Echoes of Secrecy [UNDER REVISION]

Chapter 22

"When will you come back, Mommy?" Ayeasha asked as she looked at me with sad eyes. Aww, my baby.

I crouched down to her eye level. "I will come back after three days, sweetie."

"Three nights sleep pa po?" She asked again, pouting. Uh, I wanna pinch those cheeks. Sometimes, 'di ko talaga mapigilang panggigilan ang anak ko. She's just too cute and beautiful.

"Yup. But don't worry, I'll call you every morning when you wake up and every night before you sleep. How's that?" Ngayon na ang araw ng alis ko papuntang Batangas. Gustong sumama ni Ayeasha pero hindi pwede dahil may pasok siya bukas. Monday, Wednesday and Friday kasi ang schedule ng klase niya. E Friday na bukas kaya hindi pwede.

"Really?" She asked in confirmation. I nodded my head. "Promise?" Inilahad niya ang kanyang pinky finger.

A memory suddenly flashed in my mind at what she did. I can see my younger self in her, doing the same thing. But I shrugged those thoughts off. I should forget those.

"Yes, promise." Saka ko ipinagdikit ang hinliliit namin.

"I will miss you, Mommy." She then say after.

"I will miss you too, swetie. Be a good girl okay?" Bilin ko sa kanya, tumango naman siya saka humalik sa pisngi ko. I kissed her forehead before standing up and faced my parents.

"Mag-iingat ka sa byahe, anak." Bilin ni Mommy.

"I will, Mom. Mag-iingat rin kayo dito." I then kissed my parent's cheeks. "See you after three days!" Paalam ko bago lumabas ng bahay. Nasa kotse na ang mga gamit ko. I'll be driving alone papuntang Batangas. Si Kent naman, ewan ko kung saan na siya ngayon dahil wala naman kaming communication. Ang mga secretary lang namin ang may communication. Siguro nauna na siya sa Batangas.

Supposedly, ako lang dapat ang pupunta, but he insisted that he wants to see the land too na pagtatayuan ng resort. And since they are part of this project, wala akong magagawa.

Getting inside my car, I immediately fasten my seatbelt. I turned the engine and drove off. It'll be a long one hour drive.

When I reached Batangas, saktong lunch time na kaya gutom na rin ako. Sinigurado ko talagang ten ng umaga ako aalis para pagdating ko, lunch time na. Ayaw ko kasi na mag stop pa dahil gusto ko tulo-tuloy lang ang byahe.

I reached the hotel where I'll be staying for the next three days. Malapit lang kasi dito ang pagtatayuan ng resort kaya dito ko pinili na mag-stay.

"Good afternoon, Ma'am. Welcome to Rest Hotel." Nakangiting bati sa akin ng receptionist.

I smiled back. "Good afternoon. Uh, reservation for Zane Andrada."

"Oh. Wait a minute, Ma'am." She said politely before looking at the computer. A minute after, tumingin ulit siya sa'kin. "Your room number is 304, fifth floor and here's your keycard. Enjoy your stay!" She handed me the keycard.

"Thank you." Then I walked towards the elevator with my luggage.

Nang makarating ako sa fifth floor, agad kong hinanap ang room 304. Hindi naman ako natagalan dahil agad ko itong nahanap.

I swipe my keycard before entering the room. I then close the door and lock it. I take time to look around the room and all I can say is, it's big for one person. There's a queen size bed in the middle, a dresser in the left far side of the bed and a closet where I can put my clothes beside it. There's also a big flat screen TV facing the bed. And don't forget the glass wall window facing the left side of the bed, just beside the dresser. I can see the beautiful view outside, it's refreshing and relaxing to look at. From where I'm standing, I saw a door in my left which I guess is the bathroom.