Chapter Fifty One
'can i talk to you later?'
erase. erase. erase. what about.
'we need to talk?'
erase! maling approach. pwede syang tumanggi.
'i'm pregnant!'
mas lalong mali. baka mabigla. masama yun.
'i think we have to talk'
send.
ayan. mas tamang approach yan.
hinagis ko yung iphone ko sa likod ko.
"Baby matutuwa kaya yung daddy mo na nasa tyan kita?" i said softly and touched my tummy. later pupunta ko sa doctor para icheck kung ilang weeks talaga sya. sasamahan daw ako mamaya ni Andrea sa ob nya. we need to be discreet as possible coz i have a name to take care of.
"Hi princess." jerome entered my room and smiled sadly. dumapa sya sa kama ko..
"you left early. san ka galing?" i asked.
"talked to jessie earlier." nagusap na sila? anu kayang nangyari?
"And?" i asked.
"She hates me. mali kaya yung desisyon ko? mali kayang umalis ako noon?" he said softly. i smiled at him tenderly and touched his cheeks.
"pinagsisisihan mo ba yung ginawa mo?" i asked.
"Kahit ulit ulitin ko pa. ganun lagi yung gagawin ko." he said softly.
"eh de hindi mali. look J. i'll try to win Lance back today. kung hindi na talaga. maybe its about time we let go of this past we've been cherishing for so long. hayaan nalang natin sila." i said softly.
"yeah. maybe youre right."
***
"Excited?" Andrea said happily..parang mas excited pa to saken eh.
"i'm scared." i said softly. totoo naman eh. natatakot naman talaga ako.
"i'm here Ven. our appointment with my ob is strickly confidential." hinawakan nya ko sa kamay bago nagdrive papunta sa ospital. pagdating namin dun pinapasok agad kami sa office ng ob nya.
"Hi Venice. i'm Janine. Andi's OB. everything with your records will be confidential." she flashed a friendly smile.
"thank you Janine." i smiled at her
"c'mon Venice. higa ka na dito." pinahiga nya ko sa bed. while Andrea holding my hand..
"you'll be okay Venice." she assured me.
nilagyan nya ng gel like yung tyan ko saka may lumabas sa monitor.
she checked everything. nung natapos na pinaupo nya na ko. tumabi naman si Andrea sakin.
"you're 7 weeks pregnant Venice. congratulation." nakangiting sabi nya. niresetahan nya ko saka sinabi ang mga bawal.
paglabas namin ng hospital dumiretso agad kami sa kotse.
"When are you planning to tell Lance?" she asked softly.
"Later." i replied.
the sooner..the better.
***
7 palang nandito na ko sa Antipolo kung san kami nag usap last time.
and i've been rehearsing what i'm about to say. well actually. i still dont know what to say.
"why do you wanna talk to me?" umupo sa tabi ko si Lance. still in his office suit.
"Uhm. i'm gonna ask you questions okay? answer me honestly." he just nodded.
"uhm. do you love Alaine?" i asked softly and bit my lips.
"yes." that stings.
"Do you wanna be with her?" i asked again.
"yes." he answered. gosh. i'm losing my hope.
"eh ako? mahal mo pa ba ko?" i asked.
"is it possible to love a person who caused you a lot of pain?" di ako nakasagot. tears are starting to fill my eyes. gosh.
"ahh. i see." i cleared my throat and faced him. "Lance for the last time. i want you back. i love you. will you take me back?" i said softly. to hell with my pride. its my happiness and my baby at risk.
"I'm Marrying Alaine, V" he siid softly.
"wala na ba talaga tayong pag asa?" i asked softly.
he did not answered me. ayan na nga siguro yon. wala na siguro talaga. but this time. i cant breakdown. my baby needs me. i have to be strong.
"this will be the last time i'll try winning you back Lance, i give up."
***
"stop crying already princess. its not good for the baby okay. tigilan na. kawawa naman yung bata." tinignan ko lang si Jerome saka umiyak ulit.
"papakasalan nya daw si Alaine!" i bursted out.
"And ano? alam naman na natin yan. sinabi mo bang buntis ka?" he asked.
"Would it change a thing?" i asked.
"yes. maybe. i dont know princess. you could at least tried." he said softly.
"i'm gonna tell him then what? pakakasalan nya ko dahil sa baby? oh please! wala ba kong kadala dala. wrong reason for marriage nanaman yan eh!" ininom ko yung tubig na inaabot nya kanina.
"sabi ko nga. okay princess. i'll win Jessie back. kung ayaw nya pa rin. tayo magpapakasal!" he said firmly. binatukan ko nga!
"sabing wrong reason for marriage eh! kulit mo ah!" i gave him a sharp stare.
"okay! i give up..pabayaan na natin sila." tumayo na sya saka lumabas ng kwarto ko. ako naman. humiga nalang.
"kaya natin yan Anak. i'll take care of you. wala man daddy mo. di naman kita papabayaan."
***
"Ate wake up. i'm here." Leila hugged me. but gosh! nahihilo ako.
"Babe. wait lang. i'm super dizzy." i said softly.
"why ate? are you sick or something?!" she asked. concern is laced in her voice. she touched my forehead and my neck.
"No-" napatayo ako bigla saka tumakbo papunta sa banyo para dun sumuka. ang sakit sakit na ng sikmura ko at pinagpapawisan na ko ng malamig.
"Ate. okay ka lang ba?" she wiped my sweat and tapped my back. nanghihinang napasubsob ako sa toilet bowl.
"V. okay ka lang ba?" Jerome went to my side.
"nagsusuka sya kuya. May sakit ba si Ate?." Tinignan ni Leila si jerome.
"Just help me stand J. Leila. i need to tell you something." tumango naman si Leila. inalalayan ako ni Jerome papunta sa kama bago lumabas ng kwarto.
"Babe. i have to tell you something important." i said softly.
"Youre making me nervous ate. Anu yon?" she asked. damn. how to say this.
"Uhm. Babe. Ate's pregnant." her jaw dropped.
"Pregnant? but how?! panu nangyari yon?" she asked.
"me and your kuya had one night of insanity." i looked at her and bit my lips. i feel so guilty.
"Does he know about this?" she asked. i shook my head and smiled sadly.
"Tried to tell him yesterday. but he said he's marrying Alaine. i can do nothing more babe. how can i tell him about my baby if he wants to marry Alaine?" i said softly.
"Ate naman." ayan. umiiyak nanaman si Leila. "why are you doing this to yourself!" niyakap ko sya.
"i dont want your brother to marry me because i'm carrying his baby. call me arrogant or anything but i wont marry him for any reason except Love. gusto ko kapag pinakasalan nya ulit ako. kasi gusto nya. mahal nya ko hindi ayaw nyang mawala kami sa kanya." i said softly.
"Aalis ka na ulit?" i smiled sadly and nodded. "san ka pupuntaa?! iiwan mo ulit ako?!"
"No. i'd be where you can see me anytime you want. hindi ako makikipagtaguan babe. i promise. you can call me anytime you want. now please. help me pack my things. i need to go."
***
"Ma'am Leila bawal kayong pumasok jan. Ma'am." narinig kong sabi ni Dessa bago malakas na bumukas yung pintuan ng conference room.
"Meetings Adjourned. Leave the conference room now." she said firmly.
"Leila this is a Very important meeting!" i shouted but she gave me a piercing stare. fvck! pati ako natatakot. call me coward but Leila never gave me that kind of stare.
"Cancel this! Now!" she said firmly. what did i do this time? she looks mad.
"meeting adjourned. it'll be reschedule." tumango naman sila saka lumabas na ng conference room.
lumapit si Leila sakin saka
Fvck!
Sinapak ako.
"what the hell Leila!" i shouted. she did not even flinched.
"Happy now Kuya? your prententions went way too overboard." she shouted bago ako binitawan. "Stand Up!" tumayo naman ako. fvck! anu bang ginawa ko?!
"Leila, what the hell is your problem!" i shouted.
"whats your fvcking reason kuya?! anung problema mo at hindi mo masabi kay Ate Ven na mahal mo sya? Gumaganti ka Kuya?! ha?! dahil nasaktan ka nya noon?! but you really went too Far this time!" she shouted.
"what do you mean?!" i asked softly. why all of a sudden i feel so nervous.
she smirked at me and dropped the next words like a bomb.
"She is pregnant Kuya. you just lost your baby. Congratulations."
***
"Leila! open this door. mag usap tayo!" ilang beses ko nang kinalampag yung pintuan ni Leila pero hindi nya binuksan.
"whats the problem hijo? are you two fighting?" Mama asked and touched my shoulder. i feel so weak.
pagkatapos nyang sabihin kanina na buntis si Venice. she went away before i could even utter a word. when i finally had my senses back i drove straight here to talk to her.
"I need to talk to Leila Ma. i need to know something." i said softly.
"stay here for the night Anak. mag usap kayo." she kissed my cheeks and went to their room.
"Leila. buksan mo to!" kinalampag ko ulit yung pinto ng kwarto nya.
she slid a note on her door.
'43 pesos lang ang lubid sa SevenEleven Kuya. bumili ka ng marami at magbigti ka na.'