THE PERFECT HUSBAND (LEE BROTHERS #1)

Chapter 68. One Year Later

✧FAITH ZEICAN LEE✧

I WAS buried in paperwork, my mind focused on the endless tasks at hand, when the door to my office swung open. Colleen, my secretary, stepped in, her face a mix of urgency and excitement.

"Sir Faith," masaya niyang tawag sa 'kin, her voice slightly breathless, "nakita ko sa news na nakauwi na si Poppy at Mr. Herald dito sa bansa."

Agad akong nag-angat ng tingin sa kaniya, shock washing over me. "What? Are you sure?"

Colleen nodded, humakbang pa siya lalo palapit sa 'kin, holding up her phone to show me the news article. There it was, clear as day—Poppy and his dad had indeed come back.

A whirlwind of emotions hit me. Poppy hadn't mentioned anything about returning, and it had been a month since we last spoke. Nitong nakaraang buwan, natigil ang pagtawag niya sa 'kin at pag-ch-chat. Whenever I tried to reach out to her, she would send a brief message saying she was busy and had a lot to do. Dahil do'n, medyo nagbawas ako sa pang-iistorbo sa kaniya dahil ayokong makaabala. Pero ganunpaman, hindi ko nakakalimutang kumustahin siya sa pamamagitan ng chats.

But now, knowing she was back in the country without a word to me, left me both confused and hurt. Why hadn't she told me? What was going on that she couldn't even inform me of such a significant move? Busy pa rin ba siya kaya kahit isang message man lang ay hindi niya nagawa?

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my thoughts. "Thank you, Colleen," I said, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside. "That will be all."

Paglabas ni Colleen sa office ko, sumandal ako sa upuan at tumitig sa kisame. My mind raced with questions. Why hadn't Poppy told me about her return? What had changed in the past month? Despite the distance and the silence, I had always made sure to check on her. Hindi ko siya kinalilimutan. Halos araw-araw akong nagpapadala ng messages sa kaniya at hindi ako nagreklamo kahit hindi siya nag-r-reply at seen lang niya ako. But now, I felt a growing concern and a need to understand what was happening. To us.

Dinukot ko ang cell phone ko sa bulsa at agad hinanap ang pangalan ni Poppy sa contacts ko. Lakas-loob ko siyang tinawagan.

One ring.

Two rings.

Three rings.

Four rings.

Ring lang nang ring ang phone niya hanggang sa kusa 'yon namatay.

Baby, why aren't you answering me?

-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈

"Kuya! Kuya Faith!" Nagmamadaling lumapit sa 'kin si Summer nang makita niya 'kong dumating sa bahay. Mamaya pa dapat ang uwi ko, pero nag-undertime ako dahil hindi ako mapakali sa opisina, knowing na nakabalik na sa bansa si Poppy at hindi man lang ako nito kinokontak.

"What?" kunot-noo kong tanong kay Summer paglapit niya.

"Dumating na sila Poppy. Ka-chat ko siya kani-kanina, nag-i-invite siya sa birthday ng daddy niya. Mamayang gabi 'yong party. Nagpadala siya ng invitation para sa buong family natin, pero sinabi ko sa kaniya na hindi makakapunta si Mom at Dad since nasa vacation pa sila for their wedding anniv. Sinabi kong tayo lang magkakapatid ang pupunta. Pero balita ko invited din sila Mommyla kaya magsabay-sabay na lang tayo mamaya," litanya niya, malapad pa rin ang ngiti.

"Birthday ni Mr. Herald?" I furrowed my brows.

"Yes. Bakit? Hindi mo ba alam? 'Yon ang reason kung bakit napaaga nang two weeks ang uwi nila sa bansa. Gusto raw kasi ni Mr. Herald na dito siya mag-celebrate para makasama ang malalapit niyang kaibigan and business partners."