Chapter 44 Celeste Aria
Zarya's point of view
Since I got home, ilang oras na akong nag iisip dito. The silence felt heavy. Guilt settled deep in my chest, ang bigat?bigat ng pakiramdam ko, my heart aching for Ryan and all the hurt I'd caused him.
I knew there was nothing more I could say or do to undo what happened, wala na akong magagawa para mabawasan ang sakit niya, but at least a small part of me finally breathed easier.
It turned out it was Ryan behind all those threats, at hindi si TitoEric, like I'd always feared.
Even though the truth hit him hard, sobrang hirap tanggapin 'yung nalaman niya, at lahat ng mga sinabi ko, but he still found it in himself to understand where I came from.
He let go of his anger and bitterness, hindi ko inakala na magagawa niyang unti?unting bitawan 'yung sama ng loob niya, and that gave me a quiet peace kahit panandalian lang.
But questions kept spinning in my head all night, kung hindi naman pala si tito Eric ang nagbabanta sa akin...
ano ba talaga ang ginagawa niya dito sa Pilipinas?
Maybe he just wanted to see Iris, baka dumalaw lang, or maybe there was something else — I couldn't be sure, and right now I didn't have time to dig deeper.
I just lay awake, halos hindi ako makatulog. Parang ayaw akong patulogin ng mga iniisip ko. My eyes are swollen and burning from crying, namamaga pa rin ang mga mata ko, thoughts running over every word Ryan said.
Then my phone rang sharp and loud, Mr. Henderson's name glowing on the screen.
"Are you ready? Should I come pick you up now?"
Nagulat ako sa sinabi niya, ready for what? Holy fuck — The screen read 4:32 AM. I'd completely lost track of time. Umaga na pala, hindi man lang ako nakatulog kahit saglit.
"Pick me up in twenty minutes," I answered fast, with exhaustion.
I jumped out of bed, rushing around the room, grabbing everything I'd packed the night before, travel documents, bidding folders, the extra copies I'd hidden safe, clothes, essentials. Mabuti nalang at naisipan kong simulan na ang pag pack kagabi palang.
I caught my reflection in the mirror, Ang gulo?gulo ko tignan, I fixed my hair, smoothed my clothes, forced my shoulders back, babawi nalang ako ng tulog sa byahe.
No sleep, heavy heart, and so many unanswered questions still weighing on me, but I slung my bags over my shoulder, locked the door behind me, and stepped out of my house.
The morning air was cool, parang humahaplos sa pagod kong katawan, and there was Mr. Henderson already leaning by the open car door, engine running soft and steady. Lumapit din naman siya agad saakin para kunin ang mga dala ko.
"I got this, just get inside." he insisted.
Binitawan ko na din kaagad at pumasok sa sasakyan, parang nawalan na ng lakas ang mga kamay ko, and I sank into the plush backseat. As soon as the door closed, I tipped my head back against the rest and closed my eyes.
Everything felt heavy, ang bigat ng pakiramdam ko, ang bigat ng mga mata ko sa kakaiyak, pati dibdib ko ang bigat—sobrang bigat na parang dinadala ko ang buong mundo. My mind was still tangled with guilt and unanswered questions, but right now exhaustion won over everything else.
Mr. Henderson got behind the wheel a moment later, nakita kong tinignan niya ako sa rear view mirror.
"Are you okay?" He asked concerned.
"Yes, I'm fine. Let's just go to the airport." Halos hindi na maintindihan ang pagkasabi ko dahil sa pagod.
Hindi narin naman siya nagtanong pa at nag drive nalang din. The car hummed along sa napaka tahimik na daan. Dahan?dahang pinapagaan ang pakiramdam ko.
I didn't notice when my breathing deepened, didn't feel my shoulders finally drop—nakatulog na pala ako.
I only woke when a light shake on my arm roused me.
Pinilit ko nalang idilat ang mga mata ko, at pagkatingin ko sa paligid ay nasa airport na pala kami.
Nakatulog pala ako nang hindi namamalayan, tulog na tulog sa kabila ng lahat ng gumugulo sa isip ko.
We didn't waste any time, pumasok na kami agad para asikasohin lahat.
check?in counters, security lines, passport control.
Hindi naman kami nahirapan sa lahat ng mga kailangan, mabilis lang at walang aberya, Henderson guiding the way while I followed on autopilot.
Pagod na ang mga paa ko, even my eyes wanted to automatically close.
Gusto ko nalang makaboard na para makatulog.
Down the boarding hallway, the floor stretched long and straight, walang katapusang daanan na parang hindi matatapos.
Henderson fell in step beside me, then slowed when he really took in my face.
I realized na mukha pala akong multo ngayon, I don't have any make up on, hindi din naayos ng mabuti ang buhok ko, my swollen eyes.
Alam kong halatang?halata ang pagod at sakit sa mukha ko, but I kept my head up, trying not to look as worn out as I felt.
"Did you sleep last night?" he asked, bakas din sa tono niya na takang taka siya bakit ganito ang itsura ko.
"No. That's why we need to be on the plane, I need to sleep." Sagot ko as I kept walking.
He sighed softly, sounding genuinely concerned. "You're too focused. You should take care of yourself."
I didn't bother replying or even turning my head. Wala nang oras para sa mga paalalang 'yan, my whole being fixed on just one thing, na maka board na kami, and I can finally close my eyes, finally rest.
Since we were in business class, hindi na kami na traffic pa sa ibang tao. Pagkapasok namin sa cabin door, hinanap ko na agad ang seat namin. Sa wakas, I can finally get some sleep.
____
The flight and layover took nearly 19 hours total, nag stop over pa kami sa Amsterdam before kami nag touch down sa Milan.
My legs felt stiff, eyes still heavy, but gising na gising ang isip ko now.
Five days left until bidding, and wala na akong pag-asang manalo.
I already handed Sterling full copies of every plan, every figure, every advantage we had, kapalit lang para maging ligtas ang kapatid ko.
Whatever move we made, he would just match or outdo it.
Winning didn't matter anymore, ang mahalaga lang ay maprotektahan si ate at ang magiging baby niya.
When we stepped out of arrivals, Mr. Henderson walked beside me toward the waiting black sedan. He glanced at his watch, voice steady but hopeful.
"Five days more, Miss Zarya. And that prestigious land would be ours." He smiled at me, na parang sigurado talaga siyang mananalo kami. Little did he know...
I barely reacted, gaze fixed ahead.
"Let's just keep in touch through call. I will have some things to work on for the next few days." I said early kasi alam kong halos araw araw na naman niya akong kukulitin.
He slowed, tone shifting to worry. "But—"
"Don't worry, I can make it to the bidding day." I cut him short, already moving to the car.
He sighed and gave a small nod. "Sure. Just be safe."
Wala na din naman siyang magagawa.
I slid into the back, and the driver is a man who'd served the De Lucas for decades kaya natandaan ko na din kaagad ang itsura niya. But we are not as close as Kuya Jun kasi Papa would always prohibit us from engaging with people.
"Dove andiamo, signorina? In albergo?"
(Where to ma'am? To your hotel?"
"No," I answered in Italian, firm and clear."Andiamo da mia sorella"
"Let's go to my sister's)
He didn't question me. Just nodded and merged into traffic, sanay na siya sa mga utos namin, he knew exactly how things worked with our family.
All the way, my thoughts circled only Yana and her unborn child.
Kailangan niya ako dito. Matagal na siyang mag?isa.
But I couldn't let our driver know just how bad things might be, kailangan kong dumaan muna sa bahay ni Yana bago pumunta sa hospital.
No one outside the family should know her condition or where she spent her days hidden away.
After a while, the driver spoke again, eyes on the road.
"Suo padre mi ha detto che ha un grande progetto qui. Sono fiero di lei, signorina Zarya."
(Your papa told me you will be having a major project here. I am proud of you, Ma'am Zarya.)
I gave a thin, awkward smile. "Hopefully..."
The drive is almost an hour, madilim na din ang daan. When we finally pulled up in front of Yana's house, the engine cut off. The driver stepped out and reached for my luggage.
"Just put it there," I said, pointing to the concrete step.
He lifted the heavier case. "è pesante, signora. Posso metterlo dentro io per lei."
(It's heavy, ma'am. I can just put it inside for you.)
"No — Lo metta pure lì e può andare."
(Just out it there and you can go back.)
My tone was sharp enough that he flinched a little, parang natakot sa tono ko. But he did exactly as told. Pagkatapos niyang maibaba lahat ng gamit ko ay nagpaalam na din siya para umalis.
As soon as the car turned the corner, kinuha ko na din ang mga gamit ko. They were heavy, sobrang bigat dahil marami rami din akong dala, and I stumbled a little dragging them to the door.
When I reached it, binuksan ko ang bag ko at kinuha ang susi sa bahay niya.
Siya din ang nagbigay sakin nito, meron din naman siya ng susi sa bahay ko.
ganyan kami simula pa noong mga bata pa kami, we always share things and share our feelings.
Pero habang lumalaki, things nalang ang na s-share namin.
Minsan nalang kami mag usap tungkol sa buhay.
I unlocked and pushed the door open, I missed this place. Hindi gaano kalaki, hindi din gaano kaliit ang bahay niya because she likes it this way. Hindi rin naman kasi siya nag s-stay dito sa bahay niya palagi.
But instead of seeing a peaceful home I expected. I froze in place, nagulat ako sa nakita ko.
This wasn't the calm, bright home I remembered. It was dead silent, a heavy, depressing kind of quiet. Mga basura ay nakalatag saan saan, may mga bote din sa gilid, even some crumpled papers, may mga plato din na hindi pa nahuhugasan. Dust coated every surface.
Alam kong malinis si Ate Yana, kahit magulo ang lifestyle niya, hindi niya hahayaang magkaganito ang bahay. She would never let things get this bad unless something had broken her completely.
Then it hit me, ang bigat ng naramdaman ko.
She had been here alone for years, malayo saamin dahil nga hindi naman siya interesado sa lugar namin.
Years of carrying secrets and pain while I was far away.
Hindi ko na namalayan na tumutulo na pala ang luha ko habang naglalakad ako ng dahan dahan dito sa bahay niya.
Ilang taon siyang nagtiis mag?isa habang ako ay abala din sa sarili kong laban.
Without thinking, I knelt and started picking everything up, clearing mess, stacking papers, wiping dust away. Mabilis ko lang nalinis ang sala, pero nakuha ang atensyon ko ng isang papel na halos madurog na dahil sa pagkagulo nito.
It was a letter. Not just any letter, it was from Isaac. Pero ang pagtaka ko ay bakit Isaac Walter ang nakalagay, hindi ba niya dinadala ang apilyido ni tito Eric?
I didn't hesitated, binuksan ko ito ng dahan dahan and I read it carefully.
I let the paper fall back onto the pile. My blood boiled, uminit ang ulo ko sa galit. How dare he? How dare he say he'd take the hard way when he already left her here to face it all by herself?
Yana used to be so free, living exactly how she wanted, making her own choices. She never needed anyone's pity or promises of a "hard life." Hindi niya deserve ang hard life na tinutukoy niya.
I would raise that baby with my Sister if I had to. Hindi siya kailangan ng ate ko, at lalo na ng pamangkin ko. I could give both of them the world he cannot offer.
Anger burned through, mixing with hurt for everything she had gone through.
Gago siya, I thought, fists clenched. He ruined her peace, took away her freedom, and ngayon akala niya maaayos lang lahat dahil sa mga pangako niya?
I was furious at him, sa ama niya, and this whole mess, but most of all, furious that my sister had been left to carry this weight alone for so long.
Pero alam kong kailangan ko na matapos maglinis dito para mapuntahan ko na si Ate. So I didn't let my emotions control me, tumayo na din ako at naglinis ulit.
When every corner was clean and neat again, I went upstairs. The bedroom was small but quiet, parang humihinga na ulit ang bahay. I turned on the shower, let warm water run over me, washing away the dust, the long travel weariness, and all the heavy feelings I'd carried since leaving home.
Ayokong makita niya akong pagod at magulo. She already had so much to go through, I didn't want her feeling bad or worrying about me too.
Once ready, I sat on the edge of the bed and dialed her number. It rang twice before she picked up.
"Ciao, zia Zarya."
(Hello, auntie Zarya)
Right then, a loud, clear baby cry burst from the background, alive and so full of life it made my chest tighten instantly.
Hindi ko na mapigilan ang paghikbi, I covered my mouth with my palm trying so hard not to cry out loud. But tears just kept spilling hot and fast down my cheeks.
From the other end, Ate Yana's voice softened, gentle and knowing. "Oh... Zia Zarya is crying."
I swallowed hard, voice wobbly. "Okay ka lang ba? How did it all go?" Narinig ko na ang pamangkin ko, I know na okay na siya, but I had to make sure my sister is okay too.
There was a pause, then her answer came, ang boses niya ay parang boses ng umiiyak "We're both okay, Zar. She's healthy... and beautiful. She's just..perfect." She could barely speak, every word breaking into quiet sobs, ramdam ko ang tuwa at hirap sa bawat salita niya.
I wiped my face roughly, smiling through the wetness. "P'wede ko bang makita ang pamangkin ko ngayong gabi?"
"loko ka talaga." Sumabay ang tawa at pag hikbi niya, akala niya siguro ay nagbibiro lang ako.
"Which hospital?" I asked straight, no teasing left.
"No, Zar... niloloko mo ako. Are you really here? In Italy?" She asked pero halos ayaw pa rin maniwala.
"Saang hospital nga?" I repeated, firmer now, heart pounding with excitement.
She breathed out "Casa di Cura La Madonnina."
I didn't say another word. Just pressed the call end button, jumped up, and hurried down the stairs fast, grabbing my keys and rushing out to the car.
In that exact moment, every threat, every secret plan, every worry about Sterling, Eric, and the bidding war — all of it vanished like smoke.
Parang biglang nawala ang lahat ng bigat at problema. Nothing else mattered anymore. Not danger, not work, not anything. All I cared about ay ang makita ang ate at pamangkin ko, and finally hold that little baby girl.
The night drive wasn't long, just quiet streets and soft streetlights passing by. Pagkadating ko sa Casa di Cura La Madonnina, I hurried inside through the main doors.
But then I realized, nakalimutan ko palang itanong kung anong room siya. I walked straight to the front desk where a young woman sat ready to help.
"Buona sera, cerco Yana De Luca. Che numero di stanza ha?"
(Good evening, I am looking for Yana De Luca. May I know which room she's in?)
"Buonasera, è in stanza VIP. Ma la chiamo prima, per favore."
(Good evening, she is in VIP but let me just give her a call first)
She smiled politely picked up the phone, and dialed. Nakalimutan ko na kailangan pala talaga ng visitor verification dito. After a quick talk, she put the phone down and gave me the number. "è la stanza 312, al terzo piano, signora."
(Room 3125, third floor ma'am.)
I thanked her and went fast toward the elevator. My heart was beating so quick, sobrang saya at excitement lang ang nararamdaman ko, like I couldn't stand still. Every floor number lighting up made me want to run even faster.
When I stood right in front of room?312, I paused for a second. I wiped my eyes, smoothed my clothes, and took a deep breath, then I turned the handle and stepped inside.
There she was. Ate Yana lying against the pillows, hair loose, face pale and tired, halatang ubos na ubos sa hirap ng panganganak. Right next to her, safe and warm in a soft blanket, was a tiny little human, so small, so still, my chest felt full right away.
Without thinking, I ran straight to the bed and wrapped my arms around her, pulling her in as tight as I could, sobrang higpit na parang ayaw ko na siyang bitawan.
I tried so hard to keep it together, tried to hold back the lump in my throat at yung luha na gusto nang lumabas. But the second I felt her lean into me, warm and real and safe, it all broke loose. Naramdaman ko ulit ang yakap ng ate ko.
My shoulders started shaking before I could stop them.
I buried my face against her shoulder, hindi ko na mapigilan, kahit anong pigil ko ay tumutulo pa rin ang luha.
Tears ran fast and hot down my cheeks, halos mabasa na ng luha ang hospital gown niya, and I couldn't catch my breath between cries.
Ate Yana didn't say a word at first. Niyakap niya lang ako ng mahigpit pabalik. And then I felt her wet cheek press against mine, she was crying too.
There was no need to explain anything. Hindi pa nga kami nagsasalita pero parang lahat ng pagod nawala na. Lahat naglaho bigla sa yakap niya.
We stayed tangled together for what felt like forever, pareho na kaming naghahabol ng hininga dahil sa pag iyak, basang basa na rin ang mga mata namin. But neither of us want to let go. Then slowly, she started rubbing slow, soothing circles up and down my back, her hand still shaky.
Finally, bumitaw na siya sa yakap ko. She pulled back a little, sapat para makita ang mukha ko. She gently wiped my tears away kahit siya mismo ay tumutulo din ang luha.
"Parang ikaw pa yung nanganak ah." she said jokingly.
We both burst out laughing right then kahit may mga luha parin sa mga mata namin. Slowly we loosened our arms, but kept holding tight to each other's hands.
After we let go, my eyes went straight to the small bundle lying beside her. I walked slowly around the foot of the bed to get a closer look.
The moment I really saw her, hindi ko na naman napigilan ang maiya, parang may sariling buhay ang luha ko. This wasn't just any newborn. This was the baby my sister carried all those hard months, my very own niece.
She was so tiny, sobrang liit tignan, wrapped soft in white. Her cheeks were round and rosy red, nose small and straight, tunay na ilong ng mga De Luca, no mistaking that line.
Her lips were full and soft, that same plump Italian shape Ate Yana had always been proud of. Kuha kuha niya talaga ang lips and nose ng mommy niya.
But when I looked at her eyes, my breath caught. They were open just a little, deep warm hazelnut eyes. kapareho?kapareho kay....Iris.
Same hazel shade, same gentle glow, the exact eyes I fell in love with. It felt like looking at a piece of both worlds right there in one little face.
Tinitigan ko siya ng mas malapit, para akong nakatingin sa mga mata ni Iris. I just stood there admiring every little detail, ang ganda niya, parang anghel.
Then I turned to ate Yana "What's her name?"
Atw Yana brushed a finger over the baby's soft hair and answered gently, "Celeste Aria De Luca."
Hindi ko alam pero noong binanggit niya ang pangalan ni baby, mas lalo akong naiyak. Ang ganda pakinggan, so sweet and full of meaning. I breathed out, voice thick with emotion. "Ang gandang pangalan... perfect for her."
Ate Yana just looked at me, eyes soft and full of admiration. "Celeste because she is now my heavenly peace. But before her... there was Zarya Eir, there was you. the one who made everything lighter and easier for me. Kaya Aria... it came from your name, Zar."
I smiled, happy and speechless, hindi ko alam kung paano sasabihin ang lahat ng nararamdaman ko. Never did I think she'd carry a piece of me right in her daughter's name.
Then Yana added quietly, "Also... malapit din sa pangalan ni Iris."
Napalitan bigla ang mga ngiti ko. It turned tight, bitter and awkward all at once. My chest felt heavy again, biglang parang may bumara sa lalamunan ko.
I stared at Celeste's little hands, unable to meet Yana's eyes anymore. Hindi ko alam ano ang sasabihin ko, words felt right, no answer could fix the tangled mess of feelings that rushed back in just hearing that name linked to this precious baby.
The room went quiet for a moment, only the soft sounds of machines and Celeste's tiny breaths filling the space.
I kept smiling, though it didn't quite reach my eyes, and just nodded slowly, dahan?dahan kong tinanggap ang sinabi niya, letting the thought sink deep.
Parang ang bigat pero puno rin ng halaga, how this one little girl carried so many names, so many lives, and so much love and pain all wrapped together in such a tiny body.