Chapter 6: Almost

Rodleigh's Point of View:

"Sir, do you know her?" I just got to my office room and that was the first question Danielle, my personal assistant, asked me.

"Next time, don't you ever dare to touched my things, Danielle!" I violently grabbed the picture frame she was holding and returned it to where I first placed it.

"Get out!" I shouted at her.

"I'm sorry, Sir, I'm really sorry." She nodded before rushing out of the room. I sat down in my swivel chair and slowly looked at her picture.

"It's been seven years, Cianna, but why I can't find you no matter what I do?" I asked myself as I started touching her face through the picture frame that I am holding.

"Excuse me!"

"Chua!" I quickly stood up to face Chua.

"What was that?" He asked meaningfully as he slowly stepped closer to me.

"What are you hiding behind you, Del Mundo?" "None of your business! What's bring you here?" I asked.

"Really? I thought you already moved on?" He said with a smile after he took the picture of Cianna that I tried to hide behind me so that he could not see. He's always teasing me when it comes to her. But you know that teasing mixed with guilt? That's what he's always doing to me!

"Because when she was there, you tried to ignore her, but now that she's gone, you try to look for her—"

"Stop right there, Chua!" I shouted at once throwing the ballpen I was holding at him.

"Ouch!" He complained after I hit him in the forehead.

"You know what, bro? You can't really find someone who doesn't want to be found." I was stunned for a moment and stared into space.

"Is she still angry?" I asked as I struggled to look back.

"Of course! Who wouldn't be angry with what you've done before? Anyone in Cianna's situation would be angry too." I stared at Chua.

"Hey, I'm not asking your fvckin 'opinion!" I shouted at him.

"I'm just expressing my opinion." He laughed. While Chua was excited to tease me, his phone suddenly rang.

"Elsa's calling, I'll better take this call or else I'm dead!" I laughed at Chua's actions. He's really scared of his wife.

"Okay. Go on," I shooed him away. When Chua came out I turned my attention back to Cianna's picture.

"I know I am stupid before, but I'll promise, I will do everything to get you back, my Cianna."

"Sir, Manager Dei and her model are already in the studio. You are the only ones waiting for the project to start."

"Okay, tell them that I'm coming."

"Yes sir," I slowly returned the picture frame I was holding to the table then I followed Danielle to the studio.

"Mr. Del Mundo!"

"Manager!" Excitement and happiness, was the first two things that I noticed to manager Dei, she's really happy and excited for getting this opportunity.

Who wouldn't be happy if you were the first to be chosen to manage the endorsement of the world's most popular and well-known product, right?

"Nice to finally meet you, Mr. Del Mundo."

"Nice to meet you too."

"So, who's your model?" I asked after I notice that those with her in the studio are almost all camera men.

"Right now, she's in the comfort room to get ready."

"Oh, I see." I said and arranged a seat. Almost half an hour passed but there was still no model with Manager Dei so I broke the silence.

"I guess—"

"Mr. Del Mundo, please don't cancel this very important project. Please give me another chance. I'll talk to her—" Just as manager Dei did cutting off my speech I also cut off her plea.

"Hey, I am not canceling the project. I guess your artist isn't ready today ... So, I suggest to reschedule this, maybe tomorrow or some other day?" Immediately, her face lit up at what I said.

"Besides, I have an important meeting to attend later. See you." I got up first and said goodbye to her. Danielle immediately followed me.

"Sir, are you serious? Aren't you angry? Look, that important model has been waiting for you for almost an hour!"

"Danielle, I am not asking your opinion on this matter. So, you better shut your mouth up."

"Sorry."

"Psh. All right, go back to your seat and finish what I'm asking you to do." I commanded her.

"Okay sir."

___

Cianna's Point of View:

"What the h*ll, Cianna?" I was just stunned when manager Dei suddenly shouted at me.

"I'm really sorry ..." I almost choked as I tried to apologize to her. I also regularly bite my lower lip to suppress the emotion I feel.

"Before we flew there, we'd talked about this many times, right? But what did you do? You left the team!"

"I don't know what's going on with you, Cianna! But if you can't do this project, I'll better fire you right now!" My eyes widened at the next words left by manager Dei. I know she's mad at me for leaving her with the team. But I never thought it would reach this far. She's really disappointed.

"Manager, No ... Please don't fire me, I know that you knew how much this career means to me and to my daughters. Please give me another chance, I'll promise that I won't do it again. " If before I could not stop shedding my tears, now I can't stop it. I burst into tears why pleading for her.

"Fine! Tomorrow 9:00 AM at VDM Group of Companies!" After manager Dei said that, she finally left me at the table where I sent her to explain why I didn't show up earlier for the shoot. I just tweaked my own hair and even more I lowered my face to the table to release the resentment I was feeling.

"Of all the companies here in the Philippines, why in the company of my ex-husband?" I thought I already moved on. I thought I already forget. But when I saw his picture awhile ago, ... the pain was still there. I don’t know, but I suddenly fainted. I suddenly felt scared. I felt like, I needed a place to hide myself. I realized that, seven years was not enough to forget. I was still out of my mind when I arrived at auntie Carmilla's house. Until now, I still don't know how to deal with my ex -husband tomorrow. It would have been better if we just didn't meet. Because by chance, I don’t know if I can still do this project.

"Mommy!" Only then did I return to the trance when my children greeted me as I entered the door.

"Babies!" I knelt down so that I could match them and I gave them each a kiss on the cheek, they did the same to me.

"Mommy how's your day?" Lessanna asks me. She asked me with a smile. I suddenly feel relieved I feel.

"It's fine baby," I replied to her. She just smiled at me and she went back to playing.

"Does it mean that we're going on a date tomorrow, Mommy? A family date? With Mamila, Lessanna and you?" Gradually my smiles faded at Lessandra's repeated questions. I also suddenly remembered that I had promised them two days ago.

"I'm sorry baby but mommy still needs to go back to work tomorrow. I'll promise, if I finished early, we'll go on a date." I explain to her. But her response was only a frown.

"You made a promised two days ago, and now you're promising again. . ."

"Baby I'm really—"

"It's okay, Mom. I understand you," I suddenly cried as she hugged me tightly.

"Thank you baby for understanding Mommy, I love you." She just smiled at me then she approached her twin to play as well.

"Cianna," I immediately wiped away my tears before I faced auntie.

"Yes, auntie?" I smiled just to hide my emotion. "How's your day?" She asked without taking a look into my eyes.

"It's fine, auntie. The project went—" "

"Stop lying, Cianna." I stared in shock at auntie. "Your manager called me awhile ago, she told me what happened. Why?"

"Auntie I'm sorry," I nodded as I tried to stop my tears from flowing again.

"Cianna, you don't have to apologize to me." Auntie came over to me to hug me.

"If you can't stand to do the project, then, better let it go."

"No, auntie. I can't, manager Dei will gonna fire me if I give up this project!" I shouted out of frustration.

"Then, what's the problem? Is it because of your ex-husband? Cianna, if anyone should be affected by your reunion, it shouldn't be you. It should be him! Because first of all, he's the one who abandoned you!"

"Auntie, thank you! This is all I'm waiting to hear to give me courage. You're right, I shouldn't affect by him."

"You're welcome, maybe it's time for you to show his loss, for abandoning you." I nodded at what auntie said.

"All right, get dressed so we can have dinner with the kids."

"Okay." I hurried upstairs to change into house clothes. After I changed I also went down right away.

"Daddy!" I was almost stunned as I was walking down the stairs when Lessandra suddenly shouted 'Daddy' I thought who she was calling, they were just playing with her twin.

"Girls that's enough, it's already dinner time!" I smiled and called them as soon as I could get down.

"Okay, Mommy!" They got up together and went to the sink to wash their hands.

"Very good!" I commented as I watch them. Usually, if I don't scold them, they won't wash their hands after playing. I'm happy that somehow they learned well. After we had dinner I took the twins to their room to sleep.

"Good night, babies!" "Good night too, Mommy! Sweet dreams." They respond simultaneously. I just smiled again before I kissed them.

"Sleep well, my babies." I said again before leaving their room.

"Cianna,"

"Auntie, you surprised me!" I said while I was still holding my chest in shock.

"Oh, I'm sorry." Auntie just laughed because of my reaction.

"Is it okay if I ask you some personal questions?" I could not answer auntie for a few seconds. Then I just nodded too.

"Su-sure," I replied hesitantly.

"Will you introduce your daughters to him?"

"I-I don't know auntie, sorry." My direct response.

"If I were you, you should tell him." I don’t want to argue with auntie so I restrain myself as much as possible.

"To be honest auntie, why would I? Why would I tell him? For what else?"

"For you to be calm, for you to be free." She answered.

"I don't understand you auntie ..."

"Cianna, that doesn't mean that if you tell him about the children, you'll forget about his sins."

"I'm sorry auntie, but I'm tired. I need to rest because I'm going to work early tomorrow." I was about to turn around to enter my room next to my children's room, when auntie Carmilla suddenly held my arm.

"You'll gonna understand me soon, Cianna." She smiled,

"Good night and have a sweet dreams." I couldn't immediately react to what auntie said, so I didn't even notice her leaving in front of me.