Sins of the Rebels (Lush Trans Series #1)

Chapter 64

Tumulong pa ako ng mahigit tatlumpung minuto kina Nikka sa harapan bago ko sinulyapan ang aking relo. Si Bloom sa Winx Club ang design nito— I impulsively bought it at SM Daet while I was shopping for a gift for Sayuri and Evo's daughter.

Kukunin daw nila akong ninang sa susunod nilang anak, kaya pumayag na lang ako dahil nakakahiya namang tumanggi. Dadami na naman ang utang ko dahil palaging busy ako sa sosyal-sosyalan kong buhay! Charot lang.

Hindi rin ako nagtagal sa party dahil sobrang busy ako nung mga oras na 'yon. Pero masaya akong makita silang lahat muli. Ang dami nang nagbago— lahat sila ay mature na at matagumpay na sa kani-kanilang larangan. Pero habang nasa party ako, hindi ko mapigilang maglinga-linga sa mga bisita dahil... umaasa akong makita siya noong gabing 'yon! Kahit pa sinabi nilang halos tatlong taon na raw hindi nakakauwi si Hermideo rito sa Labo.

Hindi ko naman sila tinatanong, pero sila na mismo ang nagkukuwento sa akin tungkol sa naging buhay ni Hermideo nitong mga nagdaang taon, kaya tuloy parang...

Ipinilig ko ang aking mga naiisip, umakyat na naman ang dugo sa aking mukha. Wala ako sa sariling napa-baling sa pwesto ni Hermideo na nakatingin na pala sa akin.

Nagkatitigan kaming dalawa, kanina pa naman siya tapos kumain pero nanatili siyang nakatambay rito sa shop. His gaze was intense, almost like he was waiting for something, and I couldn't help but feel the weight of his attention.

Dumako ang mga mata ko sa palasingsingan niya, may silver ring siyang suot. He's really married. He's married, Reese. Gosh. Now you should know where you stand and not make the same mistakes like what you've done years ago. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to focus on the present and not get lost in old feelings. I'm not that person anymore, and I won't let myself be drawn into something that could hurt everyone involved. It's better this way.

Hermideo doesn't remember me, I could see it in his dark eyes. There was a coldness there, a distance that spoke volumes. The familiarity I once thought I saw in his gaze was long gone, replaced by indifference. Whatever bond we once had was now just a memory, a fleeting moment in a past that no longer had a place in the present.

The door chimed, pulling me out of my thoughts, and I looked up to see Reign and Wick stepping inside my store. Inilibot ni Reign ang kaniyang mga mata sa loob ng Sophisticake hanggang sa tumuon ang mga 'yon sa pwesto ni Hermideo.

Buhat-buhat ni Reign ang maligalig na si Wick, mabilis na dumako ang mga mata ko sa kamay ni Reign at nakita kong may suot din siyang silver ring sa kaniyang palasingsingan. It was matching Hermideo's.

My heart skipped a beat as the realization hit me like a ton of bricks. The ring... they were both wearing it. The same exact design.

Pumalakpak si Wick nang makita niya si Hermideo na nakatayo na at hinihintay silang makalapit. Bumuka ang maliit nitong bibig, akmang sisigaw na ito para tawagin ang kaniyang Daddy nang may ibinulong sa kaniya si Reign.

The little boy giggled and nodded his head as if he understood what his mother was whispering to him. His innocent laughter echoed softly, bringing a sense of warmth to the moment. Wick, with his bright dark eyes full of curiosity, looked up at Hermideo with a smile that was pure and innocent.

"Daddy! Daddy!" Wick excitedly greeted Hermideo, who immediately broke into a wide smile on his thin red lips, his dark eyes lighting up with warmth. The little boy raised his two hands in the air, his small face beaming with excitement, clearly eager for his father to pick him up.

Without hesitation, his movements slow yet full of care, Hermideo walked over to scoop Wick into his arms. The little boy giggled as he was lifted, settling comfortably against his father. Hermideo held him with such ease, a tender smile on his face as he looked down at the boy, clearly fond of him. Wick giggled and nestled into his father's embrace, his small hands resting on Hermideo's broad shoulders.