Chapter 2— Our Child

Nagising akong nasusuka kaya dali-dali akong nagpunta ng banyo. Ganito ang ganap ko bawat araw na gumigising ako mula noong nalaman kong buntis ako. Kinuha ko ang biskwit sa tabi ng aking kama pagkalabas ko. It was suggested by Luna to help me with my morning sickness. 

Nahihilo akong lumabas ng kwarto at tinungo ang kusina. When I got there, the ginger tea was already prepared and the breakfast was served. She has been like this ever since 2 weeks ago. I smiled at her and bid her good morning at sabay kaming kumain. 

"Heina, we will be going to the doctor for your test. We have to know how many weeks your baby is," I nodded in response and after the meal went back to my room and readied myself.

Pagkalabas ko ay nakakunot ang noo ni Amber habang nakatungo sa kanyang cellphone.

"Anong meron?" sabi ko. Napatingin naman siya saakin. She looked startled at my presence at umubo upang makakuha ng momentum. Kumunot ang noo ko sa nangyari sa kanya. 

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay na tila ba hinihintay ang kaniyang sasabihin.

"Ngayong araw makikipa-meet saiyo si Thorn." sabi niya. Biglang bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko sa narinig. Hindi ko ito inaasahan, akala ko matagal pa bago kami mabigyan ng panahon pero—.

"Sure? Baka nagkamali lang." I said sounding composed pero sa loob ko ay parang hinahalukay na ako sa kaba. This is wrong! ni hindi ko pa nga siya nakikita ng maayos eh. Yung gabing iyon lang kung kailan nagsimula ang kamaliang ito. 

Tumango siya. "Anong oras raw?" tanong ko. 

"Mamaya pang alas-dos ng hapon, we will have time to go to the doctor for the test." sabi niya.Nakahinga ako ng maluwag kahit kaunti. Tumayo na si Amber at tinignan ang relo niya tsaka ngumiti sa akin. 

"Let's go?" 

_____________________________________

"Ms. Montrele you are 9 weeks pregnant! Congratulations!" the doctor told me. I was smiling for my child but my mind screams every danger that awaits this child. Hinagod naman ni Amber ang likod ko tsaka ngumiti. Alam niya ang nasa isip ko. 

"So, who is the father?" tanong ng doctor habang may pinipirmahang papeles na i-aabot niya sa akin maya-maya. Hindi ako sumagot at ngumiti na lamang. Napaawang ang labi ng doctor ng mapagtanto ang ibig kong sabihin. 

"Oh dear!"

"Ayos lang po, kaya ko namang buhayin ng mag-isa ang anak ko" Lie.

"Well, if you ever need help, I'll be willing to lend a hand," sabi ng doktora at saka inabot sa akin ang papeles na nagpapatunay ng aking resulta at nakigpagkamay ako at saka lumabas na kami ni Amber. 

I looked at my watch only to find an hour left bago ako makikipagkita kay Thorn. Kanina pa mabilis ang tibok ng puso ko na parang lalabas na ito kahit anong sandali. At tila pahirap ng pahirap huminga habang nasa isip ko siya.

GET A GRIP  OF YOURSELD HEINA!

Huminga ako ng malalim upang maibsan ang kaba. 

"Ayos ka lang Heina? Pwede naman nating ipa re-sched ang appointment eh." sabi ni Amber na nag-aalala. Umiling ako.

"Huwag na, baka masayang lang yong appointment na hiningi ni Luna para sa akin." Sabi ko at narating na namin ang parking lot ng hospital. Napatigil ako ng tumawag si Luna sa akin. 

Speaking of the devil,

"Teka lang Amber, si Luna napatawag" sabi ko at tumango siya. Sinagot ko ang tawag at nilagay sa tainga ang cellphone.

"Alam mo na ba na ngayong 2 pm ang appointment mo?"

"Oo, nasabi na ni Amber sa akin." sagot ko 

"Ayos kung ganoon, mag-ingat ka ha, tsaka pakiss kay baby para sa akin"

I chuckled, "Ano kaba hindi pa nga lumalabas hahalikan na agad?" natatawa kong saad. Nakita kong napakunot ang noo ni Amber.

"HAHA, oh sige na, nasa opisina ngayon si Thorn, bye"

I bid her goodbye and ended the call. Pagkatapos noon ay sumakay na kami ni Amber sa sasakyan at nagtungo papunta sa opisina ni Thorn.

Buong biyahe namin ni Amber ay tahimik. Hindi ko alam kung wala lang talagang i-totopic o pati siya ay kinakabahan sa maaaring reaksyon ni Thorn sa aking sasabihin. 

"Heina, to be honest, nag-aalala ako sa iyo" she worriedly said. I smiled. 

"I'll get this right Amber, don't worry. I'm a Montrele remember?" natatawa kong tugon. She rolled her eyes while smiling and shaking her head.

"Up to you Ms. Montrele" pang-aasar niya pa sa akin. Tatawa na sana ako ng makita ko ang matayog na building ng mga Hawkson. 

Biglang nag-iba ang paligid para sa akin. Tumatambol ang puso ko sa magkahalong excitement at kabang nararamdaman ko sa loob. Tuluyang nawalan ako ng hininga habang nakatingin sa estatwa ng gintong agila sa harap ng building nila. It spreads its golden wings while looking down like mocking the weak and acting like the predator that it is.

Lumiko kami sa kanan kung saan nakalagay ang parking lot ng kompanya. Nang makapasok kami, masasabi kong napakagara ng parking lot nila. This is a clear manifestation of how rich Hawksons are. Hindi lamang ito normal na parking lot na semento lang at halos pa fade ang kulay. Puti lahat sa loob na siyang nagpapatunay na mayaman ang mga Hawkson. The interior design was fascinating. Para akong nasa loob ng isang mayamang bahay.

"Is this a building or a mansion?" tanong ni Amber na nakanganga. Her question cut to the chase. Ang ganda talaga. But wait 'til you see our parking lot. Its a mixture of gold and black with intricate designs. Nonetheless, this place is one to behold. 

"Mahihiya naman ang heels ko sa kinis ng sahig ng parking lot" Amber jokingly said. Napatawa ako sa sinabi niya ang bumaba na ng sasakyan.

Amber stopped in her tracks  ng biglang may tumawag. She answered it at nanlaki ang mata.

"Heina, I have to go! may issue sa isa sa mga branches ng cafe sa Mindoro. Magiging maayos ka lang ba rito?" sabi niya na natataranta. I nodded and smiled to assure her.

She owns a chain of cafes throughout the country at isa ito sa top sa bansa. She examined me for the last time to be sure.

"Pasensya kana talaga Heina hindj kita masasamahan dito pero, tawagan mo kaagad ako kapag may nangyaring masama,"

"Noted Amber, now go! Your business needs you," sabi ko sakanya. And she entered her car and drove it with rush from the place.

And I found myself alone. Napakagat ako ng labi sa napagtanto. I have to face this man alone and the idea of that made my insides wriggle na tila  excited pero nangingibabaw ang kaba sa aking damdamin at kanina pa ako hindi makahinga ng maayos at  ngayon ay parang lumala.

Hindi ko na naiisip huminga, tila isang hinga nalang ang ginawa ko hanggang makasakay ng elevator. 

Pagkabukas ng pinto ng elevator sa pinakamataas na floor, I found myself walking towards the largest door on that floor. 

Lumapit ako sa secretary na nasa labas ng opisina. 

"Do you have any appointment with Mr. Hawkson ma'am?" she professionally asked. I nodded.

"2 pm po" I answered. She scanned the schedule on her pad and looked at me smiling.

"Ms. Heina?" Tumango naman ako.

"He is still in a meeting ma'am, would you mind waiting in the next room?" She pointed the door beside the main office.

Wala akong nagawa kung hindi ang tumango na lamang. Akala ko ba 2 pm ang oras ng appointment? He sure knows his priorities then?

Hindi niya pa alam na may anak siya sayo Heina kaya kumalma ka.

Nang makapasok, ako lang din mag-isa ang nandoon. It was a normal room with several couch benches in the middle of the room, while some are beside the wall. Naupo ako sa isa sa mga ito at pinipigilan ang inis na mamayani.

I have no right to feel this! Hindi ko naman hawak schedule niya eh!

After 15 minutes, the secretary went inside the room and saw me sitting not in the mood.

"The meeting is done ma'am and, he is already waiting inside ma'am" She said. Ang kanina'y inis ko ay tila naglaho bigla at bumalik ang nararamdaman  ko kanina. Tumayo ako kaagad at sinundan ang sekretarya.

We stopped in front of door of his office and she stepped aside. Iminuwestra niya saakin ang pinto. I smiled and at her and took a deep breath and I opened it

ITS ALRIGHT HEINA! YOU CAN DO THIS!

I went inside his office. Everything inside screams manliness. Its a dark room, with gray and silver as motif. A shelf full of books was found on the left side. At saka may sala set sa harap ng kaniyang table wherein stacks of papers are placed. And a glass wall on my right overlooking the whole city of Manila. The view I can see was breathtaking. Behind his seat are paintings and different awards of the company

My eyes then shifted to the man who is looking at me like an eagle eyeing on his prey. I gasped as my eyes scanned his face. The view was even more beautiful than the city scape on my right. Napaawang ang aking labi ng biglang tumaas ang kanang bahagi ng kaniyang labi. He's smirking!

"Sit down Ms. Montrele." his voice! Its deep and penetrating. I gulped as he said it. Nanginginig ang kamay ko sa kaba. He motioned the seat in front of his table. I can hear my heels echo in this silent room as he gazed on me very intently. Napalunok ako ng malapitang makita ang kaniyang mukha. 

My mouth parted when I looked into his eyes. It was deep brown. Deeper than the Marianas trench. His eyes were like a vortex sucking in every fiber of my being. 

"What do you want for drinks Ms. Montrele?" he formally asked and smiled. I was pulled back to reality by that question. And he  smiled! my heart went triple fast. I could die now!

"G-ginger tea Mr. Hawkson" I stuttered. I saw him amused at my stutter. I bit my lip. 

He clicked something on the side of his table, "Miss Green, kindly bring in two ginger tea please." he said with calm authoritative tone. I could sleep now with  his voice as my lullaby. But no! Hindi ako bibigay. 

"What do you want to discuss Ms. Montrele ?" He asked. I stiffened on the way he said those words. He's serious now. I gulped and I took a breath and looked into his ocean deep eyes. 

"I'm pregnant," His eyebrows went high in amazement.

"Oh? Congratulations!" he said in gladness then his face went confused. Damn! The way he shifts his expressions is very gorgeous.

"Why have you come here? I am not a doctor the last time I checked my profile," he said looking at me trying to figure my intentions out. Just this and my knees are already feeling weak. This man! how can he do this to me!

I was about to say it when the door buzzed. He stood up and went to it. While he walked , I got to observe his physique. Napalunok ako habang tinitignan kung paano siya maglakad. It was captivating. His walk was that of a King. A ruler. A sovereign. He opened the door and received the teas and went back to his chair.

"Now, let's continue." he said and smirked again.  

"You are the father." natigilan siya and he looked at me with disbelief and his eyes loomed dark. 

"Don't joke around Ms. Montrele" his tone was calm when he said this but it was as if he was threatening me. Napalunok ako sa kaba at takot. My back feels cold, as if my soul went out of my body.

"I am not" I replied. He stared at me.  At this rate, I won't stand another minute in this room. I felt my body heating. I'm very nervous and scared. My knees are losing their strength even more

He was shaking his head while his eyebrows creased. This man! he was silent for two minutes shaking his head and trying to analyze the situation. This is hopeless. He won't stand for me nor the child. I held the edge of his table and stood up only to find myself falling down. Nanghihina ng masyado ang tuhod ko sa kaba at isa pang dahilang hindi ko malaman. I saw him stand up when he noticed I was falling. 

I placed my hand in front of his face as I tried to take deep breaths and stood up. My body felt so drained. And my knees barely recovering. I looked at him in the eye shrugging those deep effects they had on me. 

"It's alright Thorn, I can take care of our child. You don't have ti worry. I'm just here to tell you that I'm pregnant and you are the father. I won't ask you to stand for me because I can already see that it won't happen. I hope you respect my decision and leave me alone from now on. " I was irritated by the way he reacted to my confession. Its as if he thought it wasn't true. He regretted my child. And I can't stand that. 

I turned my back on him and walked to the door. When I held the knob I  instantly felt weak in my knees. I was about to fall down when I felt two rough yet careful hands held my arms and supported me stand up. I felt a spark in our touch but right now, my baby matters more than these teenage feelings. 

"Thank you," I coldly said to his face. I saw his Adam's apply move as he gulped. I gasped for air when I heard the door behind me click. He locked it. 

"Were not done yet discussing our child Heina Grace." His voice was deep and dangerous. Like an irritated beast. I gulped.

Lahat ng galit ko sa kanya ay nalusaw bigla. Oh please, just kill me now.