As much as Liza tried to talk Susannah out of breaking up with her cousin, hindi sya naging successful. Ayaw nya mang intindihin ang kanyang kaibigan, and actually, hindi naman nya pa rin naintindihan why Susannah would come to that conclusion, pero iniintindi nya na lang na kung ano man ang naging decision ng dalaga is what Susannah thought was best for her and the baby. Naging mailap din naman sa kanya ang dalaga. She would make excuses na pagod sya o kaya may lakad na sila ni Ella para hindi makasama kapag iniimbita nya itong lumabas. She didn't know if Susannah was telling the truth or just making up excuses, pero nalulungkot sya na parang iniiwasan na rin sya ng kanyang kaibigan.
"Cous," Liza walked into Gabriel's office unannounced. "Anong nangyayari sa girlfriend mo?"
"Bakit?" Gabriel looked up from his computer in a panic. "May nangyari ba kay Innah?"
"I mean, bakit parang iniiwasan nya ako?"
"You're not the only one," Gabriel sighed. "Every time I visit her sa bahay ni Dad, lagi syang inaantok or pagod and cuts my visits short. I know mabilis na syang mapagod dahil sa kanyang pagbubuntis, pero I miss her so much."
"Kaya nga eh. Ever since she moved in with your evil stepmother, parang lifeless na si Ins. I know sabi nya ayaw nya lang ng stress, pero parang mas stressed pa nga sya ngayon dahil kung may problema man sya, sinasarili nya."
Gabriel stood up and looked out the window of his office. "I'm scared."
"Bakit?" tinabihan sya ni Liza at tumingin sa kanya.
"Because I feel like I'm losing her," he said sadly.
"Then why don't you do something about it?"
"Ayaw nyang lumaban, Liz. I know she loves me, lagi nya naman sinasabi, lagi nyang pinaparamdam sa akin, pero ayaw nyang lumaban. And I think I'm at fault din naman."
"What makes you say that?" Liza walked to the couch and sat down.
"She never said anything, but ang kutob ko ay narinig nya ang conversation namin ni Ella nung huling beses na pumunta ni Ella dito. Ella came here after our Boracay trip at at nagsisigaw bakit meron daw akong picture ng ultrasound ni Innah and she just went crazy. She was yelling about how we planned this whole thing to get my dad off her back, and how she was angry because I went and fell in love with her surrogate," he looked at his cousin.
"Wait, what?!" Liza placed both palms on each side of her cheeks. "Plinano nyo ang alin?"
"Dad had been pressuring Ella for a baby, and during those days, we were still seeing each other di ba? Ayaw ni Ella mabuntis ni dad, so we planned to hire a surrogate."
"Gabe..." Liza scratched her nape. "And how sure are you Innah heard? Paano nangyari yun?"
"She knocked to tell me na handa na ang lunch. And I hope to God that she only heard our conversation and didn't see Ella kiss me," Gabriel took a seat next to Liza.
"What?!"
Gabriel nodded sadly and rubbed his face with his hands. "She slowly became cold to me after that. Naging open na sya sa mga suggestion nila Dad at Ella. I can't lose her, Liz. Anong gagawin ko?"
"You have to erase her doubts, Gabe. You have to tell her everything."
"Ayoko," he shook his head vehemently at his cousin.
"You have to! You are in deep crap, cousin!"
"I know."
"Just be honest. And hopefully, she'll understand."
"And if she doesn't?" Gabriel looked at Liza with bloodshot eyes.
Hindi na sumagot si Liza at tinapik na lang ang kanyang balikat.
