"CONGRATULATIONS to your new hotel, son," dad greeted me and raised his glass of champagne for a toast. "I'm proud of what you have achieved, Zephyr."
"Thank you dad, kayo ni mommy ang naging inspirasyon ko para matupad ang mga pangarap ko ngayon. It took years before I finally got to where I am now and if it wasn't for you who taught me about business, wala ako ngayon dito. And of course to my beautiful and wonderful mom who never failed supporting me in everything, thank you." I said and my parents smiled proudly at me.
"I'm happy for you, anak." Mom said and hugged me. Humalik naman ako sa ulo ni mommy dahil mas matangkad na ko sa kanya ngayon. Ah, how time flies so fast. I can still remember my mom telling me bed time stories before I sleep. Pero ngayon ay iba-iba nang babae ang nagpapatulog sa'kin sa gabi. I smiled mentally when I thought of something naughty.
"Thanks, mom. My achievement is for the both of you." I said.
"Kuya, 'pag graduate ko magtatayo din ako ng business na tatalo sa'yo," singit ng eighteen year old kong bunsong kapatid na si Jupiter. "Ngayon pa lang talo ka na sa ka-guwapuhan ko eh, pa'no pa kaya 'pag laki ko? Edi lugmok na 'yang mukha mo sa sahig?" pangaasar pa niya.
Tinawanan ko naman siya tsaka ginulo ang buhok niya. "Yeah? You always tell that yet I get more girls than you," ganti ko na kinasimangot niya. "Siguraduhin mo na matatalo mo ang Montenegro Corporation 'pag laki mo ah? Kung matatalo mo."
"Mommy, si kuya oh." Sumbong nito na kinatawa naming tatlo.
We're currently having a mini celebration in my penthouse after the grand launching of my first ever hotel. It was my dream ever since I was a kid to have a hotel named after me and now that I already achieved that, I'm looking forward to other possible things that I can do.
Bata pa lang ako ay tinuturuan na ko ng ama ko kung paano patakbuhin ang negosyo. He was the former chief executive officer and owner of the Montenegro Corporation and Montenegro Real Estate and after twenty five years of leading that empire, I took place and continued his legacy. Ngayon ay business consultant na ang fifty years old kong ama sa Montenegro Corporation at tinuturuan din nito si Jupiter sa pagpapatakbo ng negosyo. Dad wants to rebuild the Montenegro Engines Corporation that was bankrupted thirty years ago and make my brother restart that business.
In my two years of being the CEO of a big company, I can say that it's very hard. Ang hirap lalo na kapag sabay-sabay ang mga meetings, business conference at madaming files ang dapat kong i-review at pirmahan. Hindi naman ako nagrereklamo dahil bata pa lang ako ay alam ko na kung ano ang patutunguhan ko kapag dating ko sa edad na handa na kong palitan si daddy. May part din naman na masaya lalo na't madami akong mga tao na nakikilala. Business connections are more powerful than just close friends, they say.
A doorbell ring stopped us from our chitchats. I was about to get it when mom stopped me. "I'll get it. Magusap lang kayo dyan ng daddy mo."
"Okay, thanks." Sagot ko. Muli kong binalik ang attention ko kay dad at taimtim na nakinig sa mga advices niya. Nabaling ang tingin ko kay mommy nang bumalik ito dala-dala ang isang malaking basket. "What is that, mom?"
"I don't know. It only says it's for you." Saad niya. Nagtataka man ay kinuha ko pa din ang basket at nilapag sa center table tsaka naupo sa couch. Agad tumabi sa'kin si Jupiter para maki-usyoso.
"I bet it's an inflatable sex doll," aniya habang excited na nakatitig sa malaking basket na may cover at gawa sa abaca. "Open it, kuya!"
"Stop pushing me," I said and stopped him from pushing my arm. "I hope it's something valuable than your sex doll idea." Dagdag ko at mahinang natawa bago ko dahan-dahang binuksan ang takip ng basket para suspense.
But when I opened the basket, my smiled faded and my eyes widened when I saw what's inside. Katahimikan ang bumalot sa buong salas at pati ang kapatid kong kanina pa excited ay nawala ang ngiti sa mukha. My mouth gaped opened as I stare at the sleeping baby inside it.
"W-what the actual fuck..." I whispered and poked the baby. Shit, shit! "Fucking shit, it's fucking real!" I exclaimed and the baby was startled from my voice and started crying.
"Oh, God, it's a baby!" Mom said with a hint of shock. Agad siyang lumapit sa'min at binuhat ang baby para patahanin. Nakita ko naman ang isang envelope sa loob ng basket kaya agad ko 'yun kinuha at binuksan. It was a letter and it's for me.
"Zephyr Montenegro," I read. "Please take care of our son. Guwapo ka nga pero isa't kalahating gago ka naman. After you had fun fucking me and getting me pregnant, you had the guts to push me away. Now, be a fucking responsible father to your child and take all the consequences from what you did to me. I'm cursing you from the bottom of my heart, the mother of your child."
"Nakabuntis ka?!" bulalas ni dad na kinalingon ko sa kanya. "You didn't even take responsibility of the child?! Anong klaseng lalaki ka, Zephyr?! Ganyan ba kita pinalaki?!"
Sunod-sunod naman akong napa-iling. "T-that's not true! Dad, I never got someone pregnant! This is just a bluff or whatever shit they did to ruin my reputation!" agad kong depensa. Tumalim naman ang tingin sa'kin ni dad kaya natahimik ako.
"But the letter is telling us that this is your child, Zephyr." Mom said as she coo the crying baby. "How can you be so heartless to your own child?"
I groaned in frustration. "Mom, I swear! I didn't get someone pregnant!" I defensively answered. A memory of a girl from last year suddenly popped in my head but I shook the thoughts away. Alam ko at sigurado ako na wala akong nabubuntis na babae. God, I don't even remember fucking someone and not using a fucking condom!
"You will take responsibility of this child, Zephyr. Hindi ako papayag na maging iresponsableng ama ka!"
"Dad!" I whined like a child but dad stared at me with his glaring eyes. Bumaling ang tingin ko sa bata at nakita kong nakatingin din ito sa'kin. His eyes were innocently staring back at me. He has hazel brown doe eyes and long lashes. His cheeks were rosy from crying and it was fluffy.
I sighed and looked away. "H-he's not mine, okay?" I whispered feeling defeated. "I don't even remember fucking a woman because I've been using protection ever since!"
"Why do you keep on denying him, Zephyr? Hindi pa ba sapat ang batang ito para maging ebidensya para sa isang gabi na nagkamali ka?" sermon ni mommy na kinatingin ko sa kanya. "How can you forget that you got someone pregnant? Lasing ka ba? Are you taking drugs?! Oh my God!"
"Of course not! Mom—"
Dad interrupted. "Zephyr, I don't want you to feel the regret that I had when I found out that my son grew up without me. Those five years without seeing you, it was torture to me and I don't want you to experience that, son. Trust me, it's hell." Saad ni dad. Hindi na tago sa pamilya namin ang tungkol sa paghihiwalay ni mom at dad noon. As far as I can remember, dad wasn't beside us until I was five years old and my uncle took his place to be my father figure. But I don't know the reason why they got separated.
"I'll test my paternity with him," I answered. Nakita kong napa-iling si dad sa'kin bago kami iniwan. "But mom, we're not sure if that baby is mine! How can you believe a simple letter?" desperadong dagdag ko. Goddamn it!
"You have the same eye color and shape, can't you see?" tugon ni mom na kinasulyap ko sa bata. Right, we have the same eye color but anyone has the same color as me, for God's sake!
"Hindi lang ako ang may ganyang hugis at kulay ng mata, mom." Sagot ko at naiinis na napasabunot sa buhok ko. "Damn. Bakit pinapaniwalaan n'yo ang sulat na 'yun? Mom, I swear to all the fucking saints in this world that I didn't get someone pregnant! They're just using that baby to enter my life!"
"Anak..."
I groaned in annoyance and walked out. Fuck! I swear I can fucking hurt someone right now. I was having a very nice evening but now everything is ruined; even my mood! Thanks to that baby and to whomever the fuck his mother is!
KINABUKASAN ay nagulat ako nang makita si mommy sa penthouse ko. She was cooking when I saw her and behind her was a cradle and the baby was there. Lumapit ako kay mommy at humalik sa pisngi nito bago ko sinilip ang baby sa crib na gumagalaw galaw ang maliliit na kamay.
"Where did you get this cradle?" I asked.
Hinarap naman ako ni mommy. "Crib ni Jupiter 'yan noon, pinadala 'yan ng daddy mo sa driver kagabi," sagot niya at ngumiti. "We named him Zacharias or simply Zach. Gusto kasi namin na may maitawag na sa kanya at mukhang wala kang balak mag-isip ng pangalan para sa kanya."
Napa-iling ako bago naupo sa dinning chair. "You don't have to do that. Aalis din naman siya dito."
"What is that Zephyr?" her tone suddenly raised.
I sighed. "Hahanapin ko ang nanay niya. I'm very sure that he's not mine, all right? If you still insist on making me keep that baby then I'll have to test my paternity to him. End of conversation."
"But your name is in the letter," sagot ni mommy pero hindi na ko umimik. I put my arms on the table and leaned my head on it. "Zephyr..."
Naiinis na napakamot ako sa ulo ko bago siya tinignan. "Mom, I'm only twenty eight! I can't take responsibility to this kid! Ano bang alam ko sa pagpapalaki ng bata? I know nothing!"
"That's because you only know how to make your dick hard," singit ni dad. Mukhang kakagising lang nito dahil magulo pa ang buhok niya. Dito pala sila natulog kagabi, hindi ko man lang namalayan dahil sa sobrang inis ko. "How many pussies did you fuck, son? May isang sperm na nakalusot at ayan, may anak ka na."
Sumimangot ako. "Dad, you're not helping."
Natawa naman ito at hinila si mommy sa kandungan niya tsaka hinalikan sa labi. "Good morning to my beautiful and sexy wife. I love you."
"I love you too, babe but you still need to talk to your son." Saad ni mom. I sighed and stared at my loving parents. I always wanted to have a relationship like them; sweet, faithful and loyal to each other. Plus the love they have for each other is incomparable. Pero sa buhay kong puro saya at sarap lang ay malabong mangyari na magkaroon ako ng love life na katulad sa magulang ko.
"Anong plano mo?" tanong ni daddy at humigop sa kape na binigay sa kanya ni mommy.
"Hahanapin ko ang nanay niya at ibabalik sa kanya 'yung bata. I will also test my paternity so if the mother insisted that I'm the father, I have an evidence to tell her the truth."
"Zeph..."
"That's my plan," sagot ko tsaka tumayo sa kinauupuan ko at nagpaalam. "I'll just take a run. I'll be back after an hour."
Lumabas ako ng penthouse suot ang jogging pants, muscle shirt at running shoes ko. Habang nagja-jogging ako ay muling bumalik sa isip ko ang babae na pumunta sa office ko isang taon na ang nakakalipas. She told me that she's pregnant with my child. I could barely remember her face and her name but I know how her sweet and seductive perfume made my dick hard that day. I don't even remember that I had sex with her. It must be a mistake; someone just wanted to use that baby to ruin my career and reputation.
Nang mapagod ako ay naupo ako sa isa sa mga bench sa park. I drank my water and catch my breath. Napansin ko naman ang mag-ama na naglalaro sa playground at tila may kung anong kumonsensya sa'kin. I know that I didn't impregnate someone and I'm a thousand percent sure of that. I know that that baby is just a scheme to ruin my reputation and I ain't buying those lies to let them win. Hahanapin ko ang ina ng bata at hindi ako titigil hangga't hindi ko siya nakikita.
Pagbalik ko sa penthouse ay dire-diretso lang ako sa kuwarto ko at nagulat ako nang makita ang baby na natutulog sa ibabaw ng kama ko. I slowly approached the sleeping child and sat in the bed. My heart softened as I stare at his angelic face. How could his own mother abandon him like this? Anong klaseng tao ang makakayang gawin 'to sa bata? I know I'm heartless to tell them I don't want this baby. Pero kung ako talaga ang ama ng batang ito, paano nangyari 'yun?
I sighed and touched the baby's cheek. It was soft and I couldn't help but to smile when his cute lips moved a little. I caressed his small hand and he immediately gripped into my finger making me chuckle.
"Aw, how sweet. Bagay na bagay sa'yo ang maging ama, Zephyr. Kailangan mo nang humanap ng asawa." Mom said startling me. Agad ako tumayo at naglagay ng distansya sa'min ng baby.
"I-I'll just take a shower." I said but before I could take a step, mom stopped me.
"Anak, don't be an irresponsible person," anito at malungkot na sumulyap sa baby. "Walang kasalanan ang bata. Hindi pa niya naiintindihan ngayon ang sitwasyon pero gugustuhin mo bang magalit ang sarili mong anak sa'yo pagdating ng panahon?"
"Mom..." I sighed in frustration. "How can you accept the baby? He's not mine, all right? Huwag n'yo naman isara ang tenga n'yo sa explanation ko. Kung talagang akin 'yang bata ay hindi ako makikipagtalo sa inyo nang ganito dahil alam ko 'yung mga ginagawa ko."
"I understand, darling. I know that this is so sudden and unbelievable but you could at least try to be a father to him. Sabihin na natin na hindi nga ikaw ang ama ng bata, maaatim mo ba na iwan na lang siya kung saan? We can take care of him as we look for his mother. Kahit naman kami ng daddy mo ay nagulat sa nangyari but that doesn't mean that we'll just turn our back to the baby. Don't push him away like he's an unimportant thing, Zephyr. Huwag mong gawin sa kanya ang ginawa ng ina niya. Only a heartless person can abandon a baby like that."
My gaze diverted to the baby in my bed. My heart and mind is having a silent war whether to take the child or not. Hindi ko pa kaya magkaron ng responsibilidad ngayon. I can't be a single father. The thought of the baby growing up without parents is making my chest hurt. Sinong ina ang kayang sikmurain na iwan ang sariling anak sa pinto ng kung sino lang? Just how pitiful and painful it is to this baby, right?
"Fine." I said in defeat but I really can't accept any of these at all. I'm a freaking bachelor and I want to live my life to the fullest. Pa'no ko gagawin 'yun kung may responsibilidad akong tulad nito? I have to plan this very carefully so that it wouldn't make my parents mad at me. I need to test my paternity with this child and find his goddamn mother.
"Thank you Zephyr. We're always here and we'll never stop helping you." Mom smiled and hugged me tightly. Napahinga na lang ako nang malalim.