With his drop-dead gorgeous looks and irresistible charm, Xander Marudo instantly made a name for himself in show business. He could not have done it without Noleen Castillo, ang kanyang perfectionist na manager at director.
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Mag-iisang buwan nang naghihintay si Xander sa tawag ni Noleen. Ibinigay niya ang kanyang contact number kay President Castillo dahil hindi niya alam kung paano makakausap ang babae. Nanatili siya sa bahay nila, hinihintay ang pagdating ng asawa. Xander knew it wouldn't be fair for Noleen, but he honestly wished she would get pregnant.
Hell yes, he'd hoped for that because he was a selfish bastard. Magalit na kahit sino sa kanya pero hindi ba pwedeng sa kanya naman ang pagkakataong ito?
Hindi niya pa rin pinapatawad ang ama sa ginawa nitong pagmamanipula sa kanya noong gabi ng kasal, pero naging praktikal pa rin si Xander. Nang makiusap ang ama para tumulong siya sa trabaho, pumayag siya rito. Ito ay para din naman sa kanila ni Noleen. Ngunit hindi tulad noon, hindi niya inaako ang lahat ng gawain sa opisina para magkaroon ng mas maraming oras sa asawa.
Nakarinig si Xander ng pagpatay ng makina ng sasakyan. Sumilip siya sa bintana at nakita na may pumarada sa harap ng bahay nila. His heart raced wildly in his chest as he saw Noleen come out of the car. Without wasting time, he went out to meet her.
She had been crying, he noticed. He should be angry at himself. She looked exhausted and he blamed himself to hell because of it.
Upon seeing all of these, her reason for being here was clear to him. She was scared and that made him feel like a monster.
But Xander was happy. Walang pagsidlan ang saya niya nang makita ang asawa. Walang araw na hindi sumagi sa isip niya si Noleen, nag-aalala siya para dito.
"Xander . . ."
Nang marinig niya ang sariling pangalan mula sa labi ng babaeng mahal, his arms opened on its own. Hinintay niya ang paglapit ng asawa. He was preparing himself for another rejection, but to his surprise, she buried herself in his arms.
"Xander, positive! Damn you! Positive!" she said in between sobs. "Akala ko kaya ko. Natatakot ako. I tried, but I can't do this alone . . . I-I'm—"
Alam ni Xander kung gaano kahirap para sa isang proud na babaeng tulad ni Noleen na maging ganito, ang magkaroon ng kahinaan, ang matakot.
"Sssh . . . I'm here." Mas hinigpitan niya ang pagyakap sa asawa. He looked up and gave a silent prayer of thanks. Hinaplos niya ang buhok sa likod nito. "We're in this together."
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Naging maayos naman ang pagbalik ni Noleen sa bahay nila ni Xander. Magkahiwalay sila ng kwarto sa kahilingan niya. Darating lang ang mga kasambahay pagkatapos ng dalawang buwan, kaya silang dalawa muna ni Xander ang pansamantalang nagtutulungan sa mga gawaing bahay.
Kalaban ni Noleen ang kanyang morning sickness. Tuwing makikita siya ni Xander na napapahawak sa bibig, tatayo kaagad ito at aalalayan siya. He was always there to rub her back whenever she threw up her last night's meal.
She would hear him curse silently and mutter the same words over and over—"I'm sorry."
'Aba dapat lang,' unang naisip ni Noleen, pero nagbago 'yon nang makita niya ang itsura ni Xander, who'd look pale as though he was feeling her pain a thousand times over.
