I'll be Home [On Going]

Chapter 4

Hope is now on her way home after their rehearsal. She was randomly browsing her social media account when a photo caught her attention, it is actually the third time it appeared on her newsfeed.

It says, 'France marked the 74th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day with the Queen'

She stared at the photo out of plain curiosity, it shows two women and one old man standing on a high porch surrounded by few numbers of men in black suit. The photo was shot from afar but she can see their faces clearly and she can say, the queen stands in such regal dignity. She was sporting a bright neon green dress matching her hat. Along side her was a younger looking woman, holding a red purse on her left hand while the other was waving. She was wearing white dress matching it with maple-leaf hat that compliments her below shoulder wavy hair.

'She's pretty, in fairness!' she thought before scrolling it up.

When the car stopped, she went directly to the kitchen not minding her driver again and looked for her Nana. "Nana?" she called as she glanced to the left and right corner of the area. She went back to the living room where she saw her cat earlier and carried it with her when she walked to her room.

She thought her Nana must be doing stuff inside her room. She took her phone out from her bag and sent a message to her, telling that she's home already. She fixed herself and sang a short lyrics from their play while looking at herself in front of the mirror. She laughed a little when she realized what she's doing is crazy.

'Nakaka-LSS naman kasi 'yong kantang 'yon!'

She was about to leave her room when she heard a knock. "Hopie anak? Nandyan ka na ba?" her Nana called. Her eyes automatically went wide and ran to open the door for her. "Hi Nana!" she greeted and smiled. Nana smiled as she walked inside and sat on the side of her bed, "Kumusta naman ang practice nyo ngayong araw?" and asked.

"Everything is going well Nana, hope Dad can watch." she replied with a smile. Nana smiled at her in return as if assuring her that her father will. Nana eventually offered her a hand and asked her to go down with her for dinner. "Handa na ang pagkain, halika na." Nana said which she gladly accepted.

While eating dinner, Hope is silently watching her father and Kara. She can't see any emotions on his face whenever he talks to his secretary. On the other side, Kara looks so happy and she thought there is something in this woman that she can't say in particular. Even if she doesn't want to go on a conclusion that early, she can't help but feel a little irritation towards her. Fine, she doesn't like Kara. Not a secretary, not as her father's friend, and especially not his father's girlfriend nor her stepmom. Everything about this woman is cringe worthy.

'This one tastes so good Aga.'

She heard the woman commented, and that earned an eye roll from her.

'Paka pabebe naman.'

'Aga?'

'First name basis pala sila 'pag out of the office?'

She closed her eyes tight to get rid of that thought. "Can I go up na Dad? I still have to ready my things for tomorrow and I need to sleep early." she politely asked upon finishing her meal. Aga stopped and stared at her for a moment, eventually he told her a goodnight.  She greeted him back and also Kara before she left, she couldn't stand her presence any longer.

As she entered her room, she took the shower and fixed herself for bed. But since she doesn't feel drowsy yet, she took one of her favorite Danielle Steel books and played a music on her phone. She reads until her eyes grew heavy.

"You sure everything is settled?" Aga asked and closed the folder he's holding then faced his secretary. Kara shutdown her laptop and closed the distance between them.
"Yes, all done. I got this." she sweetly said as she went closer to Aga. Aga wasn't able to make a move due to her quick action. He didn't realized she's already this close. He looked at his secretary with so much discomfort, "Kara." he said and hold Kara's left arm. Kara made her way even closer and was about to touch his face by hers when he stopped her. He immediately moved away and stood up. He took each of his things and was about to carry them to his room. He stopped for a moment when he got near his office door and turned to his secretary "Get some rest. I'll see you tomorrow." he said before he slipped his way out. Kara was left and her face looked flushed. Feeling a bit irritated, she made her way out to the guest room that Aga offered her to stay.

'Napaka manhid talaga ng lalaking 'yon! Aba eh ilang taon nang iniwan ng asawa, di pa din maka move on?!'

Kara said at the back of her mind. She cracked a devilish laugh before she lay down on the bed. "Just wait Aga, we'll get there. And when that time comes, I'll make sure you can do nothing about it." she said under her breath before she nodded off.

Aga is lying on his bed while staring blankly at the ceiling. He can't help but think of what just happened earlier. Yes, he can feel that his secretary is a little closer to him. He knows it for a long time now, but never did he fell into a conclusion that Kara, his secretary has something for him. He thought of her sometimes bubbly attitude and sweetness  as friendly gestures like some of his other staffs. It was actually the first time that Kara did such thing on him.

He thought that it must have been the tonic he offered that made her lose herself for a while. He doesn't want to be stressed out about it.

The next day, Aga woke up earlier than his usual meeting with Kara. He decided to get something to drink before he sat on the couch in their living room. He took the newspaper under the center table and browsed the front page.

'Kahapon pa pala 'to.' he thought as he checked the time, hence he realized that the hawker usually drop by 7:00 AM daily. He started reading it until few minutes later, a picture on page 3 got his full attention. He lifted it up to look closer and he's so sure that he's not getting it wrong. He's busy reading the article when suddenly,

"Dad? You're early today ah." his daughter greeted him while walking down the stairs with her bag on. He stopped for a moment and took the time to stare at her, "Dad." Hope snapped when her father was just staring at her without any response. Aga got back to his senses when he realized Hope is already in front of him then he looked away.

"Good morning. You going?" he asked and immediately closed the newspaper, not bothering to look at his daughter. Hope stared at him in bafflement for a moment before she answered.
"Ah, yes dad. I really go to practice everyday by 7:00 AM so I can get there before 8:00 AM, since it's our call time." she sighed and gave him a quick hug before she went off from his sight.

Aga stared at the door where Lianne went out for a while and his eyes flew back on the newspaper. He couldn't believe that he's like seeing his wife again in his daughter's body. The way she walks, she speaks, she laughs, the way she looks, everything in her reminds him of his wife. And that's how he hates it. He doesn't want to remember her. Not now that he's already happy, now that's he's already moved on — or did he? 

He brought the newspaper with him and threw it on a trash bin before anyone in the house could see it. Then Kara came out all ready for their fourth session. He excused himself and went back to his room to change his clothes into more formal one. He doesn't want Kara to think that he's comfortable of wearing just shirt and boxers around her. He doesn't want to give her that feeling of confidence when he's with her. Everything needs to be formal and at the right place, he thought. Of course, he's the boss and she's her secretary after all — just her secretary.

"How about the presentation? Tapos na ba?" Aga asked his secretary, "On it Sir, getting there." Kara who is now busy putting every slides in order, replied. They are now finalizing their report for the coming week since their target date to start the construction will be next month.

It was already afternoon when Aga asked Nana to serve some snacks for them. "Thanks Nana." he said when Nana placed their snacks on the table. Nana glanced shortly at Aga's secretary before taking off her feet out of his office.

Aga slowly opened his eyes, realizing he fell asleep just before Kara took off her seat and came next to him. She's done with the slideshow presentation. "I'm done Sir. You can check it now." Kara said and moved the laptop in front of him. They went back into discussion until it's time for Kara to leave. He offered to send her home but the latter declined, reasoning out that he must be tired for doing a lot of readings and he should take some rest. Aga appreciates it, thus thanking her for all the help she has done the entire week.