Fall by Chance (SIT Series #1)

Kabanata 29

Over

Even though I told him that I'll be resting, hindi ko naman magawa dahil sa kung anu-anong mga bagay na pumapasok sa isipan ko.

I wonder if I was too harsh earlier. I should have chosen my words carefully. I wasn't like this before. Before everything happened.

I wanted to apologize to him but I don't know if it's my pride or something else... I just can't do it.

Mula sa pagkakahiga, bumangon ako at umupo habang nakasandal ang likuran sa headboard ng kama.

I closed my eyes as I slowly caress my stomach. Matunog akong bumuntong-hininga at muling binuksan ang sariling mga mata.

I don't know why I am feeling so guilty right now... when I think my words were valid... but I know that there were other words I could've used to tell him what was inside my head.

"Aki..." I called my child softly. "Your father's here... can you feel it?" Tipid akong ngumiti at tumingala. "You are so quiet now... you've never been calm like this ever since we left Manila and stayed here," Kwento ko sakanya. "Are you feeling assured that your Papa's right here?" I whispered.

Alam kong hindi naman siya sasagot but I feel a little bit better whenever I talk to him.

Dahan-dahan akong tumayo mula sa kama habang sapo-sapo ang aking tiyan. Nilibot ko ang kabuuan ng kwarto ni Eve at napansin na kung ikukumpara ito sa kwarto niya sa Maynila, this place looks more... stiff. I don't know but it really feels like that.

Lumapit ako sa work area ng kwarto at umupo sa swivel chair. Napaisip tuloy ako kung palagi ba siyang narito dahil may ganitong set-up sa bahay nila... or maybe, their househelps are maintaining it...

Sumulyap ako sa drawer ng table niya na nakabukas nang kaonti. My forehead creased as I pulled it, enough to see what's inside. Napaawang ang labi ko nang makita ang pamilyar na pamilyar na bagay saakin.

There... inside his table... was the first sonagram we had for Aki.

I don't know why I am feeling heaviness in my heart... but I didn't expect that he'll hold onto it... and even bring it here.

Madami pa sana akong maalala nang makarinig ng boses na para bang may nag-aaway. From my place, there were only faint voices but when I walked toward the room's door, I think I wasn't wrong to assume that there is an on-going fight...  I can hear it from here. Mas lalo pa nang unti-unti akong naglakad patungo sa hagdanan ng palapag na ito.

"Please, Nyeneve! Forgive me. I won't do it again. Please, my Dad's going to be angry at me if he knew that I sold all my shares to you! And... that you'll now have the control to our company... my father will kill me, Nyeneve!" That's Nicole's voice... I'm sure of that.

I never heard her voice... that desperate. Hindi ko alam kung anong pumasok sa utak ko para tuluyang puntahan kung nasaan man sila.

Mula sa taas ng hagdanan, I saw Nicole on her knees. Pinalilibutan sila ng mga kasambahay na napansin kong nagbubulungan na.

Sa likuran naman nito Eve ay ang tiyahin niya na nakapameywang na.

I don't know if I saw it correctly... but Eve looked uninterested to Nicole's plea.

Napunta ang atensyon ko sa isang pamilyar na lalaki na nakatingin saakin. He stared at me for a second before walking towards Eve, whispering something to him. Nakita ko ang mabilis na pagtingala ni Eve sa direksyon ko. His lips parted as if he was so surprised to see me.

He glanced at Nicole before whispering something to the familiar man. I thought he'll stay there in front of Nicole na hanggang ngayon ay nakaluhod pa rin pero he suddenly climb the stairs hanggang sa maabot niya ang baywang ko.