Series 1: Beg Me, Professor (COMPLETED)

CHAP 14

"They are getting married," Aireen lazily dropped the news to me.

I put down the sketches I was making for my clothing line's next designs and just stared at the laptop's display. I gave my friend a long, hard look before laughing incoherently. Unable to believe what she had just told me, I couldn't help but shake my head.

"So, what's your plan? Are you going to . . . let them have their happily ever after?" She cringed at her own words.

Inirapan ko lang naman siya saka umayos ng upo. "Ang tibay rin talaga ng sikmura nila, ah? After what they did to me?" Napatiim-bagang ako at huminga nang malalim.

"Ano pa ba'ng inaasahan mo sa kanila? Tutubuan ng hiya sa katawan?" She rolled her eyes, too.

Hindi naman ako agad umimik. Pinagkrus ko ang aking mga braso at sumandal sa swivel chair na inuupuan ko. Nag-iisip.

"I'm going to ruin it," wala sa sarili kong anas at saka seryosong sinilip si Aireen.

Her lips automatically grinned. "How?" she asked curiously; the excitement in her tone didn't escape my ears.

I gradually released my arms and then fidgeted my fingers on the table. "I will bear Zachary's child," I answered which made her jaw drop.

Ilang beses pang kumurap si Aireen habang mariing nakatitig sa akin. Bumuka ang labi niya para magsalita pero hindi natutuloy. Mayamaya pa ay isang buntonghininga ang ginawa niya.

"Are you sure about that?" she asked. "There's no turning back once you made him your freaking sperm donor."

My lips twitched at her words. "It's not like I can ruin their relationship easily," I stated. "So, why not force it to be destroyed?" I chuckled.

Aireen shook her head in disbelief. "You're crazy. I mean, you fvcking loathe him."

Napaismid na lang ako at saka kinuha ang whiskey na nasa gilid ng lamesa ko. Nilamanan ko ang nakahandang baso saka iyon dinala patungo sa labi ko. Sandali ko pang inamoy ang alak bago iyon tuluyang nilagok.

"He's a professor, right?" pangungumpirma ko.

Tanging tipid na tango lang ang isinagot sa akin ni Aireen.

Napangiti naman ako bago ibinalik ang baso sa patungan niyon. "As far as I know, a teacher can't have a relationship or have sex with his student, right?"

Naningkit ang mga mata ni Aireen habang nakatingin sa akin, tila kinukumpirma ang lumalaro sa isip niya. Marahan kong dinilaan ang ibaba kong labi saka muling ngumiti sa kaniya.

"Getting married to the sister of the person you got pregnant  is also not visually appealing, is it?" I added.

Her cheeks puffed out in surprise. "So, you are hitting two birds in one stone."

For the nth time, I shrugged my shoulders and then poured my glass for another drink. "It's the easiest way to ruin them all." I chuckled, revealing lines of joy.

MY senses were jolted back to reality by the brisk wind on my face. I was driving on the open road at a high speed. My car's window was open, allowing the breeze to freely strike my face.

Naningkit ang mga mata ko nang mapansin ang mabilis na sasakyan sa likuran ko. Unti-unti ay naging pamilyar sa akin ang plate number na nakaimprinta roon. Kusang umangat ang gilid ng labi ko at mas lalong dinoble ang bilis ng patakbo ko.

Gone mad, Zachary?

Naghabulan kami sa gitna ng kalsada. Sinubukan niya akong sabayan sa gilid ko—panay rin ang malakas niyang busina—pero hindi ko iyon pinansin. Napangiti ako nang mapunta na naman sa likuran ko ang kaniyang sasakyan.

I accelerated my speed once more. When I was a few meters away from him, I simply stepped on the brake. My tire squealed loudly, but his was louder. Even though he tried to avoid hitting me, it still happened. His car skidded sideways into mine.

Nakaismid ko siyang pinanood na lumabas ng sasakyan niya mula sa side mirror kahit pa medyo nahihilo. Halos takbuhin niya ang distansya naming dalawa. Hindi na ako nagulat nang pabalyang bumukas ang pinto ng kotse ko.

"Are you okay?" Halos manginig ang boses niya habang sinusuri ang buong katawan ko.

Doon ako natigilan. Hindi ko inaasahan iyon. Pinanood ko ang namumutla niyang mukha habang patuloy akong tsine-check.

"Atasha. Damn it! Answer me. May masakit ba sa iyo?" muli niyang sambit.

Napatiim-bagang ako nang magtauhan at saka siya tinulak palayo sa akin. "Get lost, Zachary. Stop pestering me," walang emosyon kong sambit at astang isasara ang pinto ng kotse pero mabilis niya iyong napigilan.

"And what? You'll drive fast again?!" he yelled frustratingly.

Hindi ko naiwasang matawa sa sinabi niya.

What is this? Another scheme to gain my trust? What an overused disguise.

"Why did you follow me? You should comfort your fiancée. She might be crying with joy because of my gift," I said sarcastically.

Mabilis na nag-igting ang panga niya. "Are you really pregnant?" seryoso niyang tanong.

"Wanna check out my upcoming checkup, Zachary?" Tumaas ang sulok ng labi ko, nanghahamon.

Hindi naman siya sumagot at nanatili lamang na nakatingin sa akin. Asta ko ulit isasara ang pinto ng kotse ko nang harangan na naman niya iyon. This time, his face was unreadable, though there was a ghostly smirk on his lips.

"Do you really think your pregnancy favors you?" he spoke.

Mabagal na nagsalubong ang magkabilang kilay ko habang nakatitig sa kaniya. Pareho kaming nagsukatan ng tingin. Mayamaya pa hinawakan niya ang pupulsuhan ko at pilit akong pinalabas ng sasakyan. Magkaharapan na kami ngayon, matalim ang tingin sa isa't isa.

"Atasha, you overestimated yourself," he mumbled and closed our distance.

Napatiim-bagang ako nang haplusin niya ang pisngi ko habang malamig na nakatitig sa akin. "I admit, I was surprised by your news. But guess what, Atasha?" He chuckled mockingly. "I really wanted you to get pregnant."

Nawala ang malamig kong awra at napalitan ng pagkalito bagamat hindi ko iyon ipinahalata. Hindi ko lubos na masundan ang sinasabi niya. Pilit kong binubuo sa isip ko ang gusto niyang puntuhin.

"What do you mean?" walang emosyon kong tanong.

He smirked. "Has the news not reached you that your sister will have trouble conceiving? She has polycystic ovary syndrome, Atasha."

"And what do I care about that, Zachary?" Inalis ko ang braso kong hawak niya at bahagyang lumayo. "But thank you for telling me; at least now I know that karma hit her again."

I know it's bad to be happy about other people's misfortune, but that's what she deserves. After what she did to my baby, she has no right to be blessed with the thing she stole from me.

Muling sumilay ang mapaglarong ngisi sa labi ni Zachary. "Then tell me, Atasha. Between us. Who does your pregnancy favor?"

Hindi agad ako nakasagot nang unti-unti kong mapagdugtong-dugtong ang lahat. Matalim ko siyang tinitigan habang mariin na nagngingitngit ang mga ngipin ko. Sinuklian niya lang naman ako ng malamig na tingin.

"You will stay with me from now on until I get my child, Atasha," he declared.