Breathless (Book 1&2)

Breathless Book 2: Harder to Breathe

8 years later.

Noreen

"Madam, here is the full list of menu that you've requested." Alisha handed me a black clipboard and there I saw some pieces of paper.

"Thank you." Maikli kong sagot sa kanya. I opened it and carefully checked what's written inside. "My daughter is a picky eater, we really have to be careful."

"Yes Madam, it wasn't long ago when you held your seventh anniversary with the young boss, kaya I still have the details regarding sa food choices niyo."

I chuckled upon hearing that, "Alisha don't call him young boss, you know how awkward he gets pag naririnig niya yan. Calling him Sir is fine."

"I can't help it Madam, actually yun talaga ang tinatawag nila sa kanya lalo na when he is not around. Sir will definitely inherit his father's position so calling him young boss is not really out of the question."

"Alam mo kung ano ang sinasabi niya sa akin parati?" I asked her habang hindi mapigilan ang pag ngiti. "That Alisha, your secretary, reminds me of Ron, just a female version. A legit female version." Sagot ko sa sarili kong tanong while imitating my husband's tone.

We both laughed because of that.

"Anyway, I'll leave everything to you. Please make Keysha's birthday a memorable one."

"I will Madam."

Seven years. Seven years na rin pala ang lumipas simula ng pinanganak ko si Keysha.

Parang kailan lang when I first heard her voice. Sobrang lakas ng iyak niya but she immediately stopped when the doctor put her on the top of me.

As soon as she calmed herself, ako naman ang naiyak sa tuwa because I was finally able to see her beautiful face. Yung saya ko nag uumapaw when I felt her soft and tiny lips sucking on my face, na parang may hinahanap.

I know and I felt that this child is really mine. That I would give everything to this child. That I would love her with all my heart.

"Ano nanaman ini-emote emote mo diyan?" Agad akong napalingon matapos marinig ang boses ni Ron. I put the picture frame back to it's place. Si Ron naman ang humawak doon. "Ang bilis no? Ang laki laki na ni Keysha, parang kailan lang nasa tiyan ko pa siya, ngayon nag mamaldita na!"

"Ikaw ang nanay?" Natatawa kong sakay sa biro niya.

"Alam mo, kung di lang kasalanan, may anak na rin ako diyan sa asawa mo! Titig palang nakaka buntis na eh!"

"Stop saying that, you know how awkward he gets when you tease him!"

"Hmm, yan talagang asawa mo! Pikutin ko yan eh!"

Ron never changed. Then and now, ganyan parin siya and I'm happy that I have him with me, kung wala, siguro matagal na akong nabaliw. Sa lahat ng mga nangyari sa buhay ko, I can say na isa siya sa mga naging pillar and the main reason why I continued living.

My smile suddenly faded matapos maalala lahat, and Ron immediately noticed that.

"Are you okay?"
"I am."

"Totoo?"
"Y-Yes. Totoo Ron."

"Seven years na Noreen."
"I know. Kaya nga okay na ako."

"Sa akin ka pa ba mag sisinungaling?"
"Ron..."

"Seven years. Pero may butas parin. Tama?"
"W-Wala na. Seven years na. Naghilom na."

Ron suddenly hugged me. Whenever he does it, I can't help myself to hug him back too. Sa kanya lang ako ganito, sa kanya lang ako pwedeng maging transparent.

"Seven years and yet kitang kita parin sa mga mata mo ang sakit." He whispered while caressing my back.

Tears suddenly fell. Hindi ko alam kung saan galing o kung ano ang tunay na dahilan. Hindi ko alam. Hindi ko maintindihan. Ang alam ko okay ako. Ang alam ko, okay na talaga ako.

"W-Why? After all these years?" Tanong ko sa kanya pero wala akong narinig na sagot. "Why do I keep on coming back to this feeling of emptiness? Seven years Ron. I thought time will fix everything but why is it that as the days goes by, it's also getting me harder to breathe?"