The Aftermath of Pleasure (SPG)

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Nineteen | Meeting

I released a deep breath as I tried to calm my heart. Hindi ako makapinawala sa sarili. Even after everything, he still has an effect on me.

Ibang level na katangahan, Thalia?

Pinigil ko ang ulo ko. It's really funny how the heart still functions in such a way even after all the pain inflicted upon it and all the hard-earned lessons it had to swallow.

I calmly collected myself. Kailangan kong ituon ang sarili sa mga mas importanteng bagay. Kailangan kong isipin ang anak. I am the only one who could provide for him. It is also my duty to keep him away from Zach.

Hindi ko na ulit nakita si Zach sa araw na iyon. Hindi na rin ulit nagawi si Balthazar sa office ko. It wasn't an eventful day, buong araw akong nakatunganga sa office at naghihintay ng financial reports.

I tried to brush the feel of Zach's touch from my head. I haven't been touched that way for a very long time. Sa loob ng ilang taon ko sa Los Angeles, wala akong naging boyfriend. They were guys who tried to hit on me but it was as though I've lost interest.

Maybe... it's hard to find love once you already know what it looks like.

Baka ay ganoon lang talaga... There are lessons you can't seem to learn. There are moments of foolishness na kahit ilang beses pinapaalala sa iyo'y hindi mo talaga lubos na mahahawakan.

Isang bunting-hininga ang lumabas sa aking bibig. I stretched my legs below my table. Tumayo na ako at kinuha ang bag para makaalis.

Kahit sa condo, walang naging ganap ang gabi ko. Lascaux was asleep when I called.

"I think it's time for Lascaux to follow you there..." si Gaea na katawagan ko ngayon.

I stiffened at my friend's suggestion.

"I'm just saying, Thals. Uuwi ako sa Pilipinas sa susunod na buwan. Kung gusto mo, dadalhin ko ang bata. The boy is really missing his Mommy very much. Nahihirapan na si Marie na pakainin at aliwin. Even your Mom finds it difficult to distract the boy."

Buong gabi ko iyong pinag-isipan. I tossed and turned on my bed at nakaligtaan ang pagdaloy ng oras.

It is very risky to send my son here. Alam ni Zachary na buntis ako nang umalis ako ng Pilipinas. Alam niya na anak namin si Lascaux. It's even a miracle na hindi niya pa tinatanong ang tungkol sa bata hanggang ngayon!

My initial plan is to tell him that I had a miscarriage para hindi na siya magtanong. Once he knows about our son, he will surely take him away from me! Especially now that he is so rich and powerful!

Alam ko na karapatan niyang malaman ang tungkol sa anak pero kung sasaktan niya lang din o hindi i acknowledge si Lascaux, huwag na lang.

Sa sumunod na araw ay lutang ako dahil ilang oras lang nakatulog. Cherry Ann was more flustered than usual this morning.

"M-Miss Zamualda!" She shrieked when she saw me enter the office, "Would you like coffee, Miss!"

Pinandilatan ko si Cherry Ann. Ganoon ba talaga ka obvious na wala akong tulog?

"It's okay, Cherry Ann. Mayroon na ba akong dapat gawin ngayong umaga?"

Cherry Ann adjusted her glasses, "Wala po, Miss. P-Pero after lunch po, bilin ni Sir na um-attend ka sa isang board meeting."

Board meeting? Kailangan ba 'yun?

"Okay... uh, can you please fetch me from my office nalang when the meeting starts?" I asked. Agad naman na um-oo si Cherry Ann.