BEATRIZ
While I was looking for a near hotel ay nag stop over ako sa tabi-tabi, because I can't stop thinking about dad. What if may usapan na sila nung tatay ni Caitlin? Sobrang gulong-gulo na ako.
Jho shouldn't know about this too soon. I'm still not ready for it.
I called dad
*Elmer and Bea's phone call*
"Dad?"
"Mabuti at tumawag ka, Bea. I was going to talk to you tomorrow, pero tumawag ka naman na. I want to know something about you" dad
"What is it, dad?" I said and trying to act like innocent
"What are you hiding from our family?" dad
"Hiding of what? Dad, where'd you get that information?"
Habang kausap ko si dad, hindi ko maalis ang kaba ko, pinipigilan ko lang umiyak
"May unknown number kasi na nag message sa'kin, ang sabi may tinatago ka raw. Hindi ko kilala yung tao na yun kaya nagduda ako" dad
"It might be a scam. Don't be a victim, dad"
"Yeah. But I hope, walang katotohanan yung sinasabi niya. Because secrets never last. Wag kang gagawa ng kalokohan, Bea, alam mo pano ako magalit" dad then ended the call
My sight slowly got blurry, only to find myself crying already
"Noooo! I'm s...still not r...ready for t...them to know. I c...can't hurt my wife, p...pano na p...pamilya ko"
I keep on hitting the steering wheel. Naghahalo na ang nararamdaman ko: anger, pain, fear
Also, if they find out about this, especially dad, they might do something to Caitlin. Ayokong idamay nila sila ng anak ko.
CAITLIN
Early in the morning ay nagising ako at sakto nakita kong may message si Bea sa'kin
Bea: I'm sorry for what happened last night, Cait. I just can't comply with what your father wanted to happen between us.
Bea: I'll pick you up later ha? Remember, may follow-up check up ka sa hospital. See you both!
Caitlin: See you, Bea! 😊
Dahan-dahan akong bumangon at nag prepare na. Then kumain na rin ako ng breakfast. After everything ay sinundo na ako ni Bea
Inside Bea's car
Antahimik sobra. Pasimple ko siyang sinusulyapan, mukang problemado
"Bei, about last night. Ako na ang nag sosorry para kay papa. Alam ko namang gusto niyang tumira ka kasama ako, pero hindi mo naman yun kailangang gawin. Kami na ni mama ang bahala sa kanya"
"Don't worry about it. Don't stress yourself out about those kinds of things. Leave it to me hmm?" Bea
"Sorry ha? Kung hindi dahil sa'kin hindi ka malalagay sa ganitong sitwasyon. It was all a mistake"
"Cait, I never see my child with you as a mistake. I just....." Bea lightly hit the steering wheel
If only I could help Bea ease her struggles, I would.
"Bei....."
"Basta, I promise to protect you both. Asahan niyo ako ng anak ko" Bea
Maga rin yung mga mata niya, baka galing pa 'to sa iyak. Naaawa ako kay Bea, nakikita ko ang paghihirap niya. Naikukwento niya rin kasi minsan si Jhoana, lagi raw umuuwing lasing pero iniintindi lahat yon ni Bea. Napaka swerte ni Jhoana for Bea. Having this kind of person is such a treasure.
THIRD PERSON
Hawak-hawak na ni Bea yung ultrasound ng anak nila ni Caitlin. The child is already 6 months old in Caitlin's womb.
Nakaupo si Bea sa hospital chairs sa may hallway at saktong lumabas si Caitlin galing sa office ng doctor
"Bei, let's go?" Cait
Pasimpleng pinunasan ni Bea ang luha niya nang tumayo siya, at ngumiti kay Caitlin. Bea gave Caitlin a side hug which surprised Caitlin
"Thank you" Bea
Kahit papaano, naibsan ang lungkot ni Bea nang makita niya ang kanyang anak sa ultrasound na siyang ipinagpapasalamat niya kay Caitlin
"Thank you rin" Caitlin
"Hehe tara? Where do you wanna eat?" Bea
"Hindi ko alam eh, teka tanungin ko si baby" Caitlin sabay hawak sa tiyan niya
Bea chuckles
JHOANA
After work ay deretso akong umuwi, hindi na muna ako nag bar kasi masakit katawan ko ewan ko ba, nakakapagod kasi magtrabaho
Pagkapasok ko ng bahay.....
"There you are!" Bea with her wide smile
"Mommaaaa!" Nolan
"Momma?" Bella
Iniwan ni Bea yung niluluto niya at may kinuha siyang bouquet at mabilis na lumapit para ibigay yung bulaklak sa'kin
It's a bouquet of sunflowers. I remember when Nico gave me one.
"Sweet naman ng smile hehe" Bea
"Para san 'to?"
"Peace offering, di bale, love, babawi ako" Bea and she gave me a peck sa lips
"Dadaaa ewww" Nolan
"Nolan come here" yaya
"Yaya, why is dada be always kissing momma? It's so disgusting" Nolan
"Teka peace offering? B-bakit?" I am confused
"Love, h-hindi kasi ako n-nakauwi last night" Bea sabay kamot sa batok
"Ah ganon. Umuwi ka sa bahay niyo?"
Natulog kasi ako sa room ng mga bata last night
"Uhh no hehe. Love, I went for an early business meeting lang eh sa Cavite pa yun kaya I opted to check in nalang to a hotel. You haven't read din pala my message since last night?" Bea
"Busy lang. Sige na, I'll go ahead. Manang, paki lagay nalang sa vase 'to" binigay ko na kay manang yung bouquet
Niyakap ko pa ang mga bata before ako naglakad pataas sa stairs
"Love, I'm cooking something ha? We'll be eating dinner in a while" Bea
"Kayo nalang, pagod ako"
"But it's our favorite hehe" Bea
"Manang, samahan niyo nalang kumain ha?"
Wala akong gana kumain.
THIRD PERSON
"Hayaan mo na, nak, baka pagod lang" manang
Hindi maitago ni Bea ang lungkot niya nang dahil sa ginawa ni Jho na pagtanggi sa effort niya. Napaka aga ni Bea umuwi para lang maiprepare ang favorite food nila ni Jho only to get declined
"Hehe opo. Sige manang, kakausapin ko lang si Jho. Kumain na kayo at bantayan niyo nalang mga bata" Bea
"Oo, ayaaan. Dapat mag-usap kayo" manang
"Sige po" Bea
BEATRIZ
I found Jho sitting on the floor and leaning on the bed; she's crying
"Love?"
Agad ko siyang nilapitan at niyakap
"Love, what is happening? Mag open ka rin naman sa'kin oh. Tell me please, may ayaw ka bang ugali ko? Love, babaguhin ko please. Just please, I want you to be back"
"B...bea......" Jho cries
I don't know why I am feeling a sudden nervousness. Parang kinakabahan ako sa sasabihin niya
"Love, kausapin mo naman ako oh. Asawa mo pa rin ako, love. I can't see you crying, nasasaktan ako. Gustong-gusto ko malaman ang lahat tungkol sa'yo, but it's you who's trying to conceal things from me"
"S...si Nico" Jho sobs
And a tear flows from my eyes. The moment she said his name, I felt like I already knew it.
"P...please help me g...get over him. Bea, m...mahal ko s...si Nico" Jho sobs
I sat down beside her. Tears stream down my face uncontrollably, as the pain consumes me from within. It feels like a heavy weight crushing my chest, making it hard for me to breathe. It's as if my heart has shattered into a million pieces, and I can't seem to find the strength to put it back together.
"H...how could you d...do this to me?.........Ang unfair mo n...naman Jho eh........I never l...looked at any g...girl the w...way I look at y...you. Wherever I g...go, wala a...akong ibang iniisip k...kundi kayo ng m...mga bata"
"I t...trusted you na ako l...lang ang mamahalin mo............but where did I go wrong, Jho?"
"Bea, h...hindi hindi. W...wala kang kasalanan. I j...just get u...used to his presence. L...lagi siyang nakaalalay s...sa'kin when I f...feel low. We h...had so m...much memories t...together that m...made me f...fall in love w...with him" Jho sobs
"What did I do to deserve this?" nahihirapan kong sabi, it's as if my words are trapped within me, suffocated by the weight of my emotions
"Bea, w...wala na siya. I...iniwan na niya ako, because I c...chose you over h...him. And now a...all I'm asking i...is your h...help. Help me b...bring back m...my same o...old love f...for you, p...para sa mga anak n...natin please?" Jho
~~~~~
A/N: I apologize for any grammar errors you may have noticed. :)