Marian's POV

"I still can't believe you're pregnant! Akala ko tumataba ka lang." Sabi ni Andrea. I was on my third month of pregnancy when I decided to tell my friends about it. As I expected, they were all shocked. Minabuti ko ng sabihin sa kanila dahil malalaman rin naman nila kapag lumobo na ang tiyan ko. Nararamdaman ko naman na malapit na mangyari iyon. My breasts and my stomach were growing each passing day. Mas magugulat sila kapag magkita kaming bilog na bilog na ang tiyan ko.

"And we thought you were going to dry up like an old prune." Ani Rose.

"How did that happen? Wala ka naman boyfriend? O wala nga ba?" Tanong ni Betsy.

"I don't have a boyfriend." I sighed.

"Paano ka nabuntis? Sino ang ama ng anak mo?" Andrea asked, completely baffled.

"Does it matter?" I shrugged, chewing on my pasta. Hindi naman sa wala akong tiwala sa kanila kaya ayaw kong sabihin ang tungkol sa ginawa ko at ang tungkol kay Seth. I just didn't feel like I should be telling them when the own father of the baby I was carrying doesn't even know. Kung may higit na dapat man makaalam nito iyon ay si Seth pero alam ko naman na hindi mangyayari iyon. I guess I'd have to keep this secret to the grave.

"Of course, it matters! Ano ba? Buntis ka ba talaga o nagbibiro ka lang?" Hindi pa rin makapaniwalang sabi ni Rose.

"I really am pregnant." I said. "Thirteen weeks and two days pregnant."

"How did we not know about this? Bakit hindi mo sinabi sa amin last week noong nasa bahay tayo ni Rose?" Tanong ni Betsy.

"Hindi ko alam kung paano sasabihin sa inyo. Alam kong ganito magiging reaksyon niyo." I rolled my eyes.

"Was it a one night stand? Did you have a one night stand?" Tanong ni Andrea.

"Oh my god! Sinunod mo ang advice namin?!" Napatutop ng bibig si Betsy. "YOU HAD A ONE NIGHT STAND, DIDN'T YOU?!"

"Hindi na mahalaga iyon. Ang mahalaga buntis ako, magkakaroon na ako ng anak at hindi na ako tatanda mag-isa. I finally have something to live for." Sagot ko. "Kaya ko naman mag-isang palakihin ang anak ko. Can't you just be happy for me?"

"We're happy for you Marian." Seryosong sabi ni Betsy. "Nagulat lang kami. Thirteen weeks ka ng buntis tapos ngayon lang namin malalaman?"

"I'm sorry." I sighed. "Hindi ko naman pinlano na pataggalin ng ganito bago ko sabihin sa inyo. Masyadong lang talagang marami ang nangyari sa loob ng maikling panahon, masyadong mabilis."

"Okay, we forgive you." Sabi ni Rose. Then she leaned closer to me. "But how was your first time? Na enjoy mo naman?"

Kung alam lang nila na walang 'first time' na naganap. I stole Seth's semen and injected it in me. I had never even seen a totally naked full-blooded man in person. The only time I was involved in any sexual interaction was when I was the sperm.

"It was alright." I shrugged.

"Details?" Tumaas ang kilay ni Andrea.

"I don't kiss and tell." Simpleng sagot ko.

"Marian, alam ko na kaya mong buhayin ang magiging anak mo pero handa ka na ba sa responsibilidad? Sigurado ka bang kaya mo na? Ako nga ina ako at may ama ang mga anak ko pero nahihirapan pa rin ako, paano naman ikaw? Nag-iisa ka lang. Paano ang anak mo? Paano pag lumaki na yan at naghanap yan ng ama?" Seryosong sabi ni Betsy.

"I'll give my baby twice as much love as a parent could give para hindi niya maramdaman na may kulang sa buhay niya. You don't have to worry about me or the baby." I answered.

"At wala naman din siyang magagawa kahit marealize niya na hindi pa siya handa ngayon. Hello! Nandyan na yan!" Sabi naman ni Rose.

Hindi na nila ako kinulit tungkol sa ama ng anak ko which was a relief for me. We focused on the baby. They gave me an advice on how to be a mother-to-be. They told me everything they went through during there pregnancy and they told me what I'd go through. It was scary but exciting at the same time. Nagsimula na kaming magplano ng baby shower.

"Marian." Narinig ko ang isang pamilyar na pamilyar na baritong boses ng lalaki mula sa likod ko. I froze, my friends turned their heads to where the voice was. Namilog ang mga mata nila na parang nakakita ng anghel na bumaba sa lupa. By the look on their faces, the owner of that voice was the person I had in mind.

Dahan-dahan pumihit ang ulo ko sa direksyon niya. Nakatayo doon si Seth. "Seth, ano'ng ginagawa mo dito?"

"I said I was going to drop by?" Kibit-balikat na sabi niya.

"You did?" Kunot ang noong sabi ko.

"Yeah, I texted you. Hindi mo ba nabasa?" Tanong niya. We were texting earlier. Sinabi ko sa kanya na lalabas ako kasama ang mga kaibigan ko. I told him I was going to have early dinner with my friends. Sinabi ko sa kanya iyon kasi kaming dalawa palagi ang nagdidinner at wala akong niluto ngayon sa bahay. Tinanong niya ako sa text kung saan kami kakain kaya binigay ko naman ang pangalan ng restaurant. Hindi ko naman akalain na susunod siya sa akin.

"Hindi ko na kasi na check ang phone ko." Sabi ko.

"Oh okay." He shrugged. "Sabi ko sa'yo susunduin kita dito. Gabi na at baka magtaxi ka pa, delikado na."

"Seth, why don't you join us?" Rose said with a sly smile on her lips.

"Oo nga, Seth, upo ka muna dito." Sabi naman ni Andrea habang tinuturo niya ang bakanteng upuan, bilog ang mesang inuupuan namin at may bakanteng upuan sa pagitan ko at ni Andrea.

"Ikaw ba yung Seth na nabunggo ni Marian ang lambo? Yung may maduming condominium? Yung gwapong sex addict na balahura na boss niya na gabi-gabing may dinadalang prostitute? Ikaw ba yung Seth na yun?" Tanong ni Seth.

Napasinghap ako. I couldn't believe they were telling him what I told them about him!

Seth just gave him a snided grin before glancing at me. "Yeah, I guess I'm that Seth. But to make it clear, those women weren't prostitutes. I don't pay for a lay."

"Ikaw pala yung Seth na iyon. We've heard so much about you." Sabi ni Rose.

"I can tell." Seth chuckled.

"We're so glad to finally meet you." Sabi ni Andrea.

"Halika na." Tumayo na ako sa kinauupuan ko at lumapit sa kanya.

"Leaving so soon?" Tanong ni Rose.

"Tapos na akong kumain." I said. Baka kung ano pa ang maidaldal nila kay Seth. Those women doesn't know when to shut their mouths.

Nagmamadaling hinatak ko siya palayo sa mga kaibigan ko. Dinala niya ako sa kotse niya at sumakay kami doon.

"I didn't know you talk about me with your friends." Nakangising sabi niya. "Sabi mo sa kanila gwapo ako? You find me attractive, don't you?" He teased.

"Oh get over yourself, Seth!" Umirap ako sa kanya.

My phone vibrated. Tinignan ko ang screen. It was a message from Rose.

Alam ko na kung sino ang tatay ng anak mo. You took our advice, didn't you? He is a total hunk!

I quickly texted her back.

Kayo talaga, ang lawak ng imagination niyo. Magkaibigan lang kami ni Seth, nagmaganda loob lang yung tao.

I wasn't denying it but I won't confirm it either.

I woke up with an intense craving for something sweet in the middle of the night. Bumangon ako mula sa kama at lumabas ng kwarto para maghalungkat sa kusina. I opened the door and was about to head to the kitchen when I heard something. I heard something moving in the living room. It was dark so I couldn't see anything but I heard heard steps, light slow steps moving around. Then I heard an ear shattering crash of a vase.

Narinig ko ang mga yabag na para bang natatarantang tumakbo ito. Agad akong pumasok pabalik sa kwarto ko at nilock ang pinto. Bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko. Someone broke into my house. I was panicking inside but I knew I had to keep quiet. Ayaw kong malaman niyang nandito ako, baka kung anong gawin niya sa akin. Hinanap ko ang phone ko at nagkulong ako sa masikip na closet.

I hurriedly dialed Seth's number. My mind was going a thousand miles per second. Takot na takot ako na baka pumasok siya sa kwarto. Baka bumukas na lang itong pinto sa closet at biglang may humila sa buhok ko palabas. Those three rings felt like a hundred.

"Hey, Marian." He finally answered. Nasa nightclub siya ngayon. I could hear the music, the crowd and everything.

"Seth." I said in a whisper. "Seth, nilooban yata ako."

"What?" He asked.

"I think someone broke into my house! May tao sa labas ng kwarto ko. Please, please... puntahan mo ako dito."

I heard him cuss loudly and then he took a deep breath, as if trying to calm himself down. "Papunta na ako d'yan, okay? Just try to hide and don't make any noise."

"Seth..." What if this was the end? Paano kung makita ako dito ng nanloob sa bahay ko at patayin ako? Baka hindi ako tanggapin sa langit sa nagawa ko. Kasama iyon sa ten commandments: Thou shalt not steal. "Seth baby mo itong dinadala ko. I stole your sperm! Mahirap ipaliwanag pero sa'yo talaga 'to. I'm sorry, Seth.Gusto ko lang malaman mo ang totoo just in case na may mangyari sa akin at-"

There was just silence on the other line.

"SETH? SETH?!" Inilayo ko ang phone sa tainga ko at tinitigan ang screen.

Call ended

I dropped the phone to my side and my body slumped against the wall. I waited. After what felt like eternity, I heard the door to my room open. Nakita ko mula sa maliit na siwang sa baba ng pinto ang pagbukas ng ilaw.

"Marian?" And then I heard Seth's voice.

Nabuhayan ako ng loob at napatayo ako mula sa sahig. It was such a relief. I opened the closet door and jumped on him when I saw him. We both fell on the bed with me on top of him.

"Kanina pa kita hinihintay, akala ko hindi ka na darating." Humihikbing sabi ko.

"Pwede ba yun? Hindi kita pababayaan." He cupped my face and looked at me straight in the eyes. "It's okay, Marian."

"Wala na ba siya?" Tanong ko.

"Nandyan pa." He said.

"Huh?" My heart started to race again.

"It's just a cat. You left the window in your kitchen open and a cat got in." Sabi niya.

"I-I thought... I thought it was a person." Aged akong tumayo. Napaupo naman si Seth mula sa pagkakahiga.

"It's just a cat. Right now, it's sitting on your couch and licking its paws. Want to see?" He asked.

Sabay kaming lumabas ng kwarto at nakita ko ang mataba, mabalahibo at gray na pusang nasa ibabaw ng couch ko. The lampshade on the end table next to the couch was now on the floor shattered into pieces. The cat was licking his bleeding paw.

The cat was neighbor's. Agad ko naman dinala ang pusa sa kapit-bahay ko. My neighbor apologized to me and took his cat.

"Seth, hindi mo ba narinig yung sinabi ko kanina sa phone?" Tanong ko sa kanya ng makabalik na kami sa bahay. Gusto ko lang masigurado kung talaga bang narinig niya ang sinabi ko kanina tungkol sa baby o hindi.

"About what?" His brows furrowed.

Umiling ako. "Wala."

It was better this way.

"Marian, you can't be alone like this." Seryosong sabi niya. "Paano kung totoo ngang may nanloob sa bahay mo?"

I shrugged. "Wala naman akong magagawa. Mag-isa na lang ako sa buhay."

"Do you know how scared I was when you called and told me someone broke into your house?"

"I'm sorry." I bit my bottom lip.

"I was really fucking scared. I thought of you and the baby. Hindi pa ako natakot ng ganon sa buong buhay ko. Muntikan na akong mabangga papunta dito dahil halos paliparin ko na ang kotse ko."

I felt even more guiltier. That darn fat cat! It was all his fault.

"You can't be alone anymore. You need someone here with you. That's why I've decided to move in with you."

"Ano?"

"Mamili ka. You move into my condo or I move in here with you?"