"SERA? Are you listening to me?"

"H-Ha? May sinasabi ka ba?" wala sa wisyong tanong ko pabalik. Curtis sighed deeply, probably losing his patience with me because he started scratching the back of his neck before sighing again.

I gave him an apologetic smile, but he just rolled his eyes at me. Ang attitude rin minsan nito, e!

We are at the coffee shop na palagi naming pinupuntahan ni Curtis. We had a 15-minute break and decided to go here because it is quiet here compared to the other coffee shops near The Empress.

"What are you saying ba? Sorry na may iniisip lang ako."

"Is it my cousin again?"

"N-No..." I tried to lie, but I knew naman na he could see through me, kaya I just gave up and slightly nodded my head with a heavy sigh.

"What did he do to you this time?" he asked, with a hint of annoyance in his voice. His face looks irritated but immediately changes to a concerned look when he sees the dejected smile on my lips.

Cash didn't do anything after the talk we had a few days ago at the hospital. I visited Evo every day at the hospital, but I never crossed paths with him. I wanted to ask Tia about Cash, being Evo's father, but every time I wanted to ask a question, inuunahan ako agad nang takot. I am terrified to know the answer.

I was terrified to hear from her that Evo was indeed Cash's son.

I am afraid to get confirmation because a part of me is still wishing that it's not true. That Evo is not Cash's son...

"Wag nalang nating pag-usapan muna." I tried to smile, but it ended up being weak.

"You know that I'm always here for you whenever you're ready to talk,"

I placed my hand on top of his, gently squeezing it. "Thank you," I replied.

#

I tried to concentrate on my work, but my thoughts kept returning to Cash and Tia. I have tons of unanswered questions inside my head that keep on interrupting me so that I can't keep my focus on what I'm doing.

I groaned in frustration. Napalakas yata masyado iyong boses ko kaya nakita kong napatigil si Sir Andres sa paglalakad. He looks at me with his brows furrowed before entering my office.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, Sir. Sorry," I awkwardly smile at him. Trying to hide the embarrassment.

"Are you sure? You don't look okay to me. Do you want me to call Trent to cheer you up or something?" he said before giving me a sly meaningful look.

I let out a soft chuckle before shaking my head. "I'm really okay lang Sir." I quickly declined his offer. Nakakahiya because I know that they are really busy with work, tapos manggugulo pa ako. And besides, I haven't told anyone about Cash and Tia. Even Curtis has no idea about it.

My day ended with me not doing my work properly because I was very distracted by my own thoughts—obviously. I am still thankful that my boss isn't as uptight as the other bosses here. In fact, he is a very easygoing boss. He doesn't really pressure me that much, even with the company's getting worked up with our biggest competitor.

I went straight home after work. I just went by the drive-thru to get myself a meal to eat even though I'm not really in the mood. I just took a quick bath and ate my food before texting Tia that I was coming to visit Evo.

It was past 6 o'clock when I got into the hospital. I bought some dinner for Tia and some fruit for Evo. He needs a lot of vitamins and healthy food for his fast recovery.

"Tita Sera!" Evo beamed as soon as he saw me entering his room. They moved into a private room with their own washroom and an extra bed to sleep in. There's also a TV, a couch, a refrigerator, and a small dining set inside the room. Basically, this is the most expensive room that I'm pretty sure Cash got for Evo.

"How are you feeling na?" I asked him, before kissing him on his forehead. He was all smiles, as if he was not sick.

"Hi Tia," I greeted her with a faint smile as I handed her the bags that I was carrying.

"Sobrang nakakahiya na sayo Sera. Ang dami mo nang naitutulong samin," Tia said. I could see the dark circles around her eyes, and she looked thinner now. Halata mo sa mukha niya iyong pagod, pero nagagawa pa rin niyang ngumiti as if she's okay.

I just smiled at her before shifting my gaze to Evo. I am not mad at her or anything because she doesn't know that the guy, I'm telling her about is the same guy she that she dated before. Ako lang talaga iyong nahihirapan pa ring mag-adjust saming dalawa because I love Cash and I can't still accept it.

I was peeling some apples while talking to Evo when Tia said that she would just go outside sandali.

"Tita?" Evo called.

"Yes, baby?"

"Sino po iyong lalaking palaging pumupunta dito?" I swallowed hard because of Evo's question. I could feel my mouth getting dry.

He is staring at me innocently, waiting for my reply. But I can't find the right words to say.

"Tita?" he called again, because I couldn't open my mouth to answer his question. Mabuti nalang biglang bumukas iyong pinto at may pumasok na nurse at doctor para i-check si Evo. I quickly excused myself and went outside to look for Tia.

I love Evo so much, but I don't have any right to break the news that that guy is his father. It's Tia's job to tell Evo who his father is, not mine.

I looked around for Tia with sweaty palms and a throbbing heart, and I easily spotted her because she was talking with Cash. A familiar pain clenched in my chest while I was staring at them from afar. Cash's back was facing me, but I could clearly see Tia's face. She was crying. And Cash immediately wrapped his arms around her and started patting her back. And I took that as my signal that I should turn my back and walk away.

Who am I to ruin this little family?

#

I didn't visit Evo for a few days, but I regularly ordered food for them.

Sobrang sakit makitang ganon si Cash at Tia kaya I chose not to visit muna. I love them both, which made it harder for me to accept them. Baka kung hindi ko nakilala si Tia at Evo, it might be a little bit easier for me, but that's not the case. They became my family.

Today is Saturday, and I'm already done cleaning my unit because I am so bored and I don't have anything else to do. I texted Curtis kanina, asking if he's free today, but he's not replying to me, kaya I satisfied myself with cleaning nalang but now that I'm done, I'm bored again.

I decided to watch a movie on Netflix when my phone started ringing. It was a call from Tia. I immediately answered her call.

"What happened? Okay lang ba si Evo?" I started to panic, but then I calmed down when I heard her voice.

"Okay lang si Evo, Sera. Pasensya kana kung napatawag ako bigla."

"It's okay. Do you need anything ba?" I asked.

"Gusto lang sana kitang makausap. Alam kong madami kang gustong itanong sa'kin, kaya ako na mismo ang magsasabi sayo ng lahat." My heart starts beating erratically.

"O-Okay..." I replied, with a shaky voice.

Am I ready to know everything? I don't know... But I know that at some point, I will have to know everything. It's inevitable.

Tia told me where we could meet. She said that Cash would visit Evo naman daw later and could look after him. And hearing that makes me happy for Evo and feel hurt at the same time.

I was feeling uneasy the whole day. I was feeling nervous and scared, and I just wanted to run away from everything.

When the clock struck 5 o'clock, I left the Empire and made my way to the coffee shop near the hospital. Pagdating ko doon, nakita ko agad si Tia. She waved at me and then pointed at the table, and I saw that she had already ordered a coffee for me.

"Hello," I said as I took the seat in front of her.

"Inorderan na kita ng kape mo," sabi niya.

"Thanks," I replied, smiling. I sipped from the cup of coffee, feeling a lot more nervous than I already was.

A deafening silence enveloped us. I just kept on sipping my coffee, and I could feel my palms getting sweaty from tension.

"How is Evo?"

"Hindi anak ni Cash si Evo."

Magkasabay na sabi namin. I almost dropped the cup of coffee that I was holding.

"W-What did you say, Tia?" I asked, confirming if what I heard was right.

Ngumiti siya nang malungkot habang diretsong nakatingin sa mga mata ko.

"Hindi si Cash ang tatay ni Evo kung hindi si Hank."

W H A T Y A S E Y