matigas din naman naming sinang-ayunan. Kung puwede nga ay magpahinga na lang siya sa bahay at hayaan akong pamahalaan ang Eve's pero sadyang makulit siya.

She had her ways always. I meant, with her pregnancy, she had all of us wrapped in her palms.

"Don't worry, Eve's will operate even without us. We have great staffs," sabi ko habang nagkikibit-balikat. Tumango-tango si Evah saka nagpatuloy na sa pagkain.

Now that we had another branch, mukhang mahahati na naman ang workloads namin. Napagpasyahan naming si Aly na ang hahawak nitong bagong branch since hindi pa makakapag-fully hands-on si Em dahil busy rin naman siya sa career niya. She had been getting main role offers from different entertainment companies for the last five years, her acting career wasn't a joke. Isa na siya ngayon sa mga malalaki at in-demand actresses sa Korea. She even got tons of fans in the Philippines and all over the world.

Marami na rin siyang nai-uwing mga awards at naipapares na siya sa mga sikat na Korean actors na noon ay pinapanood ko lang!

"That's how you do it in the Philippines, huh? I heard, you hired your account manager as Eve's financial specialist?" untag ni Em, hawak niya ang tinidor at tinutusok ang isang hiwa ng fresh carrot mula sa pinggan niya.

Ngumiwi ako habang pinapanood siyang isubo iyon. I really didn't know how could she eat that uncooked when I couldn't even eat it cooked. Nilingon kong muli sina Bien at napangiti naman ako nang makitang pinupunasan ni Bien ang bibig ni Eve gamit ang table napkin.

"Yes. We couldn't find someone as good as him. You know, he's been tested," sagot kong ibinabalik ang tingin kay Em, obviously boasting how great my personal account manager was.

Simula noong i-hire ni Kuya Haynes si Stephen bilang account manager ko five years ago ay naging maayos ang personal cash flows ko, kaya nang magkaroon ng branch ang Eve's sa Pinas ay kinuha ko siyang financial specialist para sa ikabubuti ng cash flows nito.

"Are you even aware that he likes you?"

Natahimik kami dahil sa malalim na tinig na iyon na hindi naman dapat nakikisali sa usapan namin. Nilingon ko si Bien na seryosong nakatingin sa akin habang kandong na ngayon si Eve na abala sa pagkaing nasa harap niya. I grinned a bit when I saw her tiny fingers holding her personalized Jake fork and putting all the vegetables away from her plate with crossed brows and pouted lips.

That was something she took after me. They said, she resembled her father's features very well but she inherited so many things from me too. Her attitude, her personality and something about her interests and dislikes. They all came from me.

"Oh, someone's jealous…" Tumikhim si Em pero hindi ko siya nilingon.

"E totoo naman. Halata kayang may gusto sa'yo iyong si Mister Abarintos," sabat ni Aly.

Nanatiling na kay Bien at Eve ang atensyon ko dahil wala namang basehan ang mga sinasabi nila, they didn't even know Stephen personally like I did. Hindi ko rin naman sila mapipigilang isipin ang mga gusto nilang isipin pero malabo iyon sinasabi nila, sobrang labo.

Bien stared intently at me as if I did something wrong while holding Eve on his lap. Ang natural na lubog niyang mga mata ay tumatagos sa dibdib ko kaya agad akong nag-iwas ng tingin.

"I think, that's just something in between us," sagot ko na umani ng singhap mula sa kaniya bago ako magpatuloy na sa pagkain. Kahit sina Aly, Evah at Em ay hindi nagawang pagaanin ang atmospera. We all just ate silently after that, no one tried to break the silence anymore.

Yes, I was very grateful that Bien came to our life. Dumating siya at naging isang malaking parte sa buhay ni Eve, sa buhay ng anak ko pero hindi pa ako handang tanggapin siya sa buhay ko katulad ng gusto niyang mangyari. Years had passed but what happened in the past would always remain in my heart. I couldn't just close it and leave it. Kasi sa nakaraang iyon, may isang mahalagang taong nasa kasalukuyan ko ngayon ang parte ng nakaraang iyon.

No matter how painful it was, no matter how difficult it was, no matter how devastating it was for as long as it gave me Eve, I wouldn't forget. At habang pinipili kong huwag kalimutan ang mga nakaraan kong iyon, magiging unfair ako kay Bien kung tatanggapin ko siya.

For now, I was happy for what he was in my life, I was grateful for what his stand in my daughter's life… kahit sa buhay na lang ng anak ko.

"Thanks, Bien." Tipid akong ngumiti kay Bien habang naka-upo siya sa gilid ng kama ni Eve at mahigpit na hawak naman ng batang mahimbing na natutulog ang kamay niya. She didn't want him to go earlier so he ended up lulling her to sleep, with her small hand tightly holding Bien's tiniest finger for dear life.

"Just always remember your and Chan's place in my heart," aniya nang tingalain niya ako. His eyes had always been so honest and transparent for me, they always showed me all the emotions within him. Those eyes were my portal towards his heart, portal that remained open for me to take.

Naupo ako sa kabilang gilid ng kama at malungkot siyang tinitigan. I had already made this clear to him. Talagang matigas lang ang ulo niya para patuloy pa ring umasa. Isa pa, malulungkot si Eve kapag nawala si Bien sa buhay niya. I couldn't afford that. I had been subtracted from her life, I couldn't afford to take Bien away from her too.

Kaya kong magpaka-selfish at ipagdamot si Bien sa iba para sa anak ko. Because this was what I could only do for her other than keep her cocooned here in this country and away from me in the Philippines. Kung si Bien ang nagpapasaya sa anak ko, then I was sorry but I wouldn't let Bien go, I wouldn't free him from us for as long as he wanted to stay and my daughter wanted him in his life.

I was sorry but Bien's for my daughter.

LUX had disbanded two years ago and we had stayed beside him, to comfort him all throughout just like how he had stayed with me, with us. Hindi namin siya iniwan ni Eve katulad nang hindi niya ako iniwan simula nang dumating siya sa buhay namin ng anak ko. Of course, he was devastated, the group he had treasured for such a long time had just slipped out of his grip, just disappeared from him. Those times, I was very focused in learning Hangul and he was helping me until he became my official tutor.

Mahirap siyang tanggapin sa una dahil ipinangako kong hindi ko na hahayaang ma-involve ako sa buhay ng mga K-Pop idols pero iba si Bien, iba ang LUX, getting involved with them was just like having new circle of friends. Hindi na ako muling nasangkot sa kahit na anong showbiz issue, hindi na ulit.

Isa rin si Bien sa mga naging stockholders at producers ng SMT Entertainment noong ma-disband ang grupo nila, kasama ang ilang LUX members din. He was thirty years old by now and at his very peak for marriage. Ayaw ko namang isipin na dahil sa amin ni Eve kaya hindi pa rin siya nakakapagpakasal kahit na iyon naman talaga ang totoo.

He knew Eve's father of course. Hindi ko iyon inililihim sa mga kilala ko, sila-sila lang naman ang malalapit sa amin. Though, in the Philippines, only Kuya Haynes and Chelsea knew about my daughter. There were also other people who acknowledged my daughter's existence.

"Bok must be waiting for you, aren't you going home?" I asked him, mentioning the name of his P.A.

"I sent him home already. I'll stay with you and Chan tonight," sagot niyang ngayon ay humihiga na sa kabilang gilid ni Eve.

I sighed as I nodded slowly. Mas mabuti na iyon dahil hindi rin naman matutuwa si Eve kapag ako na lang maaabutan niyang katabi niya pagkagising niya kinabukasan.

"I'll take a shower first. You have clothes here so just take the bathroom by the hallway." I then walked towards the walk-in closet to get my clothes before striding towards the bathroom.

Surely, this would be like just one of our usual nights together with Bien.