Contain disturbing scenes. Read at your own risk. DO NOT PROCEED if you cannot take violence.

Kabanata 37

Natuloy ang episode, 'yun nga lang ay minadali ito dahil sa nangyari sa akin. I could feel their sight at me, alam kong may kumakalat na may non-showbiz boyfriend ako kaya naman nakikita ko na kaagad ang mga spekulasyon sa kanilang mga mata.

Of course, I was doubting myself too. Isa lang ang alam kong sigurado. Adren is the father if I'm carrying an unborn child inside me.

"That's nice, being a mother is the essence of a woman after all." ani Dayanara, ang mga mata'y nasa tiyan ko pa rin.

I decided not to dwell on it too much. It's a blessing and I'm already an adult. Kaya ko naman na ito buhayin kahit wala si Adren pero syempre nanaig pa rin sa akin ang magkaroon ng kumpletong pamilya.

Gusto ko rin ito. It's my choice to have this child. Kahit na parang hindi ito planado.

Dumaan ako sa pharmacy para bumili ng PT kit. I decided to take a pregnancy test when I got home. Dumiretso ako sa banyo at nagsimulang gawin ang test.

Nanginginig pa ako habang hinihintay ang resulta. My mouth slightly parted when it revealed two lines.

My heart was beating loudly. Pakiramdam ko ay katumbas na ito ng tibok ng dalawang tao. My eyes started watering because of it.

I can't believe it was possible to love someone that you can't hold yet. Hindi ko pa siya nakikita pero pakiramdam ko ay mas mahal ko pa siya sa sarili ko.

"I'll take care of you, I promise..." I rubbed my stomach to feel my child. Our child.

Kinabukasan ay gumawa ako ng party na ako lang ang nakakaalam ng okasyon. I baked a cake and decided to put chocolates inside of it. Ang mga chocolates ay hinango ko sa disenyo ng mga damit ng mga baby. I cooked a lot of food that our dinner seems to be like a feast.

"Anong meron?" Arya asked. "Are you doing a taste testing?"

"No, you'll know later."

Tumango si Arya.

I decided to text Adren to come to our house. I was excited to tell him. Gusto ko ulit malaman nila Mama na okay na kami ni Adren.

It was 8pm when everything was all done. I even prepared some confetti, sa sobrang saya ko. Arya and Archer kept on glancing at me like I was weird. I get it though, I was really acting out of the usual.

When I received a text from Adren that he was already at the gate. Sinundo ko siya mula rito. I saw him pacing back and forth again, I remembered the first time he met my family.

"Adren," I smiled at him as I opened the gate. "Pumasok ka na."

"Don't they hate me?"

"Bakit naman?"

Napalunok siya. "You know that the both of us didn't end things well..."

Umiling naman ako.

Kahit ganun ang nangyari sa amin, I didn't want Adren's image to my family to be stained on. Hindi ko rin kasi maintindihan kung bakit kailangan mong siraan ang ex mo sa pamilya mo kapag naghiwalay kayo. Pero wala naman ako sa posisyon ng iba at sabagay wala naman kasing ginawang mali si Adren para sa akin.

Pumasok na kami sa loob at agad na niyakap ni Mama si Adren. He returned the hug to her. Ngumiti naman si Arya kay Adren pero nanatiling nakakunot ang noo ng bunso kong kapatid. He's the only boy here in the house so I get his sentiments. Malamang ay nagseselos sa atensyon na binibigay kay Adren.

Adren was catching up with my family while we were at the dining area. Tumikhim ako nang mapansin ko na tumatagal na ang kanilang interaksyon.

Kumuha ako ng kutsilyo at inabot ito kay Adren.

"Cut the cake for me, please." I sweetly asked.

Adren furrowed his eyebrows but did as I told. I heard the cracking sounds of the chocolates inside. Kinuha niya ako ng isang slice at inabot sa akin ito.

Bumalik na siya sa pagkausap kay Mama pero napansin niya ang umasim ang mukha ko.

"Why?"

Ngumuso ako. "Check the insides!"

Tiningnan naman niya ang loob ng cake. "It's all melted..."

Hindi ko alam kung bakit bigla akong naiiyak. Oo nga pala, syempre ilalagay 'yon sa oven. Masyado 'yata akong naging excited kanina, nawala sa isip ko.

Sayang.

"Hey, we'll buy more if you wanted chocolates that badly..." Adren wiped the tears from my face.

"I have something to say..." I heaved a deep breath before looking at him directly in his eyes.

"Buntis ako." I said between my sobs. "You're the father, Adren."

I wasn't able to see Adren's reaction, nauna pa kasing magbigay ng reaksyon ang pamilya ko.

"What the? You had sex, Ate?" Archer chimed in.

Agad na pinalo ni Mama ang bibig ni Archer. For pete's sake, he was still in elementary! Pero hindi ko siya masisisi dahil si Arya ang madalas kasama niya. Arya really wants a doctor from the family, she's teaching him anatomy at the age of four.

"Congrats!" Bati ni Mama. "Magkaka-apo na ako!"

I smiled at her and looked at Adren. He looks stupefied as he reached for my hands.

"Is this for real?"

His eyes softened and I can see a small smile forming in his lips.

I nodded my head eagerly.

He enveloped me into an embrace and I felt his heart hammering against his chest. He was hugging me tightly, napunta ang mata niya sa tiyan ko. I reached for his hand and put it on my stomach. I could see the tears forming in his eyes.

"I love you so much, Arrisea." He touches my face. "I can't wait to spend my every day with you."

"With us," I corrected.

"Of course, with our family." He kissed me on my lips.

"Should we prepare for a wedding?"

"Definitely! Dapat beach wedding! Saka kapag nalabas ko na 'to! Ayoko magmukhang balyena sa kasal ko 'no!" I chuckled.

Adren and I really wanted to tie the knot. Kaso ay may inaasikaso pa siya. We're also not telling anyone that we're together again; maliban na lang syempre kay Etienne, Paulene at sa pamilya ko. Tatiana is still there and she could do something wicked again.

I can see the joy in Adren's eyes. Noong una, natakot ako na baka hindi niya ito tanggapin. He didn't grew up in a good environment and his family isn't that loving too.

Kaya naman magiging pangarap ko na rin ang mabigyan siya ng isang buong masayang pamilya. I smiled to myself as I saw Adren talking with my family.

This life couldn't get any better.

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

I talked to Direk Tabby and told her the news. Pinaulanan ako ng mga pagbati galing sa mga crew. Mahal ko ang trabaho ko pero gusto ko mag-focus sa baby sa ngayon kaya nagpaalam ako na kung pwede ay magkaroon ako ng isang taon na pahinga. Of course, I'll recommend another chef, baka nga sila mismo ay makahanap din kaagad.

My phone vibrated. Agad ko itong sinagot dahil si Adren ang tumawag sa akin. I frowned because upon answering it. Adren sounded distress.

"Arri?"

"Yeah?" I answered while walking towards the dressing room.

"Nasaan ka? Stay where you are. Pumunta ka sa maraming tao. Please."

"Bakit? Pauwi na ako..."

"The police are looking for Tatiana. She's getting arrested for embezzlement. Pero nakatakas siya at mukhang —"

Naputol ang linya. I sighed, mahina ang signal sa itaas na bahagi ng building na ito. I'm sure that the security is tight and Tatiana will be found sooner or later. Pero hindi ko alam bakit hindi ako mapanatag sa bawat hakbang ko.

Paakyat na ako ng hagdanan upang kuhanin ang mga gamit ko sa dressing room. Pero may nakaabang na babae roon.

It was Tatiana.

Halos mawalan ng kulay ang aking mukha. I immediately gulped before backing away, step by step.

"Ayaw mo talaga ako tantanan, ano?" she accused me. Unti-unti siyang lumapit sa akin.

My brow shot up. Pinipigilan ang takot na nararamdaman. She looks dangerous. She looked like she didn't care anymore. Gone with her facade. She smirked evilly.

"Ano bang pinagsasabi mo?"

Palapit siya nang palapit sa akin. Ang bawat tibok ng puso ko ay lumalakas naman nang lumalakas. Shit. This isn't good.

"Bakit ka pa bumalik? Adren was almost mine! Malapit na siya maging akin! Pero anong ginawa mo?! Nagpa-buntis ka! You desperate whore!" she screamed at the top of her lungs.

Walang bakas ng mahinhin na Tatiana ang nasa harap ko ngayon. She really did just hide her true personality. Para lang magustuhan ni Adren. She did everything just to get him. My stomach churned, and I can feel that I'm not the only one who's nervous right now.

"Wala akong alam sa pinagsasabi mo. Stop deluding yourself, matanda na tayo. Baka naman 'yung utak mo kahit papaano ay lumalaki na rin."

Her tears was falling down her face. She didn't bother wiping it off.

She laughed and glared at me sharply.

"I didn't get my justice for what you did to me," she gravely said. "I think I'll get it today."

"Anong ibig mong sabihin—" I wasn't able to finish my sentence because she pushed me.

Nanglaki ang mga mata ko nang unti-unti akong mawalan ng balanse.

My body pounded against the hard staircase. My body was aching all over when it reached the last step. I can't feel my bones.

Naririnig ko ang mga hakbang niya papunta sa akin. She pulled my hair. Tiningnan niya ako habang naghihingalo ako sa sakit. Nanginginig ako sa takot. I never felt so scared. Tangina, kahit ako na lang! Huwag lang 'yung bata!

"Your face..." she laughs. "I wonder if I destroy that face of yours..."

I was about to protest —

She repeatedly smashed my head to the floor. Paulit-ulit kahit halos magmaakawa na ako na tumigil na siya.

"Please..." I begged for her mercy as I held on her legs. Nalalasahan ang dugong lumalabas galing sa aking labi. "Kahit para sa bata na lang..."

She smirks. "Don't worry, gagawa kami ni Adren ng bagong baby."

Pinagpatuloy niya ang ginagawa niya. She repeatedly did it until every bone of my body felt numb.

I was gasping for air as my vision was slowly turning to black.

Until I couldn't open my eyes anymore.

❛ ━━━━━━･❪☽༓☾❫ ･━━━━━━ ❜