Heart in Disguise (Heart Series #2)

T H I R T Y - O N E

It's been weeks after I gave birth to my daughters. After a week, I decided to go back to work. Of course, I wanted to be hands on with my daughters, but I badly want to work in the office too.

I told my parents about my decision. At first, they disagree with me kasi baka raw mabinat ako, eh, kapapanganak ko pa lang. But I am not Phaebe Zevierre or Adelaina for nothing. Kinulit ko sila nang kinulit hanggang sa pumayag na nga sila sa gusto ko. They allowed me to go back to work and take care of my daughters at the same time.

For the past week, I was able to appreciate motherhood. Ngayon ko lang din napatunayan kung gaano kahirap maging isang ina.

Something that every children should appreciate.

Appreciate your mother because she'd done hardships just to raise you before it's too late.

I was walking in front of my employees. They were busy carving. Wala akong ginagawa sa opisina so I decided to come to their chamber and watch them carve.

"What's that?" I asked one of my employees, Lu.

"Punong-kahoy po, Ma'am," sagot niya.

He's carving a tree. He made a frame for it on it's side but still attach on the same wood where he carved.

I nodded. "Hmm... it's pretty. Maganda iyan ilagay sa living room."

Naglakad naman ako patungo sa iba pang nagka-carve. Even Lucas is carving.

"Ano iyan?" I asked him.

He's carving a man and a woman. The woman is on the clouds and the man is on the water. The man is as if reaching his hand at the woman, but the woman didn't even take a notice at the man.

"Isang lalaki na pilit inaabot ang babae. Langit ang babae at ang lalaki ay nasa ibaba lang. Nilulunod pa ng tubig na puno ng sakit at poot." Malalim ang boses na sabi niya. Hindi ko alam kung nagkakamali lang ba ako ng dinig but I really heard sadness in his voice.

"Oh..." I nodded. "Ang ganda! Ang lalim ng meaning!"

He smiled. Pinagpatuloy ang ginagawa. I just tapped his shoulder and continued checking everyone's work.

I noticed Alicia. She's the most cheerful one.

She carved a heart in the center of a square. The heart serves as a hole dahil butas ito. The sides of the heart has vines with thorns carved together. It looks so elegant.

"Nice job, Alice! It's so pretty! Keep it up!" I cheered.

Napatingin siya sa akin saka tumawa. "Ganda, 'no, Ma'am?"

I nodded and smiled. "Yep."

"May pinaghuhugutan, eh." She laughed.

Naiiling na tinap ko na lang ang balikat niya then I went to the other employees.

Well, I know every people's art here has something to do with their life. Alam kong lahat sila may pinaghuhugutan.

It's true that, 'the more pain you received, the more compelling art you'll create'.

Napangiti na lang ako habang pinapanood silang seryosong nagka-carve.

"Ma'am! Ma'am! Aray ko! Ma'am!"

Napalingon ako sa tumatawag sa akin. I know it's Cecel but I am confused why she looks so horrified.

Nagtatakang pinanood ko siyang lumapit sa akin.