So It's You (Villa Martinez Series #4)

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Sixteen

Isobel

So after that talk with Ryder I decided to just let go of other things including my thoughts of breaking him. How could I break the father of my child? I just decided to at least give him another chance... for our child.

"Alecxandra, hija! We heard the good news from Ryder!" natutuwang salubong sa amin ng Mama ni Ryder.

"Yes, Ma..." I smiled.

Ngiting-ngiti rin ito sa akin at hinawakan ako sa kamay. "I'm so happy, hija! Magiging lola na ako!" she chuckled merrily.

Giniya na ako nito sa loob ng bahay habang marami pang tanong tungkol sa pagbunbuntis ko. Sinagot ko naman ang mga ito nang nakangiti. I think I'm just as excited as her! We're really having a baby...

"Are you okay?" Ryder asked me when his mom left for the dessert.

Bumaling ako sa kaniya sa tabi ko at tumango. "I'm fine, Ryder." tipid ko siyang nginitian to assure him.

Simula noong malaman ni Ryder na nagdadalang-tao ako sa anak namin ay lalo lang siyang naging maingat sa kalagayan ko. Kahit minsan sa pagmamaneho ng sinasakyan namin ay nagpapabagal pa siya. Para bang makakasama na rin sa akin ang sakto lang namang pagmamaneho niya noon. He does everything at home and even in our companies! Maybe I really just underestimated his skill in running the business. Kaya naman pala niya. Siguro noon ay wala lang talaga siyang gaanong interest sa business nila. He's already fine with his designs at iyon naman talaga ang passion niya--architecture. Kaya rin matagal din bago tuluyang nakapag-retire ang daddy niya dahil ang nag-iisang anak ay walang gaanong interest sa kanilang family business. I can say that Ryder became more responsible now. Lalo na at magiging daddy na siya... I can't help it but smile as I watched him worrying for me.

Kahit pa gusto lang ni Ryder na magpahinga ako gaya rin ng gusto ni dad ay sinabi ko pa rin sa dalawang lalaki na magtatrabaho pa rin ako sa company. May mga ongoing projects pa na pinamumunuan ko. And seriously I'm just fine...

"You done?" nakangiti sa akin si Ryder.

Tumango ako. "Yeah... Let's go?"

Tumango rin siya. Pero nanatili pa rin ang tingin sa akin. "You look beautiful in your dress today." he complimented me with his handsome smile.

Napangiti na rin ako. "Thanks..."

He lead me out of our condo and to the basement parking of our building. Pupunta kami ngayon sa doctor ko for my check up.

He drove our car to the doctor's clinic.

"Doctora..." binati ko rin ang doctor na ngumiti at sumalubong sa amin ni Ryder. I also introduced my husband to her.

I did all the instructions to me, at nagsimula na rin si doctora. Ryder remained beside me and was holding my hand. Humigpit lang ang hawak niya sa akin when we saw our baby on monitor. More so when we heard the baby's heartbeat... Kahit ako ay nahahabag. Tiningnan ko si Ryder at pinagmasdan ang reaction sa mukha niya. He's intently looking at the monitor at the same time listening to our baby's heartbeat... I smiled.

I hope everything will be okay from now on...

"Would you like to eat out? O mas gusto mong umuwi na tayo agad." Ryder asked me as he maneuvered the car after our doctor's appointment for the baby.

Tumango ako. "We can eat our lunch out. And then puwede mo akong ipagluto ng dinner mamaya." I smiled.

Sumulyap sa akin si Ryder mula sa pagmamaneho. "Alright." napangiti rin siya.

So kumain na kami sa labas pagkatapos magpa-checkup. I was craving for Filipino dish kaya sa isang Filipino restaurant ako dinala ni Ryder. Pagkatapos ay nagpahinga lang kami ng araw na iyon sa condo.

It was a peaceful day for us...

"Puwede naman kitang ihatid..."

Bumaling ako kay Ryder mula sa paghahanda. I insist that I'll have a driver for today. Puwede nga rin na ako na ang magmaneho pero ayaw ko nang pag-alalahanin pa sina dad. Especially now that I'm pregnant. Gusto kong bisitahin ngayon si Andrea. Matagal na rin simula noong huli kaming nagkita na magkaibigan. I miss my best friend!

Umiling ako kay Ryder. "Hindi na, Rye... I'll be fine. Pupuntahan ko lang naman si Andrea. And you have a lot to do today for the company. Kaya huwag na." Pinagpatuloy ko ang pagsusuot ng earrings ko. After visiting Andrea ay papasok pa rin ako sa trabaho kahit half day. I'll have things to check at the office, too.

Tumango naman si Ryder pero kita ko pa rin ang pag-aalala niya. I gave him a reassuring smile.

* * *

"Andrea!" I hugged her as tight as possible. I missed her! She's now working as a lawyer at a law firm. Naka-leave nga lang ngayon dahil... I looked at her now protruding stomach.

"Alecx," I saw her smile when we parted from the hug.

"I'm sorry, I hugged you so tight baka naipit si baby," I held her belly. "Oh, my God! It's big, Andrea!" I was amazed. Medyo matagal na nga talaga since we last saw each other.

Ngumiti si Andrea at hinaplos na rin ang kaniyang tiyan. "At may sasabihin ka rin sa akin?" she smiled. I just told her on the phone last time that I'm already pregnant, too!

Malapad din akong ngumiti. "Yes!" at humawak na rin sa tiyan kong maliit pa naman.

"Congratulations sa inyo ni Ryder! I'm happy for you both, Alecx." ani Andrea.

Ngumiti lang ako at niyaya na si Andrea na kainin iyong dala kong healthy na pagkain para sa aming dalawa. She also prepared fruit juice for us.

* * *

"Ma'am, may babae po kasing nagpupumilit na makita kayo. Actually noong isang araw pa po ito. Wala kasing appointment kaya hindi namin pinapatuloy..."

"Oh, who is it?" kakarating ko lang dito sa opisina nang ito ang sinalubong sa akin ang sekretarya ko.

"Isobel Acosta, Ma'am." my secretary answered.

Ilang sandali pa akong natigilan. Matagal na rin since I last heard of Isobel... Hindi na namin napag-uusapan ni Ryder and I can see that Ryder's just really busy with our companies since. Ano kaya maari ang pakay sa akin ni Isobel? "Let her in here my office. I'll talk to her." I decided after a while. Iyon na ang inutos ko sa sekretarya.

Tumango naman si Juliet at agad na sumunod sa utos. I sighed and got myself busy for a while with the documents I needed to review and sign while waiting for Isobel to come up here. Pero hindi rin ako makapag-focus hanggang sa nakarating na nga siya sa opisina ko.

Tumayo ako at agad kaming nagkatinginan ni Isobel. Iniwan na rin muna kami ni Julie. "Alecxandra Ventura..."

"Alecxandra Ventura-Martinez." pagtatama ko. "What brought you here, Mrs. Acosta?" lumapit ako sa kinatatayuan niya.

Mataman din siyang nakatingin sa akin. Saglit niyang pinasadahan ang ayos ko. I was wearing my usual designer clothes. My hair was neatly made so as my makeup. While she was looking plain with her simple dress and simple bag, pero maganda pa rin naman. She's really a beautiful woman. She looks innocent compared to my natural sultry beauty.

"Isobel, just call me Isobel." aniya.

"Oh, aren't you Dexter Acosta's wife?"

"Maghihiwalay na rin kami."

"Oh," tumango-tango lang ako. "So... what brought you here? I thought it's about your husband's deal to my company, since you're his wife..."

Umiling siya. "This isn't about Dexter... This is about Ryder..." aniya.

Nanatili ang tingin ko sa kaniya.