Chasing Dreams, Losing Her.

Chapter 33 temporary freedom

Zarya's point of view

The sunlight filtered softly through the sheer curtains, casting a warm golden glow across the sheets. I am happy to be awakened by her scent, not from the sound of alarms or the weight of heavy responsibilities pressing down on my chest. Instead, I woke up to warmth.

My cheek rested comfortably against Iris's shoulder, my head tucked right in the crook of her neck.

One of her arms was draped securely around my waist, while her other hand rested gently on my hair, para bang ayaw niya akong bitawan kahit habang natutulog.

Her steady heartbeat was the only sound I could hear, slow and calming, lulling me into a kind of pure peace I hadn't felt in so long.

I shifted slightly, lifting my head just enough to look at her face.

She was still fast asleep, her features soft and relaxed.

Wala na yung matapang na itsura ng abogado, wala na rin yung bigat na halatang halata sa kanya kagabi.

Her long black hair spilled messily across the pillow, and her warm breath fanned softly against my forehead.

But as I slowly woke up completely, reality started to creep back in. Naaalala kong meron pala akong important meeting today.

Dahan-dahan kong sinubukang umupo at umalis sa pagkakahiga para hindi siya magising. I needed to get ready, Mr. Henderson was expecting me at the office, and the coastal bidding was too important to be late for.

But before I could even sit up properly, a pair of strong arms wrapped firmly around my waist, pulling me right back down until I was pressed flush against her chest, parang alam na alam niyang susubukan kong umalis.

"Where do you think you're going?"

Her voice was still thick with sleep, low and husky, sending a pleasant shiver down my spine. She opened one eye, looking at me with that familiar sleepy, affectionate glint.

I smiled softly, brushing a stray lock of hair away from her face. "I have to get up, Attorney. I have a meeting."

She frowned, tightening her hold even more, burying her face against the top of my head. "It's Sunday. No work on Sundays dapat e"

"Alam ko po, I know," I sighed gently, though I didn't really want to leave either. "But this is different. This is the meeting with Mr. Henderson regarding the coastal land bidding. It's very important. We only have one month to prepare, remember?"

Iris huffed, but there was no real anger in it, just pure disappointment.

She pulled back slightly to look me in the eye, her fingers tracing slow, gentle circles on my back.

"But I was hoping we could spend the whole day together.

Just us. No plans, no work, no worrying about anything else.

Can't you just skip it? Or reschedule?"

I shook my head regretfully, leaning in to press a soft kiss to her forehead.

"I wish I could, believe me. Pero galing pa kasing Italy si Mr. Henderson.

He took time off his own schedule. Importante talaga ang meeting na 'to, we need to finalize our strategy, check our budget, and make sure we have everything ready before we face the other bidders. "

Her expression softened, though she still looked reluctant to let me go. "How long will it take?"

"I'll try to finish as early as possible," I promised, taking her hand and bringing it to my lips to kiss her knuckles.

"Two hours at most, I think. Then I'll come straight back here.

The rest of the day is all ours. We can eat out, watch movies, or just stay here and do nothing—whatever you want. I promise."

She stared at me for a long moment, searching my face, before finally letting out a quiet sigh and loosening her grip, though she didn't let go completely. "Fine. But hurry back. Don't make me wait too long."

I smiled, leaning down to capture her lips in a slow, sweet kiss. "I won't. I'll be back before you know it."

I smiled softly, brushing a stray lock of hair away from her face, then leaned down to press a warm, lingering kiss right on her forehead. "Stay here and rest, okay?" I whispered gently against her skin.

Slowly, I pulled myself away from her hold and got up from the bed. "May pagkain na sa kusina," I told her, my voice soft but clear enough for her to hear.

I leaned against the doorframe for a moment, giving her a small, reassuring smile. "This is your home too, so gawin mo lang kung ano ang gusto mo. Pwede kang manood ng TV sa living room, magbasa sa library, o matulog ulit, walang magbabawal sa'yo."

I remembered kuya Jun's schedule and added, "At huwag kang mag-alala kay Kuya Jun. Day off niya ngayong Linggo, so he won't be here.

____

The moment I stepped inside the conference room, the familiar scent of paper, ink, and leather greeted me. Mr. Henderson was already there, standing by the long glass table, spreading out blueprints, land titles, and thick financial reports, maayos at handa na ang lahat.

"Good morning, Ms. De Luca," he greeted, gesturing for me to take a seat. "I've laid out everything we have so far regarding the coastal property bid."

I sat down across from him, my eyes scanning the large map spread right in the middle. The land was prime, wide, facing the open sea, perfect for both a luxury resort and a commercial district. Hindi nakakagulat na marami ang gustong makuha ito.

"Let's start with the competition," I said, leaning forward. "Who exactly are we up against?"

Mr. Henderson tapped two names printed on the list. "Mr. Sterling, and Mr. Valenti. I actually don't get it why Sterling chose Valenti. That was a bold move, that man is not ripe in the industry"

My jaw tightened just hearing his name. Of course. Her father.

Henderson continued, noticing my reaction. "But maybe because of Valenti's dedication, he suddenly poured all his remaining assets into this bid, and he's determined to win. More like a deeper reasons behind his eagerness to win"

We spent the next few hours going over our strategy.

We talked about our budget, our proposed development plan, one that would benefit the local community as well, which would give us an edge and the legal safeguards we needed to put in place.

Hindi pwedeng magkamali. Isang maling galaw lang, at madali kaming matatalo.

"Ms. De Luca," Mr. Henderson said suddenly, his voice dropping seriously as he pushed a folder toward me. "Before we end, I heard something from a reliable source this morning. Valenti and Sterling were seen almost everyday in some private hubs."

My head snapped up. "Together?"

He nodded grimly. "Yes. They were seen talking for almost two hours. They must be really planning everything."

A cold feeling settled in my chest. This wasn't just a business deal anymore. This was personal.

"Keep your eyes open," I told him, gathering my things. "They can play whatever genre they like. We have one month to prepare. Let's make sure we're ready for anything they might throw at us."

"Understood, Ms. De Luca. I won't let our partnership go to waste."

We finished going over the last set of documents and closed the folders. Mr. Henderson leaned back in his chair with a small, satisfied nod.

"That covers everything for now," he said, standing up and adjusting his suit jacket. "I'll be heading back to Italy later this afternoon to work on my end, securing the financial guarantees and finalizing the design proposals we discussed."

He paused, giving me a reassuring look. "But don't worry. I'll be back here in the Philippines by next week, and I'll stay for as long as it takes until everything is set for the final bidding."

I stood up as well, extending my hand to shake his. "Thank you so much, Mr. Henderson. And I'm really sorry for the inconvenience this may cause you for having to travel back and forth like this."

He chuckled softly, shaking his head as he returned the handshake.

"No worries at all, Ms. De Luca. I know you are ten times busier than I am, running both the hospital and the company.

That's why I understand, I can adjust whatever works best for this partnership. We're in this together to win."

With a final nod and a polite goodbye, he turned and left the conference room.

I checked my watch, a small smile tugging at my lips. I could go straight home, but I suddenly had a better idea.

I walked quickly to the parking lot and got into my car.

I drove straight to the flower shop near the city center, the one that always has the freshest blooms. I knew exactly what to get.

stargazers and white lilies. Iris loves them, she said they smell like peace.

Something she needs to achieve everyday.

I picked out the most beautiful arrangement tall, elegant stargazers with soft pink edges mixed with pure white lilies that smelled so sweet and fresh.

Pinili ko talaga yung pinakamaganda. I paid, carefully placed them on the passenger seat so they wouldn't get crushed, para hindi madurog habang nagmamaneho, and drove straight back home.

When I entered the house, it was quiet except for the soft sound of typing coming from the living room.

Tahimik lang, tanging tunog lang ng pagta-type ang naririnig ko.

I walked in slowly and saw Iris sitting comfortably on the large sofa, her laptop open on her lap, glasses resting low on her nose as she focused hard on her screen. Mukhang seryoso siya sa ginagawa.

A playful idea crossed my mind. Bigla akong napangiti nang may naisip.

I tiptoed across the marble floor, careful not to make a sound, dahan dahan lang para hindi niya marinig, until I was standing right behind her.

I gently placed both hands over her eyes to block her view, leaned down, and pressed a soft, lingering kiss on her lips.

I felt her smile against my mouth even before I pulled back. Ramdam ko agad ang pagngiti niya kahit hindi pa ako humihiwalay.

"I know it's you," she said, her voice warm and amused as she reached up to touch my hands. "Just by the scent of your perfume, Zarya."

I laughed softly and removed my hands, walking around to sit beside her. I held out the bouquet toward her. "For you."

Her eyes lit up instantly when she saw the flowers. She set her laptop aside carefully and took them, bringing them close to her face to inhale their sweet fragrance. "Stargazers and lilies.... You remembered."

"Of course I did," I said, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "Paano ko makakalimutan?"

I leaned back against the cushions, looking at her with a soft smile. "Hey... I was thinking. Since we're done with the meeting early, and we have the whole day free... would you like to go to the beach today?"

She blinked in surprise. "The beach? Now?"

"Mhm," I nodded. "I have a private beach house about two hours away from here. Wala namang ibang tao doon, tahimik lang. We can spend the rest of the day there, walk along the shore, eat fresh seafood, and just relax. We'll come back tomorrow morning, so we don't have to rush. Gusto mo ba?"

Iris stared at me for a moment, then a bright, genuine smile spread across her face the kind that reached her eyes and made them shine. She put the flowers carefully on the coffee table and immediately stood up, reaching for my hand.

"Let's go," she said, her voice full of excitement. " I also need some rest e."

I laughed, lacing my fingers through hers as we stood up together. "Great. Go pack a few things,

just clothes and whatever you need. I'll get the car ready."

_____

The car finally pulled up near the wooden gate, and the first thing that hit us was the fresh, salty sea breeze, ang presko ng hangin, parang nabawasan agad ang pagod sa biyahe. The sun was starting to dip lower, painting the sky in soft shades of orange and pink.

As soon as we stepped out, an older man with a kind smile and a worn cap came walking toward us from the porch. It was Kuya Oliver, the caretaker who'd been looking after this place for years.

"Magandang hapon, ma'am Zarya!" he greeted warmly, wiping his hands on his shirt. "Buti at nakabalik ka ulit. Ang tagal mong nawala ah."

I smiled back and walked over to shake his hand. "Hi Kuya Oliver. Mabuti naman, ikaw kamusta? Long time no see."

"Mabuti naman, salamat," he said, looking me over with a grin. "Kailan ka pa nakabalik dito sa Pilipinas? Akala ko doon ka na maninirahan sa Italy."

"Just a few months ago," I replied casually. "I just studied there po, Doctor na po ako ngayon."

Kuya Oliver's face lit up, his eyes widening in delight. "Talaga? Naku, nakakatuwa naman yan! Ang tagal mong pinaghirapan 'yan, buti at natupad din ang pangarap mo. Congratulations!"

"Thank you, Kuya. Salamat."

He then glanced past me, noticing Iris standing a little behind me, looking around at the place. He turned back to me with a curious but polite look.

"Ah... may kasama ka pala. Sino siya?"

For a split second, I froze. My throat felt tight, and I could feel my shoulders tense up slightly. Dito na naman tayo sa pagtatago. I glanced quickly at Iris, who gave me a tiny, reassuring nod, before I turned back to Kuya Oliver.

"Ah... si Iris." My voice came out a little quieter than usual, and I scratched the back of my neck awkwardly. "She's...kaibigan ko po."

I felt my face warm a little. It felt strange, almost wrong, introducing her that way like I was hiding something important, which I was.

But it was for the best, for now. I looked at Iris again, expecting to see a hint of hurt, but she just gave me a soft, understanding smile.

She didn't mind, she knew exactly why I said it.

Kuya Oliver just nodded politely, not noticing the slight shift in the air. "Ah, sige. Tara na po sa loob. Mabuti at linggo kayo pumunta, tuwing linggo kasi ako naglilinis ng mga kwart. May mga tuwalya at ibang gamit na rin doon kung kailangan ninyo."

"Thank you so much, Kuya Oliver," I said, relieved that the moment passed.

He led us inside the cozy, airy beach house kahit simple lang, maaliwalas at mabango pa rin.

He showed us to the room at the far end, kahit alam ko naman ang mga pasikot sikot dito sa beach house.

The room had a large window facing the ocean, letting in the cool breeze and the soft sound of the waves.

"Dito na po kayo. Ipahinga ninyo muna ang inyong mga sarili. Tatawagin ko na lang kayo mamaya kapag handa na ang hapunan," he said before excusing himself to give us some privacy.

As soon as Kuya Oliver excused himself and stepped out, I quietly followed him to the porch.

"Kuya Oliver," I called out gently. He turned around immediately. "About later... pwede ka nang umuwi o magpahinga sa bahay mo, ha? Okay na po kahit bukas ka nalang ulit bumalik dito."

He looked surprised, shaking his head a little. "Naku, Miss Zarya, okay lang naman. Nandito lang ako kung may kailangan kayo o kung may mangyari. Sanay na ako magbantay."

I smiled and shook my head, stepping closer. "Alam ko, but take this as your rest day. Wala namang ibang tao dito, and we can handle this.Huwag kang mag-alala sa amin, promise."

Before he could protest further, I pulled out an envelope from my bag and handed it to him. "Para sa'yo 'to. Treat yourself or your family. Enjoy ka lang muna ngayong araw."

He opened it slightly and his eyes widened when he saw the amount, it was just ten thousand pesos. "Naku, Miss Zarya, sobra naman ito! Hindi ko matatanggap—"

"Tanggapin mo na lang, Kuya," I insisted softly. "It's like a thank you gift for taking care of the beach house. Sige na, umuwi ka na."

After a moment of hesitation, he nodded gratefully and accepted it.

"Maraming salamat, Ma'am pero sinisweldohan parin naman ako ng papa niyo e.

Ingat nalang ho kayo dito. Babalik ako bukas nang umaga.

" He was about to turn and leave but he paused.

"Ma'am, may mga bagong huli po palang seafoods diyan sa chest freezer pero allergic naman kayo non.

May mga steak po diyan sa ref na pinapa stock ng papa niyo every week. "

"Sige po, thank you kuya Oliver. Ingat ka po." I waved as he got on his motorcycle and drove off down the path.

I turned back and went inside, walking toward the wide wooden deck at the back. There I found Iris leaning against the railings, her gaze fixed on the endless blue ocean stretching out before her. The breeze was blowing gently, making her hair sway softly.

I walked up quietly and wrapped my arms around her waist from behind, resting my chin on her shoulder.

"The view looks good, 'no?" I murmured softly.

She leaned back against me, relaxing into my hold. I took a small breath, my voice turning a little quieter.

"I'm sorry earlier," I said gently. "For introducing you as just a friend."

I felt her hands cover mine, squeezing them lightly. She turned her head slightly to glance at me with a soft smile.

"It's fine, Zar," she said calmly. "I understand."

She turned around fully in my arms to face me, looping her arms loosely around my waist. Before I could say anything else, she leaned in and pressed a soft, sweet kiss on my lips. slow and reassuring, letting me know she really didn't mind.

When I pulled back, my eyes sparkled with that familiar playful glint.

"You wanna go take some photos by the shore?" I asked, nodding toward the beach.

She made a face, glancing outside at the sun still hanging high. "Ang init pa naman sa labas. Can we do it later?"

I shook my head, grinning. "Nope. Tara na."

She groaned playfully, tightening her hold on my waist. "Ang init kasi...it's too hotttt!"

I laughed, gently pulling myself free from her arms and stepping toward the door leading to the sand. "Okay, fine. If you don't want to come, I'll just go there myself."

I barely took two steps before she sighed dramatically, already reaching for her phone and my hand. "C'mon."

"Sige na, sige na...I'll take picture with you," she said, following right behind me without any more complaints.

The moment our bare feet touched the warm, fine sand, it felt soft and cool against my skin. The ocean stretched wide and endless before us, its blue surface glinting under the sun, and the sound of the waves rolling in was steady and calming.

I tugged gently at Iris's hand, grinning as I pulled her a little further from the house. "Come on, let's walk closer. ang ganda ng view dito, perfect for pictures."

She shielded her eyes from the bright light, giving me a playful, amused look. "See? It's still hot. But you insisted."

I laughed, nudging her shoulder lightly. "Sige na nga, konting tiis lang. it's okay, promise! Besides, we can just dip our feet in the water to cool down, see?" I wiggled my toes where the shallow waves lapped gently at the shore, making small splashes.

She shook her head, but there was a smile tugging at her lips. "Ang kulit talaga. Don't complain if you'll get sunburn, okay?"

"Me? Complain? Never!" I said dramatically, then suddenly a mischievous idea popped into my head. I let go of her hand, took a few steps back, and grinned wider. "But... let's see if you can catch me first!"

Before she could even reply, I turned and sprinted off along the shore, my feet sinking slightly into the warm sand with every step.

"Zarya! Hoy! Teka lang!" I heard her laugh behind me, followed by the sound of her footsteps running after me.

Gosh, I really love hearing her conyo accent.

I laughed loudly, glancing over my shoulder to see her chasing me, her hair flying in the wind, the hem of her loose shirt fluttering.

I ran faster, weaving a little left and right, letting the cool shallow water splash against my ankles as I got closer to the waves.

The sound of our laughter mixed with the crash of the waves, loud and free, walang ingat, walang alalahanin, parang mga batang naglalaro lang.

I ran a little further, but Iris was quick, closing the distance fast. "Gotchaa!" she called out, and suddenly her arms wrapped securely around my waist from behind, pulling me to a gentle stop.

We stumbled slightly, both breathless and giggling as we swayed together. I turned around in her hold, my chest rising and falling fast, my cheeks flushed from running and the warmth of the sun.

She was smiling so wide, her eyes shining bright and carefree, walang bakas ng pagiging stricto and serious lawyer, walang problema sa trabaho o pamilya, walang takot na may makakakita sa amin. Just her. Just us.

Looking at her, my chest felt so light and full all at once.

..ang gaan ng pakiramdam ko. For a moment, it felt like the whole world had stopped turning, para bang tumigil ang ikot ng mundo sa isang iglap.

All the worries about the bidding, Ryan, my father, all the secrets we had to keep, parang biglang naglaho ang bigat ng lahat ng iyon.

There was no fear of being caught, no pressure to hide anymore, kahit saglit lang.

Here, on this quiet stretch of sand, under the open sky.

.. it was just the two of us. Sa sarili naming mundo, where there were no rules, no expectations, walang judgment o maghihiwalay sa amin.

I couldn't explain how happy I am, or how grateful I am.

After eight long years of waiting, hiding, and worrying.

.. sa wakas, naramdaman ko rin ang ganitong kapayapaan.

My heart wasn't just beating anymore, it was truly happy.

Truly content. It had felt heavy and tired for so long, but right now, wrapped up in this moment, with her laugh ringing in my ears and her arms around me.

.. it felt whole again. It was simple, it was quiet, and it was everything I ever wanted.

Even if it was just for a short time, sapat na.

As long as I was with her, everything felt right.

Author: bitin ba? wait lang, update ako mamaya??