Lumayo Ka Man Sa Akin

Chapter XIV

Lillian smiled, "She is a lot like you."

Before continuing, Lillian stood up and walked to the wine rack to grab a bottle of Merlot along with the cork opener. She then reached for a goblet from the oakwood cupboard, taking both the bottle and goblet on each hand. From the moment she stood up from the chair to grab herself a bottle and glass, Hugo watched her.

Despite the rage he felt towards Lillian, he couldn't help but be fascinated by her. Every movement she makes is graciously calculated, from standing up from her chair, pulling away from the table, turning her back against him as she walked further and further away from him. The sound of her peach-colored indoor slippers as they hit the marble white floor became more distant and distant the further she walked. Her hair was tied up loosely, revealing the natural waves of her raven hair.  She was wearing her white silk robe, reaching her knee yet loosely knotted. Underneath, he could tell, was a peach, V-Neck lingerie. The robe that she was wearing did an impressive job teasing her curves, from her waist to her hips.

Now facing him, he did not realize he kept watching her but this time, his eyes couldn't stop staring at her face. She was even more beautiful than the last time he saw her. She was stunning eight years ago: her hair was shorter, her face was and still is delicate but matched with her driven, self-sufficient, no-one-can-stop-me attitude. Now, she has matured. The little lines on her face revealed an even wiser woman, more mesmerizing. However, her doe eyes revealed the most: the innocence is no longer there. Instead, it revealed a woman who has seen it all, gone through it all yet at the same time, it revealed a woman who has somehow finally let her guard down after so many years.

"Hugo, okay ka lang?" Lillian asked as she pulled the chair where she was sitting and sat down once again. Waiting for Hugo's response, Lillian uncorked the bottle and poured half a glass.

"So, how are we alike? Alyanna and I?" Hugo finally said, taking another sip of his scotch.

"First of all, her name is Alejandra Madrid. She's naturally athletic so that's a given. She excels at every sport she's in. She loves polo, show jumping, and oddly enough, football. Maybe she became more invested in football kasi I would tell her stories about you and your love for the sport. Siguro that's her way of connecting with you." She took a sip of her merlot and continued. 

"She's very competitive when it comes to sports. Very adventurous na minsan, kinakabahan ako sa mga pinag-gagagawa nya. Lalo na pag laki nya. Also, you have the same mannerisms, she cracks her knuckles when she's anxious. She loves spicy food which I think is interesting for a seven year old."

Hugo couldn't help but smile. It warms his heart that he and his daughter share so much. Especially soccer. He can't wait for his daughter to finally warm up to him so they can do a lot of fun stuff together.

As if Lillian read his mind, "I know it's tough for you but Alyanna will eventually warm up to you. Give it a couple of days. I will let you spend time with her."

Hugo chuckled, "Oh trust me Lillian. I WILL spend time with her. Hindi ako humihingi ng permiso."

Lillian was caught off guard and took another sip of wine before responding, "Seryoso ako Hugo. Mahirap din para kay Alyanna ito. She knows you very well, ask her anything about you and I guarantee, she'd know. But iba na yung nandito ka na, na kasama ka na nya. She needs a bit of time to adjust."

She paused then continued, "Hugo, hindi ako hihingi ng patawad sayo sa desisyon ko na itago sayo si Alyanna. It was the decision I have ever made yet I don't regret it.  At that time, that honestly was what I figured was best. We were young and you had many plans and so did I."

"That's how badly you did not want me in your life?"

"No. Believe it or not, minahal kita ng sobra noon at hindi mo alam kung gaano kabigat sa loob ko na itago lahat."

"And how did Papá get involved?"

"Your father was my mentor. As you know, I never had a good relationship with my parents. When I started working for your dad, he became the father I never had. Honestly, maybe I was his ideal daughter because I was basically a mini-version of him. You and Paolo did not share his interests, I did. So he took me under his wing and I trusted him. I admired him, I wanted to be him. I wanted to build my own restaurant empire and nothing could stop me. When I found out I was pregnant, he was the only person I shared it with at that time because eventually, he would know and I did not want anyone else to deliver the news. I did not know anyone else to run to. I did not really have any solid friends and my parents are out of the question." She paused to take another sip of merlot and poured more in her glass.

"When I told your father that I was pregnant and did not want you to know, he understood yet at the same time, he did not want for Alyanna to not carry a part of you, your identity.... So he offered to marry me solely so Alyanna can carry your last name. At the same time, he wanted me to promise that Alyanna, though without meeting you, knew who you are. That you are her Papa. During my pregnancy, I was in the States and gave birth there. I needed to be away from everything and re-figure my life out. As Alyanna was growing up, your dad would tell her stories about you when you were little and how much you two are alike. Before Armando passed, he mentioned na tinanong sa kanya ni Yanna kung nasaan ka, which surprisingly she did not ask often. She asked me the same question recently. And he told her na you were working overseas and someday, you will meet."

Hugo was silenced. The wall of rage he once felt for Lillian and his father he felt began to crumble. He was not going to thank her for what she had done, after all, that was the least she and her father can do. But at the same time, he also realized that he needs to be in good terms with her for the sake of their daughter. Maybe it was the scotch but he had let his guards down for the first time since being with Lillian.

"So how can we co-parent her? How do I make her warm up to me?"

Lillian finished the last inch of wine in her glass, "Tomorrow. When I'm in Batangas, madalas ako namamalengke with Alyanna. Maybe you can come with us."

Hugo had the biggest smile on his face, "Really?"

Lillian nodded, "Yes. But I go at 6am so you better be ready."

Lillian stood up from her chair and looked at Hugo, "I'm heading to bed." She then reached her right hand out and said, "Co-parents?"

Hugo hesitated for a little bit yet he ended up shaking Lillian's hand, "Deal."

Maybe he had a little bit too much to drink, he slightly lost his balance, ending up pulling  Lillian's hand. Li llian reached for him and said, "Okay ka lang? Halika ihatid na kita sa kwarto mo." Lillian reached for his arm and placed them on her shoulders, slightly holding his weight as she guided him upstairs to his bedroom. By the time they reached his bedroom, Lillian sat him on his bed and the next thing she knew, his lips touched hers. She was surprised at first yet as he deepened his kiss, she gave in. Their mouths and tongues giving in to each other filled with longing, things only got heated between the two. Hugo started taking off his shirt and after he did, he untied Lillian's robe and feeling her body underneath her silky lingerie. Lillian was so turned on but she remembered he was probably very intoxicated. 

She did not know where she found the courage, despite the heat building up in her body, but she pulled away from Hugo.

 "Hugo, lasing ka. Let's stop this."

She stood up, grabbing her robe from the bed and putting it back on. 

"Lil, don't go." Hugo pleaded.

Lillian shook her head, "Matulog ka na. I'll see you tomorrow."

Before leaving his bedroom, she turned off the lamp on his bedside. The light in the hallway was still on so she managed to get out of his bedroom and close his door, only finding herself leaning against it. Her body was still responding to what just happened, still in heat that she could only close her eyes to get her thoughts together.

Lillian Valdez Berenguer, hindi kasama sa co-parenting ang friends with benefits.