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Chapter 21
Hindi mapuknat ang ngiti sa mga labi ni Terrence nang lumabas ako mula sa banyo. He was lying halfly on his king size bed. His eyes were focused somewhere else. Pinaglalaruan ng mga daliri niya ang kaniyang ibabang parte ng labi na para bang may malalim siyang iniisip.
"Terrence..."
Saka lang siya nag-angat ng tingin sa akin. Naglakad ako palapit sa kaniya habang pinupunasan ang basang buhok gamit ang towel niya.
I decided to take a bath after finding that news out. Parehas kaming hindi na bumalik sa mga trabaho at nanatili na lang dito sa penthouse niya. I suddenly felt a bit hot so taking a lukewarm bath was a good idea.
"Hmm?"
Nang nasa gilid niya na ako ay hinawakan niya ang kamay ko at marahang hinila paupo sa kandungan niya. He wrapped his hand around my waist.
"What's your plan?" I asked.
"I'll talk to your parents tonight. We'll tell them about the good news."
Tumango ako. "Pati rin sa inyo?"
"Yeah, of course. They should know about the it right away."
He seems very happy. Halata naman simula kanina. Para bang walang kahit na anong bagay ang makakasira ng mood niya.
Hindi ko akalain na ganito niya na kagusto ang magkaanak. I suddenly wonder if it's because I am the one he got pregnant or he just really wants to have a child.
"Gusto mo na ba talaga magkaanak, Terrence?"
Natigil siya sa ginagawang paghaplos sa pisngi ko. Still, the smile on his lips didn't even fade.
"What kind of question is that?"
"Naisip ko lang. You seem very happy."
"Because I am. 'Bout you? Aren't you happy that we are going to have a baby?"
Masaya. Siyempre masaya. Lalo na dahil sinabi mo na sa akin na mahal mo ako. It feels like I won a double jackpot prizes today.
"Of course, I am. Medyo nakakabigla lang dahil parang ang bilis ng lahat. We just started this relationship months ago and now, we're going to have a baby."
He tugged me close to him. I hung my arms around his neck and leaned myself against his chest.
"Early or not, we'll end up going to have this angel, Priscilla." He slowly caressed my tummy.
Siguro nga, ginusto niya na magkaanak dahil ako ang magdadala. I just want to think things that way. Ang totoo, hindi ko maiwasang mag-alala dahil masiyadong mabilis ang lahat sa amin.
Kahit nasa isang relasyon na kami, nasa proseso pa rin kami na kinikilala ang isa't isa. Marami pa kaming dapat malaman sa bawat isa at pagdating doon, ayaw kong madaliin.
Ang sabi nila, kapag minadali daw ang isang bagay, madalas ay nauuwi sa kapalpakan. Iniiwasan ko 'yon. With these feelings I have for Terrence, I want us to last long... but in the right process.
"Mommy, is Dad already home?"
"He'll be here in any minute now, dowter. Why?"
Napatingin ako kay Terence na ngayon ay itinutupi ang manggas ng kulay asul niyang long sleeve habang nakatingin sa akin.
He already took a bath and changed into casual clothes. Seryoso siyang kakausapin na ang pamilya ko para ipaalam ang tungkol sa pagbubuntis ko.
"Terrence and I will come, Mom. We'll join you for dinner."
"Oh, sure! Magpapaluto ako nang marami. Thanks for informing me."
"See you, Mommy."
As soon as I dropped the call, I turned to Terrence and smiled a bit. His brow raised. Nilapitan niya ako at marahang hinawakan sa siko para kabigin palapit sa kaniya.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
Umiling ako. "Wala naman. This will be your first time to meet my father-"
"Third time, Priscilla."
My eyes blinked. "Third? How?"
Tumaas ang sulok ng labi niya na para bang may sikreto siyang ayaw niyang ipaalam sa akin.
"I invested in your family business. We already had lunch together on our first meeting and talk about it... about my relationship with you, too."
Wait. He invested in our family business? The wineries? He's now one of the investors?
"W-Why?" I asked. "I mean, why need to invest?"
He shrugged his shoulders. "I heard your father is somehow strict when it comes to the man who will be involved with you. I had to think a way to court him."
Well, the fact that you are a Monasterio is already enough for him to like you, I guess?
Pero bakit hindi nagsasabi sa akin si Daddy? Maybe he's waiting for me to do it instead? Ako dapat ang nagkukuwento sa kaniya.
Natawa ako, umiiling. "No one can resist a Monasterio, Terrence. Be it about business or personal matters."
"Baby, that's not the case between your father and I. He interrogated me too much during that lunch meeting. I am a man full of confidence but that time, I felt like a turte who wanted to hide under its shell."
Humagalpak ako ng tawa. Aminado naman akong may pagkamasungit at istrikto talaga si Daddy. Sa kaniya ko nakuha ang ugali ko. Pero pagdating sa akin, kung umasta siya ay para bang limang taon pa lang ako.
He's always the sweetest, spoiling me with everything even though I can already spoil myself. Sinasabi niyang hindi ko kailangan magmadali sa paghahanap ng lalaki dahil lang lagpas na ako sa kalendaryo. Na lahat ay nangyayari sa tamang panahon.
At kung sakali man na tumanda akong dalaga, aalagaan pa rin nila ako.
But an asshole came in and barged in my room in Casa Vallejo. He ruined my peace.
Hmm. I like the noise he brings into my life anyway.
"Is that Clarisse?" tanong ko habang nakatingin sa isang coffee shop na yari sa salamin ang dingding.
"Where?"
"Sa Seattle's Best."
Dahil nakared light, sa mismong tapat kami ng coffee shop napahinto. I felt Terrence lean closer to me. Parehas kaming nakatingin sa gawi ng sa tingin ko ay si Clarisse.
"It's her."
When I looked at the man sitting in front of her, my eyes grew wound when I realized that it was Zoren.
"Is that Zoren?" tanong ni Terrence.
"I think so."
Bakit magkasama sila? Are they having coffee date? Sa itsura ni Clarisse na umiirap ang mga mata habang si Zoren ay nakangisi, mukhang nagkakaasaran ang dalawa.
Knowing that guy.
Nilingon ko si Terrence. Nakabalik na ito sa upuan niya, tila walang pakialam kahit pa nakita niya ang kapatid kasama ang isang lalaki.
"Are you fine with your sisters having a boyfriend?"
Nilingon niya ako saka bahaw na natawa.
"What kind of question is that? Of course. Walang masama sa pakikipagrelasyon basta alam nila ang ginagawa nila."
I see. Hindi pala siya katulad ng ibang kuya na over protective sa mga kapatid nilang babae.
"Our parenst show us the reality at a young age. Relationships and sex are normal but we must do it when we think we are already enough. Kapag kaya na namin panindigan ang isang desisyon. Kapag may napatunayan na kami. Kapag kaya na namin tumayo sa mga paa namin..."
Well, that's also new. Karamihan sa mga magulang mula sa isang mayamang angkan, wala silang pakialam kung makagawa man ng pagkakamali ang mga anak nila dahil nariyan naman sila para saluhin ito lalo na pagdating sa gastusin.
Ang nangyayari, lumalaking walang disiplina ang ilan sa kanila. They will do anything they want despite it being wrong because they know that their parents are there to support them.
"They told us, mostly the boys, that if we impregnate someone during the times that we were still studying, we had to make sure that we would be able to provide everything in terms of expenses and responsibilities. Kasi, wala kaming mahihita sa kanila. I guess it's effective. Nakapagtapos kami lahat sa pag-aaral nang walang malalang kalokohan na ginagawa."
Natawa ako. "But you had your first fuck when you're still normal."
He glanced at me and bit his lower lip. Mas lalo iyong namula.
"But at least I already know how to use condom that time."
"You didn't use condom on our first fuck."
"And I didn't regret it, ma'am. I had the best orgasm of my life. Still having it."
Umikot ang mga mata ko sa pagiging bulgar niya. Kahit kailan talaga ay wala siyang pasintabi. It's a good thing that he really sounds sexy whenever he said words like that.
Hindi tunog manyak.
Nakarating kami sa bahay bago pa man mag ala-sais. Nakita ko na ang sasakyan ni Daddy sa garahe. Huminga ako nang malalim para kalmahin ang sarili ko.
I'm not anxious that they will see Terrence with me. Kagaya nga ng sinabi niya, nagkakilala na naman sila ni Daddy. Mommy like him very much. But the fact that we are here to inform them that I am pregnant is making me damn nervous.
"You're worried." puna ni Terrence habang papasok kami sa gate.
The guard greeted us. I sighed and looked at him.
"Terrence, this isn't a simple meeting with them. They will inform us about me being pregnant." I whispered.
"I'm pretty much aware of that, Priscilla. This is the first time I got a woman pregnant and I'm happy about it. You have no idea."
Okay, fine. Hindi na ako kakabahan kahit normal lang naman iyon. First time ko rin naman mabuntis at humarap sa kanila para ibalita ito. Kahit pa may edad na ako, iba pa rin ang pakiramdam.
The main door was opened by the housemaid. Sabay na bumababa si Mommy at Daddy ng hagdan. Their eyes were immediately anchored on us.
"Terrence! Hi!" masayang bati ni Mommy.
Dumapo ang mga mata sa akin ni Daddy. Si Mommy, dumiretso kay Terence at humalik sa pisngi nito.
"Good evening, Tita Eula." bati ni Terrence.
Yumakap ako kay Daddy at humalik rin sa pisngi nito.
"Hi, Dad." bati ko.
He tapped my back. "Hmm. Mabuti naman at naisipan mo nang dalhin dito?"
I know he was talking about Terrence. Wala akong maisagot sa kaniya kaya tipid lang akong ngumiti.
Dad set his intimidating eyes on Terrence. Si Mommy, nasa gilid nila at ngiting ngiti. I just now noticed that she's wearing a pink ball gown.
Kapag talaga dadating si Terrence ay akala mo makikipagkita siya sa presidente ng Pilipinas.
"Good evening, Tito Fidel. It's nice to meet you again." pormal na bati ni Terrence.
"The same way goes here, Terrence. I'm glad that my daughter finally had the courage to bring you here."
They had a manly hug. Ngumuso ako sa gilid. I can see that they are now close. Sinasabi ko na nga ba na magaling talaga si Terrence kumuha ng loob kahit pa sino ang nakakasalamuha.
Terrence only smiled. Nilingon niya ako at inabot ang kamay ko.
"We're actually here to tell you something, tito."
Nagkatinginan si Monmy at Daddy. Their eyes were silently communicating but didn't intervene with us.
"Let's talk about it over dinner then." It was Dad.
Nagkatinginan kami ni Terrence. I smiled a little and nodded at my parents.
"Of course." tanging sagot ko.
Sabay-sabay kaming naglakad patungong dining area. Sa gitna nakapuwesto si Daddy, sa gilid niya naman si Mommy. Sa kabilang gilid ay kami ni Terrence.
"Kumain kayo nang marami. Lalo ka na, Terrence. As soon as Priscilla informed me that you two will come here, maaga na akong nagpaluto."
Ngumiti si Terrence. "Thank you, Tita Eula."
Sa bawat paglipas ng segundo, mas lalo kong naramdaman ang tensyon. Dad was even giving me quick but meaningful glances. Pakiramdam ko, alam niya na kaagad ang sadya namin.
"So what is it that you want to tell us?" tanong ni Daddy nang halos matapos na kami sa pagkain.
Nagkatinginan kami ni Terrence. Siya ang unang nagbawi at itinuon ang atensyon sa mga magulang ko.
"I know this is too sudden since Priscilla and I are just starting. We're still in the process of getting to know each other but despite that, I know in myself that I'm already sure about her."
Napatingin ako kay Terrance, bahagyang salubong ang mga kilay.
Sandali. Ano ba ang sinasabi niya?
"Tito Fidel, Tita Eula, Priscilla is pregnant."
Nanglaki ang mga mat ni Mommy. Si Daddy ay walang emosyon ang mukha na para bang inaasahan niya na 'yon. Gumapang ang mga mata niya sa akin at mariin akong tinitigan.
"That's good news! I mean, we are excited! Ang tagal na namin gustong magkaroon ng apo dito kay Priscilla at masaya kaming matutupad na 'yon!" si Mommy matapos ang sandaling pananahimik.
Hindi ako nagsalita. Si Terrence ay may maliit na ngiti lang rin sa labi. Marahin ay tinatantiya niya pa ang reaksyon ni Daddy lalo na at hindi pa ito nagsasalita.
"Everything happened so quick but I don't have any regrets. You have no idea how happy I am now that we're going to have a baby," patuloy ni Terrence. "As her parents, I know that you want me to do this in a decent way. You want me to value her. I believe it's the perfect time to do it."
Do what?
Nanglaki ang mga mata ko, ang dugo ay tila ba umakyat sa aking ulo nang makitang kinuha ni Terrence ang isang itim na kahon mula sa bulsa ng slacks niya.
Hinarap niya ako. He opened the black box and it revealed a white gold diamond ring.
Horror filled me. My heart suddenly jumped in my throat when he stood up from the chair and knelt down. Pakiramdam ko, hindi ko magawang gumalaw. Pakiramdam ko, ikinulong ako sa isang kahon at dahilan para hindi ako makahinga.
I tried to look at my parents. Mommy was obviously happy based of the wide smile on her lips. Si Daddy, seryoso man ay halata na masaya rin.
"I don't know how to do this," he chuckled. "But I'm sure about you, Priscilla. From the night you let me share the room with you in Casa Vallejo, I already knew that you will make a huge difference in my life. So in front of your parents, I'm asking for your hand..."
Everything went too fast. Hindi ko na magawang ilagay sa isip ko ang lahat. Pakiramdam ko, may mali. Pakiramdam ko, nabibigla lang siya. Pakiramdam ko, nagawa niya lang ito dahil buntis ako. Dahil iyon ang dapat.
"Will you please marry me?"
Those words echoed in my ear for so many times.
This isn't what he truly likes. Maybe he just feel the pressure of getting me pregnant. He's just proposing because we are in front of my parents.
Hindi ito ang gusto niya.
Masiyadong mabilis.
Hindi ako sigurado.
Hindi siya sigurado.
Hindi... puwede.
Tears formed at the corner of my eyes as I stared at him very hopeful.
"I'm s-sorry, Terrence," I answered that wiped the smile out of his lips. "But no."
—
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