CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

SUCH A massive headache. Panay ang daing ni Wynter habang pinipilit na makatayo. Hindi niya maalala kung paano siya nakauwi pero paniguradong dahil din naman sa mga kapatid niya.

Napabuntong hininga na lang si Wynter saka pinilit ang sariling maligo at mag-ayos para sa trabaho niya. Pasalamat na lang talaga siya at nagising pa siya sa alarm, kung hindi ay malamang na-late na siya. Kung bakit pa kasi naisipan pa niyang maglasing kagabi eh. That was so irresponsible, Vazquez!

Nang masiguradong maayos na ang lahat ay saka lumabas ng unit si Wynter. Napatitig pa siya sa pinto ng katapat niya saka napailing. I need to get him out of my mind. Hindi na nakabubuti sa kanya ang parating pag-iisip sa binata.

She forced herself to ride the elevator and go to work. Nang dahil sa pag-iisip kay Dan ay kamuntikanan pa siyang mahuli sa trabaho. It's not like she'll get scolded by anyone, she's the boss, but still, it's irresponsible to be late.

Buong maghapong nagseryoso si Wynter sa trabaho. Hindi naman siya pinupuntahan ng mga kapatid at hindi naman na niya makakasama ang mga kaibigan niya kaya wala na siyang ginawa kundi ituon ang buong atensyon sa trabaho.

After her work at the psych center, she went to Heaven's Taste and managed anything she could possibly manage. Naiinis kasi siya na hindi pa rin nawawala ang bigla-biglang pagsulpot ng lalake sa isip niya. She needs to do something. She needs to be busy.

"Hermana! Why are you here?" gulat na tanong ni Autumn sa kanya nang pumasok siya ng restaurant nila.

She sighed heavily. "Give me something to do. Please."

Napatitig sa kanya si Autumn saka napabuntong hininga. Her younger sister neared her and pulled her for a hug. She then slowly caressed her back. "My Ate Wynter doesn't beg. What happened to you?" she softly asked.

But one simple question made Wynter burst into tears. "I-I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I shouldn't be crying. I... I shouldn't be like this. Not in front of you. I'm... I'm so sorry."

"Hey, it's okay. Let it all out, Ate. You can be weak. Hindi sa lahat ng pagkakataon eh malakas ka. At some point, you have to break or you'll lose your mind. So go ahead. Cry. I'm here." Autumn continued to caress her back as she let her heart out.

WYNTER FELT better after crying to her sister. Hindi pa rin naman siya nagkwento ng kahit ano at hindi na rin ito nagpilit pa. Nang matapos siyang umiyak ay dumiretso siya sa desk niya at nagtrabaho, Autumn went to the kitchen to cook and serve. Kinailangan kasi niyang ayusin muna ang itsura dahil halata na naman ang pamamaga at pagkapula ng mga mata niya.

As she drove back to her condo, Wynter kept on breathing in and breathing out to calm and collect herself. Para naman hindi siya pagtinginan ng mga tao roon. Finally, upon opening her unit's door, she heard another one open. She knew it was Daniel's door so she tried her best not to put her attention to it.

But of course, she didn't listen.

When she felt stares on her back, she knew she had to turn around and face him. One way or another. And so she did. But after she faced the man's direction, she froze. Tiningnan niya ito ng puno ng pagtataka at gulong-gulo ang isip niya.

This isn't Dan.

"Hi. Do you know how to make juice?"

Wynter blinked a thousand times before slowly nodding while her head was still in cloud nine. Why is there a kid inside Daniel's unit? Gulong-gulo ang isip niya. Ang daming tanong na pumapasok sa isip niya, pero ang katawan niya ay nakasunod sa batang lalakeng nagpapasok sa kanya para magpatimpla ng juice.

"Our kitchen is right over there po." The kid pointed at the kitchen. I know the place, actually.

"Thanks," Wynter said before heading to the refrigerator and the cabinet that contained Dan's packed juice powders. "What flavor would you want?" wala pa rin sa sariling tanong niya sa bata.

The boy cutely tapped his chin as if he was thinking seriously. He then smiled at her. "Mango juice po."

She nodded and made a mango juice for the kid. Nang matapos ay siya na rin ang nagsalin sa baso saka iniabot sa batang nakaupo na sa dining chair. "Here you go."

"Thank you po," the kid cutely replied. I keep saying cute, but I still do not know who he is. Napansin siguro ng bata na nakatitig siya rito kaya tumingin ito sa kanya saka ngumiti. "Ang ganda niyo po. What's your name po?"

Wynter blinked twice before answering "I'm Wynter. Ikaw? Anong pangalan mo?"

"My name is Damien po," magiliw na sagot ng batang lalake. Sa hindi malamang dahilan ay nahawa si Wynter sa ngiti nito. "Do you know my daddy po?"

Sandaling natigilan si Wynter saka nag-aalanganing nagsalita. "I-I'm not sure, kid. What's... What's your daddy's name?"

"His name is Daniel Marquez po, and he is a policeman po."

Wynter stopped breathing as she stared at the kid. D-Daniel's son?

Hindi pa tuluyang nakakapag-recover si Wyn sa nalaman nang muling magsalita ang bata. "I think you know my daddy kasi po he knows you eh. He has a picture of you sa phone niya po. Yung 'pag mago-open po yung phone, ikaw po yung nandoon po," pagk-kwento ng bata. I'm his wallpaper?

Sa sobrang dami niyang iniisip, naisama pa yung wallpaper. Nice one, Wynter. Just what the heck is wrong with you? Napailing na lang si Wyn bago muling tumingin sa bata. "I-I do know your daddy."

Damien's smile widened. "I like you po, Miss Wynter. You're very pretty."

Mahina namang natawa si Wyn. "Why, thank you. You're cute as well."

"So do you like me po, Miss Wynter?" nakangiti pa ring tanong ng bata.

Wynter finds the kid really cute and definitely Daniel's son. Nakisakay na lang siya sa trip nito. "I do, actually."

Umalis ito sa pagkakaupo at lumapit sa kanya. He then reached for her hand. "Will you marry me po, Miss Wynter?" Agad nanlaki ang mga mata ni Wynter. Why is this kid so adorable?

She chuckled before kneeling down on one knee to level the kid. "But you're still a baby. Kanino mo narinig 'yan, ha?" nangingiting tanong niya.

"From my dad po. He said if I meet the lady that I like and she likes me back, I should ask her the question po," seryosong sagot nito.

Wynter shook her head and was about to say something when the main door opened and Daniel's eyes found hers. Agad napansin ni Wynter ang pagkagulat nito pati na rin ang halo-halong emosyon sa mukha nito.

Well, I guess I wasn't supposed to meet his son. Umayos ng tayo si Wynter saka lumapit kay Daniel. Damien was still holding her hand.

Nang magpantay sila ng lalake ay pasimple siyang ngumiti at binitiwan ang kamay ng bata. "I'll be at my unit if you need clarifications... or have some explaining to do." After that she left his unit and went straight to hers.