Alex's POV
What should i wear? Hmmm. It's my second day here in Singapore and i need to find something to wear for the event. Maybe i'll just wear this tuxedo.
*knock*
"Come in!" I said.
"Sir, 5 minutes nalang po nandyan na yung sundo niyo." Meea reminded me. She's dressed in a formal gown dahil kasama siya sa event.
"Sige. Pakihintay nalang ako sa lobby." Tugon ko sa kaniya.
"Okay po." She said tapos lumabas na siya ng kwarto.
After a few seconds, may kumatok ulit.
"I'll be down in 2 minutes!" Sigaw ko but the door opened and revealed Samantha in a black glittery gown.
"What are you doing here?" Tanong ko.
"Nandyan na daw yung service. You're still not done?"
"Lalabas na rin ako. Sa lobby ka nalang maghintay." Sagot ko. I fixed my necktie then binaba ni Sam yung purse niya at lumapit sa akin.
"Ako na nga." She said tapos siya na ang nag-ayos ng necktie ko. "I can do it." Apela ko pero naayos na niya.
"Yan. Tara na." She took her purse at hinila na ako palabas.
~~~~
We arrived at a hotel building with press people outside. Lagi kaming magkakasabay nila Lester and Sam on every events and meetings na pupuntahan namin dito.
Pagpasok namin sa ballroom ng hotel, may mga familiar faces na nakikita ko rin dati sa mga business trips. Until now, i feel like I won't get used to this type of events.
"Alex!" Someone called my name kaya napalingon ako.
"Mr. Chen! How are you?" Tanong ko as i shook my hands with him.
"I'm good. You're still looking good as ever." Compliment niya.
"Thank you. You look good yourself. Where's your wife?"
"She's around here meeting with her friends. What about you? Where's your wife?" Tanong niya sa akin.
"Here!." Sagot ni Sam na katabi ko. Then she paused for a few minutes at tumawa.
"I'm just kidding! You guys are so serious. His wife is in Manila. Too bad she couldn't make it here." Bawi ni Sam sa sinabi niya.
Samantha's POV
"Oh! That's why i was looking at your face and was like 'that's not Amara'." Sabi ni Mr. Chen. I just laughed and so did Alex. Hanggang dito ba naman, si Amara pa rin?
"Why can't she make it today?" Mr. Chen asked. So ano, si Amara na topic ngayon?
"She's pregnant. That's why I didn't allow her to travel." Sagot ni Alex.
"Wow! Congratulations!" Mr. Chen congratulated Alex. I'm getting bored with this conversation.
"Excuse me, gentlemen." I said and excused myself from them.
"Ughhh. So stressful." I uttered as i walked away from them.
~~~~
Alex's POV
Lester and I have been interacting with different people since kanina. May nagsalita din kanina na spokesperson from different companies and may mga nagspeech din na company owners. Medyo gabi na nga rin. Now, i'm just looking for Lester dahil wala akong kasama.
Bigla bigla nalang may humila sa akin kaya nagulat ako. Samantha pulled me to a table with some of her friends, i think. "I'm with him and his friend." Pagpapakilala niya siguro sa akin.
"Hi!" Bati nila sa akin. They are all girls here.
"Hello." Bati ko.
"You're Alexander Montevista right? My dad talks so much about you. He said that you are a wonderful businessman to work with. He worked with you years ago." Sabi nung isang babae na kasama nila. Parang namumukhaan ko nga. Baka naging client na namin sila sa kompanya.
"That's very nice of him. Thank you." I said.
"But he told me that you aren't married yet--wait. Is Samantha your girlfriend? O my gosh you guys look so cute together." Compliment niya at tumawa naman si Samantha.
"Right? We do look cute together." Segunda ni Sam.
"But I'm already married. My wife is actually in Manila." Sabi ko.
"Oh! I'm sorry about that. What's her name? Maybe i've met her before." Tanong niya.
"Amara De Vida-Montevista. She's a very beautiful woman and I'm pretty sure you'll remember her if you already met her." I proudly said.
"Amara! Yes, i remember! Though we haven't seen each other for so long but yes, i remember that lady. She's very smart. Well Sam, i think you should get a boyfriend yourself."
"Of course." Sam said tapos tumingin sa akin at ngumiti.
"But let's not talk about that. I'm having a hard time looking for one." Dugtong niya.
"Well, i can help you. There's a lot of cute guys walking around here." Nagpigil nalang siya ng tawa when her friend said that.
"Oh, i meant i already found one. But i have to wait for a little bit." Sagot niya. Si Wilson kaya ang tinutukoy niya?
"Okay. It's nice chatting with the both of you. If you'll excuse me. See you around!" Sabi nung kaibigan ni Sam tapos umalis na.
"Aalis muna ako, hanapin ko lang si Lester." I told Sam tapos pinigilan niya ako.
"Wait lang. Let's drink muna. Sayang naman na pumunta ka sa party tapos hindi ka magpaparty." May dumaan na waiter na may dalang tray of wine tapos kumuha si Sam ng dalawang wine glass.
"Here. Cheers to a great business trip!" Sabi niya then inabot niya sa akin yung isa then she made a toast.
I drank a little bit and so did she tapos pinunasan niya yung glass dahil nalagyan ng lipstick niya.
"Saan kayo pupunta ni Lester after this?" Tanong niya.
"Back in the hotel. Medyo pagod na rin ako." I said tapos tumango tango lang siya at uminom ulit ng wine.
~~~~
Parang nakakatatlong glass na ng wine si Sam and kanina pa siya tawa ng tawa. Nalasing na yata. Isa't kalahating glass palang naman ang naiinom ko. Medyo tipsy pero hindi gaano.
"Sam, i think we should go home. You're drunk." I told her pero she placed her index finger infront of my mouth as if telling me to be quiet.
"Hindi pa ako lasing." She said. Hindi siya mukhang lasing kapag pinakinggan mo siya magsalita kasi diretso pa ang sinasabi. Pero alam kong lasing na yan.
"Alex, uwi na tayo?" I heard Lester say from behind me.
"Yes. Sam, let's go." Wala nang nagawa si Sam when we walked away kaya sumunod na siya. Diretso naman siya lumakad. Hindi siya yung pagewang gewang kapag lasing. You wouldn't even think that she's drunk.
Sumakay na kami sa van tapos tumabi sa akin si Sam at sinandal ang ulo niya sa balikat ko habang nakapulupot ang kamay sa braso ko.
Nakatingin lang si Lester and sinesenyasan ako na tanggalin pero ang higpit ng kapit ni Sam sa braso ko kaya hindi ko matanggal. Nakatulog na nga yata eh.
We traveled for a few minutes then nakarating na kami sa hotel.
"Sam, nandito na tayo. Gumising ka na." Sabi ni Lester habang tinatapik siya dahil pareho kaming hindi makakababa ng sasakyan sa sobrang higpit ng kapit sa akin.
Bumangon naman siya at lumabas na ng van. She walked by herself papunta sa elevator and sumunod lang kami ni Lester dahil nasa iisang floor lang naman ang mga rooms namin.
Pagkarating sa floor namin, nauunang lumakad si Sam.
"Dito na yung room ko. Kita nalang tayo bukas." Sabi ni Lester tapos tinanguan ko lang and lumiko siya.
Lumakad pa kami ni Sam ng konti sa hallway then she stopped infront of a door. She took the key card from her purse and tried to open the door pero sa sobrang kalasingan, hindi sumasakto kaya hindi nabubuksan.
"Akin na." I said then i took the key card from her tapos ako na ang nagbukas ng pinto. She entered tapos bigla akong hinila.
"Sam, i have to go back to my room." I told her. She pulled me by the collar of my tux then she leaned in to whisper something on my ear.
"I'll make sure you'll be mine. Mark my word, YOU'LL BE MINE." Sabi niya tapos binitawan na ako.
I pulled my phone out to call someone.
"Hello?"
"Hello sir?"
"Can you please go to room ****. Pakitulungan dito si Sam." I said to Meea.
"Sure sir. Sandali lang po."
Then i turned off my phone. I waited for a few minutes then dumating na si Meea.
"Ikaw na bahala dito." I told her. Tumango naman siya kaya lumabas na ako ng kwarto.
What was she saying? Is that because she's drunk?
~~~~~
Amara's POV
Ang weird ng pakiramdam ko. Parang may mali. Kanina pa hindi tumatawag si Alex. Mag eeleven na ng gabi and yet, no calls from him. Nakatulog na nga rin si Calli habang nakasandal sa dibdib ko at nakayakap sa akin.
"Hayyy. Bakit ba hindi ka pa tumatawag?" I asked.
I decided to facetime him. I dialed and buti sumagot.
"Why are you up? Late na ah." Bungad niya sa akin.
"Hindi ka pa tumatawag eh."
"Si Calli? Gising pa rin?" Tanong niya then i showed him Calli who's sleeping.
"Nakatulog na kakahintay ng tawag mo." I said with a nagtatampo tone.
"I'm sorry. Natagalan kami sa event eh." He said. Nakatuxedo pa rin siya at mukhang kakauwi lang.
"Sige magbihis ka na muna. Goodnight. I love you." I said.
"I love you too. I miss you. Goodnight." He said then i waved at him and i dropped the call. Atleast okay na ako, alam kong nakauwi na siya.
Nacucute-an ako sa itsura namin ni Calli because we're wearing matching set of silk sleepwear. Kaya i turned on the light and tinaas ko yung phone ko to take a selfie with her. Then i sent it to Alex. Tapos after a few seconds, nagreply siya.
From: Mr. Husband
My beautiful lady and my cute girl. I'll be home soon. I miss you both. I love you ❤
Yieeee. Kilig na naman. Hahahahaha. Osya, inaantok na ako. Goodnight!!!
~~~~~~
Nagising ako because of the light coming from the balcony sliding door. Lagi naman iyan ang gumigising sa akin eh. Hahaha.
"Good morning!" I greeted Calli na tulog na tulog pa rin pero nagising when i kissed her forehead. Ganun pa rin yung pwesto niya since last night.
"Good morning mommy!" She said.
"Picture tayo bilis. Ang cute ng damit natin eh. Hahahaha." I said so kahit na namamaga pa ang mata namin dahil kakagising lang, nagselfie pa rin kaming dalawa.
Pagtayo naming dalawa, i pulled her into a hug. "Pwede ikaw muna ihug ko habang wala ang dad mo? Hahaha." I said.
"Hehehehe. Sure po. Yieee namimiss na si dad!" Pang aasar niya.
"Ikaw talaga!" Then i pinched her cheeks. "What do you want for breakfast?" Tanong ko while my arms are wrapped around her.
"Pancakes?"
"Well, dad mo ang may specialty na ganyan but I'll try. Sige, let's go." I said then i held her hand at bumaba na kami sa kusina.
Pagkababa namin, we went to the kitchen and binuksan ko agad yung ref to look for ingredients.
"Hot choco, mommy?" She asked habang nakabukas yung drawer ng mugs.
"Yes please." I said tapos kumuha na siya ng dalawang mugs and a teaspoon at pumunta sa kitchen counter.
Kinuha ko na sa ref yung mga kailangan ko then i closed it at pumunta ako sa kabilang side ng kitchen counter.
"Nakakatuwa naman at hindi nagbabago ang turingan niyo ni Calli." I heard manang say sa tabi ko. Mahina lang ang pagkakasabi niya para hindi marinig ni Calli.
"Buti nga po. Mommy pa rin ang turing niya sa akin."
"Dahil..." she held my hand at tumingin sa akin. "Naging mabuti kang mommy sa kaniya. Si Calli, hindi nasisilaw sa mga materyal na bagay. Mas mahalaga sa kaniya yung mga bagay na hindi nakikita pero nararamdaman. Katulad ng pagiging nanay mo sa kaniya. Kahit anak siya ng asawa mo sa iba, tinanggap mo pa rin siya." Napangiti naman ako sa sinabi ni manang.
"Hindi ko naman po siya tinuturing na anak ni Alex sa iba. Tinuturing ko po siyang anak namin ni Alex. Kasi dun po ako nasanay at dun din siya nasanay. Para sa akin, anak ko rin po siya." Ngumiti din si manang sa sinabi ko. "At kayo din po, lola pa rin ang turing niya sa inyo. Napakabait po na bata ni Calli." Dagdag ko.
"Pinalaki ko lang si Calli. Pero yung pagmamahal ng mga magulang, kayong dalawa ni Alex ang nagbigay sa kaniya nun. Kaya kayo ang kumumpleto sa kaniya. Kayo ang nagbigay sa kaniya ng pamilyang dapat meron siya." Sabi ni manang.
"Ano ba yan manang. Huwag niyo akong paiyakin. Umagang umaga eh. Hahahaha." Natawa siya sa sinabi ko.
"Oh sige. Ituloy mo na yan. Hahaha." She said tapos pumunta na sa lababo at pinagpatuloy ang ginagawa niya.
I mixed the ingredients and started cooking. Papasok pa si Calli sa school and ako naman sa work kaya kailangan kong magmadali.
~~~~~~~~~
A/N: Awwwwwww. Cuteness overload kay Calli and Amara!!!
Cute niyo Amara and Isabella 🤫. Hahahaha.
Tanggalin na ba natin si Sam???? Hahahaha.
Okay lang naman siya diba? Okay lang na tanggalin sa story hahahahhahahha.
Thanks for reading!!!