"Mommy..." I was laying on my side when she gave me a kiss on the cheek from behind. I wiped away my tears, not wanting her to see me crying. "Mommy, are you okay?"
"Of course, I'm okay." I sat up and looked at her. Hinawi ko ang ilang hibla ng buhok na tumatabing sa mukha niya.
"You still haven't had your dinner. Papa said I should wake you up because if you don't eat the baby will get hungry too."
I couldn't help but smile at the concern Therese and George is showing for my baby. I placed my hand on top of my belly. With them around, I knew my baby would never feel like something is missing in his or her life. Hindi niya mararamdaman ang kawalan ng ama niya sa buhay niya dahil lahat ng pagkukulang na iyon ay pupunuan namin.
I was hurting more for my baby more than for myself. I felt sorry for my child. Kahit kailan hindi niya malalaman na itinanggi siya ng ama niya. I would never want my child to know that he or she wasn't wanted by his father. Kung balang-araw ay magtanong siya tungkol sa ama niya, hindi ko pagdadamot sa kanya ang malaman ang tungkol kay Wayne. But our child would only know the good memories we shared together. Sasabihin ko sa kanya na ang ama niya ang tanging lalaking minahal ko at minsan ay minahal niya din ako. Na siya ang naging bunga ng pagmamahalan na iyon. I would never regret the time we spent together. I would never regret falling in love for Wayne. I wouldn't want our child to hate him. Gusto kong mahalin din siya ng anak namin kahit hindi sila magkakilala dahil kung hindi dahil sa kanya wala naman itong batang nasa sinapupunan ko.
"Tanya..." George's head popped into the door. "You've been in your room all day. You haven't eaten anything yet. Are you not feeling well?"
I shook my head.
He flashed me a look of concern and tenderness. Pumasok siya sa kwarto at umupo sa gilid ng kama. "Have you already told Wayne?"
I nodded my head and my eyes began to sting with tears again. He looked at me with eyes full of pity na para bang nababasa niya na sa mukha ko kung ano ang nangyari.
"Therese, darling, will you go and ask Yaya to get Mommy a glass of water?" George gently asked.
"Okay!" Agad na lumundag pababa sa kama ang bata at tumakbo palabas.
"What happened? What did he say?" Tanong niya pagkalabas ni Therese.
"He thinks the baby might not be his. Sabi niya hindi niya aakuin ang bata hangga't hindi niya napapatunayan na sa kanya ito..." I could feel the lump forming in my throat as I tried my best not to cry.
There was a look of surprise and confusion on George's face. "Why does he think that? I have never even seen you with another guy."
"I don't know... Hindi niya lang siguro kayang diretsuhin ako na hindi niya kayang panindigan ang anak namin." Wayne knew there was never anyone but him. I had never slept with any man, or even had a relationship with anyone other than him.
George's jaw clenched in an attempt to hold back his emotions.
"Viezerik!" He exploded, cussing in his language. "If he doesn't want my grandchild then my grandchild doesn't need him!"
Hindi na napigil ang pagpatak ng luha ko. Ayaw kong ipagpilitan ang anak ko sa amang hindi naman siya ginusto. Ngayon pa lang kailangan ko na tanggapin na hindi siya magiging parte ng buhay ng magiging anak namin.
"Hush, sweetheart..." George's face softened. He pulled me into a hug and rubbed my back as I cried. "You know I hate seeing you cry and all these negative emotions are not good for my kleinzoon"
"Naawa lang ako sa anak ko."
"You shouldn't be. Your baby is so lucky for having you as a mother, I've seen how you've loved and raised Therese. I know you'll be the best mother to that child. Therese and I are here for you and the baby." He kissed me on the forehead.
