Catmint Series 2: Engr. Finn David Vernon

Chapter twenty four

Miss you, Av. Hope you'd show yourself.

Sana maging okay ka, dito lang kami.

I love you. Be happy. Miss ka na namin.

I sighed before turning my phone off and put it inside my pocket. Nagsuot ako ng makapal na hoodie at pajamas bago ako lumabas. It's already past ten in the evening. It's late now and I really want to eat something. Wala naman akong ibang mauutusan para bumili ng pagkain ko. Ayaw ko ring magpadeliver kasi baka mamaya, tulog na ako, hindi pa rin dumarating.

Good thing the condo where I was staying has a convenient store across. Naghintay muna akong maging green ang traffic lights bago tumawid. I was greeted by the coldness from the aircon, making every hair on my body rose the moment I entered the store. Sandali akong tumigil doon at hinintay na masanay sa lamig. Kahit nakajacket na ako, nanginginig pa rin ako. Kumuha ako ng basket at mabilis na hinanap ang mga pagkaing gusto kong kainin.

I have to make this quick. Baka kasi mamaya ay maglikot na naman ang kambal sa loob ng tiyan ko. I want that to happen when I'm already lying on my bed. Para relax na rin ako.

The doctor advised me a lot and gave me restrictions when it comes to foods. She said that I'm not allowed to eat junk foods or drink some beer. Kaya mostly, puro gulay ang kinakain ko at talagang nakakasawa na! I had to endure eating vegetables until the day I give birth. Heck! I still have 2 months!

Napahawak ako sa tiyan ko. I felt my twins kicking me from inside. I sighed but it still made me smile. They were playing again. Dahil naroon ang tingin ko, hindi ko tuloy namalayang may nabangga na ako. His phone fell on the floor. I bent down but I couldn't. Hindi ko kayang kunin. He seemed to have noticed my hardships that's why he picked it for himself. Nagulat ako nang aksidenteng mabuksan ito dahilan para lumiwanag ang phone n'ya. A familiar photo of a woman greeted me.

Fuck!

"I'm sorry," he said. Tinulungan n'ya akong makaayos nang tayo ngunit kaagad akong napakapit sa kanya nang kumirot ang tiyan ko. "Were you hurt? I'm sorry I didn't notice you—"

I slowly raised my gaze until our eyes met. His red eyes widened. He looks so miserable with his hair left uncomb. Ang lalim din ng eyebags n'ya na parang ilang araw na hindi nakakatulog. He's wearing a short sleeves hoodie and gray shorts.

"Aveen," tawag n'ya nang makabawi. His gaze went down at my stomach whose really visible now. Ramdam kong may gusto s'yang sabihin ngunit mas pinili n'yang itikom ang bibig n'ya.

"Keere."

The two of us locked into a staring contest. Wala man lang nakapagsalita o ano dahil pareho kaming gulat na gulat na makita ang isa't isa.

"Here."

He took the coffee out of my hand and replaced it with milk. I looked at him when he took a seat in front of me.

"Hindi ka dapat umiinom ng kape. That's bad for your health and the baby."

"So preggy expert ka na ngayon?" Pang-aasar ko habang tinataasan s'ya ng kilay. He rolled his eyes.

"I might be a man but I'm not stupid," he replied. S'ya ang uminom ng kape na dapat ay sa akin.

"You look so awful. Extremely awful." Tinignan ko s'ya nang kabuuan. "And you're all over the news too. Anong feeling maging celebrity?"

"Celebrity na puro bashers, gano'n ba?" I chuckled.

"Kamusta ang kaso ng daddy mo?" Tanong ko sa kanya. Isa 'yon sa mga hottest topic ngayon dahil hindi raw basta-bastang dinadrop ang kaso. People got irritated and went mad at him because he just couldn't let it go. He couldn't accept the verdict. Halos malapit nang mag-isang taon ngunit sila pa rin ang usapan.