Umalis na ang kotse sakay si Sir Mikael. Ismael and I were about to go back to our room to prepare our things because we also decided to go back to the penthouse and to our usual lives at work. Hindi pa rin kasi ako nakakapag-report kay Miss Sapphire after our outing. Masyadong maraming nangyari nitong nakaraang dalawang araw.

"Jothea, spare me a minute," sambit ng mama ni Ismael. I glanced at Ismael. He nods. "I'll prepare everything for us."

Sumunod na ako kay Miss Elisse. I wasn't talking at all and just waited for her to bring me to a room to start a conversation. Honestly, I'm starting to feel nervous about what she was about to say.

"Are you bothered by what Veonna said?" panimula niya bago umupo sa isang upuan. I suppose this is the room where the family usually entertains guests. May malaking piano sa gilid at may magagandang klase ng table and chairs sa gitnang bahagi. Mayroon ding malawak na espasyo katabi ng piano.

Pinaupo niya ako sa tabi niya. "You see, I get her point. She suffered a lot because of my shortcomings. She fulfilled the ten children I wouldn't be able to bear."

Lumalim ang paghinga ko. "In reality, ako talaga ang may kasalanan ng lahat. Hindi si Mikael."

Nanatili akong nakatingin sa kaniya habang nakikinig. Matagal ko nang tanong kung bakit sila naghiwalay gayong kitang-kita ng mga mata ko kung gaano pa rin nila kamahal ang isa't isa. Kung bakit kinailangang magpakasal pa sa iba. And it is starting to scare me too, dahil ayokong dumating kami ni Ismael sa ganoong posisyon na kailangan niya akong hiwalayan dahil hindi ko siya kayang mabigyan ng anak. I am just lucky that Ismael always assures me that he will not leave me, no matter what happens.

But what if the clan pressured him to do so? Anong magagawa ko?

Iniisip ko palang, nawawasak na ang mundo ko.

"You might not have noticed it but Ismael was distant from his father after our divorce. He was so mad that he eloped from us and came back, hating his father. He doesn't know that I was the one who asked for it. I don't know if you would understand me, but I care too much about my family to even ask my husband to marry someone else in order to fulfill his duty. Mikael hated that idea, but I forced him. I told him that he wouldn't be able to see his children if he did not do what I said."

Her eyes were welled up with tears that were afraid of falling. "It was my idea, and Veonna was also a victim of my greed, yet both families see me as the one who suffered the most when it was them."

"Still now, I am. I am so full of greed that I wanted my son to take over the presidency since it was his in the first place, but it got ruined because of me. And now I am overly guilty to see that Veonna deserves it more since if she wasn't there, the family tradition would never have been fulfilled, and the presidency from Mikael would have been voided. But I did not want that to happen, not for my children. I want to give them the best."

I can see now why Ismael doesn't want this at all. Desiring something great requires a great sacrifice. Ismael's mom sacrificed herself as a wife just to maintain Sir Mikael's position as clan president. I can understand her, just like I can understand Miss Veonna's situation now. She also just wanted to do her best for his child.

What can a mom not do for her children?

I can't help but cry. Am I ready to sacrifice everything just for the greater good? Am I ready to be a mother? Baka kaya hindi pa binibigay sa akin dahil nakikita ng Diyos na hindi ko pa kaya? Paano nga kung hindi ko kayanin at hindi na nga ako magkaanak? Mawawala ba ang pagkapresidente ni Ismael? But he started to want that place for me and for our future children.

Hinaplos ni Miss Elisse ang buhok ko na siyang hindi ko inaasahan dahilan para mapatingin ako sa kaniya. "I am telling you this so you can avoid the kind of mistakes I made in the past, or, should I say, I am explaining everything to give you a chance to still back out if things here don't go well for you."

I was just staring at her, and I don't know why I felt like I understood why she came up with this. She might hide it from everyone, or she just isn't convinced, but just like how people see her, I think she was truly the one who suffered the most.

Umiling ako. "There's no backing out when it comes to your son, Miss Elisse; I mean, m-mom. Ismael has done a lot for me already and for our relationship, and this is the least I can do for him—to make him feel the same feelings I have for him. I am truly in love with your son. I'll just go wherever he goes and give him whatever he wants or needs. I am not going to take away what he needs in this life. I am not going away."

Sumilip ang ngiti sa mga labi ng mama ni Ismael. "Despite the tradition their family has, this family has the purest heart I have ever known. I know my son will never hurt you. It is a great decision to choose to stay. You'll be happy in this family."

She gave me the warmest hug that my mother had never given me. I felt the genuine love of a mother coming from her. "Don't be disheartened by what the doctor said earlier. The doctor might be wrong."

I jolted because of what she said, and a glimpse of hope appeared in front of me. "See? So don't lose hope and feel pressured. I know you will bear twelve children, sweetheart. Just believe that you will."

"Thank you, m-mom," nasambit ko na lamang, bago ko siya nayakap muli.

"It's good to hear that you are fulfilling what I asked you. Keep on calling me that. I only have two children calling me that way."

"Alright, mom."

Ilang minuto pa kaming nagkuwentuhan ng mama ni Ismael bago siya nagpaalam na muling uuwi sa bahay niya roon sa pangalawa niyang asawa na si Mr. Auckland. Ibig sabihin, wala rin palang naiiwan sa mansyon na ito kung hindi ang mga maids and butlers nila Ismael.

Bumalik na ako sa kwarto kung saan naghihintay si Ismael sa akin. Wala naman kaming masyadong gamit na dala, kaya hindi ko alam bakit natagalan sya bago bumaba. Hihintayin ko na lang sana siya sa baba dahil tinatamad akong umakyat.

"Are you finished?" tanong ko kay Ismael nang madatnan ko siyang nakaupo sa kama. "Are we going home now?"

Nagtaka ako nang tumayo siya, at niyakap ako nang mahigpit. He placed his head on my shoulder. Nagpapalambing ba siya?

I just embraced him and tapped his back gently. "Te iubesc."

I smiled. "I love you too, Ismael."

Nagpalipas muna kami ng isang gabi sa mansyon bago kami bumalik sa City of Lourdez. Dinaanan din naman ang kwartong inuupahan ko para kunin ang mga gamit ko, dahil simula raw ngayon ay hindi na ako aalis sa kaniya. Kung maglalayas daw ako ay sa hotel na raw ako tumuloy o kaya naman ay sa mansion nila. Binigyan niya rin ako ng black card para raw hindi na ako mamroblema sa pera kung may gusto akong bilhin. Natatawa ko iyong tinanggap. Para namang magagamit ko ito? Eh, hindi naman ako maluho sa anomang bagay.

"Are you sure you don't want me to drop you off at Safira?" tanong niya. Pareho na kaming nakabihis ng corporate attire. Siya ay papunta sa LMC, habang ako naman ay sa Safira.

"Yup, I'm fine. I'll commute."

Umiling siya. "I know you're just being practical, but it humiliates me." Kumunot ang noo ko. "Use your privilege very well, my love. I want to provide."

"But I'm fine. Alam kong marami kang inaasikaso sa LMC lalo na't kababalik lang natin, and I understand that. It will be a hassle, kung ihahatid mo ako."

"I don't mind."

"But I decline. Hayaan mo, mag-aaral akong magmaneho para sa sarili ko para hindi mo na kailangang mag-alala para sa akin."

"Hmm..." Hindi siya kumbinsido. "I don't think your patience will be good for driving," he commented, which pissed me off. Is he trying to annoy me in broad daylight?

"Anong sabi mo?!"

"See?" natatawa niyang pagtukoy sa naging reaksyon ko. I just curled my upper lips out of disgust before crossing my arms. "Stay for a moment. I'll call the company driver to accompany you to Safira."

Napabuntong-hininga na lamang ako. Magkasama kaming bumaba sa lobby. Mr. Tory was waiting for him and also wished me good morning.

"The company driver is here, sir," sambit niya kay Ismael.

Tumango naman si Ismael bago naglakad papunta sa isang itim na kotse. Pinagbuksan niya ako ng pinto sa back seat. "Let's eat lunch together. I'll go to you after my meetings."

A sigh of relief escaped my lips. "Alright. See you." I gave him a peck. I was about to get inside the car when he grabbed my waist to kiss my lips. "That's how you kiss the man you love, Jothea," he emphasized.

"Noted, prof." Kinikilig kong sagot habang pinupunasan ang kaniyang labi na nabahiran ng red lipstick na suot ko. "See you later."

Tumango siya bago ako tinuluyang pakawalan. Pumasok na ako sa kotse at nakita ko sa side mirror na pinapasok na rin siya ni Mr. Tory sa gray Bugatti na kaniyang ipinagmamalaki sa akin noon.

Napangiti ako. I feel so grateful.

Nagsimula nang umandar ang sasakyan ko, kahit hindi ko pa sinasabi kung saan papunta. Mukhang alam niya na rin naman at sinabi na ni Ismael. Napasulyap ako sa rareview mirror at saktong nagkatinginan kaming dalawa.

Hindi ako agad nakapagsalita sa gulat. He just smiled.

"J-Joth?! W-what are you doing here? Why are you driving this car?"

But those questions were answered when a memory flashed through my head. The company he was talking about is the one Ismael owned? He is the company driver for LMC?

Ngumiti lang siya at nagpatuloy lang sa pagmamaneho. Tama. He needs to focus on the road, but what about me? How can I focus, kung masyado akong nagugulat sa mga nangyayari? Why is he here? And the fact that he's smiling at me—that's so unusual!

"Later. We'll talk later, ate Jothea. Sir Mondalla said to take you to Safira safely and early."

A straight smile formed on my lips. Pinipigilan ko ang pagluha ko dahil masyado akong na-ooverwhelm sa mga nangyayari. Yesterday, my parents heard my plea for the first time, and now, makikita ko si Joth na pinagmamaneho ako? I know we already reconciled a long time ago, but why is everything coming to its right place for me? Paano nagawa ni Ismael na ibigay sa akin ang pakiramdam na magkaroon ng isang buong pamilya?

A tear left my eyes when I turned my back on Joth. I bid goodbye to him a moment ago so he could go back to the LMC to perform his duty, and now I am here in the elevator, overwhelmed by beautiful emotions. At bukod sa Diyos, walang humpay akong nagpapasalamat dahil mayroon akong Ismael.

Binati ako at niyakap nila Erl, Zedee, at Caylie, nang pumasok ako sa opisina namin. Agad silang nangumusta at humingi ng paumanhin dahil tumulong daw sila sa pag-set-up sa amin ni Ismael para magkaayos. Ibig sabihin, matagal na nilang alam ang tungkol sa relasyon naming dalawa ng may-ari ng LMC. Humingi rin ako ng tawad dahil inilihim ko iyon sa kanila.

Miss Sapphire called for me in her office, and just like others said, she also apologized for conspiring with Miss Levanier. Tumulong daw siya dahil nabalitaan niyang may umaaligid kay Ismael, at hindi niya raw palalampasin ang pagkakataong magkaayos kaming muli ni Ismael para mas lalong maging malapit ang Safira at LMC sa pamamagitan ko. Alam kong biro niya lang iyon.

Doon ko lang din muling naalala ang tungkol kay Miss Lovendino. I remember her talking to Ismael at the pantry, saying she was willing to marry him. What happened? Did Ismael turn her down?

"Kung nagkaayos lang sana kayo ni Mr. Mondalla, hindi sana kita pagagalitan dahil absent ka kahapon. Magfile ka ng reason for absence kung ayaw mong ma-AWOL," saad pa ni Miss Sapphire na idinadaan sa biro ang pagkadismaya.

Napakamot na lang ako sa ulo nang bigyan niya ako ng form. "Valid po bang reason for absence ang engagement at meeting with the parents?"