Chapter 1—Unexpected Gift

I stared at the pregnancy result while sitting in my bed. Hindi ako makapaniwala. Two lines, I got two lines!

Just the thought of what this meant made my breathing hitch and my heartbeat rise.

Suddenly, flashes of memory ran through my mind like a train. Drunk. Man. Sex. Child. Napahilamos ako ng mukha habang iniisip ang aking maaaring gawin.  I am now worried more than ever in my life and I can't stand this one more minute.

Kinuha ko ang aking cellphone at di-nial ang number ni Amber. 

Napakagat ako ng labi habang hinihintay ang pagsagot ng aking kaibigan. 

"Bes, whats wrong?" she asked from the other side. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.

"May problema...sumabit ako sa isang lalaki...at...nabun---"

"BUNTIS KA?!" nailayo ko kaagad ang aking cellphone mula sa aking tainga sa taas ng boses niya. Rinig ko pa ang pagkakahulog ng tila plato sa kabilang linya.

"What in the world were you thinking Heina Grace! your father would be furious...and not to mention your ruthless grandfather..." hindi niya na itinuloy ang sasabihin dahil alam naman namin ang gagawin ni Lolo.

Ang pamilya namin ay ang pinakamakapangyarihang pamilya sa mundo. The Montrele family name ring a bell in all fields. Pero hindi na ako sumali sa family business namin. I chose to separate myself but nonetheless, whatever happens to me that they wont like, I'll be good as dead.

"I know Amber, that's why I'm scared. Not for my own sake but for my child." I said na tila maiiyak sa takot. 

"Who is the father?" I became silent at her question. 

"YOU DONT EVEN KNOW WHO THE FATHER IS?!" for the second time she shouted. 

"HEINA GRACE! I'm coming over now!" 

Pinatay niya agad ang tawag. Tinapon ko sa higaan ang cellphone at napahilamos sa mukha for the third time. I am a brat, I admit, I go to bars, made out and stuff pero never akong sumabit. Kasi kapag sumabit ka...lagot ka... if hindi ito pananagutan ng tatay, lalong hindi ito tatanggapin ng pamilya ko, lalo na ni Dad. He is obsessed with the family reputation so anything na maaaring makakasira nito ay binubura niya. Binubura.

I went to the kitchen for a glass of water. I felt the cold water run through my throat down to my stomach. This feeling is the one I hate the most. The fear I have of my own family. 

Minutes later, and I heard someone knocking. I left the glass on the cupboard and went to open the door. Niyakap naman ako kaagad ni Amber pagkabukas ko ng pinto.

"Heina..."she said while hugging me. She knows I'm distressed and she does this kind of thing every time I feel like this

She broke our hug and went inside. 

"We'll talk Heina Grace." she sternly said. She's my best friend and when it comes to me, she's strict. She is like my second mother in a sense.

I sat in one of the couches in the living room opposite to hers.

"Set aside your family, they are still on vacation right? for now we are safe, now, the first agenda is we have to find who the hell is the father of your child," she said pointing at my stomach. I rolled my eyes at her.

"Don't talk to my child like that Amber." saway ko sa kanya. She scoffed at my remark. 

"Who did you do it  with kasi?" she said while intently looking at me, studying me if I'm lying or not. 

"I remember he said a name, Thorn. He said he was Thorn." I said repeating twice the name "Thorn"

"THORN?!" napatayo sya sa gulat at napasapo sa noo  tsaka naglakad ng pabalik-balik sa harap ko.

She pointed her finger at me with great threatening,

"You made yourself a whole damn of a mess Montrele." I bit my lip. She used my surname, we only use our surnames when we are disappointed at each other and now? she really is disappointed at me.

Bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko sa kaba. Bakit, sino ba yan Thorn na iyan?

She called Luna, one of our friends. She's married with 2 young and cute children.  Hindi ko na pinansin ang kanilang usapan at hinimas ko ang aking tiyan.

Anak, matatanggap ka kaya ng pamilya ko? ng pamilya ng daddy mo? Habang iniisip ang sagot roon, hindi ko mapigilang maiyak kasi mas matimbang ang sagot na "hindi ka matatanggap" kay sa "oo, matatanggap ka." Ayaw kong lumaki ang anak kong tinuturing ang sarili bilang salot. Hindi ako mabubuhay ng ganoon ang sasapitin ng anak ko. 

Natigilan si Amber ng makita akong lumuluha. Agad siyang pumunta sa aking pwesto at niyakap ako. 

"Hush now, Heina. Hindi ka dapat na i-istress para sa anak mo." leksyon sa akin ni Amber habang pinapatahan ako. Hindi ko mabigyang kalayaan ang sasapitin ng aking anak sa kamay ng aking pamilya at lalo na sa parte ng kaniyang ama kung hindi nito pananagutan ang aking anak . 

Maya-maya pa ay dumating na si Luna. Nagbeso-beso kami sa isa't-isa at kinuwento ni Amber kay Luna ang buong kaganapan. Hindi din makapaniwala si Luna sa narinig. Napatingin siya sa akin ng seryoso. 

"Heina., the Thorn guy? is a friend of my husband." She said.

Napaawang ang aking bibig habang nakakunot ang noo. Hindi ko kasi alam kung sino ang ama nito. Thorn lang ang aking natatandaan. Nanindig ang aking balahibo ng maalala kung paano niya sabihin ang kaniyang pangalan habang ginagawa namin ang bagay na iyon noon

"Its Flynn Thorn Hawkson. The CEO of the Golden Eagle Enterprises." napaawang lalo ang baba ko habang tinitignan sila. Flynn Thorn? I took out my phone and scanned the Golden Eagle Enterprises. When I finally saw his face, it immediately sent shivers down my spine and as if something was urging me to straighten my back. I can't understand the feeling.

"Heina." Amber caught my attention. I looked at her eyes. I saw fear and worry. Napakunot ang noo ko. 

"Ba--" I was cut off by Luna.

"He has a fiancee." saad nito. I felt my body turned cold. This is too much for a day! I found out that I'm pregnant. I'm worried with my family, and now, this?! I found out that the child's father is a CEO and has a fiancee. Looking at the both of them, I hit a realization jackpot!

Napatutop ako saaking bibig sa napagtanto. If they marry, I'm going to be a mistress!!

Luna looked at me with worry in her eyes. I looked at them with reassurance at least that I am okay. Kahit na masakit saakin ang tanggapin ito, but a Montrele never goes down.

"I am a Montrele, I wont stop just because I  found out that  the father of my child has a fiancee. In fact, that's much better, I wont have any problem with him because he has someone to go home to. What i want is a father for my child, and that's it" I said with finality in my voice.

I can't let the family reputation blind me, with a honesty, screw that reputation,my child's more important to me now. 

I smiled at them. The smile of a Montrele and not a woman who is weak and a runner. The worry from their faces was gone when they saw my determination. 

"For now, I will be staying here with Heina para matutukan ang kaniyang pagbubuntis, mahirap pa naman yung simula. Kakailanganin mo ng tulong rito." Amber said and looked at me, pero umiling ako. 

"No, I can handle myself."I said sounding mature although her offer is very tempting.

"Don't be stubborn, I will stay and that is final!"I rolled my eyes at her reply.

I know I can't go against her, so better roll my eyes than receiver a punishment for answering, "It'll be alright baby, just hang on okay?" I smiled at the thought. 

"I already contacted my husband for an appointment with Mr. Hawkson." Luna suddenly said. Natigilan ako. Bumalik ang kaba ko sa sinabi niya 

"Not yet Luna,"I said pleadingly pero umiling lang si Luna. 

"The earlier the better, and besides, your family will  be coming home right? You should be ready when that happens, so we should'nt waste time." Luna is correct but— Napakagat nalang ako sa labi at tumango.

Tumayo kaming tatlo ng may kumatok sa pinto., Nangunot ang noo ko at  nagtatanong ako sa kanila sa aking tingin. I received the same response. They have no idea who the person outside is. 

"Heina, kami na doon, dun ka muna sa kwarto." Sabi ni Amber. Tumango ako at saka pumasok sa kwarto. Maya-maya ay narinig ko ang pagbukas ng pinto. Namayani ang katahimikan at narinig ko ang pagsara nito. Lumabas ako ng kwarto at nakita ang dalawa na may hawak na kahon. 

"Mula lang yon sa room service. Huwag ka mag-alala." sabi ni Amber. Pero tumingin siya sa malayo habang sabi iyon.  Nakahinga ako ng maluwag sa sinabi niya. Tumingin ako kay Luna at tinaas niya ang kilay sa akin na tila nagtatanong.

"Kailan ko makikita si Thorn?" natigilan sila sa tanong ko. 

"Don't worry, if the date is set, I'll inform you right awya." sabi niya at nagkibit-balikat.

"Well, may fiancee naman siya." mapait na sabi ko. Natigilan ulit ang dalawa at napatingin sa akin. 

"Nagseselos ka ba?" Tanong ni Amber. Nanlaki ang mata ko at tumawa ng malakas. Yung tawang-tawa talaga. Pinahid ko pa yung luha na tumulo kakatawa. 

"Amber, huwag ka ngang magbiro ng ganyan, alam mo namang hindi ako nagseselos." saad ko. Pero alam ko sa loob na may kirot akong nararamdamn, I am going to subdue it because its unnecessary. 

Kinuha ni Luna ang sling bag niya at dumiretso sa pinto. "Gotta go girls, susunduin ko pa mga anak ko." tumango ako at ngumiti,umirap naman si Amber. 

"Ba't kayong dalawa nagalaw na at ako hindi pa?" Natawa ako sa kanyang tinuran at hinampas siya ng pabiro.

"Makasabi ni "ginalaw" oh" komento ko. She laughed at that remark. At the end of the day, I am very thankful that I have them despite the shitty life.