KADE LOOSENED his neck tie, messed his currently messy hair as his eyes continue to scan and read the damn papers. What's his doing right now was boring, he was wondering how his parent survive this kind of shit. Gusto na niyang umuwi but the thing was, marami ang naiwan at hindi nagawang trabaho ng Daddy niya, isama pa ang trabaho ni Shen na siya na rin ang gumagawa, anyways, he was the main reason why they're in a tight hole for months.

"One hour each report. Sabihin mo 'yon sa kanila." Utos niya sa secretary ng Daddy niya.

Good thing, she has no time to flirt with him. He's pushing himself to his limit, damay pati ang mga empleyado nila. Gustong matapos ni Kade lahat ng trabaho niya agad agad, if he could just do some magic, gagawin niya agad 'yon.

"Sir, how about your appointment with Mr. Perez?" Tanong nito sa kanya.

Kade massaged his temple. He can't believe his father secretary really add that asshole to his really tight schedule.

"Cancel that one. I don't have any business with that shit head." He coldly answer. "Bring me another cup of coffee. Inaantok ako." Utos niya at agad naman itong tumalima.

Hindi pa siya nakakapasyal sa Lust community, that means hindi rin siya nakaka attend sa mga dinner party nila, he's working his precious ass off. Makakapaghintay naman ang mga tarantado niyang kaibigan. Although, some of them we're setting up an appointment just to meet him. Ryker, Jyrelle, Kyst and Yves were the only exception, sila lang ang pinapayagan niya na makaapak sa loob ng opisina ng Daddy niya.

Mainly because the four of 'em set an appointment for business purposes only, Jyrelle was his new business partner, well not really, dahil ang kapatid nitong babae ang humahawak sa business ng Lola nila which was a clothing line too. Kay Kyst siya kumukuha ng mga models. As for Ryker and Yves, those two were in different case.

Before flying to another country, Ryker always made sure that he's doing fine and Yves, ito mismo ang nag de-deliver sa pagkain niya at sa pagkain ng Daddy niya.

His father was discharged after a few days being hospitalized, nagpauwi ito at sa bahay nalang daw magpapahinga. But the house was a bit chaotic because of Shen, kaya sa rest house nila sa Baguio niya muna ito pinauwi.

Nang makabalik ang secretary ng Daddy niya, dala na nito ang kape na hinihingi niya. The woman was flexible when it comes to her work, hindi na siya nagtataka ngayon bakit hanggang ngayon ay secretary ito ng Daddy niya.

"Also, kindly move the next meeting. Ilagay mo sa slot ni Light." He said without removing his gaze to the paper he's holding.

Working 8 hours a day was not enough to finish all of his remaining works. It stresses him out. Kailangan niya 'yon pagkasyahin para sa mga meetings, not to mention na na-tyempo siya sa buwan kung kailan nag-iinspect ang Daddy niya sa mga empleyado. That also means that he needed to visit all of their company's branches. What a pain in his part.

"Sir, tumawag po kanina si Mrs. Beaufort. Pinapasabi po niya na... If you have time after work, kindly meet her at your friend restaurant. It's about the launching of our collaboration with her company."

Kade nodded his head and sipped on his coffee. Hindi niya pa alam kung ano ang napag-usapan ni Shen at ni Marga tungkol sa launching, but he guess there's some changes in it because Marga suddenly asked to meet him.

Mabilis niyang inubos ang kape at inayos muli ang sarili. He wore his coat, fixed his tie and his hair before walking gracefully towards the conference room. His face remained stoic as he sat down on his designated seat, kumpleto na ang lahat, which made Kade smiled a little. He hates it when someone was late and cause a trouble to his schedule.

He glanced at his wrist watch and tapped his fingers against the table. Getting the attention of the people inside the conference room.

"One hour. I have a meeting after this one. Make it short and fast." Aniya at pinagkrus ang mga braso sa dibdib niya at komportable na sumandal sa upuan.

His eyes were blank as he watched the woman in front, natataranta ito at hindi alam kung saan mag-uumpisa.  Tumikhim siya ng malakas at tumayo ang secretary na nasa tabi niya lang at tinulungan ang nasa harapan para ayusin ang presentation nito.

Meeting after meeting. His head was about to explode.  Gusto na niyang magpahinga at umuwi sa bahay, isa pa na nagpapasakit sa ulo niya ay ang sunod sunod na text messages ni Nanay Lorena. Shen was crying again and was asking for his presence. Ayaw daw nitong tumahan kahit na sabihin ni Nanay Lorena na nasa trabaho siya.

"Ipadala mo nalang sa bahay ang mga papeles na kailangan ko pang pirmahan. As usual, one hour per meeting, send—"

The secretary cut her off, "I'll send you the meeting notes for today, also the papers to review them again before you sign and approve it. Yes, sir. Copy. Nasa restaurant na raw po si Mrs. Beaufort."

"Good. I'm going."

Tumango lang ang sekretarya sa kanya habang siya naman ay nagmamadaling bumaba papunta sa parking lot. Hindi maganda na paghintayin ang babae, lalo na at may bata pa na inaasikaso. Of all people, Kade knew how hard to raise a baby, he witnessed how his friends had a hard time, si Marga pa kaya na mag-isa lang.

But his thoughts fades away when Nanay Lorena called him again.

"Nay, may isang meeting pa ho ako bago ako makauwi." Aniya nang sagutin niya ang tawag.

Inipit niya ang cellphone sa balikat para mabuksan ang sasakyan niya at nagmamadaling sumakay.

[Kade, si Shen kasi...]

Huminga siya ng malalim." Uuwi na Nay." Suko niya.

As if he can win against her powerful name.

After dropping the call off, agad siyang nag text kay Marga sunod ay kay Yves para habilinan ito na pakainin si Marga bago ito umalis.

To: Mrs. Beaufort

I'm sorry, I can't meet you tonight. May emergency lang sa bahay.

From: Mrs. Beaufort

I get it. Wife comes first.

Napailing nalang si Kade at inistart na ang engine ng sasakyan niya. He was still not fond of driving a car, but because of the accident months ago, hindi muna siya pinayagan na mag drive ng motorsiklo ni Ryker, in exchange he will not tell his father about it. Nagpapahinga ang Daddy niya at ayaw niyang dagdagan ang stress nito.

Katamtaman lang ang bilis ng pagpapaandar niya sa sasakyan kahit na nagmamadali na siya. Ayaw na niyang maaksidente. It was also a good thing that there's no huge truck on his way home.

Nagmamadali na bumaba sa sasakyan si Kade nang makarating siya sa bahay, only to be greeted by a flying slippers of Shen. His eyes widened as he dodge her slippers.

"Bakit ngayon ka lang?!" Umiiyak na sigaw nito sa kanya.

Her face was a total mess. Now, this was the real deal. He loosened his tie and walk towards her to cooed Shen.

"I'm sorry, hectic lang sa opisina ngayon." He quickly explained, pero sobrang sama pa rin ng tingin nito sa kanya. "Kumain ka na ba? Do you want pancakes? Souffle?" Naglalambing na tanong niya rito habang inaayos ang magulo nitong buhok.

"Kade..."

He squeezed his eyes shut. No. He's been holding back since then. He can do it. Malalagpasan niya ulit 'to.

Kahit na umiiyak pa ang nasa harapan niya.

"Igagawa kita ng pancakes, hintayin mo nalang ako sa kwarto hmm?" Kausap niya kay Shen na parang bata.

"Alam mo kung ano ang gusto ko!" She hissed and aggressively pulled his necktie, bahagya siyang napayuko dahil doon. He pursed his lips and gently removed her hand on his tie, nasasakal siya sa ginagawa nito.

"Pancakes, Ma. Pancakes." Mariin na sagot niya. He scooped her and carried her bridal style at dinala sa kwarto niya, na kwarto na nilang dalawa ngayon.

Ayaw na bumalik ni Shen sa kwarto nito. For some reason, she kept on looking for him and his scent, hindi ito nakakatulog na hindi siya katabi at hindi nagugulo about her needs and wants.

Masama ang timpla ni Shen nang iwan niya ito sa loob ng kwarto, siya naman ay bumaba para igawa ito ng makakain. Nanay Lorena already prepared the ingredients he needed. Hindi ito umalis sa kusina at pinapanood lang siya, awang awa pa ang tingin nito sa kanya.

"Mag day off ka muna kaya at dalhin mo sa hospital si Shen?" Basag ni Nanay Lorena sa katamihikan.

"Nay, wala pong sakit si Shen. She's moody and all. That's it." Sagot niya habang inaayos sa plato ang pancakes na naluto niya.

"Ang akin lang naman, ipa check up mo na sa OB-Gyne. Baka buntis ang asawa mo."

Kade stilled. Not because of Nanay Lorena's assumption. Kung hindi dahil sa sinabi nito. Asawa. Music to Kade's ears.

"Hindi ho nagsusu—" Natigilan siya. "Fuck!" Malutong na mura niya at tinakbo ang pagitan ng kusina at kwarto niya.

Nadatnan niya si Shen na pinupunasan ang mukha at bakas pa rin ang sama ng loob sa magandang mukha nito. She's been craving for sex ever since he came back, and that was 2 weeks ago, and she's still craving for it until now. Hindi ito kumakain nang kahit ano maliban sa gawa niyang pancakes. Palagi siya nitong hinahanap at palagi rin nag-iiba ang mood nito. So different, far different from the Shen he knew.

"What? Pagbibigyan mo na ako?" Naiirita na tanong nito sa kanya.

Iling lang ang sinagot ni Kade at nilapitan ulit ito para kargahin at itakbo sa hospital ni Caleb, pero umiwas sa kanya si Shen at sumiksik sa dulo ng kama nila.

"Ma, come here, we're going to Caleb's hospital." Aniya na lalong nagpasama ng tingin nito sa kanya.

"For what?!" She hissed. Kade sighed, parang mananakmal na ang tingin sa kanya ni Shen.

"For confirmation..."

"Of what?"

"Pregnancy?" Hindi siguradong sagot niya kay Shen.

Shen scoffed and mockingly laughed at him. "Ngayon mo lang napansin? Damn you, I'm two and half months pregnant! Why do you think I kept on asking you to sleep with me, huh? Anong tingin mo sa akin? Patay na patay sa sex? It was because of my damn hormones! And thanks to you, I'm in a dry season!" Sarkastikong sigaw nito sa kanya at pinagbabato sa kanya ang mga unan.

Nakahinga ng maluwag si Kade nang hindi maabot ni Shen ang led clock na nasa side table. Parang nabingi si Kade sa narinig niya. One and half. That means she's already pregnant when he left. And that also means na nabuo ang bata noong araw na 'yon. Goodness!

"God! I'm sorry, Ma..." He whispered.

"Sa pagtanggi mo sa akin? Aba dapat lang!" Sigaw na naman nito sa kanya.

He turned his back on her, so he can lock the door, and to make sure that no one's going to disturb them. They need to talk. And this one was gonna be a long, long, long talk. He needs to settle the score once and for all. Shen already forgive him and he learned to forgive himself somehow, but the guilt was still residing inside his whole being. He can't just shrugged it off.

"Ma, I'm not sorry for turning your offer down. I still can't do it. Sa ating dalawa ikaw ang nahirapan..."

"Hindi mo ba talaga naiintindihan, Kade? How many times do I have to tell you that you may be rough that day and fucked me without mercy, I can't be mad at you nor hate you. You're a fucking red flag when you did that to me but please keep in that thick skull of yours that I am willing to be your fucking flag pole! Ganoon kita kamahal. I am willing to understand and accept your flaws. I am willing to accept you... Whether you are Kalvin or Demon. Kasi ikaw pa rin 'yon e... You're still my Kade."

Shen reached for his face and gently caressed him, he closed his eyes to feel the warmth of his palm, it was soothing.

"I don't deserve you, Ma. I am still sorry for what I have done. I'm not going to stop begging for your forgiveness. But hell, I love you too so much that it hurts."

☕