HIDING HIS DAUGHTER (UNDER EDITING)

CHAPTER 8

ANGELA'S POV

Bumaba ako ng kotse tapos tiningala ko yung kompanya namin - damn, parang mas malaki pa siya ngayon kumpara noong huli kong nakita ito. It's been three years since I stepped foot here, and everything looks so different yet so familiar at the same time.

Nagsimula na akong maglakad papasok pero biglang hinarang ako ng guard sa gate. He was built like a wall, eyes sharp as he scanned me from head to toe - probably thinking I was just some random girl trying to get inside for no good reason.

"Pasensiya na po Ma'am, pero ano po bang kailangan ninyo dito?" he asked, his voice polite pero may bahid ng pagdududa.

I let out a small sigh, forcing a calm tone even though irritation was already creeping up my neck. "Ako po ang magma-manage ng kompanyang ito, Kuya. Kaya pakiusap, papasukin niyo na ako." I tried to keep my voice steady, but I could feel my jaw clenching.

The guard just shook his head, a skeptical look crossing his face. "Naku po Ma'am, pasensiya na talaga pero marami na hong nagsabi niyan noong nakaraang araw. Hindi naman po totoo 'yun, e. Maganda ka nga po talaga, pero alam ko hong scam 'yang mga sinasabi niyo!"

That's when the headache hit me - the throbbing kind that starts at your temples and spreads all over your skull. I pressed my fingertips against my forehead, closing my eyes for a second to keep from snapping at him. Of course they wouldn't know me. I left this place three years ago when I was still carrying my baby bump, when everything fell apart and I had to run just to keep my little girl safe.

"Kuya," I said through gritted teeth, "pakitawag niyo po ang tatlong Hernandez. Sabihin niyo lang na si Angela ako."

The guard's eyes widened a little, but he still didn't move. "Ma'am, hindi po basta-basta matatawag ang mga Sir na 'yun. Marami po silang ginagawa ngayon - may board meeting po kasi sila kanina pa, tapos may mga investors pa silang kausap."

I pulled out my phone from my bag - the screen still had a photo of my daughter smiling face as her wallpaper. We have a group chat, me and my three older brothers - Kuya Adrian, Kuya Alvin, and Kuya Anthony. Kuya Anthony was the one who made it, and he named it '4 Cool A' - like we're still teenagers na nagkukulitan lang sa bahay. Nakakatawa noong una, pero ngayon, habang tinutok ko ang daliri ko sa call button ng grupo, naiinis ako.

The calls connected one by one. First was Kuya Anthony - I could hear loud music in the background, tapos narinig ko pa siyang tumawa ng malakas. "Naks naman! Pa-VIP treatment ka pa ha? Sabi ko na sa'yo kanina, sumabay ka na sana sa akin para hindi ka mapagkamalan na magnanakaw o ano pa." He laughed again, and I could picture him putting on his signature sunglasses even though he's inside his office - ang lakas talaga ng trip nitong si Kuya, kahit sa gitna ng opisina parang nasa beach lang siya.

"First time mong tumawag dito, ha?" Si Kuya Alvin naman, boses niya kalmado pero alam kong nagtataka siya kung bakit ako tumatawag ng ganito.

"Ang init-init, tapos sobrang hot ko pa kasi - syempre," Umepal nanaman si Kuya Anthony, at napa-irap nalang ako - he always had something to say, kahit na hindi naman kailangan.

"PAPASUKIN NIYO NA KO!" Sigaw ko na sa kanila sa telepono I couldn't take it anymore.

"Ayoko nga, baka scam ka pa!" Asar niya pa sa akin, tapos narinig ko pa siyang tumatawa. I wanted to strangle him through the phone, but I knew he was just messing around like always.

"Sige na, Anthony, tumigil ka na." Kuya Adrian's voice was firm now - he was always the mediator between us. "Bunso, papasukin na kita. Sabihin ko na sa guard."