Chapter Two

"Where's Tito Bien?" Eve asked me in her adorable Korean tongue, with her pair of small ebony eyes staring at me innocently while blinking slowly. Para akong nakatitig sa mga mata ng tatay niya, sa totoo lang. She really had got her father's face features, I wouldn't deny that fact. Maging ang ilong niya at ang mga labi niya, and even the shape of her face. All resembled her father's face features.

Nakatayo siya sa harap ko at nakatingala sa akin. Suot niya sa likod niya ang maliit niyang white square Finn bag and she looked so cute with her school uniform. A pair of white long sleeves blouse under a black and pink big checkered jumper skirt, it had pink big ribbon on the collar. Hindi lalagpas ng tuhod ang skirt niya at may suot siyang puting high socks na hanggang tuhod niya. Itim na black shoes na may ribbon sa gitna ang sapatos niya.

May bimpo siya sa likod para hindi siya matuyuan ng pawis. Her nanny did her pair of pigtails hair. Ako sana ang gagawa noon pero umiyak siya at ang nanny niya ang gusto niyang mag-ayos sa kaniya pero masaya naman akong ang mga pasalubong kong ponytails ang ginamit niya. Her cropped bangs were neatly brushed, covering her eyebrows.

Wala sa amin ng Daddy niya ang may kulot na buhok kung kaya't hindi ko maintindihan kung kanino niya iyan namana, si Kuya Haynes ang pinaglihian ko noon pero hindi rin naman siya kulot. Just where did my daughter inherit her perfect little curly hair from?

Si Jessie ay nakatayo na sa likod niya at dala ang pink pouch bag na naglalaman ng lunch box niya.

"Mahal ko, your Tito Bien has a meeting to attend," malambing kong sagot sa kaniya dahil nararamdaman ko ang lungkot niya dahil hindi namin makakasama si Bien na ihahatid siya.

Naabutan niya pa ito paggising niya kaninang umaga hanggang sa breakfast pero nagkaroon si Bien ng urgent call habang naghahanda si Eve sa pagpasok at kinailangan nitong umalis. I suddenly wondered how Bien spoiled her too much. Baka araw-araw niyang hinahatid at sinusundo si Eve kaya heto, ayaw na talagang humiwalay sa kaniya.

Ngumuso sa akin si Eve. "But I told teacher that Tito Bien's coming with me today," mahina niyang sabi, kumukurap ang mga mata sa kada salitang binibigkas niya.

Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. At ano naman ang kinalaman ng teacher niya kay Bien? Umangat ang tingin ko kay Jessie at nagtatanong ang mga matang tinitigan siya.

Jessie bit her lower lip as she slowly lowered her gaze from me. "K-Kasi Ma'am Hanselle, mukhang may gusto po yata iyong t-teacher ni Chan kay Sir Bien." She hesitantly informed me in a low voice.

Mas lalong kumunot ang noo ko. And what was she trying to tell me now? Na ginagamit ng teacher na iyon ang anak ko para makita si Bien? Na kaya pumapayag si Bien na ihatid si Eve ay para magkita sila noong teacher na iyon?!

That guy!

"Ah, eh, Ma'am, hindi po ata a-alam ni Sir Bien iyon." Dagdag ni Jessie habang pahapyaw na sumusulyap sa akin na tila ba kakainin ko siya ng buhay kapag nagsalubong ang mga mata namin.

Hindi ko siya kakainin ng buhay, pero may makakain talaga ako ng buhay mamaya.

"Mommy, should we call Tito Bien?" Eve softly asked me, still giving me that innocent look that she really got from her father. The switch of language easily rolling of her tongue as if the two languages didn't have a difference for her. She was just as fluent with both languages.

Bumuntong-hininga ako at lumuhod sa harap ni Eve para makapantay ko siya. Hindi siya nakaka-intindi ng Tagalog dahil dito siya lumaki at ako lang yata ang nag-e-effort na kausapin siya sa Tagalog kaya hindi nag-wo-work. Aly, Em and Evah all talked with her in English and Korean. That was why I hired Jessie to be her nanny para maturuan siya kahit papaano.

Jessie came from a trusted agency in the Philippines and was sent here when I requested for a babysitter. She had been Eve's nanny for two years. Dahil ang dating babysitter ni Eve ay koreyana at kinailangang umalis for some reasons.

The little girl just watched me, pouting cutely as I gently caressed her head.

"I'll call him but he can't go with us, Eve. Let's go, hm?" I sweet talked her. Knowing her, she wouldn't stop until she got what she wanted. People around really spoiled her very well.

"No! I want Tito Bien!" She stubbornly stomped her feet as she cutely shook her head to jerk my hand away, throwing a fit. Humalukipkip siya saka masama ang tinging tinitigan ako na para bang hindi siya makikinig sa kahit na anong sasabihin ko.

This wasn't new anymore, she really tended to be very indifferent towards me. May mga pagkakataong sumusunod siya pero may mga ganito rin, hindi naman siya pasaway na bata. She was actually very behave and well-mannered but I understood that she maybe had ill feelings for me, deep down her small innocent heart.

"Chan!" saway ni Jessie sa kaniya sa gulat na tono.

Nginitian ko si Jessie para ipakitang okay lang. I still had cards when she was being like this. Hindi man kami malapit sa isa't isa pero anak ko pa rin siya at alam ko ang kahit na maliliit na bagay sa kaniya. She didn't take after my attitude and personality for nothing. Tumayo ako saka nameywang sa harap niya at habang ginagawa ko iyon ay pinagmamasdan niya lang ako, salubong ang mga kilay at mas nanunulis ang mga labi.

She was too bossy for her sake because she knew people around her pampered her so much.

"Who wants a chocolates after school then?" Ngumiti ako na kunyaring nag-iisip habang pinapanood ko kung paanong mabilis na nagbago ang reaksiyon niya. Her small innocent eyes automatically went wide at my mention of her weakness as her pink plump lips quickly parted.

I grinned triumphantly at her quick response. That was how you corner Eve, because just like any normal kid, she also loved chocolates, in her case, very much.

"Choco-chocolates?" she uttered, eyes now twinkling in excitement while her small fingers playing with the slings of her bag. Napansin ko ang pagngisi ni Jessie sa likod niya, iniisip din malamang kung gaano ko lang kadaling nakuha ang loob ni Eve.

Tumango ako. "Yes, mahal ko. We'll have a lot of chocolates later. That is after you show me a star after your dismissal." I told her, now bargaining her stories for later.

Seeing that as a good deal, she nodded curtly and gently held my hand to drag me towards the waiting car in front of the house. My heart immediately drummed as her small and soft hand cutely gripped at my hand, and my whole system cheered as she innocently pulled me towards the waiting car in front of the house.

My daughter was holding my hand tightly… this didn't occur always so it felt so nice and overwhelming—in a nice way.

Napatingin ako sa entrance ng Eve's nang tumunog ang chimes na nasa pinto senyales na may bagong dating at halos malukot ang mukha ko sa pagsimangot nang makita ko si Bien na papasok habang hawak sa isang kamay ang isang long rectangular gold box.

He just wore a simple white long sleeves that were both folded up to his elbows and a white pants but he really looked dashing, like a King walking on his plated kingdom. Magulo ang buhok pero sobrang guwapo niya pa rin. Kumikislap ang parehong diamond earrings niya sa magkabilang tainga niya at mukhang kinatamarang suklayin ang buhok.

"Ahem, ahem, matunaw iyan…"

Nakarinig ako ng bulong malapit sa tainga ko na nagpatalon sa akin dahil sa kiliting dulot nito. Nang nilingon ko ang pangahas ay nakita kong may pang-asar na ngisi si Aly sa mga labi niya. She was wearing her suit, indicating that she was the head boss in this restaurant.

"Can't you see I'm glaring at him!" I hissed at her in a hush voice, careful not to disturb our diners.

"Tss, are you seriously getting mad at that goodness?" Ibinulong na lang niya ang huling salita dahil nakalapit na sa amin si Bien.

"Hi," bati ni Bien, being totally oblivious of all the eyes he caught the moment he took a step here.

"Hi Bien! I should leave you alone first, I'll just check the kitchen. Annyeong!" ani Aly before sprinting out of our sight.

"What are you doing here?!" singhal ko sa lalaking dahilan kung bakit ako naiinis buong oras ko rito sa restaurant na agad ko rin namang pinagsisihan. I hardly pursed my lips as I roamed my eyes around and saw few of our beloved diners looking at us already and intently watching us.

Dalawang taon na simula nang ma-disband sila pero sikat na sikat pa rin sila sa mata ng mga tao. They were still the LUX, the famous boy group of their generation. Memories of them couldn't just easily be taken away from people's heart and mind.

"I missed you, can't I see you?" He grinned at me.

I glared at him as I tried to calm my insides because of his heart-melting smile. Itinuro ko sa kaniya ang isang mesang malayo sa mga customers. Padabog akong nagtungo roon at naramdaman ko naman ang pagsunod niya. Nagawa niya pang ipaghila ako ng upuan at nang maka-upo ako ay saka siya naupo sa silyang nasa harap ko.

Humalukipkip ako habang pinapanood siyang inilalapag ang box na dala niya sa mesa na nakilala kong nagmula pa sa isang sikat na chocolate brand ang tatak.

"Tell me honestly, what have you been doing at Eve's school?" Pinanliitan ko siya ng mga mata habang prente siyang sumandal sa upuan at tinitigan ako ng may pagtataka.

"What else? Either taking Chan to school or fetching her," kaswal niyang sagot na para bang napaka-obvious noon.

"Are you telling me the truth?" muli kong tanong, tinatantiya kung gaano katotoo ang sagot niya.

"Of course! What are you thinking?" He tilted his head as if he would read what I was thinking if he did that.

"Jessie told me that… that Eve's teacher likes you." Humina ang boses ko habang nag-iiwas ako ng tingin ngunit nasulyapan ko muna ang pagguhit ng isang pigil na ngiti sa mga labi niya. "Well, don't you think you're being too much? Using my daughter to meet that teacher? Tss." Hindi ko napigilang ilahad ang disgusto ko. I just didn't want him to use my innocent daughter just for his flirting escapades. Lalo na at umaasa sa kaniya iyong bata.

"Hanseol-ah." He called me in his soft yet deep voice.

Ibinalik ko ang tingin ko sa kaniya at nakita kong seryoso na siyang nakatitig sa akin. Kumalabog ang dibdib ko nang dahan-dahan siyang tumunghay sa akin, nakatukod ang mga kamay sa mesa at walang paki-alam sa dami ng mga matang nakatitig sa amin. Sa lapit ng mukha niya sa akin ay naaamoy ko na ang pabangong gamit niya, that certain scent I always smelled from him at minsan ko ring naamoy kay Eve dahil sa dalas nilang magkasama.

"Bien," banta ko sa kaniya habang umaatras ang likod ko hanggang sa dumikit na ang likod ko sa upuan.

"I hate when girls get jealous but when it's you, I just wanna surrender," aniya na mas inilapit pa ang mukha sa akin. Hindi na lang ang natural niyang amoy ang nalalanghap ko kung hindi maging ang mabangong singaw ng bibig niya.

Did he eat something that smells so good before going here?!

My heart raced because of what he said. Kailan… kailan ako masasanay sa mga sinasabi niya? Bakit sa tuwing magsasalita siya ng matatamis na salita, palagi na lang nagwawala ang puso ko sa loob ng dibdib ko?

"Aigoo, since when did I fall for you this hard and deep? You and Chan are the only girls in my life, Seol so stop thinking about any other girls 'cause I don't think about them," malambing niyang sabi saka marahan niyang inuntog ang noo niya sa noo ko bago bumalik sa pagkaka-upo.

Wala akong nagawa kung hindi ang haplusin ang noo ko back ako yumuko dahil sa kahihiyan. How could I doubt him when I knew to myself that he wouldn't do it? He wouldn't just look at any other girl but me. He had been tested and proven, he had already proved himself to me, to us.

"I'm sorry," mahinang sabi ko sa kaniya, guilty na nagawa kong pagdudahan ang nararamdaman niya sa amin ni Eve.

"Come again?" Pang-aasar niya.

"I said I'm sorry!" singhal ko saka sinamaan siya ng tingin.

"Okay, okay. You know I can't afford to get mad at you. Just don't ever think there's even a girl that will worth my attention than you do, okay?" he sweetly told me. Parang hinahaplos ang dibdib ko sa sobrang sweet at banayad ng boses niya. Napakasuwerte ko para mahalin ng isang Byun Bien. He was just too worthy and I didn't know what he saw in me that he got head over heels for me and I was not even very worthy at that.

There was a lot of beautiful girls out there, gorgeous actresses who always said his name when they were asked about an ideal man and pretty K-Pop female idols who often mentioned his name as their crush. Some of their wishing they could have a Collab broadcast with him.

Marami sila, pero nandito siya sa akin ngayon.

Tumango na lang ako sa kaniya saka bumuntong-hininga dahil matagal ko nang hinahanapan ng hustisya ang bagay na iyon, I was not perfect, I was not as beautiful as those ladies and I had a package… so why me?

Bien told me about what happened at the meeting he had attended. Gusto ng SMT na i-manage niya ang isang bagong grupong mag-de-debut na ilang taon na ring nag-ti-train. They wanted him to produce a song for the group. Sinabi niyang pag-iisipan pa niya.

"You should take it!" I advised him. Magandang opportunity ito. He still composed songs, I had heard of a few scratches of his compositions but I couldn't say anything about those since I didn't know anything about music.

"You think?" he asked, his face mirrored confusion and doubt.

"Of course! I know you love music and you can't just drop it. You should take it. You should share your talent to others, they need you." I assured him to boost his confidence that he had lost within the past years. I softly caught his big hands on top of the table and covered them with mine. "Take it, I trust you that you can do it." Pagpapalakas ko ng loob niya dahil alam kong kayang-kaya niya.

He then smiled at me again, the usual sweet smile he always gave me when he was very comfortable and he looked so handsome with that. Seriously. Very seriously. No doubt why a lot of pretty girls in their field liked him.

"I can't take down my girl's words," aniya na nagpaikot ng mga mata ko at napakalandi talaga niya para isiping iyon ang mahalaga dito. Ang mahalaga rito ay hindi dahil sa akin kung hindi dahil talagang kaya niya!

Seriously, palagi niya akong pinupurga ng ka-sweet-an niya. Walang araw na hindi niya pinaparamdam sa aking sobrang mahalaga ako sa kaniya, kami ng anak ko.

"Anyway, what's this?" tanong ko nang muli kong mapansin ang box ng chocolates na dala niya. It was Eve's favorite actually. At matutuwa ang batang iyon kapag nakita ito.

"I've been calling you but you weren't answering so I called Jessie to ask for Chan and she told me that you had to make a deal with Chan just to get her to school 'cause she was looking for me," sagot niya.

"Tss. What have you been doing with her? I told you not to spoil her too much." Umirap ako sa kaniya.

"Well, who can take her down? She really did take after you," he said, still smiling. I really liked it when they were saying that my daughter took after me because they always told me that she really did get her father's appearance.

Why couldn't they just tell me that my daughter took after the both of us?

"Of course, she's my daughter!" Ngumuso ako, feeling so proud.

"Alright, alright, your daughter. No one's stealing her," he said as he chuckled. "I think I should fetch her now. It's thirty minutes before their dismissal." Tumayo na siya matapos niyang sulyapan ang kanyang wrist watch.

Mas lalong nagkandahaba ang pagnguso ko habang iniisip kung paanong napaglalaanan niya ng oras ang anak ko. He even knew Eve's schedule at school. Bihira na lang talaga ang ganitong lalaking kagaya niya. In fact, he should be taking his time, doing things for himself and not for other people but then, Bien was Bien, ever since he had confessed to me, I and Eve had become his top priority. And I couldn't thank him enough for that.

"No extra activities, Bien-ssi. Don't look at Eve's teacher." Pagpapaalala ko sa kaniya saka tumayo na rin. Just as I was about to walk past him, he quickly caught my arms and pulled me in a very tight hug.

Ikinulong niya ako sa loob ng mga bisig niya, ang mukha ko ay nakasubsob sa dibdib niya at langhap na langhap ko ang mabango niyang amoy. His arms wrapped tightly and protectively around me, making me feel how he was holding me tight like he would never let me go.

My heart fluttered, tingling my insides.

"How can I look at any other girls when you have me under your spell, Seol? I said stop thinking about other girls," bulong niya sa tainga ko bago ko maramdamang hinalikan niya ang ulo ko. I didn't care if I got in the headlines of showbiz news after this, because he had me inside his arms and I could feel his protection from everything.

That he would protect me, at all cost.

Naputol ang pakikipag-usap ko sa isang customer nang tumunog ang phone ko. Sinenyasan ko ang kausap ko para sagutin ang tawag nang makita ko ang pangalan ni Jessie sa screen. Tinanguan naman niya ako para sabihing okay lang.

"Hello, Jessie, pauwi na ba kayo? Natagalan yata kayo?" bungad ko kay Jessie dahil balak ko na talagang tawagan siya kanina kapag natapos ako sa pakikipag-usap sa customer. Kinabahan ako nang imbis na sumagot siya ay narinig ko ang malalalim niyang hininga kasunod ng ilang mga sinok. I could hear vague noises from her background at ang unti-unting pagkabog ng dibdib ko sa kaba.

"Jessie? Jessie, anong nangyari? May nangyari ba?! Umiiyak ka ba?!" taranta kong tanong dahil sa tagal ng pananahimik niya. Muli akong nakarinig ng mga sinok galing sa kaniya, mayamaya ay humihikbi na siya.

"Jessie, ano ba? Ano bang nangyayari? Nasaan si Eve?! Si Bien?!" Tuluyan na akong nag-panic at napasigaw. Nakalimutan kong maraming tao sa paligid at ikakabaliw ko talaga kung hindi pa magsasalita si Jessie.

["Ma'am… M-Ma'am Hanselle, kasi po… k-kasi po nasa emer-emergency room kami… si Chan po—"]

"Oh my God, Jessie, what hospital?!" agad ko siyang pinutol dahil kinain na ng takot ang sistema ko. Hindi na rin ako nakapag-isip ng maayos nang dinampot ko ang susi ng kotse ko sa loob ng counter kung nasaan nakatingin sa akin ang mga nagtatakang crew. Hindi na rin ako nakapagpaalam kay Aly na nasa office dahil sa pagmamadali. Nilipad ko ang parking lot kung nasaan ang kotse ko.

["Dae… Daemin University H-Hospital."]

Ibinaba ko na ang tawag at na agad na nagmaneho sa sinabi niyang hospital habang sinusunod ang instruction sa Waze. Maraming mga bagay ang tumatakbo sa isip ko… si Eve, higpit sa lahat. I hoped Eve was fine. I prayed to God that she was fine! Because I wouldn't take it if something bad happened to her!

God, let her be safe! Don't let something bad happen to my daughter! God, ikamamatay ko!

Naluluha na ako habang marahas na tinatapakan ang accelerator ng sasakyan at inililiko ang sasakyan para lang mapabilis ang pagdating ko sa hospital. Muntikan ko na ring hindi sundin ang ilang traffic lights na nadaanan ko. I harshly wiped my eyes with my free hand when I felt it water, fresh tears threatening to fall. Naririnig ko ang pagtunog ng phone kong nasa passenger's seat but I was just focused on driving.

Ilang minuto rin ang ginugol ko sa daan bago ako makarating sa hospital. Thankfully, some staffs directed me the way towards the emergency room. Sinabi nilang nasa third floor ito. So I went to the lift, hindi ako mapakali habang hinihintay kong umakyat sa ground floor ang elevator mula sa basement. Nakakuyom ang magkahugpong kong kamay habang patuloy pa rin sa pag-usal ng tahimik na panalangin.

When finally the lift arrived, agad akong pumasok. Luckily, walang tao. I then clicked the button that had the number three on it and waited till it closed. Ngunit hindi pa man ito tuluyang nagsasara ay muli itong bumukas. Naiwang naka-hang sa isipan ko ang ilang mga dasal na kanina lang ay inuusal ko habang pinapanood ang pagbubukas ng elevator. And it would be cliché enough to say that fate had again found a way to drag me into a very funny and unexpected situation.

Ngayon pa talaga kung kailan mas kailangan kong isipin ang kalagayan ng anak ko kaysa ang bigyang pansin ang pares ng mga gulat na mga matang nakatitig sa akin? Mga matang kaparehong-kapareho ng mga matang mayroon ang anak ko.

We had out first meeting inside an elevator, who would have thought that we would have to meet again… in the same place and at a very familiar scenario? Only this time, I was inside the elevator and it was him who was trying to get inside when it was him before who was inside the elevator, and it was me who was trying to get inside.

Just like how I had easily made it into his life…