"So, how's your mom taking it?" It was mom asking Ethan about how Tita Nisha is handling things about his little sister, Sasa. "I'm sure she's terribly disappointed. I've known Sapphire as someone who's as prim and as proper as your mother."

I've kept my gaze on the plate in front of me, I've eaten half of my doughnut and I'm sure I want another one. I asked Oxygen to bring me these, I'm craving for it since this morning after I wake up. We're on the round table at the balcony of our house, mom is busy chatting with Ethan and not minding Oxygen and the doughnuts I'm enjoying. I don't care, that made it all mine.

"In contrast to that, mom's fine with it. Sapphire is not a kid anymore, she'll always be a baby to us but no longer to the world. Though I'm furious that Dela Paz is running away from the obligation he should be facing."

"It might've scared him," mom sounded sympathetic. "I'm not justifying what he did, don't get me wrong, Ethan. It's just that I've known his parents, I'm trusting that Zanti raised him just as wise and as responsible as he was his age."

My nose scrunched in great annoyance. How can she give fair judgment to Zach and not to Oxygen? Zach impregnated Sasa and is now nowhere to be seen. While Oxygen stood by my side, he didn't run off like Zach did!

I shifted my gaze to his direction, he's silent. He's not looking anywhere but the blank space beside me. After last week, we haven't spoken much. He always ask me about how I was doing, ask me if I need anything or if I want something. But other than that, he's quiet. I know he's not mad at me, he just don't like the decision I made of staying with mom and not moving in with him. When his gaze moved passing me, I smiled. He didn't, he just stared at me. I pursed my lips a little and pout like a kid. That's when mom turned to us, me to be specific.

She raised me a brow and looked at Oxygen. "Check what's going on outside."

"Mom," what I heard irritates me. I gave her a scowl. "Oxygen didn't have to do that. He isn't a hired help-"

But all that I have to say were cut off when he stood up from his seat and without a word, turned his back on us. Ethan did the same, although he excused himself to mom saying that he'll help Oxygen check how the things were going outside.

"What the hell are you doing, Gabbana?" Mataray na tanong sa akin ni mommy. "Ethan is here and all you do is stare at the... oh I don't know what to call him."

The disgust in her voice just made me more annoyed. "He has a name, it's Oxygen."

"And I don't care." She sounded like she really don't. "You better get into your senses. Isn't it Ethan that you like, you should focus on him-"

"Mom, I don't like him." I cut her off.

"You said you do." Matapang niyang sabi sa akin. "You were dreamy of him-"

"Were. That's the exact word, mom." Sinalubong ko ang kaniyang mga mata. "I was in love with him, or so I thought. But that was like what? Years ago. It's different now."

Nanlaki ang kaniyang mga mata sa pagkabigla matapos marinig ang aking sinabi. Nang unti-unti iyong naningkit. "Are you telling me that you're..."

"Yes, mom. I'm in love with someone else." Ako na ang siyang tumapos sa hindi niya kayang ipagpatuloy. "I'm in love with Oxygen."

Shock is an understatement with mom's look. She even blink slowly, like she's trying to take it in. I have no time for dramas like this. I stood up and walked out. I need to see Oxygen, I have to talk to him. Enough with setting aside his feelings, he needs me. And I need him, too, need him more than anything else.

While me on the other hand is feeling quite lifted. I have told my feelings out in front of Oxygen but doing it again for other person to know is just fantastic! Not to mention that the other person I'm talking about is mom.

Naabutan ko sila ni Ethan na nag-uusap sa labas, looking after the men working for the construction. I was about to call out their names when I heard my name was mentioned in the conversation.

"Gabbana will understand." That was Ethan.

"Alam ko." Iyon ang naging tanging sagot ni Oxygen na siyang nagpakunot ng aking noo, I will understand what?

"Why don't you tell Tita Moana about Gabby? I'm sure she'll be thrilled and will probably believe you this time." Ethan continued. "And dude, not telling Gabby this whole Cassandra thing is like picking up a fight."

Napataas ang aking kilay nang mag-banggit pa si Ethan ng isang pangalang hindi ko kilala. What are they talking about? What is it that I have to know? What is it that I will understand? Hindi na ako nag-antay pa na mapansin nila ang presensya ko, I walked into the conversation.

"Who's Cassandra?" Sabay silang napalingon sa tanong kong iyon.

Ethan stared at me for a second before he turned to Oxygen who's looking straight at me. The way he stares at me is scary, it's like that something that he has to tell me is something I wouldn't like to be hearing.

"I'll leave you two." Ethan said, walking his way out.

I didn't bother to response or even turn and see him leave. I can't take my eyes off of Oxygen as I waited for answer. "Do I have to repeat myself, Oxygen?"

He looked at me with those tired eyes I've never seen before. It's as if he's going through things I have no idea about. I was suddenly moved by that. "The woman who's claiming to be pregnant with my child."

"W-what?" I stuttered, looking at him with disbelief.

He didn't say anything more, he's just there. Staring at me. Looking so fed up with life's shits.

I stared back at him. I don't know what to say next. My hands went down to my stomach, thinking about my children inside. Then I suddenly thought about Zander, Chanel and me. Then there's mom and dad and Derek. I shook my head, no way. This can't be. Oxygen is just mine, I'm not willing to share him with anyone. Especially to another woman's child. I can't do that. He's just mine.

If mom is pushing dad away, I'm not doing that. Instead, I walked and pull him in my arms. Claiming my territory. "No way, you're just mine."

"Always, Gabby. Always." He whispered, hugging me back and kissing the top of my head.

"B-but you have a child," my voice sounds weak but I wasn't about to give him up. He is mine!

"Hmm, children. Inside you, isn't it?" The amusement in his voice made me look at him, he smiled at me. "Huwag ka umiyak, walang nakakaiyak."

"Then tell me about Cassandra. Who is she? Ex-girlfriend? Fuck buddy? Fling? God, Oxygen. Don't make me guess!" I demanded.

A worry frown was on his face. As if unsure how to tell me what I need to know.

"If you're not gonna answer me, I will just ask again." Matigas kong sabi bago bahagyang lumayo sa kanya.

Finally, he choose to answer me. Letting out a sigh. "Remember Janine? We saw her couple of months ago, she's with a girl. That's Cassandra."

Now it's me who frowned at him. I 'm not understanding things, if that woman is the Cassandra who's claiming to be pregnant with Oxygen's then I'm totally lost. That night, roughly two months ago was the first time he met her. I'm not good at remembering things but that memory wasn't from too long ago for me not to have flashes of it. I remember Janine introducing her to him. He doesn't know her until she was introduced.

"Pinuntahan niya si mama, sa foundation." Pagpapatuloy niya. "Ilang araw matapos kitang ihatid at iwan dito sa mommy mo. Simula noon, sa bahay na siya natutulog. Sa bahay na siya pinapatuloy ni mama, she said she has no place to be."

I saw the guilt in his eyes and hurts me. But no, I'm not backing down. This guy is mine. "It's been awhile then, you're not telling me this. For how long are you planning to keep this from me?"

"Ayokong mag-alala ka, masyado ka ng madaming iniisip. Ayoko na pati ito, problemahin mo. Kaya hindi ko sinabi. Sasabihin ko naman, kapag natapos na." Sabi niya. "Hindi ako pinaniniwalaan ni mama nang sabihin ko na hindi ko naman talaga kilala 'yun. For her, I was making excuses. I have to give her that, Cassandra is such a good actor. How much she'd been paid for, a fortune maybe? She's claiming to be three months pregnant."

"Liar!" I shrieked. "You were with me the whole time. You can't be the father of her child."

"I'm not." He sighed, looking so frustrated. "Ilang beses ko siyang sinubukan kausapin tungkol sa bagay na ito, pero wala. Tinapatan ko 'yung binayad sa kanya para sa kasinungalingan-"

"Don't do that again!" My eyes squinted. "Don't waste money for shits like this."

Hindi siya nag-salita ng pagtutol, imbes ay itinaas niya ang kaniyang dalawang kamay tanda ng pag-suko. He's giving me the argument again.

"This is ridiculous, Oxygen. You should've told me about it the moment that lying bitch made a scene. You should've trusted I can handle this." I opened my hand in front of him, he gave a quizzical look. "Give me your keys, I'll drive. Lead me to Janine and we'll get this thing settled."