A/n: Reader discretion is advised. At this point, pwede ko na gawing business yung holy water.
CHAPTER FORTY FIVE - Dirty Secrets Part Two
Third Person's PoV
SEVEN MONTHS EARLIER...
The Elite Party Cont'd
"Tapos pinatayan ko na ng tawag. Ang useless kausap e'! Hahaha." Sumabay mga kasama ni Mayor Sandoval sa pagtawa sa biro niya. Umiling-iling ang mayor saka itinaas ang hawak niyang champagne glass. "This is the future, gentlemen. Our reputations will always prevail."
They all clinked their glasses, only to find an additional glass with water clinking with them. Nakuha rin ng kanilang atensyon mga acrylic nails na kulay pula at mahahaba.
"Evening, gentlemen." Bati ni Shane sa kanila nang may malawak na ngisi. "You are absolutely right. This is the future. A world ran by both men and women. Our reputations will always prevail."
Nailang mga nagtipong mga politiko na kasama ni Sandoval. Hindi nila magawang tignan sa mata si Shane sa kaba. Titig niya pa lang nakakamatay na, dagdag mo na kung paano ito magsalita.
Ngunit nagawang ngumisi din si Mayor Sandoval, "And our reputation will precede our character. What an honor for you to join us, Attorney Ramos. Have you gathered enough evidence against your parents yet? Or are you done throwing tantrums?"
Shane scoffed, intrigued by the insult, "Tantrums? Why, you wound me, Mayor Sandoval. Are you saying that my goals of serving justice for a human trafficking victim is nothing but a woman's tantrum?"
Kumibit balikat ang alkalde at marahang tinawanan si Shane.
"Madami kang napinsalang mga kababayan natin dahil sa kasong ito, Attorney Ramos. Kapag tuluyan nawala ang De Vera Industries, alam mo bang mahigit kumulang isang daang libo ang mawawalan ng trabaho? Malaki ang tulong ng mga De Vera sa ekonomiya ng lungsod. Don't you think it's irrational to save one victim over saving thousands of jobs? Like what I said, ginagamit mo lang itong...paano ba sabihin ito—ovcrreaction mo para lang makaganti sa magulang mo na ipinakasal ka sa Maclains. Hindi ba? All for your selfish revenge." Sabi ni Mayor Sandoval kay Shane.
Napatingin lahat ng mga kasamahan niya sa gawi ni Shane na hindi nakaimik agad. Hindi rin nagbago ang hitsura niya. Inaasahan niya na ito ang kanyang maririnig sa mga malalapit na koneksyon nila Divine.
Sandoval wanted to trigger a reaction from her to easily dominate her. Shane, of course, saw through his pathetic excuse to insult her and raised her chin to sip on her water.
"Maybe you're right. This may just be my 'overreaction' over the destruction my father and my step-mother caused in my life. I don't know about the economy part though." Shane took a step forward, which the men took a step back away from her. "I admire your patriotism, Mayor Sandoval. I didn't know that underneathe this..." tinuro niya yung suot na customized barong ng alkalde, "is a man who cares for his people."
"Of course. A good leader will always—"
"Besides, where else would you find money to launder other than the people you vowed to serve?" Pagpuputol ni Shane at pinaningkitan ng mga mata yung namutlang alkalde. Nagkatinginan din sa isa't isa mga ibang politiko sa pagtataka. "De Vera Industries keeps your pockets full of cash to shut you up so they can gain access to your local police stations. In return, you actually help them sneak in piles of—"
"I think Mrs. Ramos is begging for my attention hence the baseless accusations." Pagpuputol din ni Mayor Sandoval. "Excuse us, gentlemen."
The men left the two to talk in private. Mr. Rivera's party is still continuing in the background. Laughter still erupted along with some children running and playing by the buffet table.
"I expected a rather different reaction from you, Mayor. You surprise me." Pang-aasar ni Shane. "I thought you'd only call me crazy in front of those other politicians. Or maybe my intuition is right, and that those men are your co-conspirators?"
Naglaho yung ngiti ng alkalde't lumapit kay Shane upang mahinang bumulong. "Magkano ang kailangan mo para manahimik ka?"
Marahan ding tumawa ang babae't instinctively na napahawak sa kanyang baby bump. To seek comfort.
"Nakakainsulto ka na, Mayor. Do I look like I need your money?" Ngising tanong ni Shane na ikinilabot ng matandang lalaki.
"You are an interesting person, Attorney Ramos. Saan mo kaya nakukuha mga impormasyong iyan? Nakakalungkot lang na wala kang ebidensyang hawak para mapatunayan mga allegation na 'yan. Chismis lang 'yang alam mo."
"Oh?" Shane tipped her head sideways and pretended to think hard. "So chismis lang din yung financial transaction sa bangko mo na umaabot ng sampung milyong piso noong nawala yung client ko?" Lalong namutla na naman yung alkalde. "And you were what...a prison warden for the NBP during that time? Roughly thirty five years ago?" Kumibit balikat si Shane. "Nakakapagtaka naman tuloy kung paano nagkaroon ng sweldo ang isang warden ng ganong kalaking halaga. Hmm?"
Hindi nakaimik si Mayor Sandoval.
"Don't worry, I have receipts. Don't get me started on how you rose to power too. Patriotism, my ass. You bought those votes." Hinawakan ni Shane yung balikat ng alkalde at naramdamang nanginginig na ito. Naibaon na dapat sa limot yung mga nangyaring iyon sa nakaraan pero nagawa pang mahalungkat ng isang attorney na wala naman dapat pakialam sa politika. "Connections, Mayor. I don't want nor need your money. I need names."
"H-hindi mo ako ie-expose?" Umiling si Shane.
"I'm only here for the Stanley Case. Like what you said, this is all for my selfish revenge." She winked at him.
Lumunok sa kaba ang alkalde, "I will give you names as long as you promise you will not say a word." Linabas ng mayor yung dala niyang cellphone saka in-airdrop ito sa cellphone ni Shane. "Please don't tell Divine I helped you."
Binasa nang mabuti ni Shane yung listahan ng mga pangalang binayaran ni Divine para dakipin ang kanyang nanay. Napamilyaran niya mga iyon.
Finorward niya agad ito kay Hiro at kay Leona.
"Why the fuck would I tell Divine?" Taas-kilay na tanong ni Shane saka siya tinalikuran at iniwan doon na nakatameme.
Binalikan niya si Mr. Rivera, "You're planning on running for the city mayor, aren't you?" Seryosong tanong ng babae sa matanda. "And that's your political strategy of getting rid of your opposition? Using me?"
Marahang tumawa si Mr. Rivera sa kaniya.
"You are a force to be reckoned with, Attorney Ramos. You want connections and clientele?" Inabot ni Mr. Rivera ang kanyang business card kay Shane. "Then I want your firm to represent the Rivera family brand. Alang-alang ito para kay James na malaki ang respeto sa iyo."
Hindi na nagdalawang isip pa si Shane na kuhanin yung business card ni Mr. Rivera.
"Consider it settled. It's an honor to have you as my client." Nagkamayan sila. Kaso hinigpitan ni Shane hawak niya sa palad ng matanda. "Keep your nose clean if you want to stay as my client." She said sharply. "I will happily put your ass in prison if you decide to tarnish my reputation by becoming corrupt."
Ngayon lang nakaramdam ng takot ang matanda kay Shane, "Of course. You have my word."
Bumitaw na si Shane at umalis na doon para maghanap ng mauupuan. Nangawit na siya sa kakatayo ng matagal suot mga takong. The extra weight from her growing belly caused more fatigue on her feet and on her legs. Bumuntong hininga siya't rinub ang kanyang baby bump—naramdaman niyang gumagalaw sa loob ang kanyang anak.
"Not gonna lie, kid. I think mommy is starting to get scared." Bulong niya sa kanyang nasa sinapupunan. Napatingin siya sa kanyang palad at pinagmasdan kung paano manginig ito. "Good thing you're with me."
Tumingala siya nang may dumapong blazer jacket sa ibabaw ng kanyang mga balikat. Naging kumportable siya nang maamoy niya kung kanino iyon.
"Kumain ka na ba?" Malumanay na tanong ni Kieran bago iniabot ang plato kay Shane. "I got you some of your favorites. May caldereta diyan at chop suey. Kinuhanan na rin kita ng vegetable salad kasi sabi ng server doon dinamihan nila yung mayonnaise para diyan."
Kumurap si Shane sa plato niya't mahinang tumawa. She felt lucky to have Kieran as her husband taking care of her like this. Habang tinutusok niya gamit ng tinidor kanyang pagkain, lumuhod si Kieran para tanggalin yung mga takong niya't minasahe mga namamagang nitong mga paa.
"Sabi ko sa iyo kanina huwag ka ng magtakong e'." Sabi niya nang hindi pinapansin mga taong napapatingin sa kanilang direksyon. Wala na siyang pakialam kung ano pang masasabi nila sa ginagawa niya. "'Buti na lang nagdala ako ng tsinelas."
Linunok muna ni Shane yung kinakain niya bago sumagot, "That will ruin my outfit." Malungkot niyang sambit. Shane always go out in style. She never disappoints when it comes to her fashion sense.
"Huwag kang magalala, ako bahala sa iyo." Linabas ni Kieran yung dala niyang blue rin na tsinelas na may silver glitters sa goma nito. Natuwa si Shane dahil nababagay pa rin ito sa kanyang suot. "Charaaan. O 'di ba? Sabi sa iyo ako bahala."
Pabirong kinurot ni Shane tagiliran niya habang tumatawa, "You are really such an idiot, you know that?" Bumungisngis naman si Kieran pero naudlot din iyon nang mapansing huminga nang malalim si Shane.
"Are you okay?" Alalang tanong nito't pinatong ang palad sa tuhod ng asawa. "May nangyari ba?"
Umiling si Shane, "I just keep thinking about what that pathetic Sandoval mayor told me."
Tumabi sa kanya si Kieran para akbayan siya. Isinandal naman agad ni Shane ang kanyang ulo sa leeg ng asawa niya't bumuntong hininga.
"I know it shouldn't get to me because it's just his attempt to shake me off from the case he's benefitting from. But still, it bothered me a lot." Pag-open up ni Shane. "He called my purpose of serving justice for my mother or for my life an 'overreaction'. That I'm being irrational for fighting for our lives than the lives of other people. You know what bothered me the most? He's right. That I'm doing all this just for my own selfishness. Not for my mother or for everyone else, just my own."
Kieran's eyes never left Shane's face while she opened up to him. He kissed her temple and stayed there for five seconds before pulling away. He could tell that her strength to put up her 'boss bitch' facade is fading while they're still in the public's eyes.
"Tara na." Ani niya't tumayo hawak ang kamay ni Shane. He's not about to let other people see his wife vulnerable like this. Only he, and only him, gets to see it. "The party sucks anyway. Alis na tayo."
"Where are we going?" Mahinang tanong ni Shane nang nakakunot noo. "Kieran?—Kieran!"
Nagulat na lang siya nang kargahin siya bigla ni Kieran palabas ng party. Pinagtitinginan sila ng mga tao. As usual, hindi na nila sila pinakialaman.
Gabing-gabi na sa labas nang makaabot sila sa parking lot. Binuksan ni Kieran yung pintuan ng sasakyan niya't isinakay nito ang buntis niyang asawa. Nagiwan pa siya ng halik sa kanang pisngi nito matapos ikabit ang kanyang seatbelt.
"What are you up to?" Suspetyang tanong ni Shane pero tinawanan lang siya ni Kieran bago sinara ang pinto. Pumunta siya sa may driver's seat minadaling paharurutin yung kotse. "Kieran?"
"You'll see when we get there." Tanging responde lang ng lalaki bago inabot yung kamay ni Shane. Hinalikan niya ito. "Paabot nga, baby, nung cellphone ko. May tatawagan lang."
Sinunod naman iyon agad ni Shane at tinulungang i-dial si Doctor Fabi.
[Hello?]
Halata pa lang sa boses ng lalaki sa kabilang linya na naistorbo siya sa pagtulog.
"Free ka ba ngayon? Pasuyo sana na gawin na ngayon yung pabor na hinihingi ko sa iyo." Saad ni Kieran habang direktang nakatingin sa kalsada.
[Tangina naman, pare. Alas onse na.]
"Did that ever stop me before when I was doing your favor?" Natatawang tanong ni Kieran.
Shane gave him a questioning look, curious to hear what the favor her husband did to this doctor that made him groan like that from the other line.
[Oo na, oo na. On the way na ako.]
"Thanks, man." Binaba na ni Kieran yung tawag. "Tinulungan ko siya noong mag-stand in sa blind date niya dis-oras ng gabi. Um-oo ba naman sa dalawang dates tapos mas natipuhan yung isa, inutusan niya akong ako na muna ang humarap doon sa hindi niya nagustuhan."
"Ahh." Na-curious si Shane. "How did that date go?"
"It went bad. Really bad." Tumawa si Kieran.
"Hmm? Bakit naman? What happened?"
"Well," hinalik-halikan ni Kieran yung kamay ni Shane, "apparently kilala na pala ng babae yung mukha ni Fabi kaya noong nakita ako na magpapanggap sana bilang Fabi, binuhusan ako ng tubig."
"Ah deserve."
"Okay lang naman. At least sa akin buhos lang ng tubig. Kay Fabi talaga sinugod siya sa bahay niya." Natatawa rin si Shane sa kwento niya. "Naabutan niya raw si Fabi na kasama yung isa niya pang ka-date."
"No fucking way?"
"Yes way, baby. Alam mo yung worst part doon? It was a different girl."
Bumagsak panga ni Shane, "What? That's crazy! What happened to the other girl he was supposed to date?"
"Ghinost niya rin. Binigay niya naman kay Timothy." Umiling-iling si Kieran habang tumatawa. "Ang gago 'no? Ginamit ba naman kaming stand-ins."
Ipinarada na ni Kieran yung sasakyan sa underground parking lot ng ospital na pinagtatrabahuan niya. Inalalayan niyang lumabas ang kanyang asawa't walang pasabing kinarga na lang ito papasok ng elevator.
"You didn't have to carry me, you know? I have two functioning feet." Reklamo ni Shane.
"I know. Gusto lang kitang buhatin." Ngiting sagot naman ni Kieran. "Bumibigat ka nga lang, baby."
"How fucking dare you?"
"Hahaha." Hinalikan niya noo ni Shane para mawala yung simangot nito. Gumana agad. "Sulit yung workout ko. Nagre-ready na ako manghele ng bata." At hinele niya si Shane. "Tenenen tenenen."
Hinampas siya ni Shane sa dibdib, "Tsk. Ano ba, Kieran?" Natatawa nitong sabi't gigil na pinisil pisngi ng asawa. "You're bloody annoying."
Kieran's contented to hear her laugh again. Even if it makes him look stupid.
Nakarating na sila sa palapag kung saan yung ultrasound room. Pumasok sila sa loob at naabutang andoon na si Doctor Fabi na nakasuot lang ng pajama sa ilalim ng doctor's coat nito.
"Don't...don't even say a single word." Masungit niyang sabi nang magpigil ng tawa yung mag-asawa. "I came here as soon as I could. Palibhasa kasi. Gabing-gabi na."
Maingat na binaba ni Kieran si Shane sa may hospital bed bago kinalkal yung aparador para kumuha ng hospital gown.
"Tangina, nangalkal ba naman." Inis na kumento ni Fabi bago tumingin kay Shane na ngiting-ngiti kay Kieran. "Fabi nga pala. Ob-gyne."
"Anastasia Shane Ramos. Kieran's wife." Sagot naman ni Shane bago tingnan si Fabi. "I suppose you are the doctor my husband entrusted me to. Good luck." Ngising sabi niya.
Nagdikit mga kilay ni Fabi sa pagtataka.
Bakit ako sinasabihan nito ng 'good luck'?
"Layas ka muna, Fabi." Tinulak ni Kieran si Fabi palabas ng ultrasound room. "Bihisan ko muna asawa ko."
"Tangina naman kasi, pare. Tulog na dapat ako ng ganitong oras e'!" Reklamo niya bago siya sarhan ng pintuan.
"Kieran..." Shane trailed off as she let Kieran unzip her dress, "I know you want to make me happy after a long night, but we could have done this in the morning, you know?"
"Was it that obvious?" Tanong pabalik naman ng lalaki't tinulungan siyang magsuot ng hospital gown. Tinanguan siya ni Shane. "Nah, gusto ko lang talaga mangistorbo ng tao."
Marahang tumawa si Shane at yinakap nang mahigpit si Kieran. "I honestly don't know what I would do without you."
"Then it's a good thing I don't plan on leaving your side."
Kieran pulled away from the hug to lift his wife's chin with his index finger, leaning in for a kiss. Shane quickly met him, indulging his lips fully and they crashed into a slow, passionate movement.
Their hearts are pounding loudly against their chest as their cheeks burned up. It's maddening. Their love is way too maddening—driving each other crazier and crazier as the clock ticks by.
Shane reached for Kieran's belt, undoing it swiftly without breaking their kiss. "Fabi wouldn't mind waiting for a couple minutes, right?"
"Make that five."
They both laughed as they kept devouring each other's lips. Kieran pulled his pants down while he lightly bit Shane's shoulder to hear her fired up moan. He pulled her closer to the hospital bed's edge, making her legs to wrap around his waist for support.
He shoved himself gently inside her, thrusting in a fast yet gentle pace so he wouldn't put too much pressure on her pregnant belly. Panting, he buried himself deeper inside his wife while recapturing her lips to muffle her moans.
They kept laughing in between their moans and kisses. Shane grabbed a fistful of Kieran's hair while the other hand grabbed hold of his neck, then tilted her head back to moan without a sound.
The doctor's lips found its way down to her collarbone, nipping and sucking it to leave a mark. He kept thrusting and thrusting until he felt his shaft throb inside her.
"God, Shane..." Kieran whispered out of breath, "I love you..." he moaned in her ear.
Both of them reached their climax at the same time, to which Shane accidentally screamed–
"Ugh FUCK!" They reflected each other's widened eyes and looked at the door.
"Tanginang 'yan." Rinig nilang malakas na bumuntong hininga si Fabi sa labas. "Nagawa niyo pang maglandian diyan?! Antok na yung tao!"
Tumatawa lang yung dalawang naghahalikan ulit. Unang humiwalay si Kieran para kumuha ng pamunas para sa tumutulong ano ni Shane.
"Whoops." Sabi niya't natatawa. "We should probably let him do the job he came for now."
"Probably?" Natatawang tanong naman ni Kieran bago binasura yung basang-basa na papertowel. Naghugas muna siya ng kamay bago pinapasok si Fabi sa loob. "Tapos na siya magbihis."
Palipat-lipat na tinignan ni Fabi yung dalawa't bumuntong hininga ulit.
"I don't even want to imagine what happened in here." Sabi niya't dumiretso sa may monitor. "So eto ang gagawin natin ngayon. Pagkahiga ni Mrs. Ramos, lalagyan ko ng water-soluble gel yung—putangina niyo namang dalawa."
Huminto yung dalawa sa paghahalikan at si Kieran ang unang lumingon sa kanya. "Hm?"
"Pahigain mo na asawa mo, Kieran. Tanginaaaa." Mangiyak-iyak na si Fabi, kaya lalong natawa yung lalaki. Samantalang si Shane naman ay kagat labing nakasandal sa leeg ni Kieran.
"Nakakainis maistorbo sa gabi, 'di ba?" Pang-aasar ni Kieran. "Lalo kapag alas dose ba naman—"
"Oo na, oo na. Putangina, gumanti pa nga." Napapakamot na lamang si Fabi sa inis. Nagsisisi tuloy siyang si Kieran ang naisipan niyang pakiusapan noon.
"Here, baby. I'll help you lie down." Malambing na sabi ni Kieran kay Shane at inalalayan siyang mahiga ng maayos. In-expose niya yung three-months old belly ng asawa at saka kinuha yung probe. "Sabihin mo lang 'pag start na, pare."
Inutusan pa akong pumunta dito kung siya rin lang naman pala gagawa, inis na sabi ni Fabi sa isip niya.
Sinimulan na nilang lagyan ng gel yung baby bump ni Shane. Tumindig pa mga balahibo niya sa lamig nito.
Tinuro ni Fabi yung gray area sa may monitor para ipakita kay Shane, "Etong part na ito ay yung uterine walls mo. Walang deformation o ano mang anomalia, so that's good."
Imbes sa monitor nakatitig si Shane, sa mukha ni Kieran na naka-concentrate lang sa screen. Natatawa pa siya sa hitsura nitong dikit na dikit mga kilay na tinitignan mabuti iyon.
Inunahan niyang magturo sa screen si Fabi, "Eto namang dark area na ito ay yung amniotic sac. Yung nasa gitna naman..." natigilan sa pagpapaliwanag si Kieran at malawak na ngumiti.
Kunot noo siyang tinitigan ni Shane bago ibinaling ang atensyon sa tinuturo ng asawa. Lalo siyang nagtaka nang 'di na kumibo ito.
Inagaw ni Fabi yung probe sa kamay ni Kieran at linipat ito sa kabilang anggulo. Tinuro ng doctor yung gray na umbok sa may gilid ng itim na amniotic sac.
"That's your baby's head."
Umawang mga labi ni Shane at namangha sa itsura ng baby niya.
"This," binaba ni Fabi yung daliri niya doon sa gray na mga linya sa baba ng ulo. "These are the ribs. And if you look closely, there's the heartbeat."
Shane was stunned watching her baby's heart beat for the first time. 'Di niya namalayang nagsitulo na pala mga luha niya nang punasan ito ni Kieran.
"Look at that, Shane..." hinalikan ni Kieran noo ni Shane, "that's the reason you're after. It's not irrational to fight for a better world where justice is for everyone. You're making this world a slightly better place for her." Tinuro niya ulit yung baby nila sa screen.
"Her?" Shane asked in shock.
She could already imagine herself wearing matching clothes with her baby girl. A dream. They'll be shopping together. Reading fairytales together. She will be loved by her siblings. The Ramos family's treasured princess.
"Actually, guys..." tinignan mabuti ni Fabi yung screen nang ginagalaw pa rin yung probe, "Nice. Congratulations, Doctor Ramos and Attorney Ramos. It's a healthy baby boy."