Anything For You, Beks [Heartbreak Series #1]

Chapter 38: Reasons

tw: abortion, mention of rape, strong language

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CHRYSANTHEMUM

I placed both of my palms on my mouth because of shock. I saw Niah holding a bottle of a chemical used to kill a baby inside a womb. Why the hell would she do that?

I rushed to her immediately at kaagad inagaw ang bote sa kaniya. I'm thankful na hindi masyadong delayed ang pagbukas namin ng pinto kaya hindi pa naiinom ni Niah ang hawak niya at naagapan pa. I gave the bottle to Gallego and proceeded to hug Niah tightly.

"Niah," I called her. "Niah, what happened?"

"A-ate..." She uttered, crying. "Ate, sorry. Sorry, sorry, sorry..." She repeatedly said, I caressed the back of her head to make her feel a little comfortable.

"Tell me what happened," I whispered to her. Nag-abot ng tubig ang isa sa mga maids and I immediately gave it to Niah. Uminom siya ng tubig at kumalma ng kahit papaano.

Inalalayan ko siya palabas ng cr saka iniupo sa kama niya. Hindi ko binitawan ang kamay niya para maramdaman niyang nandito lang ako sa tabi niya.

"Can you tell it to me, now?" I asked her again. She looked at me, feeling guilty.

"Sorry, Ate..." Ulit niya na naman kaya umiling ako.

"Kailan pa 'yan?" I said, looking at her tummy. Maliit pa lang ito kaya sigurado akong bago pa lang dahil hindi pa halata.

"Hindi ko alam," umiiling na sagot niya. "Hindi pa ako nagpupunta sa hospital."

She was crying. She looks so devastated like she has been struggling for weeks. I felt pity for her and mad to myself at the same time. Bakit hindi ko napansin?

"Siya ba 'yong tatay?" I asked, pertaining to the guy we saw at the mall. So, tama pala ang hinala ko no'ng nakita namin sila sa mall? Palusot lang nila 'yong pa-paint at art materials nila? Ang dami kong gustong itanong pero sigurado akong hindi niya kayang sagutin lahat ng iyon.

Si Gallego naman ay lumabas ng kwarto maging ang mga katulong para bigyan kami ng privacy.

Tumango si Niah bilang sagot sa tanong ko. Kinagat niya ang ilalim na labi bago nagsalita, "he courted me for months. He showed me how much he pursues me."

She stopped for a while trying to suppress her tears, "akala ko siya na 'yon, eh. We were happy. Nage-effort siya palagi para sa akin. I fell in love, too deep. Hanggang sa mas gusto ko na siyang makasama kaysa sa inyo... kasi nasa akin lang atensiyon niya, eh. Atensiyon na hindi ko makuha dito sa bahay... You were always busy, as well as Mom and Dad na halos hindi na umuwi ng bahay."

Tears started falling on her cheeks again, maging ang akin. I didn't know she's feeling like that. I don't know... If I only knew.

"Buti pa nga ikaw, palagi mong kasama sina Ate Jhya, Ate Auri at Ate Xerox. Ako, narinig ko 'yong mga kaibigan kong pinag-uusapan ako sa likod ko. Maybe that's why I don't like to go to school... They were comparing me to you," dagdag niya pa. I just listened, kahit bumibigat ang loob ko sa lahat ng sinasabi niya. Maybe this is fine. Kahit ako na ang mabigatan, mabawasan lang ang dinadala niya.

"I ditched classes, madalas ay hindi na talaga ako pumapasok. That was like that for months... akala ko okay lang."

"Where are you going when you're not at school?" I asked.

"Anywhere," she answered. "We were traveling to different cities. Everything went smoothly for the past few months."

She smiled bitterly.