Falling for Her Shadows

CHAPTER 14

THE FAINT aroma of coffee and butter filled Nylah’s apartment. Morning light streamed through the lace curtains, casting a soft golden pattern on the floor. Mula sa labas, maririnig ang ingay ng mga sasakyan at taong dumadaan.

Nylah’s space wasn’t extravagant. It was a modest, lived-in home, but it carried a warmth that made Ashriel pause the moment he stepped inside.

Pasimpleng inilibot ni Ashriel ang tingin sa loob ng apartment ni Nylah. Ito rin ang unang beses na umapak siya sa bahay ng isang babae. Books were stacked neatly near the window, and a few potted plants lined the sill, their leaves swaying under the faint breeze. The walls were a warm cream color, decorated with simple frames — sketches, recipes, old photographs.

Kapagkuwan napatitig si Ashriel sa isang photo frame na nakapatong sa isang istante. It was Nylah and Evron’s photo. Both were smiling at the picture. Hinanap ng mata niya kung may larawan rin ang ama ni Evron pero wala siyang nakita. And that made him feel at ease.

“Cozy,” Ashriel murmured, setting the bag of bread and fruit he brought on the counter. It reminded him of something distant and comforting. “This place feels like home.”

Katulad ng bahay ng kaniyang magulang. Though it’s not that big, but it was cozy and homey. Ayaw niya lang madalas ang umuwi doon kasi hindi siya tinitigilan ng kaniyang ina.

Ngayon naman pinipilit siya nitong makipag-blind date sa babaeng nakilala nito.

Nylah glanced up from the stove, where she was flipping eggs in the pan. “That’s the point. I don’t like cold, empty spaces.”

Cold and empty spaces… that’s her life before… before Evron came into her life. Ayaw niyang maranasan ‘yon ni Evron kaya naman pinili niya ang mamuhay ng normal. Even if it means leaving the wealth and the princess life she has. Gusto niyang bigyan ng normal na buhay si Evron—a kind of warmth, a home he would never forget.

Ashriel leaned against the counter, watching Nylah quietly. “Same. My mother used to decorate like this… plants, warm light, and the smell of the food in the morning.”

Inilipat ni Nylah ang pritong itlog sa pinggan. “Did your mother really kick you out of the house?” she asked.

Napakamot ng batok si Ashriel. “Sorry. No,” he admitted. “It was just… wala akong kasama sa penthouse kaya pumunta ako rito.”

Napatango si Nylah.

Ashriel let out a small sigh. “Ayaw ko lang umuwi. My mother would just nag me nonstop.”

“Well, ganun naman yata ang mga ina,” sabi ni Nylah. “I’m not a nagger though.”

Natawa si Ashriel. “My mother was anxious to have a daughter-in-law.”

“Bigyan mo.”

Umiling si Ashriel. “I haven’t met the one,” he said while staring at the Nylah. “But it seems I did meet her now.”

Hindi nakatingin si Nylah kay Ashriel kaya naman hindi niya nakita ang titig nito pero alam niyang nakatingin sa kaniya ang binata. “Then good luck pursuing her,” she said as she plated the food, setting three plates on the small wooden table.

“Evron, breakfast,” she called.

The boy came running from his room, hair messy, face half-asleep. “Good morning, Momma!” he said brightly, stopping short when he saw Ashriel sitting at the table. “Tito Ash, you’re here!”

Ashriel chuckled. “Morning, Kiddo. You’re up early.”

Ngumiti lang naman ang bata.

Nagtitimpla ng gatas si Nylah para kay Evron at nang humarap siya sa mesa, nalagyan na ni Ashriel ng pagkain ang pinggan ni Evron.

Habang kumakain sila panay ang tingin ni Evron sa ina.

Nylah smiled, knowing that her son wanted to tell her something. Nag-angat siya ng tingin saka tinignan ang anak. “Ano ‘yon?” tanong niya. “I know you wanted to tell me something.”

Ngumiti si Evron. Iyong tipo ng ngiti na naglalambing saka tumingin sa Tito Ashriel nito. “Tito, can I go with you today?” he said. “You said you work in a big building, right?”

“Evron,” Nylah warned gently.

Pero ngumiti lang si Ashriel. “Pwede naman.” Aniya saka tumingin kay Nylah. “I’ll make sure he’s safe. At isa pa, maglapit lang naman ang coffee shop mo sa Rios’ building.”

Nagtaas ng isang kilay si Nylah. Magkatabi silang dalawa ni Ashriel kaya naman madali lang para sa kaniya na ilapit ang bibig niya sa tainga nito.

Napakuyom ang kamay ni Ashriel nang maramdaman niya ang bibig ni Nylah na dumampi sa dulo ng tainga niya. Napalunok na lamang siya dahil kakaiba ang epekto sa katawan niya ng pagkakalapit nilang dalawa. Nylah’s breath was fanning on his ear.

As she spoke, her voice was low and laced with a warning sweetness. “Of course, you can’t do anything to him,” Nylah whispered. “Because before you could even move… you’d already be dead.”

Ashriel froze for half a second. But then he turned slightly, his eyes glinting with amusement. “Is that a threat, Miss Laurent?” he asked softly.

Lumayo si Nylah habang nakangiti pa rin. “Not really. But you can do it that way if it helps you remember.”

He smirked. “Noted.”

Tumingin si Nylah sa anak. “You behave in there, baby. Huwag mong bigyan ng sakit ng ulo ang Tito Ashriel mo.”

Ngumiti si Evron. “Yes, Momma.”

“Kumain ka na.”

Maganang kumain si Evron.

At nang matapos sila kumain, Evron urged his mother to help him bathe.

Naiiling na lamang si Nylah na sinundan ang anak sa banyo.

Naiwan naman si Ashriel sa may kusina. Tumayo siya saka kinuha ang mga pinagkainan nila at dinala sa lababo. He washed the dishes while waiting for Nylah and Ashriel.

Pero nang bumalik si Nylah, nagulat ito nang makitang si Ashriel ang naghuhugas.

“You…” Mabilis na lumapit si Nylah sa lalaki. “Just leave it here. You’re a guest.”

Ashriel smiled. “It’s okay. Nakikain naman ako. Don’t worry about me. Just do your thing.”

“Pero…”

“Nylah, I know how to wash dishes. Hindi ko mababasag ang mga plato mo.”

“That’s not what I mean.”

“Pero doon na papunta.”

Alanganin na lamang na napangiti si Nylah saka tumango at iniwan si Ashriel sa kusina pero bago siya pumasok sa kwarto, sinulyapan niya si Ashriel.

A man in a suit is doing the dishes. She thought and chuckled slightly before entering her room.

Later that day… the Rios building lobby buzzed with employees preparing for another day of meetings, deadlines, and transactions until the elevator doors opened and Ashriel Rios stepped out, a small boy holding his hand.

Agad naman na nagbulungan ang mga tao.

“Is that the president’s kid?”

“He has a son?”

“Wait, who’s the mother?”

Hindi na nag-abala pa si Ashriel na itama ang mga empleyado. He simply walked with his usual composed stride, with Evron clinging to his hand like it was the most normal thing in the world.

Pagpasok ni Ashriel sa opisina, namangha naman si Evron. Then his eyes were settled on the shelf inside the office. Kaagad siyang tumakbo patungo roon na ikinailing na lamang ni Ashriel.

“This kid…” he muttered. Pinalagay niya ang shelf na ‘yon sa opisina niya stacked with educational books para sakaling pumunta si Evron sa opisina niya, may babasahin ito. And it did, Evron came with him.

“Mr. Rios, you have a board meeting in five minutes,” Sam said as he entered the room. Pero natuon ang mata niya sa batang nasa loob ng opisina ng amo. Nagtaka pa siya kung sino ang bata dahil ngayon lang naman na nagdala ng bata ang President ng Rios Group.

Tumango si Ashriel.

Sam slightly bowed his head and left.

“Kiddo, you want to come with me?” tanong ni Ashriel sa bata.

May hawak na si Evron na aklat. “Saan po, Tito?” tanong niya saka ibinalik ang aklat saka hinawakan na lamang ang tumbler na may lamang juice. It was made by his mother.

Ngumiti si Ashriel. “I have a meeting.”

Napakurap si Evron. At his age, he was curious what a meeting was about. “Sige po.”

“Let’s go.”

Binuhat ni Ashriel si Evron saka sila nagtungo sa board room. The executives straightened as Ashriel entered.

Agad namang humila ng upuan si Sam at itinabi sa upuan ni Mr. Rios.

Pinaupo muna ni Ashriel si Evron bago naman siya umupo. “Let’s begin,” he said in a calm but commanding voice.

The meeting went on as usual — financial reports, expansion proposals, and a few hesitant questions.

Ashriel listened, spoke with precision, and cut through excuses with calm. There was no trace of warmth in his tone and no hesitation when he spoke.

The man who had been eating breakfast in a cozy kitchen that morning was gone.

This was now Ashriel Rios, President of Rios Group— a man with sharp instincts, calculated words, and the kind of authority that made others lower their gaze.

Pero nang hilain ni Evron ang laylayan ng coat ni Ashriel at bumulong na bored na ito. Tipid na ngumiti si Ashriel saka inilabas ang cellphone saka ibinigay sa bata. Nakalimutan niyang buksan ito sa pmamagitan ng password at nang tignan niya, nabuksan na nito ang cellphone niya.

Ashriel was surprised. A three-year-old kid just opened his password-locked phone in just a matter of seconds.

Napailing na lamang si Ashriel saka itinuon ang atensiyon sa meeting.

Nagkatinginan naman ang mga taong nasa loob ng board room habang nagtataka sila. The ruthless president, known for firing managers over a single mistake, had just smiled.

Nang matapos ang meeting, isa sa mga director ang matapang na nagtanong. “Sir, if you don’t mind me asking, is he your son?”

Napatigil si Ashriel saka sinulyapan si Evron na abala sa paglalaro sa cellphone. “He’s a family,” he said simply.

Then he stopped Evron from playing. “Let’s go, Kiddo. Let’s have some snacks. I asked Sam to prepare snacks for us.”

Mabilis na itinigil ni Evron ang paglalaro.

Binuhat naman ni Ashriel ang bata saka sila lumabas ng board room, leaving the room buzzing with some speculations about the President of the Rios Group.