THE BAD BITCH AND THE DOCTOR

Chapter Twenty Five

A/n: Reader discretion is advised.

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE - Baddest Bitch for a Bride

"Pri, we are not going to the nightclub. Period." Tinakpan ni Shane mga mata ni Max. "Where's Mommy? Here she is!"

Max screaming in laughter while drooling. Nakahiga siya sa mamahaling baby chair na binili ni Shane. Sa sobrang pagmamahal niya sa bata, halos bilhin niya na lahat ng nasa baby aisle para lang kay Max. Naging strikto tuloy sa kanya si Kieran pagdating sa pera.

Nasa may sala silang mag-ina kasama si Priscila na umiinom ng white wine sa couch. Punong-puno ng gamit pang-bata at bookshelves ang living room nila. Nakadisplay naman sa coffee table nila ang mga magazines ni Dylan na siya ang front cover. Halos walang kalaman-laman dati ang sala ni Shane at puro halaman lang. It looked more like a lifeless museum before. Now it looks livelier.

Umuwi agad si Priscilla sa Pilipinas nang mabalitaan niyang ikakasal na si Shane. Iniwan niya yung bigatin niyang client sa America para lang magplano para sa bachelorette party ng kaibigan.

"Bakit naman hindi sa nightclub?! We spent most of our single lives dancing and drinking and fucking strangers there!" Reklamo ni Priscilla.

"Please don't swear in front of my son." Suway ni Shane na pinaniningkitan ng mga mata si Priscilla. "And no. As you can see, I have a baby to take care of."

Priscilla waved her off, "Let Kieran take care of the baby. Shaneyyy, we need to celebrate your final days of being a bachelorette. Please? Pretty please?"

Binuhat ni Shane si Max saka dumako sa may kusina para magtimpla ng gatas. Hindi niya pinansin yung pagpapa-cute ni Priscilla.

"You're breaking my heart, you know?!" Reklamo ni Priscilla't tinawanan lang siya ni Shane. "I'm your best friend. I'm obligated to take you out to a wild night before you stick with one man for the rest of your life!"

Bumalik sa sala si Shane na pinapagatas si Max.

"Why even bother to celebrate when it's my second marriage?" Binaba niya si Max sa duyan. Abot tenga ang ngiti niyang hinahaplos pisngi ng baby. Lalo na nung nakita niya ulit yung engagement ring na binili nila ni Kieran kahapon. "But if you really insist, ask the groom for permission."

Umirap si Priscilla.

"Ako yung maid of honor. Walang say dapat yung groom sa bachelorette party na ipaplano ng maid of honor." Pagsusungit niya't inubos yung iniinom niyang wine. "At saka, Shane! 'Di ba natin ice-celebrate na malaya ka na talaga sa buhay mo? Buong buhay kang naging bride ni Vincent. Ngayon nakalaya ka na. Isn't that worth celebrating?"

Inaantok na si Max kaya tinamnan na ng halik ni Shane ang ulo niya saka tumabi kay Priscilla.

"I did celebrate." She said referring to her time in Japan. "It's just not as wild as you want it to be."

"Shaney," umayos ng upo si Priscilla't sumeryoso ang mukha, "don't you dare pretend that was all you did in Japan. I know you went there for your m—"

"And I suggest you keep your mouth shut." Ngumiti si Shane. "No one besides you needs to know."

Sumandal si Priscilla saka dumekwatro. Bumuntong hininga siya nang mapagtantong hindi pa rin nagbago si Shane.

"You never told Kieran?"

"No."

"Why not? Papakasalan ka na nga niya sa susunod na araw. Hindi ba't may karapatan siyang malaman yung buong kwento?"

Shane fidgeted with her fingers and laughed lightheartedly.

"I don't think he'll still want to marry me if he found out why I had to leave him." Mapait siyang ngumiti.