Aliyah Yajaira Liwanag has been struggling with life ever since their family fell apart, kaya naman nang makatanggap siya ng offer mula sa isa sa pinakamayaman sa bansa na si Benedict Amadeo ay agad-agad niya itong tinanggap. Sino ba ang makakatangg...
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I had a peaceful sleep. It felt like my body had completely shut down.
However, I wasn't expecting what would welcome me the moment I opened my eyes.
The room was too bright, and I had a hard time adjusting to the light. An elderly woman pulled the blinds down to help dim the brightness of the room.
"I'm sorry, I thought a bit of sunlight would help you," malumanay na saad nito habang may magaang na ngiti sa kaniyang labi.
Tinitigan ko ito at inaninag ko ang kaniyang mukha subalit hindi rumehistro sa akin kung sino siya.
Isang estranghero ang kasama ko sa isang hindi pamilyar na silid. Dapat ay natatakot o kinakabahan na ako, pero sa banayad na ngiting nakaguhit sa kaniyang labi, tila ba isa siyang anghel na bumaba sa lupa.
Imbes na pangamba ay nangibabaw ang pagod ng aking katawan.
"But thank God, you are now awake," malambing na saad nito bago lumakad patungo sa aking kama. She brushed my hair with her fingers before she continued speaking, "I will call the doctor for you, darling."
Magaan ang bawat salitang namumutawi sa kaniyang labi. Mahinhin itong naglakad tungo sa pinto. Marahil ay nasa isa akong ospital dahil ang huling natatandaan ko lamang ay ang pagkawala ng aking malay habang matapos mamili.
Muling bumukas ang pinto at magkasunod na pumasok ang babae at ang doktor.
"Ms. Liwanag, I am Doctor Salvatore. How are you feeling right now?"
"I'm just a little exhausted," mahinang sagot ko, trying to avoid the doctor's gaze. Eventually, I decided to look at him to hear what he had to say.
"What happened? Bakit po ako nawalan ng malay?"
"About that, we have conducted some tests, and it turns out you are pregnant. Mabuti na lamang at agad na tumawag ng ambulansya itong si Ms. Guinoo. You are in the critical period of your pregnancy; you need to be extremely careful this time." I stopped hearing words after the doctor said I was pregnant.
I suddenly felt lightheaded as I tried to recall the morning after that fucking night. Dumiretso ako sa higaan pagdating sa bahay, they weren't wearing condoms, I wasn't able to take the fucking pill, and now I am fucking pregnant!
I caressed my tummy, as if I could feel the life that was slowly building up inside. Ang aking mata ay nakatutok lamang sa puting kumot. Ang palitan ng mga salita sa pagitan ng doktor at ng nakatatandang babae ay parang pinaghalo-halong mga letrang hindi ko maintindihan.
Why? Just why? As if things weren't bad yet. Bakit kailangan pang magdagdag ng bigat?
My heart was silently hoping it was Blake's, pero kahit na sa kaniya man ito ay paniguradong wala siyang pakialam dito, malamang ay iniisip niyang produkto ito ng binayarang gabi ng kaniyang mga kaibigan. Sa akin nga ay wala siyang pakialam. Pakiramdam ko ay mahihirapan itong maniwala na kaniya ang batang ito kung sakali man.
