UNLOVING YOU [completed]

Prologue

I wasn't sure if going back to the Philippines will be okay. I am still vague about it. But of course I needed to go back because I already accepted the contract last month.

Maingat na kinuha ko ang maleta sa kama at lumabas ng kwarto. Austin was waiting for me at the living room. Pumunta pa talaga siya dito sa New York para sunduin ako pabalik sa Pilipinas. Nakakahiya nga dahil hindi ako nakapunta noong kasal nila ni Grace tapos siya pa ang sumundo sa akin dito. If only I was ready before I could have attended their special day but I wasn't.

“You ready, Leur?” he asked, tiningnan niya ang kabuoan ko at ngumiti “You look beautiful.”

I don't know if I'm already ready. I just know that I needed to.

Tipid na tumango ako sakaniya at ngumiti rin. “I can go home on my own naman, but thank you for fetching me, Austin.”

Napatawa naman, “Wala 'yon! I actually don't want to fetch you but my wife wanted me to, so...”

Pabirong inirapan ko siya. Ang sama niya kahit kailan.

“Kidding. Of course susunduin kita, there will be many reporters mamaya. Who knows what will they ask.” kabit-balikat na sabi niya at kinuha sa akin ang maleta ko.

Austin keeps talking about what happened in the Philippines for the past five years since I left. Siya lang ang nag pa-ingay ng biyahe namin hanggang sa dumating kami sa Philippine Airport.

When I took a step the dusty wind touches my bare skin. The smell of the Philippines smells home. The home I've been avoiding to go since the incident happened.

Pag tapak ko pa lang sa airport ay dinumog na ka agad kami ng reportes. I heard Austin cursed deeply as he try to cover me from the cameras.

“Are you gonna permanently stay here in the Philippines?”

“Totoo po ba na dito na kayo maninirahan sa Pilipinas pagkatapos ng limang taon?”

“Totoo po ba na sinadya mong ipalaglag ang anak mo para sa modeling career mo?”

They're pushing too much just so I can answer their questions.

Nang makapasok kami sa sasakyan ay malutong na nagpakawala ng mura si Austin.

“Damn it! Who the hell told those reporters about you going home?” kita ang inis sa mukha niya kaya natawa ako.

“I don't know either...” sabi ko at tumingin sa labas ng bintana.

Grace is currently on their Flower shop that she opened just last week. Kaya doon kami ka agad pumunta.

Pagkalabas palang namin ng sasakyan ay ka agad kong nakitang nagkakandarapang tumakbo ang dalawang babae papalapit sa amin.

“Leur! You're back! We missed you!” Mia exclaimed with so much joy. Mahigpit na niyakap nila ako.

I chuckled, “I miss you all more,” nakangiting niyakap ko sila pabalik.

“How about me? Where is my hug, love?” napalingon kami sa lalaki na tulalang nakatingin sa amin.

His wife walked towards him and he opened his arms wider to welcome his wife's hug.

Ganoon nalang ang pag bagsak ng balikat niya nang lagpasan siya ni Grace at nag tungo sa loob ng shop.

Tumawa kami dahil sa itsura niya at sumunod kay Grace sa kwarto ng shop nila. It's not just a room but a whole living room with a mini bedroom.

I was amazed. At first akala ko simpleng flower shop long ang ginawa nila. I didn't imagine that there would be a small house inside.

“We forgot to buy food.” mahinang sabi ni Grace na nakapag palingon sa amin.

“Edi bumili tayo! Let's buy ingredients and cook. Duh, we should celebrate dahil bumalik na si Leur.” sabi niya habang nakapameywang.

“Do you want to come, Fleur? We will buy ingredients for the foods.” malambot na tanong ni Grace.

“I would love to!” masayang sabi ko naman.

“Nah ah! Madaming dudumog sa atin kapag sumama ka!” malakas na sabi Ni Austin.

I paused a bit. Napa isip ako na kung sasama ako ay hindi kami makapag bili ng maayos.

“Right, I should just stay. Hihintayin ko nalang kayo, okay? So better finish buying groceries early!” sabi ko na ka agad nilang ikinatango.

It's been a while 20 minutes since the three left. I'm getting bored so I decided to go out and look for the flowers. All of the flowers are fresh and new. Colorful and smells good. Roses, sunflowers, carnations, kadupul flower, tulips and juliet rose. Why are the flowers so expensive?

Pumitas ako ng rosas at inamoy ito. Hmm, addicting. Napatigil ako sa ginagawa ng biglang bumugkas ang glass door at patakbong pumasok ang isang batang babae at bigla akong niyakap.

Who is this little girl?

Hindi ka agad ako nakagalaw dahil sa gulat. I stared at her. She's cute and pretty. Mahaba ang wavy niyang buhok na kulay brown.

I was about to ask her when she suddenly said something that shocked me in horror.

“You're so beautiful! I am happy that you will be my future mommy!”