GINNY
Santi, I really wished I were. Believe me. I hoped and prayed...
GINNY
But I wasn't.
GINNY
(crying, voice breaking)
Hindi ko naman... ginusto...
GINNY
Santi. I'm sorry. Hindi ko naman—ginusto, e...
GINNY
(whispers)
I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm sorry.
SANTI
Julienne—
GINNY
I'm sorry I'm just like Mommy. I'm sorry—I know I promised to everyone, to Tita and Tito. And to your family. Alam ko... Nangako ako.
GINNY
But when... I got in New Jersey.
GINNY
When everything fell apart... When Daddy left—noong... iniwan niya kami when Mommy's heart was on the line. Because he was already... unhappy with the marriage.
GINNY
When I begged him not to do it while Mommy's unstable.
GINNY
When I... was there for her alone. Kasi wala naman... akong kapatid.
GINNY
I... know I should've taken care of myself better.
GINNY
Because... I missed my period. For a long time.
GINNY
Hinayaan ko lang. Because I thought it was just out of stress. Not sleeping regularly. Not eating on time.
GINNY
I'm... sorry hinayaan ko lang. I know I shouldn't have. Kasi...
GINNY
(sadly smiling)
Kasi... it started to hurt.
GINNY
It hurt badly. It was so painful. To the point that I... couldn't walk. I couldn't even sit.
SANTI
Julienne.
SANTI
(voice breaking)
What?
SANTI
Why? Why didn't—you tell me?
SANTI
(whispers)
Bakit hindi mo sinabi?
Ginny cries harder, staring at Santi before him.
GINNY
Because I wasn't pregnant, Santi...
GINNY
(sobbing)
I wasn't... pregnant.
GINNY
No one knows about this. Not even Mom kasi alam kong mag-aalala siya. Not even Basty. Noong una—akala ko rin. I was so scared... that it was an ectopic pregnancy.
YOU ARE READING
More of Nothing, Less of You
RomanceGinny married Santi at twenty-seven, barely knowing anything but love. A year later, Santi bought a three-storey house away from the city, standing still by the shore. Three years later, the house remained the same the way it was; lilac painted wall...
