After Daylight

1. When She Was The One That Got Away

LOUISE

I was four months pregnant with my second when I saw Nathan once again. Pumunta ako sa Congress with my son Ferdinand Yllak to meet his dad and eat dinner after. It wasn't impossible to cross paths with him because I heard from my sister Valerie that he became a Congressman. Sandro is on his second term as the Congressman of the first district of Ilocos Norte. Pakiramdam kasi niya he needs more experience before running for Senator in which I agree.

"Motherhood looks good on you, Grace." He spoke. We were standing by the lobby, facing each other. Hawak ko si Yllak sa isang kamay ko habang yung bag ko naman sa kabila.

I smiled. "Hey Nathan. Long time no see." I replied gently.

He breathed. "You look really pretty." Nathan was looking at me with longing. I do not know why.

I chuckled. "Thank you Nathan. Congratulations on your win as a Congressman kahit late na."

"Doesn't matter as long as it's you."

"Right."

There was a silence between us until Yllak suddenly jumped beside me excitedly.

"Mommy! Daddy's out na!" He squealed, jumping.

I laughed. "Okay okay."

Yllak let go off my hand and ran to his dad excitedly. I saw Sandro met him and carried him to his arms then kissed his cheeks. Nakita ko si Nathan na nakatingin din.

"Hey Nathan. I have to go. We'll be having dinner kasi since Sandro became so busy with work and Yllak is always asking for his dad." I told him.

Nathan looked at me and smiled. "Sure Louise. I hope this won't be the last time that we'll see each other."

I only smiled at naglakad papunta sa mag-ama ko.

"Hey husband." I greeted Sandro.

"Louise ha. Nakita ko yun." He replied.

I laughed. "We just talked Sandro."

"About what?"

"He said motherhood looks good on me and some obvious stuff such as I am pretty daw."

Sandro rolled his eyes like a teenager. "I tell you that every day. He doesn't need to tell you that."

Kinurot ko siya sa tagiliran. "Sandro nga."

Inakbayan niya ako palabas ng Congress kung saan naghihintay yung driver.

"What did you do today little boy?" Sandro asked Yllak when we were seated inside the car.

Yllak giggled. "I watered the flower garden of ate Iris po tapos I told her the story of the Hunchback of Notre Dame pero pakiramdam ko hindi niya nagustuhan dahil umambon bigla." He replied innocently.

Sandro and I laughed.

"What if she prefers you to read her about princesses?" I suggested.

"That's what I was thinking. Can we buy books on princesses' po? I don't know anything about princess aside from they are girls who wanted to be saved by prince charming." He answered, making a face.

Binigay kasi namin kay Reika yung books ni Iris na nabili noon and Yllak is a boy so it only made sense.

"Ask your mom. She was once a princess saved by a prince charming." Sandro told him, smiling.

I made a face. "Kelan ka pa naging prince?"

"I am your real life prince. That's what I meant." He replied.

"Can you tell me that story?" Yllak asked innocently.

Sandro chuckled. "Remind me tonight."

I only rolled my eyes. Pero it was somehow true. Sandro was the prince who saved me from misery, married me right away and gave me the happy ending I deserved. Siguro part ng evil characters sina Dana at Kate. Or the media including the bashers. Less evil si Dani kasi naging kaibigan ko naman siya at nakatuluyan ng childhood kalandian ko na si Kaleb.

--

Nathan and I bumped into each other again after a week in the cafe outside our village. Sandro was out with his brother's and took Yllak with him. I just finished doing some chores at home and decided to hang here while waiting for the time to pass.

"We are bumping into each other often." He said when he asked if he could sit down on the chair in front of me in which I obliged.

I laughed. "Hello to you to Nathan."

"What's up Grace?" He asked while he mixed his coffee.

"Just hanging around. Writing whatever on my journal, savouring the Matcha since I am not allowed to drink coffee while waiting for my mag-ama." I told him.

Nathan smiled. "You have changed a lot for the past six years."

"We are bound to change Nathan. There is no growth if you do not change." I replied.

He nodded. "I missed you Grace. I do," I only looked at him. "And I am sorry for the things I was and did the last time we have seen each other in Baguio." Nathan said with sincerity in his eyes.

"I have already forgiven you Nathan. We did have one of those moments that we were happy in our own little world but eventually, we had to wake up and face our own realities."

He chuckled. "I should have told you that I love you back when we spent our weekend in El Nido or the time we went hiking in Mt. Pulag together."

I just looked at him, mouth parted.

"Nathan. I. . . . I do not know what to say." I managed to reply.

Nathan shook his head. "You do not have to say anything Grace. I just wanted to tell you that's all. I have no intention to ask you to come back and leave your family. I am not a home wrecker."

"Mommy!" Yllak suddenly appeared from nowhere. He had a cheeky smile on his face.

"He really looks like you." Nathan commented.

"I missed you mommy. Daddy and I had fun! There were small balls being hit by stick and they go all the wayyyyy the hill!" Kwento niya.

I laughed. "Did you have fun?"

He nodded. "Uhuh. Oh hi there mr. Are you mommy's friend?" Yllak asked with curiosity on his face.

"I think so." Nathan replied.

"Kay. Let's go na mommy. Daddy and I bought the princess book I am going to read for ate Iris. We bought like sangapulu." He said, showing me ten using his small hands. I think his lolo taught him that Ilokano word when we went to visit my dad in Baguio. 

I chuckled. "Okay okay," I looked at Nathan. "See you around Nathan."

He smiled and waved at me with loneliness in his eyes. Maybe when he told me that earlier and I haven't met Sandro, I would have felt the same.

I put Yllak in the backseat of the car with his seatbelt on beside the shopping bags which was probably where the books were placed. I headed at the passenger's seat beside my husband and saw a box of Vizcos strawberry shortcake.

"Huy! Kelan ka nagpabili neto?" I asked excitedly while taking it.

Sandro smiled. "Yesterday. I asked Dani to get some since they spent the weekend there yesterday."

I sat on the passenger's seat holding the box of cake with a smile on my face. I leaned to kiss my husband.

"I love you." I told him.

"And I love you wife." He answered back, looking at me lovingly. 

I might have felt the same feelings for Nathan but I am still bound to end up with Sandro no matter what. 

--

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