Aliyah Yajaira Liwanag has been struggling with life ever since their family fell apart, kaya naman nang makatanggap siya ng offer mula sa isa sa pinakamayaman sa bansa na si Benedict Amadeo ay agad-agad niya itong tinanggap. Sino ba ang makakatangg...
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"What are those?" agad na tanong ko kay Blake nang pumasok ito sa aking opisina na may dalang mga malalaking paper bag.
Agad itong nag-iwas ng tingin bago kumunot ang kaniyang noo. Tahimik niyang inilapag sa sofa ang mga bitbit niya bago siya nagsalita. "These are for ou—I mean your daughter, Ali. I brought some toys and dresses for her."
"You don't actually need to do that, Blake. Conrad and his parents spoil that kid too much. I don't need another one that would add to the mountain of her toys and clothes," natatawang sabi ko habang inaalala ko kung paano ko prinoblema ang paglalagyan ng mga damit at laruan ni Andronica.
There was something that glimmered in his eyes. Para naman akong natauhan sa aking sinabi. Siguro ay nasaktan ito sa katotohanang mas malapit pa si Conrad kay Andi kaysa sa kaniya.
He maybe Andi's biological father, but I wasn't really confident that he'd be a real father to her. Paano kung may sabihin sa kaniya ang sarili niyang anak at hindi siya maniwala? He would repeatedly break her heart and tear it into pieces, kaya mas mabuti na lumaki itong si Conrad ang kinikilalang ama.
"Anyway, thank you pa rin. Ano pala ang sadya mo?" I casually said to fill the sudden awkward silence.
"I just brought these gifts for the child, and I would also like to ask how are you," seryosong saad nito.
"You should sit first, Blake," mahinahong tugon ko.
Tumayo ako mula sa aking kinauupuan at naupo sa harap niya. Blake sat beside the paperbags and just stared at me. Malamang ay hinihintay niya ang sagot ko sa tanong niyang kumusta ako.
I crossed my legs and stared back at him.
"I am doing well. Well, we are doing well. We are preparing for the next trial, and I would like to thank you for your help before. Sobrang laking tulong ng mga video na iyon," nakangiting saad ko. I am genuinely grateful for what he did.
"You are always welcome, my Ali," he quietly answered.
My Ali. Tila ba muling gumuhit ang pait ng kahapon sa aking kalooban. For him, I was his. I was his to use and throw away when I no longer served the purpose I was there for in the first place. He easily disposed of me when he found delight in his ex's vagi—oh, my thoughts.
"I have a question," he said, cutting the train of thought speeding into my head. "Are you really sure about us? Wala na ba talaga tayong pag-asa, Aliyah?"
Agad na napataas ang aking kilay dahil sa kaniyang tanong.
"We could build a family, Ali, and I will be giving you my all," tila nagmamakaawang saad ni Blake. Makikita sa kaniyang mata ang kaunting pag-asa, pero hindi ko na kayang ibigay ang gusto niya.
Inubos na niya ako noon, and all that's left in me right now is myself and my daughter. Wala nang matitira sa akin kung ibibigay ko pa ang gusto niya. Masaya na ako sa kung anong kinalalagyan ko ngayon, masaya ako na wala na siyang gaanong parte sa mga kaganapan ko.
