"HINDI N'YO PO sinagot ako." A five years old kid named Gabriel uttered after a couple of minutes of staring at each other. Nasa sala kaming dalawa ngayon ng bata. Magkatapat kami ng sofa. Ang bata ay prenteng nakatingin sa akin while his innocent eyes are blinking simultaneously. Halatang takang taka kung sa'n lupalop ako ng lupa nakuha ni Troy.

Muli akong napapikit nang mariin nang maalala na naman ang pangalan ni Troy. Now that this kid revealed his existence, parang gusto kong patayin sa sakal ang lalaking 'yon.

Ano 'to? Is he playing fire with me? Kung may anak na s'ya, ibig sabihin may asawa na ito? Or kung'di pa kasal, may kinakasama nang iba. At nagmumukha akong kabit sa kahit saang anggulo.

My rage wanted to be released from my inner gut but I'm trying my hundred percent because I don't want this kid to show how monstrous am I when I'm mad.

"I'm your Dad's... friend," I replied while emphasizing the main answer.

The consequence of not having a label with a man you are bedding with was now being lifted and slapped on my face. To think na may pamilya na pala ang lalaking 'yon.

"Friend but you're not wearing anything a while ago po."

Umarko ng palihim ang isang kilay ko sa sinagot ng bata.

The kid is smart. For his age, his logical reasoning is somehow developed.

Nakahinga ako kahit paano ng maluwag nang biglang pumasok ang taong hinihintay kong dumating. I don't really know how to answer this kid right now. Galit ako ngayon kaya baka matarayan ko lang ang batang 'to.

"Hindi mo ba alam—" naputol ang pag-alburoto ng galit ni Troy nang biglang sumigaw sa tuwa ang kasama ko.

"Daddy Troy!!!" Gabriel yelled with excitement and then ran towards Troy.

Gulat na gulat naman ang itsura ni Troy pero nagawa pa rin nitong saluhin ang bata nang tumalon ito sa kanya pero halatang pilit ang ngiti nito sa bata.

"G-Gabriel... you're... here." Anas ng binata habang kinakabahang tiningnan ako.

Hindi ko 'yun pinansin at mabilis na rin akong tumayo. I put the drinking glass back on the living room side table and spoke. "I'll go ahead, Sir. Yung Nanny na kasama ng anak mo ay pabalik na rin naman. Bumili lang ng kung ano. I better go."

Hindi ko alam kung sa'n ko nakuha ang tapang sabihin iyon habang hindi pumipiyok. I'm hurt and I don't know why I'm feeling this.

Sino ba naman ako para masaktan 'di ba? Kinakama lang naman ako ni Troy. We're not a thing. 'Di ko alam kung kailangan kong ipagpasalamat na wala namang kami para hindi naging mas masakit but upon knowing that he already has a family to support with and I'm on the picture? Hindi 'yon tama. Nagmumukha akong naninira ng pamilya lalo pa't nakita na ako ng bata. And worst, nakitang natutulog ng walang saplot sa kama. My god!

I was slapped of reality before the dream that I'm hoping to be true becomes real. The FuBu play that we have should be stopped. Alam kong masarap pero hindi dapat. Kailangan nang umiwas sa bawal kahit sobrang sarap.

"W-Where are you going?" rinig kong tanong ni Troy nang marinig ko itong pumasok ng kwarto at naabutan akong nagliligpit ng mga naiwan kong damit rito.

"Leaving," I simply replied putting a cold tone on it.

"Why?" his jaws are clenching when he asked then I felt him walking slowly towards me. Hindi n'ya magawang lumapit nang biglaan. Why? Maybe he's measuring the patience that I have? Na baka pag bigla s'yang lumapit ay baka bigla ko s'yang bigwasan?

Gano'n nga ang mangyayari!

Padabog kong ibinagsak ang isang damit na hawak ko at marahas na nilingon si Troy at galit s'yang tiningnan. "Hindi ko kailanman ginustong maging kabit, Troy Davis! For sure alam mong walang babae ang gustong malagay sa gano'ng sitwasyon and..." I inhaled vehemently, then I continued. "How dare you making me your Mistress?! Gano'n rin ba ang ginawa mo kay Yvonne? Is that your hobby? Making your secretary a fucking Mistress?!"

Wala akong nakita sa reaksyon ni Troy kung'di ang matinding pagkagulat at pagtataka na hindi ko malaman kung 'yon nga ba ang aking nababasa.

"Got tongue-tied, eh?" I asked then I smirked while my arms were now crossed on my chest. "Just how fucking dare you!"

Nang makabawi sa pagsigaw ko sa kanya, "What the hell are you talking about? Anong Mistress?" takang tanong ni Troy that made me scoffed hard.

"'Di ka lang gago. Mapagkunwaring gago ka rin pala." I commented then I forcefully pulled my suit bag and tried to walk away, but his hand held my arms and he made me face him with force.

"I don't have any Mistress and you don't deserve that of course, Serena. Just what the fucking hell are you pointing out? Just because of Gabriel?" he asked and I can sense his tempered anger on his hoarse voice. He's trying to make his voice lower with patience.

"Sino pa ba ang pupwedeng maging dahilan ng pagiging kabit ko?! Ang yaya n'ya? Malamang yung bata! You didn't tell me that you already have a son. My gosh, you already have a family to support and here I am, showing my face to your son and giving him an idea that I'm your girlfriend?! Ano nalang ang iisipin n'ya? Na lalaki s'yang broken family nang dahil sa'kin? I can't afford to see a kid being broken just because he or she doesn't have a family on their own! I can't bear it because I've been there on their shoes, Troy. So, please. Habang maaga pa, let's end this what-the-freaking-connection-outside-of-the-office drama that we have. Maawa ka sa anak mo!"

Hindi ko na napigilang humagulgol because of what's happening. Reminiscing a glimpse of my past is re-emerging at ma-imagine ko palang na mangyayari kay Gabriel ang naranasan ko ay hindi ko 'yon kakayanin. Lalo na ng konsensya ko.

"Let's just be civil outside and be professional at work." bulong ko nang yakapin n'ya ako para alalayan sa pag-iyak ko.

"Hindi lang ikaw ang magdedesisyon sa bagay na 'yan, Serena." I heard him saying. "We are both consenting adult so we need to act like one."

"Then being an adult, this is the better way to solve this shit. Go to your son, call her Mommy and be happy with them." I told him and I was about to shoo him away because he keeps on hugging me, it became harder. Mas naging mahigpit ang yakap nito.

"Are you sure about that?" he asked me and it made my chest tightened.

What a way of confirming my assumption.

"Yes," I replied, nahihirapang lumunok.

Troy moved away then he walked towards the door without looking at me in the eyes.

Sinundan ko s'ya ng tingin at mabilis na tinanggal ang mga luha sa aking pisngi. Ayokong makita ng batang nag-away kami ni Troy.

Nang buhatin ni Troy ang bata ay seryoso niya itong kinausap. "Do you want me to call your Mommy now and let's be happy?" he asked the kid.

Gago ka ba Troy? Sa harapan ko pa talaga? Ano? Walang awa? Broken here tangina mo!

"Of course, Daddy! Where is she now? C'mon I want to see her!" napapikit ako habang nananampal ang saya ng bata nang marinig na magkikita na sila ng ina nito.

I felt him walking. Maybe sa pintuan? Bakit? Andyan na kaagad? 'Di man lang ako pinaalis man lang muna?

"There she is, kiddo." Napadilat ako at napatingala nang tumigil sa harapan ko si Troy dala ang bata.

Nakangisi ito sa'kin habang ang bata naman ay nanlalaki ang matang tiningnan ako. Then Gabriel faced Troy and shooting him a lot of kisses on his face.

"Yehey! I knew it, Daddy! I know that she's your jowa! And your jowa is my Mommy! Yehey! I have a complete family now!"

Tigalgal ang bibig ko sa narinig sa bata. A-Ano? Ako na raw ang Mommy n'ya?

Nagtataka kong tiningnan si Troy pero ang gago hayun at nakangisi lang sa'kin. Ano bang pakulo nito?

"M-Mommy? C-Can you h-hug me?" nalipat naman ang tingin ko kay Gabriel nang tanungin n'ya ako habang ang dalawa nitong braso ay nakadipa tapos ang lower lip nito'y naka-pout as if he's longing to be hugged by his Mom. The boy is almost crying as well at patunay niyon ang pamumula ng mata nito. "A-Are y-you leaving me? Ayaw mo po ako?"

I don't know why my chest tightened upon hearing his question when he saw my bag on my shoulders. Para ako yung nasaktan kasi ang tono nito'y parang nagpapahiwatig na may ayaw sa kanya. My eyes swell with tears again but I forced my lips to smile while shaking my head and tossing my bag away from me.

Mabilis ko s'yang inabot mula kay Troy and hugged Gabriel dearly. "No, Baby. Mommy won't leave you. And I didn't say that I don't like you, Baby. Who wouldn't like you?" wika ko sa kanya habang inaalo alo ito.

"M-My true Mommy po." Then I heard him sniffed. My chest tightened more and I couldn't help myself of looking at Troy with full of questions. Troy just looked away but I took it as a sign that we will talk about it later.

Gabriel's true mother doesn't like him? What the effin why?

"I like you, baby. Mommy likes you, okay? Don't cry na."

"EXPLAIN," WIKA KO habang nasa balcony area kami ng condo ng binata. Gabriel already slept on the guestroom and the boy was too tired kaya mabilis na nakatulog. Nang masiguro kong naiayos ko na ang bata sa kwarto nito'y mabilis kong kinompronta si Troy.

He's done with his cigarette when he replied, "Gabriel was left on the front door of my house in Texas when I was still studying there. It was Christmas Eve and the baby was just... covered with few blankets even though it's snowing."

Troy held the rail of his balcony with his two hands and continued, "Mabuti nalang at lumabas kaagad ako para tingnan kung sino ang kumatok ng malakas no'n sa pinto ko kung hindi, Gab was good as an angel. On his basket, there was a note saying, 'Take care of my child, please' with a pendant beside him."

Pinakita ni Troy ang tinutukoy nitong pendant nang ilabas n'ya 'yon sa bulsa nang suot nitong track short. Iniabot n'ya sa'kin 'yon at tiningnan ko naman ang disensyo.

It's pendant with a pure black pearl. Unang tingin palang ay mamahalin na.

"He's not your son," iyon ang naisatinig ko when I somehow connecting the events.

"Yes, he's not but he's my son the moment he was left by his fucking parents to me." Ramdam ko ang galit nito sa totoong magulang ni Gabriel.

"Have you found them?" I asked pertaining to those monstrous parents.

"Almost there," he replied and then he took a moment of silence before he spoke again. "Hindi ko hahayaang kunin nila sa'kin ang anak ko kapag nagtangkang silang kunin s'ya sa'kin, Serena. Magkamatayan na pero ipaglalaban ko s'ya. Isang bagay na hindi ginawa ng mga totoo niyang magulang."

My heart softens upon hearing those on Troy's mouth,

Sana all. Hays.

"Then don't." I replied then I added, "Gano'n din ang gagawin ko kung ako ang nasa posisyon mo."

"I'm sorry if I didn't explain it right away, Serena. I was too caught off guard. No one knows his existence aside from my Ethan, Tristan, Luke, Eric and now... you." He then explained.

"Bakit hindi mo pa 'to sinasabi sa mga magulang mo?" I asked with curiosity.

"Because my father would do his everything on his power to get rid of the baby. Ayaw n'ya ng may bastardong bigla na lang susulpot sa pamilya namin." I gritted my teeth upon hearing when he mentioned about his father. "I have to protect him at all cost."

"Naiintindihan ko." Reaksyon ko as I easily got his hidden message for me.

"Serena?" pukaw niya ng atensyon ko ilang segundo ang nagdaan ang katahimikan.

"Yes?"

"Are you still mad at me? I, u-unconsciously made you feel like a mistress."

Natigilan ako sa tanong nito at rason. Did he remember my sudden outburst? Now that he mentioned it, parang gusto kong magpalubog sa kumunoy agad dahil sa pag-react ng gano'n without listening to his explanation.

"J-Just.. forget about it," I replied na may halong awkwardness. "Well, technically, hindi mo naman ako ginawang gano'n talaga."

Jusko nakakahiya.

Nagulat ako nang bigla itong humarap sa'kin then he made me face him as well when he held my shoulders.

"Gusto kong malaman... now that you know that I'm single Dad. G-Gugustihin mo pa rin bang mapalapit sa'kin? Just let me know. Sino nga naman ang gugustuhing mapalapit sa'kin ngayong may anak na ako--"

Hindi ko na pinatapos ang sasabihin n'ya nang abutin ko ang magkabila nitong pisngi at gawaran s'ya ng isang malalim na halik. He kissed me back and that's the time we spent the whole fifteen minutes of just kissing.

Ako na mismo ang humiwalay saglit at sinagot ang tanong n'ya. "I don't mind a man who already has a son. That's makes you a Daddy and I unconsciously like big daddy now." I replied with a seductive grin painted on my lips.

I giggled when he attacked my lips. He bit my lip. "Oh, Daddy! You bit me, Daddy!" I reacted and I mimicked the tone that I have watched on porn.

Napairit lalo ako nang bigla niyang abutin ang magkabila kong pang-upo at buhatin ako mula roon. He gave me another peck and asked, "You want this big daddy to punish you? Huh?" then he spanked my ass.

I was shocked when he did that but it sent a thousand shiver on my spine. I suddenly felt aroused of what he did.

Yinakap ko lalo ang aking braso sa leeg n'ya habang buhat n'ya ako then I gave him another a mind-blowing kiss.

"Yes, punish me, big Daddy. Make me yours tonight."