A Safe Haven

23

I took off my long plaid coat and changed into leather black heels to pick up Rick and Lilyana at the entrance.

Ms. Reyes accompanied me downstairs, the employees we passed bowed in respect. I got out just in time because Rick's car had just stopped.

He got out of the car first and opened the door for Lily, when Lily saw me, she ran and hugged me.

She's wearing a white t-shirt with the brand kuromi and black pants, she's also wearing a cinnamon roll hat with moving ears. My baby is so cute.

"Mommy, I missed you," nakatingala sya sa'kin at marahan kong pinisil ang pisngi nya.

"I miss you too, baby ko," sabi ko at niyakap sya pabalik. "Let's go inside."

I held her small and soft hand and Rick was holding Lily's right hand.

"Angcute ng daughter ni maam,"

"Angpogi ng asawa ni Maam. Leila,"

"Angganda nya, mana kay Maam. Leila,"

"Kapag maganda talaga ang ina, maganda rin ang anak."

"Doctor yung asawa ni Maam. Leila, diba?"

I heard the employees say that they were amazed at my daughter's and Rick's beauty but I ignored it.

We just waited for the elevator to come down, when it opened I froze in my place when I saw Mommy with her guards.

Lumabas sya sa elevator at tumingin sya sa'kin, sumunod kay Lily na seryoso lang ang expression at kay Rick na ganoon rin. "Good afternoon... CEO. Leilani... Faith Ortega—Glavera." basag ang boses ni mommy dahil pilit nyang pinipigilan ang kanyang luha.

"Ms. Reyes, please assist them in my office,"
utos ko. "Baby, susunod si Mommy." sabi ko kay Lily.

"Yes, maam,"

Hinintay ko na munang magsara ang elevator bago ako magsalita.

"I'm leaving," Mommy was about to walk away when I stopped her, I held her hand and bent down.

"Leave us alone," utos ko sa mga bodyguard nya at nag-bow muna ang mga ito bago umalis.

"Are you going to leave me like Nanay Bella?" pansin kong natamaan sya sa sinabi ko.

"Y-You have a new family, Leila, I-I don't want to d-disturb you a-again." humarap sya sa'kin at kinuha ang kamay nya. Kita ko ang mga luha sa mga mata nya, kaya nadala ako.

"A-Are you my family too? M-Mommy, I'm still your d-daughter, aren't I?" humihikbing tanong ko.

"I really love you, L-Leila, but you seem to dislike me because of my shortcomings, I made a m-mistakes," dinuro-duro nya ang sarili nya at pinigilan ko sya. "I... I could hardly sleep when you left."

"Mommy, I'm sorry... I... I'm so sorry... t-to disappoint you... b-but I love our mistake—our daughter. I love her, Mommy," I argued. "For me my daughter is not a mistake but for you she is..."

"I'm sorry, Leila... I shouldn't have done that,
I was wrong and I regret it," paos na si mommy pero pilit nya pa ding binibigkas ang mga salita. "I made a lot of mistakes with you." napapikit sya at napahawak sa kanyang mukha.

I had the strength to hug her because I missed her.

Now, I can forgive her, I know she has many shortcomings in me but I can't tolerate her. She's still a part of my life.

"Do you want to meet my daughter?" tanong ko nang tumahan na sya.

"Can I?" I nodded.

We took the elevator so we could quickly go up to the 25th floor because my office is there.

I opened my office door and saw Lily and Rick in the living area, Rick was reading a story to Lily and she's listening quietly.

"Mommy!" she stood up when she saw me and Rick closed the story book, he also stood up to politely greet my Mommy. "Who is she, mommy?"

"Baby, she is my mommy, your grandma, Mommy, she is my 3 years old daughter, her name is Lilyana Nevaeh Ortega, and he is my... boyfriend, Rick Nevan Glavera," soon to be my husband, hehe, joke.

"Hi, Lilyana, I'm your grandma..." umupo si Mommy sa harap ni Lily at hinawakan ang kamay nya. "Nice to meet you,"

"Hello, ga... gadma..." pilit nyang binibigkas ng tama ang salitang grandma.

"Baby, g-grand m-ma," turo ko kay Lily at mukhang nasundan nya.

"Hello po, gr... grandma..." mommy smiled and wiped the tears from her eyes. "Nice meeting you po, grandma."

Tumayo muli si mommy at tumingin kay Rick, nag-bow sya kay mommy. "Nice to meet you too. Thank you for showing your love to my daughter. I can't even give her love but I know you can," lumapit sya kay Rick. "I trusted you from the beginning, so I will leave my daughter to you, cause I know... she's safe with you."

"I will not disappoint your trust in me, Mrs. Ortega. I will love your daughter and granddaughter." he said and looked at me and Lily.

"Don't call me 'Mrs. Ortega', you're married so call me 'Mom'."

"Mommy, we're not married yet." I whispered to her.

"And why not yet? Get married so I can catch up." mommy was still teasing me, Rick looked at me and I just raised an eyebrow at him.

"Copy, Mom." I smiled when he agreed with mommy.

"Okay, I'll expect that... I need to go," nakipag-beso na muna sya sa'kin at kay Rick, kumaway sya kay Liky bago sya umalis.

Rick's arm hit me so I almost fell. "Paano ba yan, um-agree na sa'tin ang mommy mo?"

"We also need your family's agreement." sabi ko at bumalik na sa desk ko.

"I'll take care of it." he murmured.

Pansin kong humikab si Lily at antok na antok na ang mga mata nya, pinagmasdan ko syang kinalabit si Rick para magpabuhat.

"She's sleepy," bulong ko sa kanya dahil hindi nya magets si Lily.

He heard my whisper so he picked her up and I arranged the pillows on the big couch for her to lie down on.

He slowly laid our daughter down on the couch and she only moved a little but I gently patted her leg so she wouldn't wake up.

I was sitting at the end of Lily's legs and Rick was next to me.

"Leila," he began, his voice low so as not to wake Lily. "I've been thinking a lot about serendipity." I raised my eyebrows, a bit confused but curious. Angrandom nitong lalaking toh. "How life sometimes brings unexpected moments that completely change everything."

I felt a strange pounding in my chest as he continued.

"You and Lilyana… you two are my greatest serendipities," he said, his voice almost a whisper. "Moments I didn't plan for, but I don't want to live without."

"There's something I didn't tell you," Rick admitted, making me nervous all of a sudden. Is he hiding something from me? "I've had insomnia for years. The nights seem endless, and sleep is something I can't understand. But... when you came into my life, Leila, everything changed. With you beside me, I started to sleep soundly, like I was finally home."

Sumakit ang puso ko sa sinabi nya. I didn't know. I didn't know na may problema din pala sya.

He took a deep breath, and he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. "For a long time I was looking for a place where I felt I could breathe, where I could relax. And then you came into my life, and I found that place, my safe haven—within you." Binuksan nya ang maliit na box at naglalaman iyon ng round diamond ring. "Leila, will you marry me?"

"Yes," I whispered, the word coming out softly. "Yes, Rick."

I gave my hand and he put the ring on it, then, he cupped my face and kissed me on my lips.