Chapter 2
Code's POV
"Daddy, where are we going?" Chiara popped by the door frame as I was packing my things.
A smile grew on my lips before standing up from my position on the floor and walked towards her, crouching down to her level. "We're going back to the Philippines." I gave her a smile,
Her little brows furrowed before slightly tilting her head, "Why?" she asked, confused.
I giggled a bit before holding onto both her shoulders, "Because... daddy has work to do there and..." I paused, biting my lip to think of the right way to say it.
"Because...?" she raised a brow before crossing her arms, which I find cute and made me chuckle.
"Because daddy misses the Philippines and I'm excited to go back," I replied, and she slowly nodded. She pouted, peeked to see the rest of my room, before looking back at me.
"You'll leave me here?" she innocently asked, which took me back a bit.
"What? No! Of course not! I would never leave you here, sweetie!" I gave her nose a pinch, which made her giggle.
She scratched her nose, "But... why are you only packing your things? What about mine?" she asked, and I glanced at the pile of clothes and shoes scattered on the floor.
"Well," I looked back at her, "I was just packing mine first, then I'll help you pack yours after this," I replied, and she gasped.
"I wanna pack my own! I wanna pack my own!!" she chanted, stomping her little feet on the floor.
I giggled and nodded, "Okay, okay, you can pack your own things na. But ask the maids to help you, okay?" I asked, and like lightning, she immediately ran back to her room.
I stood up, sighed, and gave my legs a light stretch before going back to my luggage.
After more than half an hour, I'm finally done packing. I looked at my watch to see that it's past 7 PM already. I wonder if Chiara is done packing her things.
I placed my luggage on the side of my room, cleaned the remaining clothes that were scattered on the floor, and decided not to bring them with me. Who needs a full-length trench coat when you're in the Philippines? Or even a thick, puffy jacket?
I left my room and walked towards Chiara's room. I'm still around five meters away when I hear noises and rambling from her room. When I peeked inside, I saw three luggage and a duffel bag on the floor, all her dresses, princess dresses, boots, and teddy bears were scattered on the floor.
"What the..." I scratched the end of my eyebrow before entering he room.
"Hey, sweetheart, how's your stuff?" I asked before sitting down on her bed.
She pouted before throwing a tantrum and looked like she was about to cry, "I can't decide what to bring! They said I can't bring everything with me because there's a limit on the plane!!" She stomped her feet on the ground.
I glanced at the four maids who looked guilty about what happened. I pursed my lips and reached for Chiara's hand, lifted her up from her feet, and sat her on my lap.
"You want to bring all your things?" I calmly asked, and she rubbed her eyes before facing me.
A pout printed on her face as she nods, "Yes, daddy, can I bring everything?" she asked.
I hissed, looked around the room, and saw her things that were scattered on the floor.
"Please, daddy? Please, please! Pretty please!!" She pleaded with her hands clasped together, she even blinked her eyes a couple of times like a begging puppy.
I giggled before nodding, "Pack everything, daddy will do something about it." I replied, and just like that, her eyes lit up, she jumped down from my lap, and went back to her things.
"Come on! Come on! Let's pack everything!!" she said to the maids.
I stayed in her room for a couple of minutes, watching her bring all her clothes onto the floor, her shoes, her toys, and even her books.
She even shooed me away because she needed the space on her bed to put all her things. I just chuckled and left the room.
After dinner, I tucked her in bed, worked on some papers, and called our personal pilots who will be flying our own jet. If Chiara wants to bring EVERYTHING she owns, then she will do that. But a plane won't be allowing us to bring more than 10 boxes, so flying in our personal jet is the best choice.
I was able to settle everything within the whole night. Gladly, Chiara already has her passports and other requirements, and within a few days of working on other things, whether it is in the company or about our migration to the Philippines, we were finally able to fly out from Canada.
The flight from Toronto to Manila took so much time that I felt like I was in the jet for more than a day. That's why I was shocked when the pilot told me it was only 17-hour flight when we landed in Manila.
"So hot!!" Chiara started jumping, fanning herself with her hands.
I immediately ran towards her, giggling as I removed her jacket, "You won't be needing this na." I said as I folded her jacket.
She pouted, looked around first, before looking back at me.
"It's hot in here," she nagged.
I laughed before nodding, crouching down to her level to pick her up. "You'll get used to it. It's summer season, so it's really hot in here." I said before walking towards the airport.
It didn't take us much time at the airport before our driver picked us up.
I was shocked to see my driver from college.
Gumuhit ang ngiti sa labi ko, "Kuya Top?" Tawag ko rito, malawak ang ngiti nito nang lumabas ng sasakyan.
Agad kami nitong sinalubong at kinuha ang luggage sa kamay ko, "Kamusta sir? Long time no see," bati nito bago inilagay sa sasakyan ang luggage ko.
My smile slowly fades.
Yes, long time no see. Ang huling kita ko pa sa kaniya ay noong... nagkalintik-lintik na ang lahat.
"Kasunod na yung delivery truck, sir. Kukunin nalang daw nila yung mga gamit niyo." sagot nito bago kinuha pa ang tatlong luggage at ilang bag sa cart namin.
"Who is he, daddy?" Napalingon ako kay Chiara nang magsalita ito.
"Uhm... he's my driver, Chiara. He was my driver in college." I replied and she slowly nod.
"Uy, anak niyo na 'yan sir?" tanong ni kuya Top, nagpilit ako ng ngiti bago tumango at ikinaway ang kamay ni Chiara sa kaniya.
"Yes kuya Top, ang ganda niya 'no?" ani ko at napatawa si kuya Top bago kumaway pabalik.
"Oo nga sir, mana siguro sa nanay 'no?" tanong ni kuya Top.
Bumagsak ang ngiti ko na agad nakita ni kuya Top at napatakip ng bibig. "Ay, sorry, sorry, tara na sir?" Aya nito bago pumasok ng sasakyan.
Tiningnan ko si Chiara na naglilibot pa rin ng tingin. Mabuti nalang at hindi ito masyadong nakaka-intindi ng Tagalog. Pero kailangan niya na rin talagang matuto lalo pa at dito siya mag-aaral simula ngayon.
Kinakamusta at kinakausap ako ni kuya Top buong biyahe pauwi. Sinasagot ko ito hanggang sa abot ng makakaya ko. Pero dahil na rin siguro sa pagod at puyat sa flight ay hindi ako makasagot nang maayos. Idagdag pa na... may hinanakit ako sa ginawa niya noon.
Nang makarating kami sa bahay ay nagulat ako sa dami ng katulong. Ang mga mukha na nakikita ko noon ay naririto pa rin. Meron rin namang mga bagong mukha at hindi ko kilala, pero karamihan dito ay ang mga dati na rin naming kasama sa bahay.
Nang umakyat ako sa itaas ay laking-gulat ko nang makita na ang dating guest room ay renovated na at puno ng pink na kagamitan.
"Wow! Daddy look! Ang pretty!!" Nagtatalon si Chiara papasok ng kwarto. Kasunod nito ang mga kasambahay at ibang driver na dala-dala ang mga kahon ng gamit nito.
"I can't wait to fix my things na!" she immediately jumped on the bed. Tuwang-tuwa pa ito at tawang-tawa habang iniikot ang buong silid.
Napa-iling nalang ako bago lumabas ng kwarto, "Makikitulungan nalang siya sa pag-aayos, lahat ng gusto niya, gagawin at ibibigay. Sabihan niyo nalang ako kapag may iba pa siyang kailangan." Bilin ko sa isang katulong bago naglakad papunta sa dati kong kwarto.
Ano kayang nangyari rito? May binago ba sila? May inalis? May itinapon?
Pagbukas ko ng pinto ay hindi na ako nagulat na malinis na ito. Pero nang mapansin na halos wala silang ginalaw mula sa mga frames, vase, at ibang nakakalat dito ay parang may kung anong kumurot sa dibdib ko.
It almost looks exactly the same as before.
I walked towards the bed, the cabinets, and even the PS4 I used to play a lot before, gumagana pa kaya ito? Pati banyo ay nabisita ko na pero wala itong kalaman-laman. Ang graduation picture ko na hindi ko na nakuha dati ay nakasabit na sa pader.
Napakunot ang noo ko bago lumapit dito at kinuha ito mula sa pagkakasabit sa pader.
Pagkagraduate na pagkagraduate ko noon ay agad akong inilipad ng tatay ko papuntang Canada. Tandang-tanda ko pa na nag-iiyak ako buong flight at hanggang sa makarating sa bahay. Nag hunger strike rin ako kasi akala ko ibabalik ako ng tatay ko sa Pilipinas, wala pala talaga siyang pake sa akin.
Nang ikutin ko ang frame ay nagulat ako nang makitang may isang plastic pa ng mga picture sa likod. Inalis ko ito mula sa pagkakatape rito, naupo ako sa kama at isa-isang tiningnan ang mga picture.
May apat na wallet size picture ng formal ko, meron ding isang A6 size ng formal picture ko at ganun din ang creative picture ko na nakasuot ako ng shades at nagpapa-cute lang sa camera. Napatawa pa ako nang makita ang mga kamay sa paligid ko na niloloko lang ako.
May isang maliit na supot sa loob, at may label na 'Extra pic' na ikinakunot ng noo ko. Nang buksan ko ito at kunin ang laman sa loob ay parang nanghina ang tuhod ko.
It's a picture of me and Grey. I'm sitting on the wooden stool while Grey stands behind me, hugging me by my shoulder, touching our cheeks with each other.
My breath hitched, and I pushed my hand down, resting my hand on my knee as it bounced.
I bit my lower lip, hung my head low before bitterly chuckling.
I almost forgot we took this picture. Heck, nakalimutan ko na ngang may graduation picture ako. Kung hindi pa ako babalik ng Pilipinas at makikita ito sa kwarto ko ay makakalimutan kong may ganito pala ako.
"Daddy!!" Agad akong napatayo at itinago ang picture sa bulsa ko.
"Yes, sweetie?" I asked, giving her a smile.
She pouted, holding her stuffed toy.
"They don't have a bed here! I don't know where to put them!" She stomped her feet on the floor.
My brows furrowed, I walked towards her, and went back to her room.
It is somehow... okay now, there are still luggage and bags on the floor, but her closet is already tidy and so is her bed and her vanity table.
"Wala silang own bed! They need their own bed!" She started throwing a tantrum.
Napabuntong hininga ako bago nilingon ang mga kasambahay na nakalinya sa isang tabi at halatang hindi alam ang gagawin.
I caressed her hair, "Don't worry, after lunch, we will go shopping, okay? Let's buy your stuffed toys their own bed." I replied, and she nodded.
Gustohin ko mang matulog at umidlip muna, halos minu-minuto ay nagtatawag si Chiara para magreklamo na may kulang sa mga gamit niya.
Labing-isang kahon, tatlong luggage at isang duffel bag, may kulang pa rin!?
Pagsapit ng hapon ay saka kami namili. Nagugulat ako at naninibago sa mga bagay-bagay ngayon. Ilang taon ba naman ako sa Canada? Halos limot ko na ang mga bagay-bagay dito.
Hindi na ako nagulat na kahit mga hindi namin kailangan ay ipinapabili ni Chiara. Kung naghahanap lang kami ng mga mapaglalagyan ng mga gamit niya, pati mga bagong ilalagay ay ipinapabili na niya.
Wala pa kaming isang araw sa Pilipinas pero yung nagastos ko pwede nang pang isang buwan na gastusan.
Idagdag pa rito na bumili ako ng bagong sasakyan para hindi na ako laging naka-asa sa driver ko. Nagpa-convert na rin ako ng lisensya ko para legal akong makakapagmaneho rito sa Pilipinas lalo pa at magtatagal kami rito.
Nagising ako kinabukasan mula sa tawag sa cellphone ko. Kahit masakit ang ulo at hindi halos maibukas ang mga mata ay dinampot ko ito para sagutin ang kung sino mang tumatawag sa akin.
It's 6 in the morning!? Hindi ba sila natutulog!?
"Hello?" I didn't even look at the caller's ID. I just want this done and to go back to sleep.
[How's Philippines? How's the house? How's the company? Bumisita kana ba?] Napabangon ako nang marinig ang boses ni dad.
"Uh, not yet, nag-ayos at namili kami ng mga gamit kahapon." sagot ko rito habang nagkukusot ng mata.
[Well, you better start working today.] Dad seriously said, and I nodded,
"As the CEO? Already?" I asked, and dad chuckled from the other line, [Of course not, hindi ganun kadali yun. We still have a construction on going sa isang medical hospital sa Binondo kaya hindi pa maibibigay sa 'yo ni Mr. Villanueva ang posisyon. But after that, it'll be handed down to you.] Dad explained, and I nodded.
"Okay, I'll be going to the company today," I replied, and Dad hummed, [Good, mag-report ka sa akin pagkagaling mo doon.] he replied, and I just nodded as if he would see it before he ended the call.
I slept for another hour, then woke up aroumd 7 AM, took a shower before having a breakfast. Mukhang pagod at puyat din si Chiara kaya naman hindi ako nito na-abutan sa bahay. Nag-iwan nalang ako ng note sa kaniya para hindi naman magtampo pagkagising.
Seeing the company and it's changes made me realize how long I've been gone. The people, the faces, even the interior of the building changed. May mga hindi pa nakakakilala sa akin. Kailangan pa akong ilibot ni Mr. Villanueva at ipakilala sa bawat department para lang malaman nilang ako ang nag-iisang anak ng may-ari ng buong kumpanya at korporasyon.
"Anong sabi ng dad mo? Ano raw ang magiging ganap mo rito?" Naupo si Mr. Villanueva sa bangko niya.
"Well, Dad told me I'll be working as the company's lawyer in the meantime. That was also my job in our company in Canada, so I won't have problems working. I'll just be needing the papers, records, and contracts we had for the last years so I can check them." I replied, and he nodded before sipping from his tea.
"That's great, and when do you want the CEO position?" he asked before laughing, which made me laugh a little too.
"Honestly... I don't know. I'm not even confident about being the boss. That's why I'm not really eager to have it and it's up to you if kailan mo ibibigay sa akin." sagot ko at napatawa itong muli bago tumango.
"Anak ka nga ng ama mo, you talk exactly just like him." ani nito at nahihiya akong tumango.
Heck, at least I am not like him.
"Honestly, hijo, gustong-gusto ko nang ipasa ang posisyon. I'm old, I'm almost in my 70's, gusto ko nalang magpahinga, mag-golf at mag casino." ani nito at utay-utay akong tumango.
"So if you want the position immediately, kahit hindi pa tapos ang ginagawa sa Binondo, just tell me, okay?" he softly said and I nod, "Yes po, thank you." I replied,
I excused myself right after the little chat with Mr. Villanueva, who is also my ninong. I went to the office that was given to me and started running through the previous contracts of our company. It was a lot, but I managed not to stress about it and just quietly sat on my chair while reading each of them.
It was around 3 PM, and I wasn't even finished with at least 10% of the papers. My butt is starting to hurt, and so are my neck and back.
After I finished reading a contract from five years ago, I decided to take a rest. I stood up from my chair, left my office to get some snacks from the pantry.
I'm eating some vegetable chips while scrolling through my social media, when I suddenly get a call from one of the maids.
"Hello--"
[Hello sir! Si Chiara po, isinugod namin sa ospital! Nangati-ngati po kasi siya, ang dami pong rashes sa katawan! Iyak po nang iyak, sir!] Agad akong napabangon mula sa pagkakasandal sa lababo.
"Ha!? Saan niyo dinala!? Saang ospital!?" Napasigaw ako, agad kong itinapon ang kinakain ko bago napaharipas ng takbo pabalik ng opisina.
[Sa Binondo sir, yung ospital na may pinapagawa raw kayo? Andun ba kayo sir? Baka andun kayo sir, doon kasi isinugod ni Top.] sagot nito at tumango-tango lang ako.
"Sige, sige, papunta na ako!" Agad kong pinatay ang tawag, kinuha ko lang ang wallet at susi ko bago agad umalis ng opisina.
Grey's POV
"Ginagawa mo nang routine ang magtanghalian ng alas tres ng hapon, ah?" Sita sa akin ni Louis nang madatnan ako sa canteen.
Natatawa kong inilapag ang baso ng tubig, "Hoy, 11 AM ako ng lunch kahapon 'no." Depensa ko rito, inilapag nito ang burger sa lamesa at umupo sa harap ko.
"Kumakain kalang naman nang maayos kapag may pasyente ka ng after lunch. Pero kapag wala kang schedule, nakakalimutan mong kumain." sagot nito na ikinatawa ko.
Napasandal ako sa bangko, "That's true, pero wala na tayong magagawa. You know how hectic the work place is." sagot ko rito at napabuntong hininga ito.
Halos buong oras na nasa canteen kami ay pinagsasabihan ako nito. Nakikipagtalo pa ito na siya namang ikinakahagalpak ko ng tawa. Kung wala lang ibang tao sa canteen ay baka kanina ko pa ito binatukan.
"Alam mo talaga, Grey--"
Parehas kaming napalingon sa mga beeper namin nang tumunog ito, "ER daw, ASAP." ani ko at akmang tatayo na nang pigilan ako ni Louis.
"'Wag na, ako na, bumalik kana ng clinic mo at magpahinga ka muna." ani nito bago tumayo at iniwan na ako sa canteen.
Akala talaga niya makakapagpahinga ako sa clinic. Pagbalik ko rito at sunod-sunod na rin naman nag mga pasyente ko at napahinga nalang nang pauwi na.
"Halos parehas nga pala tayo ng schedule ngayong linggo 'no?" tanong ni Louis nang magkita kami sa parking lot.
"Anong oras ang pasok mo bukas?" tanong ko rito bago binuksan ang pinto ng sasakyan ko.
"Day-off ako bukas, ikaw ba?" tanong nito bago ihagis sa loob ng sasakyan ang dalang bag.
"Six ang pasok ko, out din ng 6 PM tapos day-off next day." sagot ko at tumango ito bago sumandal sa sasakyan niya na ginaya ko lang.
Tinaasan ako nito ng magkabilang kilay, "Busy tonight?" he asked in a meaningful tone.
I chuckled before shaking my head, "Uh uh, we're past this, Louis. What happened in the past stays in the past." ani ko rito at napatawa ito bago tumango.
"Fine, fine, I was just hoping since you know... hectic ang trabaho." sagot niya at napatawa ako,
"Bakit? May high risk kaba kaninang pasyente?" tanong ko rito at nagpamulsa ito bago umiling.
"Wala naman, yung batang babae lang kanina na may allergic reaction." sagot nito at pinag-cross ko ang mga braso ko.
"Oh? Kamusta nga pala yun? What happened?" tanong ko,
Nagkibit-balikat ito, "Bagong lipat dito sa Pilipinas, may lahi yung bata, Canadian nga ba? Limot ko, eh. Pero mukhang nanibago sa init ng Pilipinas, puro rashes sa katawan." sagot niya at tumango ako.
"Iyak nga nang iyak, lalo pa noong dumating yung tatay. May ka-artehan din yung batang babae. Kung andun ka, maaawa ka sa bata." Dagdag niya at tumango ako.
"Yeah, mabuti nalang at ikaw ang pumunta, baka habang umiiyak yung bata, umiiyak na rin ako." Biro ko rito na ikinatawa namin parehas.
"Masyado kang soft-hearted pagdating sa bata." ani nito bago umalis mula sa pagkakasandal sa kaniyang sasakyan.
Natatawa akong umiling, "Kaya nga ako nag-pedia, diba?" ani ko bago binuksan narin ang pinto ng sasakyan ko.
"Sige na, ingat pauwi, kitakits sa... next-next day." Paalam nito bago pumasok na ng sasakyan niya. Bumusina ito bago umalis at bumusina ako sa kaniya pabalik.
Um-order nalang ako ng Chinese food dahil sa katamaran kong magluto. Hindi ko na rin nagawang kumain sa dining table dahil dinala ko nalang ito sa sala at doon kumain habang nanonood.
Nagbukas na rin ako ng ilang bote ng beer at uminom habang kumakain. Makakatulong na rin ito para mabilis akong makatulog at makapagpahinga.
Para akong lantang gulay nang pumasok kinabukasan. Nang makarating ako sa clinic ay ilang minuto pa akong tulala bago natauhan na kailangan ko pang mag-rounds sa mga pasyente ko.
Ito naman ang gusto ko sa trabaho, kahit nakakapagod, nakakatuwang makipag-usap at makipaglaro sa mga bata. Kadalasan ay iyan ang dahilan kung bakit inaabot ako ng ilang oras sa pagro-round. Masyado akong nalilibang sa mga bata at nalilingat na sa oras.
Pabalik na ako ng clinic nang mapadaan sa station ng Orthopedics, nagulat ako dahil tinawag ako ng isang nurse at inabutan ng sandwich.
"Pakabusog ka, doc!" Paalala nito, nahihiya akong kumaway sa kaniya habang naglalakad paalis.
"Salamat! Ikaw rin!" ani ko bago pumasok ng elevator.
Kumakain ako ng sandwich nang may sumilip na nurse sa clinic, "Doc Grey, andito po yung patient na may allergic reaction kahapon. Magpapageneral check-up daw po yung batang babae pero wala po kasi si Doc Louis kaya sa inyo nalang po namin ni-refer." ani ng nurse habang nakasilip sa pinto. Agad kong inilapag ang sandwich at nagpunas ng kamay.
"Sure sure, papuntahin mo na sila." ani ko bago tumayo para maghugas ng kamay, nagmumog na rin ako bago nagsuot ng face mask at inayos nang bahagya ang buhok ko.
Inayos ko rin ang mga laruan sa patient bed ko para presentable sa bata lalo pa at sinabi ni Louis na medyo maarte raw ito.
"Good morning, how's your day?" Bati ko rito nang marinig kong bumukas ang pinto.
I gave the bed a last pat before turning toward the patient. "How are you---" I froze.
I fucking froze!
This can't be happening!
You've gotta be joking!
Ain't no way! Ain't no freaking way!
"Hello, doc!" My eyes travelled to the little girl who was happily waving at me.
Then they slowly crawl back up to the person behind her, frozen, just like me.
"My day is okay po, but I'm still itchy sa arms and legs." sabi ng bata.
Natauhan ako nang maglakad ang bata papunta sa bangko sa harap ng lamesa ko.
"Daddy, come! Dito ka po!" she signalled him to sit across her.
Wait...
Daddy?
I felt like my throat started closing. My lips trembled. My hand went numb.
So that's... his daughter?
He really... settled his life in Canada?
He moved on...?
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a/n: until now, hindi ko pa rin alam ang plano ko sa story na ito wahhhh, idk if slow-burn pa or what or anong gagawin ko huhuhuhu wahhh, basta alam ko maraming excited part pero hindi naman pwedeng puro exciting part!!
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