Mr. CEO's Baby

Chapter 8

My chest was panting too hard that
it made me not to breathe properly.
Kinuha ko ang baso  sa aking
harapan just to ease what I'm feeling right now. 

My mind was borbarded with questions.

Ano ang gagawin niya sa kompanya?
Tatanggalan niya ba kami nang trabaho?
Pupunta ba siya dito?
Kukunin niya ba ang anak ko?
Ano ang laban ko sa kanya?

Napahikbi ako sa naisip. I kept inhaling pero hindi humihina ang dagundong sa dibdib ko. Sumasakit ang ulo ko sa sobrang pag iisip.

"Anong nangyari? Bakit ka umiiyak? Tanong ni Vie."

"Vie, Si Vlad... 
Siya ang bagong may ari nang kompanya."

"Ano? Shocked was shown to Vie's face."

"Wait, what? Pati ba naman ang kompanya niyo, kinuha niya? Anong gagawin niya dun? At..at  nasisiraan na ba siya?!"

"Hindi ko alam! Pero ang anak ko.
Gu.. gusto niyang makilala."

"Natatakot ako Vie." Pano kung kunin niya sa akin si Eli? Hindi ko kaya."

"Shh".. alo nang kaibigan.

"Hindi niya kukunin sayo si Eli.
Ikaw parin ang nanay. Kahit saang husgado ka pa niya dalhin, ikaw parin ang nagpalaki at nagtaguyod sa bata. At lalaban tayo bes. Okay?. .kumalma ka. Kailangan mo maging matapang.
I can't understand him. Ayaw niya nga sa inyo dati tapos ngayon, habol nang habol. Ano bang gusto niya mangyari?

"He is my boss now. Should I start looking for a new job?"

"Kung yan ang makakapanatag nang loob mo. Hindi ko na talaga maintindihan ang mga lalaki ngayon. Iilan nalang ang matino.
Isa pa yang Vlad! Sakit sa ulo!"

Gusto ko lang naman nang normal na buhay para sa amin nang anak ko. Pero bakit napakahirap? My past still haunts me.

I'm glad that Vie's here. She made me calm down. Time will come na magkikita ulit kami. Tama si Vie.
I fought a lot of battles. Ngayon pa ba ako susuko, na may anak ako. Siya ang buhay ko. Hindi ako papayag na kukunin siya saakin.

It was Saturday morning. Eli and I decided to go to the mall. Nag promise kasi ako sa kanya na dadalhin ko siya sa paborito niyang fast food restaurant. I can see that she's very happy everytime we go outside together. I remember, kailangan ko palang mag grocery. So we went to the grocery section. I was pushing the cart, while Eli on the other hand was sitting in front of it. She was amazed by the things she can see. Napapalingon din ang nadadaanan namin and would say how cute my baby is. I'm very happy when people would compliment my little one. Pakikiramdam ko, siya ang tanging tama sa buhay ko. That I'm a good mom.

I stopped to look for Eli's milk when someone handed me the same brand that I used to buy for her.

I was shock to see him here.

"This is a good brand for your kid." he said.

I accepted it and still awe.

"Anong ginagawa mo dito?"

"Buying?"

"Pano mo nalaman na I need milk?"

"Well.. Let's say. May lahi akong manghuhula." He chuckled.
Kidding aside. I saw you're with a kid. So, yeah

It doesn't make sense, but..

"She's my daughter. Ah..
Van. .
Salamat nga pala sa pagtulong mo saakin." I smiled at him.

"No worries, anyone will do it if they were on my shoes."

"Still .. you have a choice. It's either help me or not get involved with it."

"Just so you know Lia, I'm not a good person. I have dark secrets too."

"But you still chose to help me. I know, a thank you is not enough. Napakabuti mo pa din. Kaya, sobrang salamat."

"Well, yeah. Ang kulit mo pala. But if you're really thankful, I accept free dinner." He laughed while looking at my daughter fondly."

"Sige na nga. I'm inviting you over dinner. Pa thank you ito ha." Natatawang sabi ko.

I realized meeting him is not that bad as I thought. I have few friends. Vie is my closest friend. She's like a sister to me. And Van I guess is not a bad person. I was just too easy to judge him.

I payed and we drove off to my house. Nagluto ako nang adobo as he requested for it. His favorite, he said.

"Magandang gabi people!"

Titaaaa ninaaaang!! Eli stopped playing with Van and screamed when she saw Vie.

"Ohlala! May bisita pala tayo. Hi pogi! I'm Vie! 26! You are?" while giving her hand for a hand shake

Van looked at my best friend's hand with curiosity on his face and looked back at me and said..

"I guess, let's call it a night. I'm full and ah, thank you Lia for the dinner. It was a great food. Goodbye pumpkin." As Van said goodbye to Eli

"Byebye tito Van!

"Salamat din Van. Mag ingat ka pauwi."We walked him outside. He went inside his car and looked at us. He had this weird look while staring at Vie.

"Arghhhh! Napakabastos naman nang lalaking yon!"

"Eh bakit ka namumula?" I asked her jokingly.

"Namumula ako sa galit! Hindi niya man lang sinuklian ang pa hand shake ko. Nakita mo ba yon? Nakakahiya! Tinitigan niya lang. Napakapresko!" Paghihimutok nang kaibigan habang papasok kami nang bahay.

"Grabe pa makatingin. Akala mo lalapain ang beauty ko."

I laughed at her reaction.

"Mabait naman si Van. Baka pagod lang yung tao at gusto nang umuwi."

"Nanliligaw ba yung Van sayo?"

"Ano kaba! Hindi nu! Mabait lang yong tao. Siya ang tumulong sa akin. Tsaka aksidenteng nagkita lang kami kanina sa mall."

" I don't trust him. Napaka misteryoso niyang tao. Grabe pa makatingin."

"Sayo lang naman tumitingin sayo nang ganun. Baka type ka."

"Type? Ako? May boyfriend ako nu!" Proud na sambit ni Vie

" Haha oo na po. Kayo na ang may boyfriend."

"Basta! I still don't trust him! Mag iingat ka dun ha. Napakahirap talaga mag tiwala sa mga lalaki ngayong panahon.