Falling for Her Shadows

CHAPTER 8

SUPERMARKET

The sounds of grocery carts and the clatter of baskets echoed through the supermarket aisles. Itinulak ni Nylah ang cart kung saan ay nakaupo sa loob nito si Evron habang yakap-yakap ang isang box ng cereal na ipinabili nito sa ina.

Nylah was wearing a plain shirt and jeans, her hair tied in a loose bun, blending in like any ordinary mother running errands. There’s no trace that she could kill someone within three thousand miles.

For once, life felt simple and normal.

“Momma, pwede po ba tayong kumuha ng ganito?” tanong ni Evron na hindi napansin ni Nylah na hinablot nito kanina sa isang book section nang dumaan sila.

Tumaas ang isang kilay ni Nylah, amused. “Anak, we’re supposed to buy vegetables, not another book.”

“Pero, Momma, tapos ko na po ‘yong nahuli.” Evron insisted with a pout.

She sighed, hiding her smile. “Alright. Pero isa lang ha. And you have to help me carry the eggs later.”

Gumuhit ang malapad na ngiti sa labi ni Evron. “Yes, Momma.”

On the other side of the aisle, Ashriel Rios wasn’t expecting to see them. Dressed in crisp polo and slacks, he looked slightly out among the crowd. Talaga naman na naiiba siya dahil siya lang ang nakasuot ng pormal na kasuotan habang nasa loob ng supermarket. Samantalang ang mga tao sa loob ng suspermarket ay halos nakapambahay na ang iba.

His personal assistant, Sam, had tried to insist on sending someone else for the groceries, but Ashriel had waved him off. Minsan, gusto niya rin ng ordinaryong buhay. Hindi na lang puro ang mga gamit sa opisina niya ang nakikita niya.

And then, fate decided to play its hand.

When Ashriel turned the corner with a basket in hand, he only froze when his gaze landed on Nylah.

There she was, standing by the produce section, examining tomatoes, while her son chattered away in the cart.

For a man like Ashriel, who moved in boardrooms and skyscrapers, the sight of her in such a domestic setting was. This ordinary moment hit him differently. Wala si Nylah sa likod ng coffee shop counter nito na kung saan ay napapansin niya sa tuwing pupunta siya doon na parang laging nagbabantay ng paligid. Mahina itong tumatawa dahil sa anak nito.

Gumuhit ang ngiti sa labi ni Ashriel kapagkuwan nawala rin ang ngiti niya nang may ma-realize siya.

Nylah had a son. Where’s her husband?

Pero nakikita niya sa daliri nito na wala naman itong suot na singsing kaya malamang ay hindi pa ito kasal.

“Miss Laurent,” Ashriel greeted.

Bahagyang nagulat si Nylah nang marinig niya ang pamilyar na boses kaya naman agad siyang humarap. She hadn’t expected to see him here, all of places.

“Mr. Rios.” Nylah nodded.

Tumingin si Ashriel kay Evron. “And… young sir.”

Evron tilted his head. Lumaki pa ang mata nito nang makita si Ashriel. “Uncle Ash.”

Medyo nagulat pa si Nylah. “Uncle Ash?” Tinignan niya ang dalawa. “Kailan pa kayo naging close?”

Ashriel chuckled. “Just let him, Miss Laurent,” he said. “No one was calling me that.”

Evron beamed. “I’m helping Momma buy food today.”

“Ganun ba?” Napadako ang tingin ni Ashriel sa almanac na hawak ni Evron. “And a book, too?”

“He likes books,” Nylah said quickly.

Napaayos ng tayo si Ashriel, meeting her eyes with quiet amusement. “That’s a good thing. Books open doors that even towers can’t,” he said in a soft voice.

Napakurap si Nylah. Hindi niya inaasahan ang lambot sa boses ng binata.

Nag-iwas na lamang siya ng tingin saka nagpatuloy sa pamamalengke. They walked down the aisle together by coincidence. Ashriel picking up items. Nylah letting Evron grab small things here and there.

“Lagi ka bang namamalengke rito?” tanong ni Ashriel sa casual na boses.

“Minsan,” tugon naman ni Nylah. “It’s convenient.”

Napatango si Ashriel. “You seem different outside your coffee shop,” he said after studying her.

Tumaas ang isang kilay ni Nylah. “Different how?”

Ashriel paused, then gave a small, almost reluctant smile. “Less guarded. More alive.”

Mabilis na nag-iwas ng tingin si Nylah, pretending to check the price of apples. Hindi niya kayang makipagtitigan kay Ashriel. Hindi niya alam kung bakit. She won’t bat an eyelash when she was facing her enemy, but when it comes to Ashriel, she felt different. Parang laging kabado siya kapag ito ang kaharap niya sa malamang dahilan.

Evron broke the silence of the two adults with his innocent voice. “Do you live here too, Mister?”

Ashriel chuckled. “Not here, no. But close.” Aniya saka sinulyapan si Nylah. “Maybe too close.”

At the checkout counter, magkasunod si Nylah at Ashriel sa pila.

Pinauna lamang ni Nylah si Ashriel dahil konti lang naman ang pinamili nito.

Napahigpit na lamang ang hawak ni Ashriel sa black card nang makita niyang naglabas ng pera si Nylah upang magbayad. He wanted to pay for Nylah, but he didn’t want her to see him as an arrogant person because he had money. Napabuntong hininga na lamang siya.

As the cashier slid the last bag across the counter, Nylah balanced them carefully onto her cart. There were more than she expected — vegetables, fruit, Evron’s snacks, milk, and of course, the almanac book that the boy refused to let go of.

Nakatayo naman si Ashriel sa tabi habang nakatingin kay Nylah at Evron. Except that there was something in his eyes that softened every time they landed on her and Evron. For unknown reason, mabilis na napalapit ang loob niya sa mag-ina mas lalo na sa bata.

Nylah adjusted one heavy bag in her arm. Evron sat in the cart, happily flipping through his book, oblivious to the weight his mother carried alone.

“You’re not planning to carry all of that by yourself, are you?”

“Kaya ko naman,” sagot ni Nylah nang hindi tumitingin kay Ashriel.

Napabuga na lamang ng hangin si Ashriel. He didn’t know if he would praise Nylah’s independence. Nylah was not really the type of woman who would ask for help from others.

“Tulungan na kita.” Sabi ni Ashriel. Hindi na niya pinansin ang pagpalag ni Nylah. Sandali pa niyang sinulyapan si Evron na masayang nakatingin sa bago nitong almanac book. “And I’ll drive you and Evron home.”

“That’s not necessary,” Nylah replied, shaking her head. “We’ll take a cab.”

Ashriel tilted his head, looking at Nylah like he was reading a chessboard. “A cab? With all these bags, plus a child?” His gaze softened as it settled on Evron. “At least let me help carry them.”

Wala ng nagawa si Nylah nang buhatin ni Ashriel ang dalawang bag ng groceries at nauna na itong lumabas ng supermarket.

Nylah tilted her head and followed Ashriel, still pushing his cart.

They walked together toward the parking area. Ashriel was carrying most of the bags with surprising ease. He looked every bit the commanding CEO, yet oddly natural in this small, domestic task.

“Unfair,” mahinang sabi ni Nylah habang tinutulakang cart na kinaroroonan ng dalawa pang bag at ni Evron.

When they reached Ashriel’s sleek black car, he put the groceries in the trunk. Wala ng nagawa si Nylah at hindi na ito nakapalag.

The drive was quiet at first. Ashriel’s car glided through the city smoothly. Evron pressed his face against the window, pointing out random things on the street.

Sinulyapan naman ni Ashriel si Nylah na nakaupo sa passenger seat. Her posture was straight, her expression was composed, but her hands were folded tightly in her lap.

“Hindi ka komportable,” wika ni Ashriel sa malambot na boses.

Nylah turned to Ashriel, startled. “I didn’t say that.”

“Hindi mo na kailangang sabihin,” tugon ni Ashriel. “You know that.”

Hindi sumagot si Nylah. She didn’t want to admit how true his words felt.

When they finally pulled up outside the apartment, Evron nearly bounced out of the car, proudly carrying a small grocery bag Ashriel had insisted he hold.

“Salamat,” wika ni Nylah.

Ashriel leaned against the driver’s side. “You’re welcome. But don’t thank me like I did you a favor. I wanted to do it.”

Sa hindi malamang kadahilanan, biglang bumilis ang pagtibok ng puso ni Nylah. She knew to herself… she couldn’t afford this closeness. But… Nylah looked at Ashriel. He gave her that faint smile — soft, patient, like he wasn't asking for anything more than what she was willing to give — and something inside her stirred, just a little.

“Good day, Mr. Rios,” Nylah said firmly before retreating into her apartment with Evron.

Nanatiling nakatayo naman si Ashriel sa kinaroroonan. Nakatingin lamang siya sa apartment ng mag-ina. Kapagkuwan gumuhit ang isang ngiti sa kaniyang labi.

“Good day, Miss Laurent.”

And for the first time in years, Ashriel Rios felt the hollow silence of his life begin to shift.