Reid's POV

Pagdilat na pagdilat ko ng umagang iyon, tiningnan ko kaagad ang oras. It's past nine. Nagmamadali kong hinagilap ang phone at nag-dial.

"Mica's Flower Shop, good morning!" Bati nung sumagot.

"Yes, this is Reid Schulz," bungad ko.

"Ah, Sir Reid! May bago po kaming arrangement para sa inyo. Kakatapos lang po gawin. Send ko po yung picture sa sa inyo para ma-check nyo," sabi agad nito. Sa apat na araw na pagkuha ko dito, kilala na ako ng staff."Wait lang po."

"Ah, good."Nag- alert agad ang phone ko sa picture message na natanggap. "Yes, ito na. Nakuha ko na. I'll get it."

"Sa Casa Alicia pa rin po?"

"No, I'll pick it up later in the afternoon."

"Sige po."

Sosorpresahin ko si Drew. I'll visit her at her place. Sabi naman nya, sa bahay lang sila ng Sabado. Tuwing Linggo sila namamasyal ng hapon after going to church.

Naiinip na kasi ako. If she won't initiate that I meet Hope, then I'll do it. I want to know her daughter more. Palagi kasing limitado ang kwento nito sa anak. Tungkol lagi sa paglalaro, paboritong laruan at palabas sa tv. Hindi pa rin nag-oopen up si Drew tungkol sa tatay ng bata. Hindi ba hinahanap ng bata si Aris? Gaano ba katindi ang ginawa ni Aris for Drew to be so mum about the issue? Nauumpisahan kong magkaroon ng matinding galit sa lalaki sa pagdudulot ng ganoong sakit kay Drew.

If he or his family does not want Hope, then I am willing to take her as my own. Advantage sa akin yun. Lalo na kung hindi nya alam na meron silang Hope ni Drew.

Yes, I will claim Drew and Hope as mine. Nitong mga nakaraang mga araw, I already came to a realization. Both of us do not need to talk about how we feel for eac other. Sa mga paglabas namin tuwing gabi sakay ng motor ko, kuntento kami na magkasama kahit walang pag-uusap. Ni hindi kami nag-uungkatan ng nakaraan. I understand her completely. She's been from a very bad heartache and was healing her wound on her own alone in Palawan. I know, I am a big part on that healing progress. I can read it in the way she looks and acts towards me. And I know she can also feel what I feel towards her. Andun na kami at kahit ang mga empleyado sa Casa Alicia ganoon na rin ang iniisip. Wala lang sa kanila ang malakas ang loob kumumpirma maliban kay Cena pero ang lalaking ito, hindi pa rin tumitigil hanggang wala raw inaamin si Drew. Wala naman nga kasing makakumpirma. Kahit si Drew, alam ko, wala ring sinasabi kahit kanino dahil wala nga kaming pinag-uusapan. Basta, ganun. Pormal na pag-uusap na lang ang kailangan para tumahimik na rin si Cena kakukulit kay Drew. And that is what I intend to do.

I do not care what other people will say. Mahal ko si Andromeda and everything about her. Hindi ko na kinukwestyon kung ano ang nangyari noon sa kanya.

Nag-ring ang phone ko. Si Sarah.

'Hello?"

"Kuya!"

"What's up?"

"May nakarating sa aking balita," simula nito pero parang alam ko na."You're having an affair with one of your employees."

Tss. Kapag tsismis talaga, iba-iba ang kwento. Affair? Ang sakit sa tenga!

"Sino nagkwento sa iyo?" Tanong ko.

"Si mommy. Galing sa isa sa mga executives ng main office.Mom is worried. Why with a family woman? You're very single. Ang daming naglalaway sa iyo dyang mga dalaga. Ang ilap-ilap mo raw sa mga babae kapag may mga social gatherings tapos you will end up with a married woman tapos may anak pa! Kahit si Tito Frank, nag-aalala. Kahit wag na sa circle natin. Wag lang daw sa may asawa na't anak!"

"Sarah, ano ba'ng pinagsasabi mo?!" Ganito ba ang kumakalat na balita sa amin ni Drew? Fuck! I really need to address this issue right away. She does not deserve this. Drew was very clear to me that she wanted a private and quiet life, tapos ganito pala!

"Kuya Rich, akala ko ba kay Andie ka interesado? Kaya ba hindi mo ako binabalitaan?" May hinanakit sa boses ng kapatid ko.

Oh shit! I don't know if I should tell her about Andie and Hope. I feel that Andie should be the one telling this to my sister, not me. But with this gossip going around, I think I should explain kahit sa pamilya ko lang.

"Sarah, the girl you were referring to ...she's not married but ... " I paused. Shit!

"But what?! Wait, that's good. Not married right? Teka, paano si Andie? If you won't pursue her, can you just give me her number. I want to talk to her! Ay wait, dyan pala kami magpa-Pasko. Pupuntahan ko na lang sya."

My God! When will this girl ever shut up! Natitiis ito ng fiance nya?

"Bloody hell, Sarah! Can you let me finish talking?!" Di ko na maiwasan magtaas ng boses.

"Ah...eh...ok?" Finally! Thank you, Lord!

"Sarah, the term affair is really offensive, you know. Relationship would be the right word. Though, I will make it official tonight," simula ko.

"What?! So wala pala talaga?"

"Teka muna sabi," awat ko dito. "We have this unspoken understanding, that's why I intend to clarify it with her and make it official tonight. I can't allow this to happen to her. I respect her a lot...and I uhm... I love her."Napasinghap si Sarah sa kabilang linya.

"Sarah, there is something else you need to know. But you need to promise me first," sabi ko.

"Ano yun, kuya?"

"If i tell you, you won't do anything stupid. Keep it to yourself. Just let mom and dad know that she is not married or something. Tell them not to meddle. Let me handle this myself. Promise me first."

"Eerr, alright ... Promise."

"She's a single mother. And she's... I'm uhm ... I'm talking about your bestfriend..." Finally, it was out!

"Oh my God!" I heard her whispered.

Nagkaroon ng mahabang katahimikan sa linya. Then,

"Kuya, si Andie, may anak?"

"Yes, her name is Hope. Drew is--"

"Drew? Sino'ng Drew?"

"Andromeda. I call her Drew. Anyway, her daughter is about four years old but Drew has not let me meet her yet. Your bestfriend is very...secretive or say, di sya nagkukwento tungkol sa bata. Parang may kinatatakutan sya or something. But she loves the child so much. It took me time to convince her to be my personal assistant kasi ayaw nya mag-travel lagi at mapalayo sa bata ng matagal. "

"Oh my...kuya... Four years old?! That means she was pregnant when she left Manila?! That fucking Aris Kho!" Now, we have the same thought!

"I am thinking the same. I just do not know if the guy knew or not about the pregnancy. But ...but Sarah... I don't care. She left Manila and at that time, Aris got engaged to someone else. And before that, Drew already told me that the guy was bound to an arranged marriage."

"Yes, we learned that after Andie left. Our friends were thinking she left not just to recuperate from her accident but to really go away. Away from Aris." She said.

"Paano yan, kuya? Kung hindi pala alam ni ... Tapos kapag nalaman nya, eh hindi pa sila nakakasal ni Maddie."

"I don't know, pero one thing for sure. Hindi ibibigay ni Drew ang bata kay Aris. Kaya nga gusto ko... Gusto kong ... I want to claim them. So may panlaban si Andie. Hope will have a complete family. Hindi makukuha ni Aris si Hope."

"You'll ... marry her?"

"Yes! And nobody can change my mind kahit kayo!"

"That's not what I meant, you jerk! Of course, I won't stop you. Mom and I love Andie. My point is .... Si Aris. Si Andie kay Aris. Do you know how much she loved... I mean, I think Aris intended to prolong his engagement until now. Intensyon nyang hindi pa rin magpatali kay Maddie. What if...."

She called me Kuya and jerk. Some little sister I got!

"Let's not go to that, Sarah. Ang importante, kung ano yung ngayon, yung kami ni Drew. Just do as I told you. I will tell Drew about you soon. I will let you know. Just help me not to make mom and dad worried...and help me kill the gossip."

"Ok. Uhm, kuya... How about bringing them home for Christmas?"

"I don't know yet. We'll see.Mamaya ko pa nga lang kakausapin si Drew.Basta, I'll let you know. I have to go. Tell mom and dad, the gossip is not true, ok?"

After that call, I felt somewhat relieved and troubled at the same time. Relieved dahil may napagsabihan ako ng nararamdaman ko. Troubled, not mainly about the gossip, but what my sister said about Aris. Yes, nababahala ako. Akala ko kasal na ang lalaking iyon kay Madison, pero hindi. Lampas tatlong taong engagement? Did he do it on purpose para matahimik lang ang mga magulang nya? Paano kung hinihintay lang nito si Drew? At si Drew, she has not been opening up to me about Hope? Do they still have communication? Pero hindi ganoon ang pakiramdam ko.

I searched through my cp's phonebook then dialled.

"Hello, Rob? Can you help me check on something?"

"Sure, what's up? Hey, there's a buzz going around about you and a married woman," Rob said.

"That's what I called you about. And no, she's not married. Anyway, can you keep a tab on Aris Kho for me? I need information about his past up to now. Anything, especially his private life."

"Why? Is the woman rumored to you his fiancee?" Parang gulat na sabi nito.

"Geez, man! Not a chance, bloody hell!" Narinig ko ang malakas na tawa nito.

"Then why interested about his private life?"

"I am going to marry his ex!"

"The fuck?! Seriously, you're getting married? Tarantado ka, bakit wala kang sinasabi sa amin ni Ralph?"

"I haven't asked her yet... Well, we're not even officially a couple." I said.

"Are you on drugs, Reid?!"

"No. man! I'm inlove!"

"Tangina!"

Tarantadong ito, palibhasa babaero! 

"Seriously, Rob. I need to know more about that guy. He may be a threat. At least I know what to do just in case."

"Scared of competition?" pang-asar pa talaga.

"No, asshole! Prepping up to make sure I win!"

"Tangina talaga! Kailangang matimbrehan si Ralph. Nagpapakita ka ng sintomas ng high rate of criminal tendency. Kakailanganin mo ng magaling na abogado!"

"Ulul!"

Tumawa lang ang gago. 

"Brod, walang biro nga. Please handle this personally. Drew is very private and fragile. I cannot afford it if she gets hurt again." Seryoso kong sabi.

"Tsk, tsk! Malala ka na, pare. Sige, pero I'm quite busy this December. Can it wait until January at least?"

Marahas akong nagpakawala ng hangin, " Alright, fine! Just don't give it to any of your staff. Not that I don't trust your people. Pero, gusto ko, tayo lang makakaalam."

"Ok, shoot! Reid, you owe us a boys' night out for advance payment," kantiyaw nito.

"I'll be in Manila on Monday evening. That is the earliest I will be available. Babalik agad ako sa dito sa Palawan ng Tuesday morning."

"You're pussy-whipped!"

"Fuck you, Rob! Hindi ganun si Drew. Respect, pare, respect!" naasar kong sabi.

"Ok, fine. I'm sorry. My bad!" sabi nito. "I'll inform Ralph."

"No need. Magkikita kami sa isang event sa Monday. Yun nga ang ipupunta ko dyan sa Manila," sabi ko.

"Got it. Hey, Reid!"

"Yeah?"

"Drew...she must be something, huh?"

"She's ... my everything."

Huminga ito ng malalim. "Ok, see you Monday." Paalam nito.

I looked at the clock. Ang aga pa. Base sa narinig kong usapan ni Vina at Drew last Wednesday, malamang late afternoon pa ito makakauwi dahil manggagaling pa raw sa check up ni Hope. Sana wag namang doon pa sila maghahapunan ni Hope kina Vina.

Isa sa di ko malaman kung advantage or disadvantage simula nang maging personal assistant ko si Drew. Naiayos nya ang mga schedule ko. Pati opisina ko ang linis. She was able to squeeze in meetings during weekdays, kaya sobrang busy kami ng office days. Ayaw nya talaga pumasok ng weekends dahil time nya raw iyon kay Hope. Wala tuloy akong magawa ngayon. Tsk!

Tinatamad akong mag-agahan. Humiga uli ako. Nag-isip.

With my two conversations earlier, I already told Sarah and Rob about how I felt about Drew. Totoo yun. Hindi ako nabibigla lang. I think behind my subconsciousness, I was already drawn to her, the very first time I saw her – the night she sang a song for the douche bag's birthday years ago. Kaya siguro it came as a reflex to me to help her out in three different occasions kahit hindi pa talaga kami pormal na magkakilala. There was never any second thoughts, ni wala nga akong pakialam kahit alam kong guests sa hotel noon ang pamilya ni Aris, I had to stand for her.

Napabalikwas ako nung may kumatok na housekeeping staff sa unit ko. Nakatulog pala uli ako. It's past one o'clock.

I opened the door and let the staff come in. I took a bath and change to a pair of comfy jeans , mustard yello shirt and dark brown loafers.

Medyo masikip ang parking sa street nina Drew but I can't take my bigbike. Pupunta pa ako sa flower shop to pick up my order. I called the hotel service to get my BMW sa basement 2. I dropped by the reception desk to leave my keycard. Trish was on duty. I remember this woman having a dislike on Drew.

"Trish,"

"Sir?"

"Any case you hear anyone talking rubbish about Drew, please let me know, ok?"

"Po?"

"Hindi mo naintindihan sinabi ko?"

"Ah eh, I got it, Sir," sagot nito.

"Let them know that there are many people happy to have their jobs, alright?"

"Yes, Sir!"

"Good! You have a great day, Trish!"

I guess, she got my point. And I hope she gets that down to every single person in this hotel!

I drove to the mall. Same mall Drew and I went when she bought groceries and where we shared ice cream. Tsk! Sana kasama ko sya ngayon.

I had lunch at a Filipino restaurant there. There were diners in groups. Mali yata na lumabas ako para mamasyal. Nainggit lang ako. Ang lungkot mamasyal o kumain mag-isa. Fuck! Dati naman akong kumakain mag-isa sa labas.

Pagkatapos kong kumain, nagpunta ako sa toy store doon. Ano kayang pwede kong ipasalubong kay Hope? Mahilig daw ito sa lutu-lutuan at playing doctor. Base sa kwento ni Drew, may mga ganoong laruan na ito. Tss. Ang hirap pala mag-isip.

Nag-ikot pa ako. Then I decided to buy her a Play Doh baking set. Tutal iba naman yung binili ko last time. Pinabalot ko iyon sa gift wrapping section.

Nagpunta rin ako sa grocery to buy some snacks and food to cook for dinner. I'll ask Drew to cook pochero or if she doesn't know, I'll cook it then. Sheeeesh! Sana hindi sila mag-dinner kina Vina. Please, Lord! 

Di ko nakalimutang kumuha ng isang gallon ng Choco Fudge Ice Cream.

I checked the time. Sakto lang na dadating ako kina Drew ng five o'clock. Dadaan pa naman ako sa flower shop.

I was nearing their street, when my heart started pounding with excitement and nervousness. Shit! This is it! Paano ko ba sasabihin kay Drew? Hindi kasi ako sanay. Sa lahat ng naging karelasyon ko, si Kelly lang ang matagal, kung maituturing na relationship iyong samahan naming 'nothing serious and we are consenting adults' for almost a year. Tsk! Naalala ko na naman ang ginawa ng babaeng iyon. I shoved the thought away.

Alam ko na hindi ganito ang tradisyunal na pag-akyat ng ligaw sa Pilipinas, pero kailangan pa ba namin iyon ni Drew? Bahala na.

Nakahinga ako nang maluwag dahil natanaw ko ang gamit na kotse ni Drew na naka-park sa tapat nila. Buti na lang wala ang mga sasakyang naroroon tuwing pumupunta ako dito sa gabi. I parked my car at the back of her car.

I picked up the flowers, and the bags of grocery and Hope's toy. Dalawang beses akong huminga ng malalim bago lumabas ng kotse.

Pagbukas pa lang ng kotse, narinig ko kaagad ang pagtugtog ng piano. Damn! My heart trembled! Yes, that's my Drew! I just know it!

Inilapag ko ang mga bags sa paanan ko then I knocked. The piano playing stopped and I heard footsteps going to the door.

When the door opened, there she was. Simple and beautiful in her floral spaghetti strap house dress with her hair in a messy bun.

"Reid?! Ano'ng ginag---"

Bahala na! With one hand, I grabbed her waist and gave her a kiss on the lips! It wasn't torrid but not a peck, just modest.

She stood frozen but she didn't push me away! Thank you, Lord! At least she didn't push me!

Then I let her go.

"Hi!" bati ko sa kanya ng may malapad na ngiti.

"For you," inabot ko yung bouquet ng wildflowers, "Ahm, sorry, medyo nasira. Naipit yata natin."

Her hands automatically reached for the flowers pero nakatulala sya sa akin at nakabuka ang bibig.

Natawa ako ng walang tunog, "Oh darn it!" I grabbed her again and this time, giving her a full kiss. I think, talagang naipit na yung mga bulaklak sa pagitan namin, but hell! I don't care because she kissed me back though it was subtle, she still kissed me back! Good, Lord! What a lucky day for me!

We both ended the kiss to gasp for air but our faces still close to each other but her eyes closed.

"Don't stare at me like that again with your mouth open. I'll kiss you to make it shut," I teased her.

Suddenly, her lids flew open and her face turned red. Ang ganda nya lang!

"Mommy?"

Bigla kong binitiwan si Drew. There stood at her back is Hope, eyes wide looking at us!

My jaw drop. Am I looking at Sarah when she was four years old? Well,except for the curly hair because we have straight hair.

"Oh dear!" I heard Drew muttered.

"Mommy," sabi ulit ni Hope, "Is he .... uhm ... my daddy?" inosente nitong tanong.

Humarap ito sa anak nya na nanlalaki ang mata, but I held Drew's hand and stepped forward leaving her at the door.

"Reid?" Hindi ko ito pinansin.

I knelt infront of Hope, my eyes roaming around her face, then I smiled at her, "Yes, sweetie, I will be!" I softly said.

I heard Drew gasp! Hope's face brightened up then threw her arms around me.

Something really warm enveloped my heart when I felt her little arms around my neck. Para nga akong naiiyak. I hugged her little body.

"Really?" Hope whispered with excitement.

"Yes." I whispered back.

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