Breathless (Book 1&2)

Harder to Breathe #1

Harder to Breathe #1
Noreen

I opened the door of her room matapos akong mag-ayos. I smiled as soon as I smelled her baby cologne.

"Keysha, are you done?" tanong ko habang naglalakad palapit sa kanya. She looked at me and smiled a little. Hinalikan ko siya sa pisngi, I always love to do that. Ang lambot lambot kasi nun at ang sarap sarap niyang halikan. She has these natural pinkish cheeks that I really love to look at.

"Oh, looking at your pictures again?" I asked her saka siya tinawag para umupo sa tabi ko dito sa gilid ng kama niya.

"It's my favorite." Sagot niya saka ako saglit na tinitigan "Is it your favorite too Mommy?" tanong niya sa akin and I smiled widely.

"Everything about you is my favorite, baby." Kinuha ko yung photo album niya which consisted of her 7th birthday photos. "But for now, kailangan tayo ni Daddy kaya you have to prepare na, okay?" she nodded at me. I called her yaya to prepare her dress, binihisan na rin siya kaya inantay ko na lang siya sa baba.

Maraming tao sa bahay ngayon, media, clients and business partners. Since my husband assumed his position, the company's success doubled.

"I'm so proud of you!" bulong sa akin ni Ron. He was smiling habang hawak ang baso ng champagne na iniinom niya.

"Proud? Mas proud ako sa iyo, sino bang mag-aakala na magkakaanak ka?" asar ko sa kanya, agad akong natawa matapos makita ang pamumula ng mukha niya "Kung alam ko lang, edi sana ikaw na pinikot ko noon!" dagdag ko pa.

"Siraulo!" agad naman niyang sagot "Saka wag mong sabihing nagsisisi ka? Ano pa ba ang hahanapin mo sa asawa mo? Gwapo, mayaman, matalino at saksakan ng bait!" puri niya, I smiled widely.

"Oo naman, wala na akong hihilingin pa. Besides, we also have our beautiful daughter. Our family is, is p-perfect."

Marami ang lumapit sa akin, mga kakilala, meron ding hindi. I also started working at our company, full-time, after kong manganak kay Keysha. I also assigned to Ron, the biggest office branch namin dito sa Manila, kaya sobrang laki ng pasasalamat niya sa amin, well wala naman akong ibang pagkakatiwalan kung hindi siya.

"Mom, where's Grandma?" tanong ni Keysha sa akin matapos niyang hilahin ang laylayan ng dress na suot ko. I smiled and looked down at her matapos pisilin ulit ang pisngi niya.

"Busy ang Lola, bakit miss mo na agad siya? Selos na si Mommy." Sagot ko.

"No." maikli naman niyang sagot agad. It still surprises and amuses me kahit na sanay na ako sa ganito niyang attitude.

"Why don't you play with the other kids? Andyan si Jiro nakita ko siya kanina."

"That's too bothersome." She simply replied.

"Oh, okay then, will you excuse me? Marami pa kasing guests si Mommy, I have to help your Dad, tignan mo di na niya alam ang gagawin sa dami ng nag-a-approach sa kanya. I promise to make it up to you later, okay ba?"

"Is it okay if I just go to my room? I feel sleepy." Hindi ako agad nakasagot sa kanya, I just looked at her Yaya saka tumango, hinatid ko na lang sila ng tingin hanggang sa makapasok na sila sa bahay.

Keysha is a very smart girl. She excels in school pero boring lang ang social life niya, but I already talked to her teacher, sabi niya normal lang daw yun sa bata lalo na kung nasanay na mag-isa at walang kapatid plus she's a growing child, we should give her time to personally open up daw. She always look at the her previous photos, may hobby siya na tignan ng paulit ulit yung mga pictures namin from baby siya hanggang sa current age niya.

I asked her if she likes photography but she told me pag-iisipan pa daw niya. I can't help but to laugh every time na isasagot niya sa akin yung mga ganung linyahan. It feels like she has a body of a child but possesses a mind of an adult.

She's so mature for her age though I always want to see her smile, yun kasi ang madalas na kulang sa kanya.

For the past seven years, masasabi ko na naging okay naman ang lahat.

Being a mother isn't easy, I have to work hard for the company at kailangan hindi ko rin mapabayaan ang responsibilities ko for Keysha. My husband and I always see to it that we give everything she needs and wants, kaya minsan siguro yun din ang dahilan ng attitude niya. She's still young, at sobrang na spoiled talaga siya lalo na sa Daddy niya.

I always give her my time, kahit saglit lang, sinisigurado ko na meron at meron akong oras na kasama siya, well, I learned from the past, hindi ko na gugustuhin na mag-aksaya ng panahon. Ayaw ko na dumating ang araw na sasabihin niyang nagkulang ako, kami ng Daddy niya.

My husband, even though sobrang busy sa trabaho, he always find time to play with her kahit nung maliit pa siya. Si Keysha lang ang hindi masyadong mahilig, medyo tamad nga gumalaw galaw.

I can't help myself but to smile everytime na maalala ko nung nagbakasyon kami sa Lake California. It was a peaceful and lovely place. The mere view of it will tranquilize your ill feelings.

Keysha was fishing with his Dad that time, pero dahil naaliw sa nakikita niyang isda, she tried to reach the fishes kaya nahulog siya. My husband was in shocked at hindi niya alam ang gagawin, muntik ng mahimatay, buti na lang Keysha is a natural swimmer, she got it from me. Mas magaling nga mag swimming sa Daddy niya!

"Hey!" pukaw sa akin ni Ron "It's your turn."  He pushed me papunta sa stage. I smiled matapos magtagpo ang mga mata namin.

"Good evening everyone." I greeted "I just want to thank all of you for the unending support that you have given not only to me but to my loving husband. All the success that we have now is not only worked and made by the two of us but by all of you who steadily support us from the back, as well..."

and I started to reminisce those days...

Flashback

"I may not be the man in your heart right now but will you give me the chance to be him?" Tanong niya sa akin. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang isasagot ko, hindi ko alam kung titingin ba ako sa mga mata niya, sa mga labi niya o titingin ako sa malayo. "Noreen, marry me and I'll give you everything..."

End of Flashback

"Noreen, marry me and I'll give you everything..." I quoted as I remembered his line. I smiled at the crowd while they're all listening "Indeed, he fulfilled his promise." Dugtong ko.

"He gave me a family, a life that is beyond ordinary. A name, a company, a title and the most important, a daughter.  He gave me everything I want, everything I need and I am happy. Congratulations on your another success, congratulations to severn fruitful years together." I raised my wine glass as I proposed for a toast.

"Congratulations, Robb Coyiuto." I announced. "Congratulations, my husband."

Sie:
Keysha- \Ki-sha\