(Hospitality Industry Series #2) We all make missteps, everybody should be given a second chance. That is what life is about. We do not get redos, but we do get second-luck. But what if those missteps led someone to ache and agonize? Would you still...
Will her heart be still available for him? Or her heart is already reserved for someone?
***
Threscia Alessandra's Point of View
"Thank you for visiting, Ms. Qiao. Thank you for the help," a lady in her mid-40s with thick eyeglasses extended her right hand for a handshake. As a sign of respect, I took her hand and shake hands.
"No worries, Madam Melanie. It is my alma mater and I'm really grateful that I studied here in Hearthstone," I was beaming while telling her those. Ngumiti sa akin si Madam Melanie at bumitaw na kami sa isa't isa. After that, I bid my goodbye to her and stormed out of her office.
I'm here at Hearthstone Montessori to sponsor an event in their school. Gusto kong tumulong dito sa school. Although they're not in need of sponsors because they have enough funds for it but I insisted on helping them. I'm thankful because Madam Melanie accepted it.
Carrying my Gucci Handbag, I made my way out of the administration building and immediately noticed the kids playing in the playground. I stopped midway as I stared at them. Wala sa sariling napangiti ako habang pinagmamasdan sila.
Naiinggit ako sa mga magulang nila. Napahawak ako sa belly ko nang may naalala ako. Mapait akong ngumiti habang inaalala ko ang nangyari noon. Ang nakaraan ko na mahirap kalimutan. Huminga ako ng malalim.
I stared at the kids running on the lawn. Some parents were fetching their child and smiling until it reached their ears. I just sighed and continued walking. I should stop staring at them because the more I stare, the more I yearned for her.
I was about to make my way out of the hall when I heard some small voices of girls in the playground. It seems like they're having an argument.
Kaagad kong hinanap kung saan nanggagaling iyon at nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang tinulak ng dalawang batang babae ang isang batang babae. Hindi ko alam pero naawa ako bigla sa batang babae. Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko nang kumirot iyon.
Hindi ko alam ang dahilan kung bakit biglang kumirot ang puso ko. Huminga ako ng malalim at kinalma ang sarili.
"Iyan ang bagay sa'yo. Wala kang Mama kasi hindi ka niya mahal. Kawawa," ani ng isa at tumawa naman ang mga kasama nito. Kumunot ang noo ko dahil sa narinig. What's wrong with them? Ano'ng mali sa walang ina? Hindi ko na ito kaya. Lumapit na ako sa kanila at tinawag ang atensiyon nila.
"Hey, kids. What do you think you're doing?" Napalingon naman sila sa akin at kumunot ang noo nila. Aba, ang maldita ng mga ito. Dapat silang turuan ng leksiyon. I was about to open my mouth to scold them but they run away. As if someone is chasing them. I just shook my head, kids these days.
Nilipat ko ang tingin ko sa bata na nakayuko habang nakaupo pa rin.
Nilapitan ko ito at nang magtama ang mga mata namin ay biglang bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko at lumambot ito. Napatigil ako nang minasdan ko ang maamo niyang mukha na parang maiiyak na. Parang nasasaktan ako na nakikita siyang ganito. What's wrong with me?
Pansin ko rin na may pagkahawig kami. I thought that I was seeing my young version of her but I was wrong. Her wavy hair, curly eyelashes, fair skin, red lips, brown eyes, and tall nose are just like mine. She looks just like me.
Oh gosh, she looks like my daughter but it's impossible. I snapped out of my thoughts when a cute little voice called me.
"M-Mommy..." Parang nahigit ko ang hininga ko nang tinawag niya akong 'Mommy'. Parang ang sarap pakinggan na tawagin niya akong 'Mommy. Poor kid, she might be longing for a Mom. Ngumiti ako sa kaniya at inayos ang medyo kulot niyang buhok na nakalugay.
Tinulungan ko siyang tumayo. I leaned down to meet her level. Pinagpag ko ang dumi sa palda ng uniform niya at inayos ito.
"Are you okay, baby?" Marahan kong tanong at binalik ko ang tingin ko sa kaniya. Dahan-dahan itong tumango at ngumiti sa akin. She's adorable.
"Thank you po," her cute little voice sounds like heaven to me. I smiled and caressed her hair.
"You're so pretty, baby. I bet you got your looks to your Mom," I complimented and she just smiled at me.
"I don't know who's my Mom is, Pretty Miss and you're pretty too like me. Very pretty, you must meet my Daddy so that he won't be lonely anymore," tumaas naman ang kilay ko sa sinabi niya dahilan para mapahinto ako sa paghagod sa buhok niya.
Kawawa naman siya. Sino naman kaya ang walang puso na nanay niya para iwan itong anak niya? Mukhang irereto ako ng bata sa ama niya pero hindi ako interesado.
Takot ako na mangyari ulit ang nangyari sa akin noon. Huminga ako ng malalim at hinawakan ang maliit ngunit malambot niyang kamay.
"Where's your nanny, baby?" I then questioned as I roamed my eyes around the playground. When I see no one, I looked at this little girl again.
"She took a day off, pretty miss. My Daddy will be going to fetch me but he's already late," her face clouded with a mixture of disapproval and disappointment. I sighed and gave her a smile.
"Gusto mo ba na ihatid kita, baby? Alam ninyo address ninyo?"
"Yes, pretty miss. Okay po, hatid mo po ako," inosente nitong tugon sa akin at napisil ko naman ng mahina ang mataba niyang pisngi, siopao pero ang cute niya. Parang ako lang dati.
"Okay, let's go," may halong excitement sa boses kong ani. Ang kaninang malungkot niyang mukha ay napalitan iyon ng saya at sabik. Palabas na kami sa gate nang may huminto na isang itim na Mercedes Benz.
Napatigil kami dahil dito. Kalaunan ay unti-unting nagbukas ang pinto into at bumaba ang isang lalaki na pamilyar sa akin. Nakasuot ito ng formal at nang dumako ang tingin niya sa amin ay nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang makilala ko kung sino.
"Daddy!" This little girl's mood elevated when she saw the guy who is in front of us. Bigla namang tumibok ang puso ko nang magtama ang mga mata namin. Mukhang nagulat din ito na makita ako.
I'm not sure if it's my illusion, but he stares at me with such longing. As if he was longing for my love and myself. Like before, his gaze has a gentleness to it.
"Daddy, you're here!" A tiny voice filled my ears making me snap out of my thoughts. Bumaba ang tingin ko sa bata nang tawagin niya ng 'Daddy' ang lalaking nasa harap namin.
"T... Threscia," he calls but my gaze remains on this little girl. My heart beats as it pumps my blood through my veins. The blood rushes to the tips of my fingers, the pulse coming in hot waves that cause everything else to pulse.
It was eight years ago when we last met but I didn't expect that this day came, I met him again. I met the man who broke me into pieces. Grant Benjamin.
To be continued...
This is Grant
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