AUDREY

"Good morning, Mom!" He walked inside the room, carrying a tray in his hands. At ten years old, he was already the height of an average teenage boy. Arthur, by contrast, was wearing a light blue shirt that made his dark hair and eyes stand out even more than usual. He was slowly morphing into his father's image. He just needed to grow a couple more inches in height and people would easily mistaken him for his father.

"Good morning, baby." I smiled before lowering my gaze to the tray. "What is that?"

"Oh, this." He looked down at it and then grinned. "Just a little breakfast in bed."

"Why are you suddenly being sweet?" I narrowed my eyes on him, suspiciously.

"I've always been sweet, Mom." He walked to the bed and sat on the edge of it. Ibinaba niya ang tray sa tabi ko. Excitement shone on his eyes as he looked at me. "Do you remember that concert I was talking about?"

"Art, I already told you I don't like you going out on concerts alone." I sighed and just like that, his face instantly fell with disappointment.

"But I won't be alone. My friends are going to be there and his brother who's in college will be there to look after us, all my favorite bands will be there, too. This might never happen again. Please, Mom, let me go." He muttered.

He'd been hinting about wanting to go to this international music festival since last month with his friends. I had researched about it and it was said that a handful of famous bands from different countries would be playing at the festival. But I'd also come across a few articles about the rampant drug using and dealing going on there. My Arthur was just a young, innocent music lover who just wanted to see his favorite bands and I didn't want him mixed with the wrong crowd. Being an overprotective, paranoid mother, I'd already imagined every worst scenario in my head. What if someone comes up to him and offers him drugs? I mean, given my father's history of drug addiction, paano kung pati siya matulad kay Dad? They say addiction runs in the family, sometimes it's in the genes. And for sure, there's going to be drunk assholes who'll try to pick a fight. How will he be able to defend himself? Paano kung may gulong mangyari sa music festival? Paano kung magka-stampede?

I let out a deep exhale and combed my fingers through his hair. "Baby, I can't let you go to the festival. Saka hindi ba, pati sa Dad ayaw kang papuntahin?"

"Why can't you let me go?" The corners of his lips tugged downward.

"Because there are a lot of things that could possibly go wrong, lalo na at wala ako sa tabi mo. Maybe when you're old enough I'll let you go to music festivals with your friends." I tried to sound cheerful to lighten up his mood.

"But I really want to go, Mom. I don't want to miss this." He couldn't hide the frustration in his voice. "Modern Myth, Unorthodox, and Jaws and Claws are all going to be there! Mom, please..."

"I don't know, Art." I shook my head and bit my bottom lip. As much as I hate seeing my son disappointed, I knew this was the right thing to do. Arthur was practically still a baby. My baby. "Maybe we can go to their concerts instead, huh?"

"I don't want to go the concert, I want to go to the music festival..." His shoulders sagged and his expressions darkened.

"Why the long face, champ?" Dad asked Arthur as we were getting ready to leave. The triplets were already dressed up for school and so was Arthur. I wore an office uniform, a charcoal grey blazer over a maroon blouse and a pencil skirt the same color as the blazer. I had hooked around my arm a Chanel briefcase bag which contained my laptop and some documents I'd taken home yesterday from work.

"Nothing." Arthur mumbled, unsmiling.

"He's upset because Mommy didn't let him go to the concert." Sid answered.

"It's a festival, dummy!" Sabi naman ni Brad sa kapatid niya.

"He called me a dummy, Mommy!" Sumbong ni Sid.

"Brad, you don't say that to your brother." I scolded him.

"But it's not the same!" Brad exclaimed.

"Can't you tell him in a nicer way?" Monty's dark brows scrunched as he looked at his brother.

"I wasn't talking to you." Brad frowned at him.

"Boys, please, don't start a fight with each other this early." I sighed before looking down at my watch. "I'm going to be late for work and you'll be late for school. Say bye to Dad and Mama so we can leave."

"Bye, Mama. Bye, Daddy." Arthur said in a toneless voice as he gave Mama a kiss on the cheek and Dad, too. The triplets did the same.

"I'll see you in the office later." Sabi ni Dad sa akin.

I nodded my head and kissed Mama goodbye. We headed to the garage where all our cars were parked. My brows furrowed when I saw that one tire was missing.

"Shit." I uttered a soft cuss.

"Ma'am Drey..." Pumihit ang ulo ko sa direksyon kung saan nanggaling ang tinig.

There he was in his usual black wife-beater tanktop his ragged and stained jeans. His shoulder-length hair was tied up in a ponytail, some loose strands of it falling over his face. I instantly felt annoyed. It's true what they say, first impressions are lasting impressions. I would never forget his first day working here. He took my son's guitar, the one Callum had given him, and called his father 'doktor ng mga baliw'.

"Nasaan ang gulong ng kotse?" I cocked my brow.

"Ah, ma'am..." Pinunasan niya ang pawis na tumatagaktak sa mukha niya nang maliit na tuwalyang nakasampay sa balikat niya. "May butas kasi ang gulong ng kotse niyo, medyo sumisingaw na ang hangin. Baka kung ano ang mangyari sa inyo, lalo na at kasama mo ang mga bata kaya tinanggal ko muna."

"Wala bang extra tire?" I rolled my eyes.

"Bibili pa lang po sana ako ngayon." Sagot niya.

"How am I supposed to leave? Ano'ng oras na? Sana kanina mo pa ginawa yan. May pasok ang mga bata at may meeting pa ako mamayang 9 o'clock." Inis na sabi ko.

"Kani-kanina ko lang nakita, ma'am. Pasensya na po."

"Tarzan can drive us to school." Monty suggested.

"Yeah!" Sabi ni Brad. "He can drive us to the jungle so we don't have to go to school today."

"The teacher said we have a quiz. We can't miss school and I don't want to go to the jungle. What if we get eaten by tigers?" Si Sid.

"Nobody's going to the jungle. You're all going to school." I firmly told them.

"Ma'am, mabuti pa siguro ipag-drive ko na lang kayo." He offered.

We had a handful of cars in the garage but I wasn't used to driving any car other than my Mercedes-Benz. I hated being around Tarzan or whatever his real name was. I couldn't stand him and his rugged features and his musculine physique. I was already gazing at him from head to toe. I quickly looked away when I realized what I was doing.

"Fine." I huffed. "We're all going to be late and it's your fault. Ni hindi mo man lang ako sinabihan na tinanggal mo ang gulong ng kotse ko. You have one job. One job!"

"Pasensya na po talaga, ma'am." He sounded genuinely apologetic. Lumapit siya sa akin at sinubukan kunin ang bag ko. "Ako na po ang magdadala niyan. Mukhang nabibigatan na po kayo."

"Ako na." I angled my bag away from him when he tried to grab it.

"Ako na po, ma'am." Pilit niyang kinuha sa akin.

"Ako na sabi!" I pulled it harder from him and he let go of the bag, sending me tumbling backwards. I fell to the ground and landed on my back.

"Mom!" Arthur ran up to me while the triplets were busy playinga round the garage. He tried to pull me up and looked at Tarzan with eyes narrowed. "What did you do to my Mom?"

"Sorry po, ma'am Drey!" Natarantang lumapit siya sa akin. He tried to help me up but I swatted his hand away.

"Don't touch me!" I hissed.

"Mommy, what happened?" Monty worriedly asked when he noticed what was happening.

"Maybe she wants to take a nap on the floor." Sabi ni Brad.

"I think Mommy fell." Sid said.

I got up and checked if the laptop in my bag was still in one piece. Everything I'd been working on for the past months were in this laptop. I would kill that Tarzan guy had anything happened to my laptop.

"Are you okay, Mom?" Arthur asked.

"I am." I tried to smile as I dusted off a few dirt that stuck to my clothes.

"Ma'am, sorry. Hindi ko po talaga sinasadya." He apologized.

"Ooh you're in big trouble, Tarzan!" Brad giggled.

Sinubukan lumapit sa akin ni Soren pero mabilis siyang hinarang ni Arthur. "Don't come anywhere near my Mom again!"

"It's okay, baby. I can handle this." I touched his shoulder and squeezed it before I looked at Soren. "Isa na lang. I swear to God, I'm going to have you fired. Isang-isa na lang. Nauubos na ang pasensya ko sa'yo."

"Ma'am, hindi ko naman talag sinasadya. Gusto ko lang naman po kayong tulungan." He said as if begging.

"Hindi ka nakatulong." I said in a hard tone. "You've officially ruined my day."

Arthur and I sat on the seat behind the driver's seat while the triplets were in their booster seats behind us. The three were talking and laughing as they usually do and Arthur had earphones stuck to his ears, listening to his favorite songs.

"Tarzan, hindi ba, hindi ka marunong mag-write at mag-read?" Monty asked.

"Hindi, boss." He looked at him through the rearview mirror.

"You should go to school para matuto ka." Sid suggested.

"Why don't you go to school with us so you won't be stupid anymore." Sabi naman ni Brad.

"Brad, that's not a nice thing to say." My head snapped at my son, shocked at his words. "Don't ever call someone stupid. Saan mo natutunan yun, ha?"

"My classmate said if you don't know how to read or write then you're stupid." Brad said.

"It's called illiterate." Arthur said after tugging one earphone from his ear.

"Ill.. ititrai... irta... stupid is easier to say." Sabi ni Brad.

"But it's bad to call someone that, Brad. Do you want people calling you stupid?"

"No..." He answered in a low voice. "But I know how to read and write so I'm not stupid."

"Hindi ka ba nagschool, Tarzan?" Asked Monty.

"Hindi na ko nakapag-aral, boss. Yung i-aaral ko, tinulong ko na lang sa pamilya ko. Saka sa bundok po kami nakatira, ilang oras na biyahe sa pinakamalapit na bayan. Nakakababa lang kami kapag hinahatid namin ang mga gulay na nasaka namin." Paliwanag niya.

"Are you from the jungle?" Humagikgik si Brad.

"Hindi jungle tawag sa lugar namin, boss. Sa Benguet ako nag-mula." Sagot niya.

"Maybe Mommy can teach you how to read and write. Mommy, can you teach Tarzan?" Sid asked sweetly.

My eyes grazed through the rearview mirror and Soren was looking at me. I instantly averted my eyes away and looked out the window. "Mommy's really busy right now. I can't make time for that."

"Maybe you can teach him some other day." Sabi naman ni Monty.

"Maybe..." I half-heartedly said, shrugging.

Within a couple of minutes, we were already in front of their school. I walked them to the entrance and kissed them all goodbye before I headed back to the car. Great! Now I'd have to be alone with this imbecile for more than half an hour.

"Ma'am..." He spoke after a few minutes of driving in silence. 

"What?" I said with a bite in my tone.

"Mukhang may topak si boss Arthur ngayon." He chuckled.

"Excuse you?" My eyes widened in shock at what he said. "Para sabihin ko sa'yo, walang topak ang anak ko."

I was sitting on the back of his seat and right now, I wanted nothing more than to get my laptop's cord from my bag and strangle him with it. He could say and do whatever he wants and I wouldn't care but say one bad thing about any of my children and I'd be more than happy to kill him.

"Alam kong wala kang pinag-aralan pero maghinay-hinay ka naman sana sa lumalabas diyan sa bibig mo. Huwag na huwag mong babastusin ang mga anak ko dahil ako ang makakalaban mo." By now, my chest was already heaving with anger.

"Ma'am, sorry po. Hindi naman po yun ang ibig kong sabihin." There was panic in his tone. "Ano lang po, um, salitang kalye lang po yun. Parang ano... ano po, kuwan, ano ba sa sosyal na salita yun? Moody. Yun! MOODY!"

"My son's emotional state is none of your concern. Ang alam ko hanggang sa garahe lang ang trabaho mo. At mag-ingat ka sa mga sinasabi mo, Soren. Hindi na ako natutuwa sa'yo." I warned him. 

"Opo, Ma'am. Pasensya na po." He said and he fell silent.

I kind of felt guilty. Even though Soren was annoying, he didn't deserve that treatment. We were taught by Mama and Dad to treat our help as a part of the family and to never look down on anyone. But there was just something about this particular guy that irritates me. Makita ko lang siya nasisira na ang araw ko.

"Ma'am, may kasalanan po ba ako sa inyo? Bakit ang init ng ulo niyo sa akin?" He broke the silence. 

"Gusto mo bang isa-isahin ko lahat ng kapalpakan na ginawa mo?" I crossed my arms over my chest.

"Alam ko po palagi akong palpak pero ma'am, humihingi ako ng tawad mula sa kaibuturan ng puso ko sa lahat ng nagawa kong mali. Peace na tayo, ha?"

"Huwag mo akong kakausapin at huwag kang magpapakita sa akin and everything will be okay between us."

"Paano po yun, ma'am, wala naman akong magic power para maging invisible ngayon." He chuckled. 

I looked at him through the rearview mirror and our gaze met. I squinted, my eyes narrowing into a spiteful slit.

"Sabi ko nga po, ma'am, tatahimik na ako." Umiwas siya nang tingin at tinuon ang atensyon sa kalsada.

I opened the door the moment the car halted in front of the Cordova Tower. I couldn't stand breathing the same air as him for another more minute. I hurried out without even glancing at him.

"Ma'am Audrey!" Narinig kong sigaw niya bago ako makapasok sa revolving door ng building. "Ma'am Drey, yoohoo!"

I wanted to ignore him but he kept shouting and people were turning their head to me. It was embarrassing. I clenched my hands into a fists and took in a deep breath, fighting the urge to sock him in the face

"Ma'am!" This time his voice was closer. 

I turned to face him and he was already standing in front of me.

"What?" I asked through gritted teeth. "What else do you want?"

"Nakalimutan niyo po itong bag niyo." He handed me my bag with a huge smile on his face. "Ingat po kayo, ha. Saka good luck sa meeting niyo."

I snatched my bag from his hand and he stood there, just looking and smiling at me.

I cocked a brow. "Ano pang ginagawa mo dito?"

"Ah, wala po. " He shook his head as if trying to shake himself out of a trance. His face reddened which made him look... cute? "Aalis na po ako, ma'am."

I gave him a nod. He turned his back and mumbled as he walked.

"Ang ganda mo sana, ang sungit mo lang." I heard him say.

"Ano'ng sabi mo?" Tumaas ang isang kilay ko.

"Ha?" His head turned to me. "Ako po ba, ma'am?"

"Sino pa ba?" My jaw clenched.

"Sabi ko po you're welcome." Natatarantang sagot niya.

I shook my head before heading inside the building. I took in a deep breath and exhaled, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips. I pressed my lips together, trying hard to stop it. 

"Good morning, Miss Audrey." Farah greeted me when the elevator opened to my floor. 

"Good morning." I smiled at her. 

"Miss Audrey, may nag-deliver po nitong mga bulaklak na ito kanina." She said with a playfully grin. There was a vase filled with beautifully arranged flowers sitting on top of her table.

"Who's it from?" My brows furrowed.

"It's from Franco Sarmiento, I checked the card." She pointed at the car that was sticking out of the bouquet. 

I opened the small card.

Dear Audrey,

I hope your day will be as beautiful as you are.

Love always,

Franco S.

"Isn't he the sweetest?" Sarah sighed dreamily. "Hindi talaga siya tumitigil na ligawan ka. Bagay na bagay kayo, Miss Audrey."

Try as I may, I couldn't hide the smile on my face as I shook my head. I had to remind myself that I was no longer a teenage girl, I was a working woman with four sons and a business to run. "You should get back to work. We have a lot to do today."

"Also, Sir Miguel's secretary left a file for you to review. Nag-email din daw si Sir Migs sa'yo ng softcopy ng documents." She said.

"Thank you, Sarah." I said, taking the vase with me inside my office.

I took out my phone and gave Franco a call as I smelled and played with the petals of roses. After a few rings, he picked up the phone.

"Good morning, Audrey." His voice was smooth and manly.

"Franco, thank you for the roses. They're beautiful." A smile slowly crept across my face.

"You're always welcome, love. I'm glad you liked it."

"Hindi ka na sana nag-abala." I bit my bottom lip, taking one stem out of the vase.

"I just want to give you something good to look at the whole day." He said, a smile in his tone. "Audrey, would it be too much to ask you out on a date?"

"Franco... you're a good man. I just, I don't think I'm ready to date." I let out a deep sigh. "I have kids and I'm helping run our company. I have so much responisibilities and being in a relationship isn't my priority right now."

"I understand but we've known each other for a long time now. Alam ko na hindi ako ang priority mo and maybe I will never be your priority. But can't you just give us a try. I know you're starting to have feelings for me, Drey. Hindi naman ako makikipagkumpitensya sa mga anak mo at sa trabaho mo para sa atensyon mo. I just want to simply be there for you as your partner."

"Franco, wala akong maipapangako sa'yo." I told him.

"I know..." He exhaled heavily. "But I love you, Drey, and I won't stop until you love me back. No matter how long it may take."

"I need to get back to work. May meeting pa ako. Mamaya na lang tayo mag-usap." I said, not wanting this conversation to go any further. 

I hung up the phone and brushed my fingers through my hair. Franco had been courting me for two years now. He'd been patient with me and it was true, that I was starting to like him now. I wouldn't exactly call it love pero nababaitan ako sa kanya. There was a part of me that wanted to  give him a chance but another part of me thought of me that was afraid of opening up again. 

I hadn't been in a relationship since my husband. I still carry Callum's last name and I still wear our wedding band. None of our son knew what had really happened to their father, even my sibling didn't know that Callum drove himself over the cliff. All everyone knew was that Callum died in a car accident. My children loved their father, lalo na si Arthur. I didn't think I was ready to let in any man in my life and my children's.