Lumayo Ka Man Sa Akin

Chapter III

October 31, 2005

It's been a month since Lillian and Hugo have been secretly seeing each other like a bunch of sixteen-year-olds. Lillian felt so guilty about hiding her relationship from Armando yet she wouldn't even call her relationship with Hugo a "relationship" to be exact. They haven't labeled each other's boyfriend and girlfriend yet she was content about it. She's a 36-year-old woman who doesn't need to be labeled as Hugo's girlfriend although the thought gave her chill of excitement.

Hugo would pick her up after work and they'd always go to dinner after that then they'd go to her place, watch a movie, make out, and cuddle. They never did anything more than those.

But today, Lillian is ready. More than ready to show Hugo her love.

He's supposed to pick her up in an hour for a date and Lillian decided to put on her one-shoulder degrade charmeuse dress, Cartier diamond earings, and YSL strap heels along with her beige Givenchy clutch bag and D&G Light Blue perfume. She left her hair down in nice wave and only put light make up on. She doesn't like to wear much make-up and she's been told she doesn't need it so she just keeps it light.

She scrutinized herself for the last time and smiled.

Tonight, she'll have Hugo.

...

Hugo has never felt so nervous his entire life. Sure he and Lillian have been seeing each other almost every night yet tonight, it felt different. He couldn't exactly pinpoint what it is but it's definitely something he has never felt before for a woman. Never.

He rang the doorbell and a minute later, Lillian's housekeeper Manang Edna answered the door.

Except for the two of them, only Manang Edna knows that he and Lillian are seeing each other. Lillian doesn't like telling people they're seeing each other and Hugo respects her wish of privacy although he's pretty sure she just doesn't want his father to know.

A part of him is jealous that she and her father are very much closer than he and his father have ever been and her loyalty towards him but he tried to forget about it.

Manang Edna smiled and opened the door even wider so he could come in, "Pasok ka, Hugo."

Lillian mentioned to him during one of their dates that Manang Edna acted more of a mother to her and she's very grateful about that. Manang Edna never even called her "sir" like how typical housekeepers would, just Hugo from the very beginning.

"Nag-aayos pa si Lillian, gusto mo ba ng maiinom?" she asked nicely,

"Water's good Manang," he answered. A few minutes later, Manang Edna returned with his glass of water.

As he was taking a sip from the glass, he choked on his water when he saw Lillian descending from the stairs. Lillian and Manang Edna were laughing hard.

"Hugo, okay ka lang?" Asked Manang Edna, trying to control her laugh,

Hugo slowly nodded, "Never better," then he looked at Lillian, "Are you ready beautiful?"

Lillian held his gaze, "Always,"

...

They went to a fancy Italian restaurant in Eastwood called "Schiavone's" which is Lillian's favorite Italian restaurant. She ordered lobster ravioli while he ordered shrimp scampi and a bottle of Merlot.

"Since we know almost everything about each other, I've always been wondering kung bakit ayaw mong maging involved sa restaurant ng Dad mo,"

Hugo chuckled, taking a bite of his scampi, and responded, "I've never wanted to be a chef in the first place,"