Next to you

SEASON 2: CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER ONE: MINE

"Goodmorning mam. These are the files you are asking for. And these are the files from Empress View hotel. You have a luncheon meeting with senator Perez, and at 4 o'clock meeting with Mister Ferrer. You also have a dinner meeting with Mr. Santos.

By the way mam, Dr. Butista called a while ago and told to me to tell you to call him back. That's all mam." I nodded in response and told her to leave.

"Hello Rhed?"

"Hi baby, busy?"

"Yes, why did you call? Did something happen to my daughter?"

"No, wala naman. Gusto ka lang daw kausapin ni Drea."

"Then where is she? Bakit ikaw ang kausap ko? Put her on the phone."

"Yes mam!"

"Hewow momi?"

"Hello baby, where are you at?"

"We awe at the howspitaw momi. I am playing with my dowl. Tito Whed is tawking to his patients momi."

"Oh really, are you behaving there baby?"

"Of cowse momi. Oh momi, I need to pee. I love you momi, see you later." Namatay naman ang phone. I miss my daughter. Pero hindi ko siya pwedeng dalhin dito. Hindi naman dahil sa hindi nila alam, dahil alam ng mga employee ko na may anak na ako. Hindi rin naman dahil sa ikinahihiya ko siya. It's just that I don't want people to know her. Andrea Elina, looks exactly like her father. Female version, kumbaga. She has the same eyes, nose, lips. Ang nakuha nga lang sa akin ng anak ko ay yung kulay ng mata ko at yung shape ng tenga ko.

4 years ago, I chose to leave the Philippines. Lahat ng nakasanayan ko, lahat ng mahalaga sa akin. Nagpasya akong iwanan lahat. I went to Canada. With the help to Rhed, nakaalis naman ako agad. Noong una, nahirapan talaga ako. Malungkot dito. Wala akong pamilya, walang kaibigan, wala si nanay, at wala si Wess. But I want to live para sa akin, para sa anak ko. And so I live.

I used all my saving to build a small business, and I decided for a Soap business. I design my own soap, and sell them. At first, akala ko malulugi ako. Sino ba ang gustong bumili ng soap sa isang maliit na shop na tulad ng akin? But it seems like Fate was finally on my side at nakilala ko si Mister Golijo at si Madam Amanda.

They are the one who helped me establish my business here. Nakilala ko sila nang mapadaan silang magasawa sa shop ko, at nangangailangan ang hotel niya ng supplier ng sabon. They liked my design. Ipinakilala niya ako sa iba ibang mga tao. And since then marami nang gustong mag-order ng sabon sa akin.

"Mam, I'm sorry to disturb you but Mister Zachary Wess de Silva from Empress View hotel called and want to set an appointment with you."

Nagulat ako sa sinabi niya. No I don't want to meet with him. Ayoko pa, hindi naman dahil sa hindi pa ako handa. Kundi dahil ayoko lang talaga, I don't want to see him. Nor smell the same air. Ayoko.

"Tell him that I don't have any free time this month, Pia. I will also take a week leave, cancel all my appointments for next week. I miss my daughter, and I plan to spend one week with her, and take her on a vacation"

"Yes mam, how about if Mr de Silva ask if he can set an appointment next month?"

"Then let's see" And I dismissed her.

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"Hi babe!!" Mikaella was standing in front of me.

"What are you doing here Mikaella? Busy ako. Marami akong dapat gawin at asikasuhin. I told you not to come here during office hours."

"Bakit ka ba galit. I'm here to surprise you."

"Hindi ako galit. Ang sinasabi ko lang, hindi ka dapat nandito dahil office hours. Mayroon pa akong site inspection. Ang dami ko na ngang ginagawa dadagdag ka pa ba?"

"Well, I'm sorry to be a nuisance then. Aalis na ako, hindi ko matagalan ang ganyang ugali mo. Anyways it is just that bitch, called Ianne ang nakakaintindi sa'yo" Mikaella slammed the door.

Damn. Ano ba ang nangyayari sa akin. Bakit ba ako nagkakaganito. Fuck!! Hindi naman ako dating ganito. It all started 4 years ago. Noong panahon na bigla na lang nawala si Ianne.

My life has been hell nang mawala sa akin si Mikaella. Lahat ng sisi, ibinunton ko lahat kay Ianne. Siya rin naman kasi ang puno't dulo ng lahat. She made my life a living hell, and so did I to her. But I didn't know na magbaba-backfire pala ang lahat. When she told me she was pregnant, hindi ako naniwala. I believed na lahat ng sabihin ni Ianne ay puro kasinungalingan lang. I hate her for ruining my life, so I tried to ruin hers.

Sinabi kong ipa-abort niya ang anak niya. Hindi ako nakapag-isip ng tama noon. I just want to ruin her. To mess with her. To hurt her. Yun lang ang gusto ko wala na. But then, sumobra na ata ako. That afternoon, I am planning to say sorry. I hit below the belt. Ayoko naman talagang ipa-abort niya yung bata. But to my dismay, wala na si Ianne. Iniwan na niya ako. She was so fed up kaya iniwan na niya ako. I am hurt, inaamin ko. Mali talaga ako.

I've ask people around kung nasaan siya. All that was left was just a fucking resignation letter. Hindi man lang niya inabot sa akin personally. I asked Rine, En, nanay, even papa. Pero lahat sila iisa lang ang sagot. To let Ianne go, and let her move on. Everything has never been the same again.

Month later, after nawala ni Ianne, bumalik naman si Mikaella. She told me, she just needed a fucking space, she just needed time. We both do. Dahil mahal ko pa rin siya, I accepted her apology. Akala ko everything is back to normal. Bakit hindi? Anjan na ulit si Mikaella, I am the CEO and everything I want are all into place. Pero bakit ganun? Bakit may kulang?

Maybe all that is left is for me to have a family. I want to settle down. I want a child, children maybe. Pero hindi pa raw ready si Mikaella na maging ina. When she told me that, I am very disappointed, that's why hindi na ulit ako nagpropose. Parang nawalan ako ng gana, I started to become cold. I wanted a family of my own but she doesn't.

Since then, nakalimutan ko na si Ianne. I am hurt kasi iniwan niya ako. Pero kung iniisip niya na pababalikin ko siya, then she must think twice. Hindi ko siya kailangan sa buhay ko lalo na at nagbalik na si Mikaella. Guguluhin lang niya ulit ang lahat.

"Sir Wess, the representative of Eclipse and Eternity called. Hindi raw po sila makikipagmeeting for the meantime. Marami pa raw po kasi silang previous engagemants, as well as meetings for the rest of the month"

"What?! Damn. Maganda sana kung sila ang kukunin nating supplier ng soap para sa expansion natin. I liked their designs, I'm sure, people would want us kung maganda ang quality ng mga products natin. Kailan daw pwede? Next month?"

"Hindi pa raw po sure sir. They'll contact us na lang daw po."

"Dammit! Kung matatagalan yan, madedelay rin ang expansion ng hotel natin"

"Um sir, nasabi po kasi sa akin nung secretary niya na magbabakasyon daw po sila dito sa Pilipinas next week."

"So?!"

"Pwede po siguro nating puntahan, and personally na kausapin." I looked at my secretary and smiled. Good. Ayaw niyang makipagkita? Then fine! By hook or by crook she will work for me.

"Talk to her secretary and know kung saan sa Pilipinas sila magbabakasyon. Since gusto niyang maglaro ng hide and seek, then I'll give it to her."

"Sir, sa Tagaytay daw po sila magbabakasyon."

"Cancel all my appointments next week then. Maghahanap ako ng taong ayaw magpakita."

"Yes sir"

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Una sa lahat, salamat po ulit. Yung mga comments niyo dun sa author's note, grabe pinalakas niyo yung lookb ko. Maraming maraming salamat po. ^-^

Pangalawa, nasa second season na po tayo. Yes!! Ang layo na ng narating natin. And that is all because of You.

Pangatlo, sana po suportahan niyo pa rin. Ibang Ianne na po ito. ^-^

Yun lang salamat po

-carmela-