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Chapter Ten

No

I phone called Ava when I was already inside my car. Hindi ko muna pinaandar ang sasakyan. I wanted to know about Sophie and Sierra. Kung bakit ko silang dalawa nakitang magkasama ngayon. Are they friends? Does Sophie trusts Sierra? Nakilala ko na si Sierra and for Sophie's sake she should stay away from her.

"Oh, yes. I heard nga rin. Well, it's Sierra who befriended Aaron's new girl noon sa isang party raw where Aaron met with our old friends." Ava answered.

Ilang sandali akong natahimik. For Aaron to introduce Sophie to his old friends means that Sophie's also really special to him, right? He must have love her... At ang mga nangyari sa amin nito lang ay pagkakamali lang... I feel like I wanted to cry kaya tinapos ko na rin ang usapan namin ni Ava.

"Hey, are you okay? Where are you?" My only friend asked worriedly.

Kinalma ko ang sarili. "I'm all right, Ava. Uh, sige na ibababa ko na 'to. Uuwi na 'ko sa bahay at may family dinner pa kami."

"Okay. But please remember that I'm here and you can talk to me, too, all right?" Ava reminded.

Tumango naman ako kahit hindi niya nakikita. "Okay. Thanks, Av."

After that we ended the call. I breathed and calmed myself before I started maneuvering the car. Uuwi na ako at haharap pa sa dinner mamaya. It will be formal. Pag-uusapan lang namin ang tungkol sa baby and it's done...

"Tristeen, you came home late. Where have you been? I told you may dinner tayo ngayon with Aaron's family." salubong sa akin ni mommy nang dumating ako sa bahay namin.

I nodded at my mom. "Yes, Mom. Nandito na po ba sina Tita Eris?"

Umiling si mommy. "Wala pa naman, but they're already on their way here. Umakyat ka muna sa kwarto mo para makapagbihis at makapag-ayos." Mommy was looking at my probably still pale face.

Tumango ako kay mommy. "Okay po, Mom."

"And, Teen, please wear some makeup. You look pale, anak." pahabol ni mommy.

Tumango lang ako at umakyat na sa hagdanan. I remember what Sierra said a while ago at the mall. Parang katulad din ng sinabi ngayon ni mommy. When I entered my room I looked at myself in the mirror. Pumasok ako sa bathroom. I indeed looked pale. And I even look sick. I feel like I'm ugly. Until tears fell down my cheeks. Gusto ko nalang umalis dito at magpakalayo-layo at alagaan ang sarili ko nang mag-isa. Kaya ko naman iyon. I can be alone now away from everyone and I'll be happier. I hate feeling ugly right now.

Naligo ako sandali at nagbihis. I also put on makeup. I looked at myself on my dresser mirror again. I think it's fine. I look fine. When I feel a little better about myself that's when I decided to get up and get out of my room nang naunahan pa ako ng pagkatok ni mommy sa pinto ng bedroom ko.

"Anak, are you done? Nasa baba na sina Aaron." Pumasok si mommy sa kwarto ko.

I nodded. "Yes, Mommy. I'm finished."

Mommy gave me a gentle smile at inabot sa akin ang kamay niya. Tinanggap ko ang kamay ni mommy. And then she held my hand as we went out of my room.

When we arrived at our dining ay nandoon na nga sina Tita Eris, Tito Axel, Jarvis, Rachel and Aaron. He was looking at me as soon as he saw me arrived. Hindi pa kami nakakapag-usap. The last time that we talked was when I went to his condo at hindi pa naging magandang usapan iyon. I can't forget that he doubted our still unborn child even for awhile. Nasaktan talaga ako lalo na para sa anak ko na hindi ko pa nga naipapanganak. Especially now that I'm already really feeling my baby growing in me. And I'm starting to hate Aaron for it.

"Let's have dinner first." Daddy said nang makita niyang mukhang lalapit agad sa akin si Aaron.

Pinaupo na rin nila ako doon. I feel like my family and Aaron's family were being real gentle with me. Na para bang pakiramdam siguro nila ay para akong isang babasaging kristal dahil sa kondisyon ko ngayon. But really I feel just fine. Kaya ko pa ngang ipagpatuloy ang med school. They shouldn't worry. Lalo na si Aaron. Huwag na siyang mag-alala pa dahil kaya ko na ito. Ayusin nalang niya ang relasyon nila ni Sophie.

We started eating. We were all silent at first until mommy started the conversation with Tita Eris hanggang umingay na rin nang kaunti ang mesa. While I remained quietly eating my food. Parang wala nga rin akong gana. And it's not that the food doesn't taste good. Sumasagot lang din ako kapag may tanong sa akin o sinasali ako nina mommy at tita sa usapan.

When we're done eating the main course at kumakain nalang ng dessert ay unti-unti na rin nag-usap sina daddy. I remained quiet kung hindi ko lang naman kailangang magsalita. I was just enjoying my dessert, too. Ang sarap naman nito. I should thank the cook for the lovely sweets.

"I will marry Tristeen, tito."

Natigilan ako sa pagkain nang marinig kong nagsalita si Aaron. Nag-angat ako ng tingin at agad nagtagpo ang mga mata namin. Kumunot ang noo ko sa kaniya.

"No need." I said firmly. Nakakainis naman si Aaron at basta basta siyang nagsasabi ng gan'yan! When he doesn't really mean to marry me. If he will we all know that it's just for the child.

"Tristeen, hija..." May lungkot na tumingin sa akin si Tita Eris.

Matapang ko silang lahat na hinarap sa mesa. "There's no need for us to get married if it's just for the child. Isa pa hindi rin naman sigurado si Aaron kung kanya nga ba itong pinagbubuntis ko." I can't help it. May sama talaga ako ng loob sa sinabi noon ni Aaron noong nasa condo niya kami.

Narinig kong suminghap si Tita Eris. Nanlaki rin ang mga mata ni Mommy at bumaling din sila kay Aaron. Daddy was almost glaring at Aaron. Naramdaman ko na ang namumuo niyang galit for Aaron. Tumikhim si Tito Axel. "But it's both your responsibility to give the child a complete family." ani tito.

Nagkatinginan si tito at si daddy. Umiling pa rin ako. "Ayaw ko po magpakasal." I said clearly.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Aaron. Halatang hindi niya nagustuhan ang sagot ko pero wala siyang magagawa. Iiyak ako kay daddy kung kailangan para hindi niya ako ipakasal at baka ilayo pa niya ako kay Aaron. Hindi na maganda ang tingin niya kay Aaron simula noong nalaman niyang nabuntis ako at may girlfriend pa na iba si Aaron.

Our parents decided to talk on the garden. Nagpaiwan naman ako sa dining and just contentedly ate my dessert. Naiwan kami sa mesa kasama ko sina Aaron, Jarvis at Rachel. She was looking at me quietly, too. Until Aaron's siblings left the room for us two to be alone. Nagpatuloy lang naman ako sa pagkain.

"Do you like it?" Pag-iiba ni Aaron sa usapan. He's talking about what I'm eating.

I just nodded na nasa pagkain pa rin ang tingin. "Yeah..."

"What else do you like to eat? May gusto ka pa ba?" he asked.

Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kaniya at sobrang kumunot ang noo ko. "I'm not hungry anymore, all right! Busog na ako. I'm just finishing this dessert." medyo nagalit kong sagot sa kaniya.

Nagtaas naman ng mga kamay niya si Aaron na parang sumusuko siya sa mga pulis. "All right. I'm just asking..."

Inirapan ko lang siya at binalik ang atensyon sa pagkain ko.

"Teen..." he called.

Bahagya akong natigilan when he called me gently by my nickname. "We should talk about us...and our baby." he said.

Nag-angat muli ako ng tingin sa kanya. "Sinabi ko nang hindi ako magpapakasal sa 'yo."

"Why? What do you want me to do?"

Mataman ko siyang tiningnan. "Nothing."

He looked problematic. "Don't be like this... How about our baby?"

"Our? Sigurado ka na ba?" I asked him almost in a sarcastic tone.

"I'm serious, Tristeen." His face became serious.

"I'm being serious here, too. I won't marry. And what about your girlfriend, Sophie?"

Aaron sighed. "We broke up."

My eyes widened a fraction. "What? Why..." Galit akong huminga. "You should go to her now and apologize. Ask her to take you back."

Aaron's forehead creased. "What are you talking about...?" He sighed. "Let's stop talking about it. Pag-usapan lang natin ang tungkol sa atin—"

Medyo maingay na inatras ko na ang upuan ko at tumayo. Tapos na rin akong nagpunas ng bibig ko gamit ang table napkin. "I'm done eating. Aakyat na ako a kwarto ko. Pakisabi nalang kanila tita... I'm already tired." I said.

"Teen—"

Tuloy-tuloy lang akong umalis sa dining after I turned my back at Aaron at hindi na ako lumingon pa. For me we're done talking. Sinabi niya kanina ang gusto niyang mangyari na magpapakasal kami. At sinabi ko na rin ang sagot ko that I won't marry him. So it's done. I'm tired now and I just want to sleep and rest.