Chapter 20: The emergency.

Bumisita sila Hannah sa puntod ng kanyang ama kinabukasan. Doon ay hinayaan muna siyang mapag-isa ng mga kasama niya. Somehow that was the closest she could get to her father. She could no longer see him, no longer hug him, no longer talk to him.

And no matter how hard it was for Hannah, she had to face the truth. Na ulila na siya at mag-isa na lang talaga sa buhay. Kahit naman matagal na siyang independent, iba pa rin iyong alam niyang wala na talaga siyang magulang. 'Yong alam niya na hindi na niya makikita pa ang mga ito.

Pero ang pinakamasakit sa lahat ay iyong mawala ang kanyang ama nang hindi siya nakakahingi ng tawad. Ni hindi niya nasabi na hindi naman talaga siya galit, na hindi nito kailangang hingiin ang kapatawaran niya at tulad ng kanyang ama ay hindi rin siya tumigil na mahalin ito. But she wasn't able say any of those, instead, heto siya, puntod na lang ang kaharap niya.

"Hannah," narinig niyang marahang tawag ni Nate, agad niyang tinuyo ang mga luha bago ito nilingon. "Let's go. Masyado ng mainit."

"Mauna na kayo," sagot niyang pinilit ngumiti para maiparating na okay lang siya. "Susunod ako kaagad."

"Hannah," atubili nitong nilapitan siya imbes na umalis. "I'm not used to seeing you like this. Where's the strong woman I know?"

"I'm sorry... Just a moment, Nate. Please, susunod na ako."

"Okay," suko nito. "Wag kang masyadong magtatagal, mataas na ang araw."

She nodded at sinundan ito ng tingin noong tumalikod ito.

The last thing she wanted now was to have feelings for Nate. Dahil kapag nagkataon, magiging napakahirap sa kanya ang umalis sa buhay ng mga ito. Pero sa concern na pinapakita ng binata ngayon, imposible ang hindi mahulog. Imposible ang walang maramdaman sa pagiging maalalahanin nito.

Muli niyang itinuon ang atensyon sa puntod ng kanyang ama.

"Daddy, I wish you were here. I wish pwede mo akong bigyan ng payo. Because right now, I'm beginning to get confused. See that man? I think I'm falling for him. Kaso hindi pwede. Ano po ba ang dapat kong gawin?" She sighed. "Dad, I missed you," muling bumalong ang luha sa kanyang mga mata. "I wish you're here and you can tell me what to do."

She stayed for another five minutes bago siya nagdesisyong umalis na.

"I love you, daddy."

She also visited her mother's grave that for some reason ay malayo sa puntod ng ama. Perhaps it was the second wife who decided na hindi pagsamahin ang kanyang mga magulang.

It was okay. Hindi niya gagawing issue iyon. After all, his wife was the one who cared for his father when she was supposed to be the one by his side.

"Mommy, I hope you are with daddy now. I love you both and I miss you so much."

She lit a candle and left a flower on her grave before she turned to go.

-----

Akala ni Hannah uuwi na sila. She was tired, Nate and Elisha were tired as well. Kaya nagulat siya nang sa halip na umuwi sila ay dumiretso sila sa isang beach resort.

"Daddy, this is amazing!" Excited na sabi ni Elisha na nagtatakbo na sa dagat.

Agad itong sinundan ni Paul bago pa sila ang makahabol sa bata. Pero pupunta rin dapat si Hannah, pinigilan lang siya ni Nate.

"Let Paul handle Eli," he said, stopping her by the arm.

"Nag-aaral pa lang siyang lumangoy, Nate!" Worried na aniya bagamat kalmado naman ang dagat.

"And Paul is a multi awarded swimming champion." Bahagya itong ngumiti. "Elisha is in good hands."

"But–"

"Hannah... We're here so you can relax. Not to be a worry freak."

"What?" Confused niyang tanong.

"Look, the last couple of days have been tough for you. I just want you to relax a little before we go back home." Hinawi nito ang buhok niyang naligaw sa kanyang mukha and tucked it behind her ear where his hand lingered a little longer than necessary. "Be strong, Hannah." He smiled down at her.

"W-we're here because of me?" Hindi siya makapaniwala sa gesture ni Nate. She felt her heart melting at his thoughtfulness.

"Elisha and I have been longing to see your smile agai."

"Nate." An involuntary smile escaped her lips at what he said. Parang gusto niyang maiyak sa concern na pinapakita nito.

"That's it!" Nate said, smiling widely at her.

"Thank you."

"Don't mention it. Come on." Hinila siya nito sa kamay patakbo sa dagat. When she resisted, he stopped dragging her at walang anu-ano ay pinasan siya sa balikat nito.

"Nate!" Magkahalong takot at tawang sigaw niya

"Put me down!!!"

Tumawa lang si Nate at hindi siya pinakinggan. Si Elisha naman parang nakahanap ng kalaro at tuwang-tuwang nakisali sa kanila.

'How can I stop myself from falling in love with you, Nate, when you're not giving me a reason not to...'

They spent the whole day just enjoying the sea, eating buffet meals, playing sand castles and pretending to be a happy family.

A happy family. Maybe for Eli, they're even the perfect ones. Sobrang saya ng bata and Hannah could honestly say, she has never seen Elisha so happy.

The smile on her face, the glint on her eyes, those are what she's going to ruin when it's time for Hannah to say goodbye.

'Just enjoy the moment, Hannah... You won't know how long everything will last. Keep as many memories as you can...'

-----

When Hannah and Elisha woke up the next morning, wala na si Nate. Sabi ni Paul, kinailangan nitong bumalik na sa Maynila. Emergency, ayon dito. Naiwan si Paul at isang bodyguard na siya nilang kasama sa sasakyan.

"Why didn't daddy wait for us?" Mahaba ang ngusong tanong ni Elisha habang nasa byahe na sila.

"Dad's got an immediate appointment, Eli," alo niya sa bata.

"He should've woken us up!"

"Daddy didn't want to disturb our sleep. It's okay, anak. Remember, daddy is a very busy man but he spent three days with us right? You shouldn't get mad."

Eli just pouted. At the back of Hannah's mind, sumasang-ayon siya sa anak. Dapat ginising na lang sila ni Nate para sabay-sabay na lang silang bumalik. Pero syempre hindi niya gagatungan iyon at baka sumama pa ang loob ng bata sa ama nito.

Isa pa, sinamahan sila ni Nate ng tatlong araw na walang iniintinding iba kundi sila. That was more than enough.

"Hello, boss!" cheerful na bungad ni Paul sa tumawag, he mouthed 'it's Nate' to Hannah. "Yup. Malapit na kami. No worries. Yes. Bye."

"Is that daddy?" Si Eli.

"Yup. He's just checking if his queen and his little princess are safely back at his castle," patudyong sagot ni Paul na bahagyang nginitian nang makahulugan si Hannah.

She just rolled her eyes at him.

"Hannah, tumawag ka raw kapag nasa bahay na," dugtong nito.

"Okay."

"Wala pa ngang eight hours, 'di na mapakali ang lover boy," hirit pa nito.

Pinandilatan niya ito ng mata habang palihim na binabantaan itong 'wag ng magsasalita ng kahit na ano dahil 'ando'n si Elisha. Paul just laughed at her annoyance.

Pagdating sa bahay ay iniayos muna niya si Elisha. Pagod ito sa byahe kaya pinatulog niya muna.

She was about to call Nate nang maunahan siya nito sa pagtawag.

"Are you home yet?" He asked, his voice a little hoarse and tired.

"We just arrived," sagot niya.

"Good... Can you get Eli on the phone?"

"She's already sleeping, Nate. But I'll tell her you called."

"Well then... " akala ni Hannah ibinaba na ni Nate ang telepono dahil 'di na ito nagsalita.

"Nate, are you–?"

"Hannah... Thanks for the weekend," he said.

"I should be the one thanking you, Nate. I wouldn't have known how to cope up alone. You and Eli made it easier for me. Thank you."

"You're welcome–" she felt na may gusto pa itong sabihin. But instead, he said goodbye.

Napatingin si Hannah sa natutulog na anak.

"Your dad is weird," ngumiti siya bago lumabas sa silid ng bata.

She was already in her room when Leah called her.

"Leah, hey," bungad niyang humiga sa kama niya.

"Hannah, are you okay?" may nahimigan siyang pag-aalala sa tinig nito.

"Yup," sagot niya, hindi naman niya sinabi sa kaibigan ang tungkol sa kanyang ama so she was sure Leah wasn't calling for that. "May problema ba, Leah?"

"Have you heard?"

"Heard what?"

"The news."

"What news?"

"You haven't been watching the news, right?"

"Leah, what's the matter?" Kinakabahan na siya sa tono ng kaibigan niya. Hindi siya mahilig manood ng TV kaya clueless siya sa sinasabi ni Leah.

"It's Olive, Hannah."

"Olive?" Why would Olive be in the news? Almost two months after she ran away, the news about her already stopped at naka-move on na lahat sa pangyayari. So, why would she be in the news again? May ginawa na naman ba ang kaibigan niya?

"She was found almost lifeless in her apartment in London."

Agad gumapang ang takot sa buong katawan ni Hannah. Halos tumayo ang lahat ng balahibo niya sa katawan.

"Watch the news, Hannah. There's exclusive coverage about her now."

Hannah almost ran to where the television was at nagmamadaling hinanap ang channel na tinukoy ni Leah.

She watched with her hands on her mouth as tears streamed down her cheeks.

'What happened?'

Her friend was supposed to be having the life she had always dreamed about. Bakit ito natagpuang halos wala ng buhay?

Sabi sa balita, a concerned citizen called the police nang marinig nito ang mga tila kumakalabog na tunog sa loob ng unit ni Olive. Few minutes later, she was found bathing in her own blood. Halos wala ng buhay at may mga saksak sa katawan.

Josh, her husband, was the prime suspect and is now on police manhunt.

Sa ngayon, nasa critical condition si Olive. At dahil buntis ito at grabe ang tinamo nitong pinsala, her baby didn't survive. Katunayan, maging si Olive mismo ay wala pang kasiguraduhang magsu-survive.

"Olive..." she whispered.

Natakot siya sa sinapit nito and she wished she could do something to help her.

'On the other hand, her ex fiance, the young hotel tycoon, Nate Sarmiento was said to be on his way to London using his private jet... Folks, isn't it a very sweet gesture from him? Please remain watching for more updates. We'll be back after this short break.'

Halos madurog ang puso ni Hannah nang marinig ang sinabi ng news anchor. They even had a clip of Nate who appeared to be so worried. The video was recorded earlier that day.

There's no question to ask. Hannah figured that the news about Olive was the reason Nate went back to Manila at once. Olive was the emergency Nate had to attend. It was Olive he rushed to see while he left his daughter and her foster mommy in the care of bodyguards.

Nanghihinang napaupo siya sa sofa... Olive was back…

Elisha's real mother was back. And there's no doubt that this time, if she survives, hindi na papayag pa si Nate na magkahiwalay pa silang muli.

It was pretty obvious. Nate still loves Olive. Who would fly to London without the love force driving him to do so?

Two months. That's a short time. One doesn't move on from a broken heart in two months. And Nate obviously hadn't moved on yet... He said it, once he found Olive, they would complete their family and Hannah had to go.

He found her then. But she was still happy with her new found love. This time, her vulnerable situation surely ignited the love flame in his heart that hadn't died down yet. Kaya nga ito papunta sa London di ba? That's why he's rushing to see her.

Nate was about to be reunited with his daughter's mother.