Between the Ice of Hearts (Cold Hearts Series #1)

Chapter 45

Now I'm in a deep shit.

Umakyat sa buong sistema ko ang kaba. I was shaking the entire time as I walked with Sage towards his office. Yes, alam kong malayo yung office niya dito sa Pedia.

I can't believe that this is real.

Sa totoo lang, hindi pa rin talaga ako handang sabihin kay Sage ang tungkol kay Diana. I owe him a lot. Apology, explanation, truth— everything. Hindi ko 'to napaghandaan. I decided to tell him about Diana a few days pa, bago ako tuluyang umalis.

Only it turns out that I'm just prolonging it. Kasi kahit na sabihin kong sasabihin ko sa kanya ang tungkol doon sa araw na 'yon, kahit anong rason pa ang sabihin ko sa sarili ko, ang totoo ay gusto ko lang patagalin.

Hindi ko rin talaga inaasahan 'to na sa ganito kami maghaharap-harap. Nataon pang nagkasakit si Diana. Mamaya ay isipin niyang pinababayaan ko yung anak namin!

When we finally reached his office, he let me inside first as he followed next. I flinched after he harshly closed the door.

He faced me as I sat down on his couch. Pansin ko na may ilang pagbabago sa opisina niya at dumami din ang libro.

"Explain that to me, Addison?!" Sage's angry voice thundered. "What was that?"

I gulped. I tried to open my mouth but the urge of me to cry was reigning.

"Is that my child, Addison?" he asked, croaking a bit. "Is she my daughter?"

I saw his fisting hands, as he felt the urge to cry although I heard his voice crack. He's not just trying to fight the urge to cry, but to burst the outpouring emotions he had inside.

I looked at him, with his eyes gleaming with tears as I bit my lip, trying to stop mine.

"Yes. Diana's your daughter." I finally said it as tears finally erupted.

"Why… how…" pumiyok na siya habang sunod-sunod na umagos ang luha sa mukha niya. He got weak as he let himself fall on the couch. Nakatulala lang siya habang sinusubukan niya pang iproseso lahat ng nalaman niya. Mas lalo ako napaiyak nang umiyak siya.

"I'm sorry," I gushed. "I'm so sorry…"

His hand massaged his temples as I heard his sobs. I felt a knife twisting painfully on my chest as I heard his sobs.

"How… could you do this to me, Addie?!" he cried.

"I'm so sorry," iyon na lang ang nasabi ko. Sunod-sunod na tumulo ang luha ko habang napapailing na lang ako.

"That's my daughter," he choked a sob as he cried more.

I bit my lower lip as I cried more. As the salty tears fell and I could taste them on my lip. I tried to wipe it, but it's no use. I cried even more. I felt like I'm going to die.

"All this time you hide…"

I shook my head. "Andi's not mad at you."

"Four years, Addie. It was 4 years. How could you not tell it to me?!" sabi niya. "We've been together, working for three months, Addison. Three months, how?! How could you not tell me about our daughter?"

"I wasn't ready," I told him truthfully.

"And when will you be?" he asked. "May balak ka bang sabihin sakin o wala? Hihintayin mong makaalis ka dito?! Is that it?"

Mas lalo akong napaiyak. Napayuko ako at dinama lahat ng sakit. It feels like what happened four years ago, that separation between us came flashing back like a déjà vu. How painful Sage felt when I got rid of him. And now, for hiding his daughter. Hindi lang ako may kasalanan kay Sage, pati na rin kay Diana. She's been wanting to meet him.