Amari Vann
"Enzo, gumising ka na ha? Kailangan ka pa ni ate" I bit my lip and stopped myself from crying while I am holding my brother's hands.Bumisita ako sa kanya today, halos every other day naman ay nandito ako to check him.He is so thin, almost lifeless pero alam kong lumalaban sya, lumalaban sya para sakin, para makasama ako."Ms. Reyes" napalingon ako sa tumawag sakin at nakita ko si Dr. Toledo na main doctor in charge kay Enzo."Doc, good morning po""Wala ka bang pasok sa work today?""Mamaya pa hong gabi ulit, kaka out ko lang po, marami pong customers ang casino kagabi""I see, dumaan ako para makausap ka""Kung pipilitin nyo ako to give up on my brother, I won't do that, hindi ko po gagawin iyon" I firmly said to him.He smiled. He is around 40 I guess."You're a good sister, a tough woman" he commended me. "I am here for the opposite reason, I am not sure pero merong sikat na method from US, marami ang nagigising from coma, it is a therapy and I already spoke with the doctor who can possibly do it for Enzo""Totoo po?! Oh my gosh!""It's just that it is costly, pero I think you would be interested, pwede mong kausapin yung nasa admin office regarding it""Thank you po doc!" sabi ko bago ito lumabas.Mabilis akong lumapit sa kama ni Enzo."Gagawin lahat ni ate para sayo, gagaling at gigising ka na bunso"2.5 million pesos.That is the amount I need para doon sa procedure na gagawin kay Enzo.Saang lupalop ako makakahanap ng ganoon na kalaking pera?Naglalakad ako pauwi sa apartment ko ng may madaanan akong nagtitinda ng mga tusok-tusok.Hindi pa pala ako nanahanglian, kaya pakiramdam ko ay nanghihina ako at nahihilo.I was about to grab a stick para sana kumuha ng kwek-kwek ng makaramdam ako na parang hinahalukay ang sikmura ko at masusuka ako dahil sa itsura at amoy ng kwek-kwek.I immediately walked away, maybe I need to rest. Kailangan ko lang magpahinga.I haven't been getting enough sleep lately din, madalas ay naka overtime ako sa trabaho at hindi na nagpapahinga dahil sunod-sunod ang gastos para kay Enzo at idagdag mo pa yung masamang damo na si Sir Alex.I felt my phone vibrating kaya I immediately answered it, it's a phone call from Hanna, kakauwi lang daw nya sa bansa dahil after ng birthday nya ay nag take ito ng 30 days trip sa Europe.Isang buwan na din pala nung gabing iyon. I might be lying pero madalas ay naiisip ko sya pero sigurado akong hindi ako pumapasok sa isipan nya.Art Theodore Dela Cuesta.Only after that night I found out how popular and powerful he really is. There is a photo of us that circulated all over the internet, pasalamat ako dahil hindi ganoon kalinaw ang kuha sakin pero still, nag viral iyon, maraming nanghinayang at marami ang nagalit na fan girls nya pero in less than 24 hours, the photo was removed, and Theo gave a statement himself na hindi nya nga daw ako dini-date.I actually felt bad at first pero totoo naman ang sinabi nya. One night stand lang iyon, wala ng iba, ano bang ini expect ko?Madalas na rin naman masangkot sa mga ganoong scandal si Congressman Art pero naglalaho yun ng parang bula, magaling at mayaman ang pamilya nya, hindi na nakakapagtaka."Vann!" he called me kaya kusa akong napatuwid ng tayo.Nandito na naman itong si Sir Alex. Kilala sya ng lahat sa lugar namin, mayamang matandang lalaki, the typical sugar daddy type."Sir Alex, pasensya na po pero wala pa po akong ibabayad sa inyo" I said honestly to him.Nasa tapat sya ng maliit kong apartment. Panigurado magagalit ito dahil hindi ako makapagbayad."You have to accept my offer, alam kong nahihirapan ka na sa buhay" he said kaya napatingin ako sa kanya. "I will support you and your brother's financial need, all you need is to come to me"I swallowed. Anong sasabihin ko? Pero baka ito na lang talaga ang paraan para makatakas ako sa impiyernong kinaroroonan ko."Do you have 2.5 million for my brother's therapy?"Mukhang nabigla sya sa amount na sinabi ko."Malaking halaga pero dahil you are worth investing, I will provide and pay for it, kaya sasama ka na ba sakin Vann?"I sighed."Pag-iisipan ko ho""I'll give you a week, hindi mahaba ang pasensya ko"I just nodded and I was finally at peace nung makapasok ako sa apartment ko.I sat down and that was the last thing I remembered before everything went black."Vann!" boses ni Hanna ang unang bumungad sa akin. "What happened to you?! Okay ka na ba?"She helped me sat down at isinandal ko ang likod ko headboard."Hann, anong nangyari?" I asked."Binisita kita sa apartment mo tapos nagulat ako ng makita kang walang malay so I rushed you here. Bakit ka naman hinimatay? Hindi ka ba kumakain sa ayos?" she asked me, sobrang worried nya.Ako rin ay kinabahan dahil hindi naman ako basta-basta nagkakasakit."I don't know, hindi ko rin alam baka dahil hindi ako nakakain, pero okay na ako, alam mo namang di ako pwede mag stay ng matagal sa ospital, gastos ito""Amari Vann naman!" sumimangot ito sakin. "Don't worry about the bill, okay? Pag-aari ng pamilya ng tito ko itong hospital""Ni Sen. Dela Cuesta?" I asked. She nodded.Minsan sa sobrang close namin nakakalimutan ko talaga na kabilang sya sa mga pamilya ng sikat at makapangyarihang tao."Han, thank you, okay na ako, gusto ko ng umuwi, may shift pa ako sa casino"She held my hand."Ang tigas-tigas ng ulo mo, Vann! Pero, let's wait for your doctor muna, if nag agree sya na umuwi ka na then we will go home na, okay?""Okay, sige" I finally surrendered dahil ganyan yang si Hanna, mapilit sya.We waited for almost half an hour before my assigned doctor came in."So, how is she?" Hanna asked right away."Over fatigued ka hija, are you taking enough rest, you should eat properly lalo na sa condition mo ngayon, delikado ang first trimester sa lahat""What?!" sabay naming sabi ni Hanna, mabilis na bumaling sakin ang bestfriend ko."Oh, it seems like you don't know yet, you are pregnant prolly 4-6 weeks, our head OB will have to check you to determine the accurate weeks of your pregnancy"May mga sinasabi pa sya pero parang kinakain ako ng thoughts ko.Ngayon pa ako nabuntis.It was just one night!Isang gabi lang iyon, how come?!"Amari Vann!"I am pregnant, that's why I love to sleep a lot these days, kaya hindi ako makakain ng maayos at parang isusuka ang lahat, that's why I feel weak at madalas mahilo."Vann, why are you crying?""Hija, hindi ka dapat ma stress, maybe you can help your friend to calm down, I'll leave you two alone""Vann" bumaling muli sakin si Van, mabilis nyang pinunasan ang luhang kusa na palang naglalandas sa pisngi ko."I can't have this right now, Han. Lalo na ngayon na kailangan ako ng kapatid ko""Vann, who is the father? Wala ka namang boyfriend, are you dating while I am in Europe?"I looked at her intently, wala syang alam, she doesn't know I am carrying her cousin's child.I want to tell her, I really want to, malamang sinabi ko na ito kung hindi lang dahil kay Art.I don't want to bother him. Ayokong makagulo pa sa kanya."Vann!"I slowly shook my head."I don't know""What do you mean you don't know?!""I don't know, hindi ko alam, I slept with several guys these past few weeks!"A lie. A big fat lie!I gave my virginity to him.I only slept with one man.WithCong. Art Theodore Dela Cuesta.I am carrying one of the Dela Cuesta now."Vann naman! What happened? Nasaan ang safe sex?! Na stress ka ba ng sobra kaya you did that? Sabi ko na nga ba dapat hindi ako umalis or pinilit na lang kitang sumama sa tour ko" hawak ni Hanna ang ulo nya na animo nanay ko."Han, I am sorry, ayoko na ding dumagdag sa isipin mo""How can you say that?! You're my bestfriend, of course I will always think of you" she held my hand. "Pag isipan mo, okay? It's your body, if you wanna keep the baby or not, I'll be here to support you""Thank you, Hanna""Just sit down there, okay? Kakausapin ko lang yung admin" sabi ni Hanna sakin kaya wala na akong nagawa, I sat down quietly."Grabe ang pogi talaga ni congressman""Kahit halos araw-araw sya dito ay kinikilig pa din ako""Nandito din si Ms. Hanna, yung sikat na flight attendant-model, ang ganda sa personal!"Napatingin ako sa mga nagku kwentuhang nurse na dumaan ngunit sa pag angat ko ng tingin ay ibang tao ang nakita ko.Mabilis akong pinanlamigan ng magtama ang paningin namin, I immediately looked away, hoping that he didn't recognize me."Amari"Damn.Napalunok ako bago ako dahan-dahang nag angat ng tingin sa kanya."Congressman Dela Cuesta" I formally greeted him.Tila nagulat sya sa itinawag ko sa kanya because I am clearly setting boundaries between us."What are you doing here?""I'm-I"Tila bigla akong na blangko. Anong sasabihin ko?"Are you okay? You look pale, nagpa check up ka ba dito sa hospital namin-"No!" nabigla pa ako sa pagtaas ng boses ko. "I'm with, I'm with Hanna"Kumunot ang noo nito saglit bago ngumiti."Why is my cousin here? Did she do something naughty again? Reckless driving?""No, nothing like that"Geez, can he please stop talking to me! Hindi ako makahinga dahil kung para lamang sa kanya ay wala lang ito, well sa akin, HINDI!I am talking to a man na naka one night stand ko at ama ngayon ng batang nasa sinapupunan ko. I won't tell him! Why would I?"Hon! Ang aga mo namang dumating!"A woman came out from a doctor's office, she looks beautiful, he hair is dyed na parang ginger-brown color, na nakakapagpaputi sa kanya ng husto, matangkad din ito sa akin and she really smell good. Magandang babae at mukhang isang doktor.She kissed Art on the lips and that's how I know that this woman is not the same level ng mga hinarot ni Art, this woman is the one that he loves.Yung mga tingin palang nya dito ngayon ay nagsasabing tama ako."Maaga akong natapos sa commitments ko, so I thought maybe we can go out, unless may patients ka pa""No, no worries! Alam ko namang mainipin ka, patapos na din naman ako"I looked down, hindi ko alam kung anong meron sakin pero naiinis ako sa nararamdaman ko."Vann, let's go na" Hanna is back holding a white paper bag, na sa tingin ko ay mga gamot para sakin at kay baby.I immediately stood up, I almost ran to her dahil baka may masabi pa sya."T-tara na""Hanna, ano na namang ginawa mo at nandito ka sa ospital?" Art asked kaya napahigpit ang hawak ko kay Hanna.Hanna looked at me then looked at Art."Ikaw, bat nandito ka na naman, ginugulo mo na naman tong si Mira" Hanna then rolled her eyes."Hindi ko ginugulo ang girlfriend ko" Art said."Kayo talagang dalawa, who are you with Hanna, maybe you can introduce us to her" yung girlfriend ni Art ang nagtanong kaya I was forced to turn around ng iharap ako ni Hanna."Oh, this is Amari Vann, my friend" pagpapakilala nya sakin kaya tumango na lang ako. "Vann, this is Art, I know you already know him kasi nakakalat ang pangalan nyan sa bayan natin and this is Dra. Mira Soledad, girlfriend ni Art, they just got back together"I just faked a smile pero hindi nakaligtas sa paningin ko ang tingin ni Art sakin, hindi ko alam kung kaya sya nakatingin ay dahil naiinis ito sa presensya ko."If you'll excuse us, kailangan na naming umalis" Hanna said and before she pulled me slowly away from them.I stood there waiting for Hann, dahil sya na lang ang naglakad para kuhanin ang kotse nya."Amari"Kusang nagtayuan ang balahibo ko ng marinig ko ang boses nya sa likod ko.Dahan-dahan akong humarap sa kanya, seryoso ang mukha nito."I hope you're not here looking for me"Mabilis akong pinanghinaan ng loob, nakakainsulto ang sinabi nya pero wala akong lakas makipagtalo sa kanya."No, sinamahan ko lang talaga si Hanna, hindi ko ini expect na makita ka dito"He nodded."Ipapaalala ko lang sayo, what happened between us, it's nothing, wala lang yun and I wouldn't want Mira to know about it"He really loves her."Naiintindihan ko""What happened between us if the people and media will know-"I know, it will be a scandal, you dating a woman not from a powerful family like yours, what a shame, right?"He sighed."Take care""You too" sagot ko bago ako naunang tumalikod at iwanan sya.Tama lang, tama lang na huwag nya ng malaman pa ang tungkol sa magiging anak namin.I am just a scandal.Another scandal.Amari Vann"Vann, you look pale, ayos ka lang ba?" tanong sakin nung isang katrabaho ko rito sa casino.Kasalukuyan kong nilalagay ang gamit ko sa locker room namin. I am wearing a sexy black dress na isa sa mga uniform namin. We have 7 uniforms para sa 7 days na araw.Kakapasok ko pa lang pero gusto ko na mag out dahil nanghihina ako, hindi ako makakain ng maayos dahil lahat ay isinusuka ko.Hindi ko pa alam kung anong gagawin ko sa batang nasa sinapupunan ko, ni hindi ko nga siguro kung may sapat na nutrients akong naibibigay sa kanya dahil I barely eat at stress na stress ako."Kulang lang sa tulog" pagdadahilan ko."Okay, sa VIP table ka ulit ano? Madalas kang i request nung mga bigatin nating kliyente, baka may mag offer na sayong asawahin ka nyan"I just laugh and shook my head.To be honest, I get that kind of offer a lot. Sex in exchange for money pero dahil naniniwala akong kaya ko ang expenses ng kapatid ko at I way back then ay virgin ako kung kaya naman ang dali kong tangg
Amari Vann"Enzo, you have to be tough for ate, okay? I will figure something out, just hang on, okay?" I told my brother as I brush his hair using my hands.Bumisita na naman ako dito sa ospital dahil when I talk to my brother even if he is in deep sleep, I feel the comfort dahil alam kong nakikinig sya sakin, alam kong humahanap din sya ng paraan how to get back to me.I have to help my brother, ako na lang ang meron sya at sa estado ng buhay na meron ako ngayon, I cannot bring another life here in the world as of the moment.That's why,That's why I decided for I believe one of the hardest decision in my life.That is to abort my unborn my child.I know it's wrong at walang kinalaman ang dinadala ko but I cannot afford to bring another person in this world, knowing that I cannot even take care of myself, my life is miserable. How am I supposed to make a good life for my child lalo na ngayon.Just by thinking that I will do this, makes me sick about myself so much pero mas ihi hate
Amari Vann"What makes you think that this is yours?""You are indeed pregnant""You are not the father""Stop lying to me, Amari!"Natakot ako sa pagtaas ng boses nya pero ayokong magpatalo, alam ko ang papasukin ko kapag sinabi ko sa kanyang anak nya ito. I will ruin a relationship at mas lalo lang akong hahamakin ng lahat."I slept with several man after you kaya posible ang sinasabi ko, can't you just accept that, Congressman Art?""Amari" he called me in a calmer tone now. "Uulitin ko, ayoko sa lahat ng taong niloloko at pinapaikot ako""Does it matter kung sino ang tatay ng dinadala ko?""Of course! Dahil kung anak ko ang dinadala mo, I have every right to know!""Anak mo man o hindi, it wouldn't change anything, alam mo ba ang gagawing gulo kapag nalaman ito? Kaya mo bang iwan ang girlfriend mo para sa batang to?""So, that is what you want, huh?""Hindi! I am just letting you know of the consequences if you continue to ask your question. Tahimik na ang buhay natin, wag na natin
Amari Vann"Why did you agree?" may bahid ng inis ang tono ni Hanna."Why not? It is for the best" sagot ko sa kanya. I sat down para itiklop yung iba ko pang damit. "Tama si Art, dapat lumayo ako dito dahil malamang pag-usapan ako ng mga kapitbahay ko""It doesn't have to be that way, may karapatan ka kay Art""Ano bang sinasabi mo, Hanna? May girlfriend yung pinsan mo""But he got you pregnant, you are carrying one of the Dela Cuesta. Alam mo ba ang ibig sabihin nun sa pamilya namin? We don't allow bastardos or bastardas in the family and to avoid that, for sure the family would want you both to get married""Hanna, baliw ka na ba? Fine, you have that family paniniwala pero ayoko ng makagulo pa, nagkasundo na din kami ni Art""Hays! Kung hindi lang talaga kita bestfriend, hindi ako papayag sa ganito" nag pout ito bago nagpatuloy sa pagtulong sakin mag empake ng gamit.We were interrupted by a loud knock.Mabilis na tumayo si Hanna to open it at sumalubong sa kanya si Sir Alex."Oh b
Amari Vann"Enzo is all settled now, pwede mo ng ipahinga ang isip mo, Vann" Hanna told me kaya napatingin ako sa kanya."Mas lalo lang magagalit sakin si Art kapag nalaman nyang tinulungan ng parents nya ang kapatid ko, I won't be able to clear my name to him""Pero you can't keep working, Vann! Crucial ang first stage ng pagbubuntis, do you think mas mapapatawad ka ni Art kapag may nangyari sa baby nyo?"Huminga ako ng malalim. Isang linggo na ang nakalipas and I was forced to stay in the Dela Cuesta's mansion while they all prepared the papers for our marriage.I deactivated my social media dahil sa dami ng mga taong nangba bash sa akin. I didn't know kung paano nila napapayag si Art sa ganitong agreement pero nagulat pa rin ako ng sya mismo ang humarap sa mga tao to let them know he is getting married to me.Pinalabas nila sa lahat na matagal na kaming magkarelasyon at dahil nasa tamang edad naman na kami, we both want to settle down na. All is good sa side ni Art, a lot of people
Amari Vann"Amari, good afternoon" nakangiting bati sakin ni Nana Belen."Good afternoon ma'am" bati naman sa akin ni Ate Susan, sya yung mid 30s na katulong sa bahay."Magandang hapon ho" bati ko sa kanilang dalawa, parehas silang abala sa pag aayos ng salas.Isang linggo ang mabilis na lumipas, hindi naman na ako kinukulong sa kwarto pero hindi lang ako lumalabas kapag nandyan si Art. Halos kumaripas ako ng takbo kapag narinig ko ng nagbukas ang gate na hudyat na paparating na si Art."May gusto ka bang kainin ma'am?" tanong sa akin ni Ate Susan."Wag ng ma'am, Ate Susan, parang hindi mo naman alam na asawa lang ako sa papel" sabi ko at pekeng ngumiti, may sasabihin pa sana ako kaso parang hinahalukay ang sikmura ko at kusa akong napatakbo sa sink para sumuka."Mukhang pinapahirapan ka ng pagbubuntis mo, Ate Amira" mabilis na nag abot ng tissue sakin si Lena. Mas bata ito sa akin ng dalawang taon, pamangkin ito ni Ate Susan, dito sya naninirahan sa bahay ni Art at tumutulong tulong
Art TheodoreI closed the file I am reading ng marinig ko ang pagbukas ng gate ng bahay ko.I went out of the car and went inside my house.Naabutan kong nakatalikod sa akin sila Nana Belen at naka tingin sa staircase."Lena, i check mo nga ang Ate Amari mo at hindi maganda ang pagtakbo nya palagi paitaas""Sir, good evening po" bati sa akin ni Ate Susan."Good evening" tipid kong bati sa kanila.Hinubad ko ang suot kong coat at nag diretso sa kusina to get me a bottle of water. Naramdaman ko ang pagsunod ni Nana Belen at Ate Susan.Mabilis na inilabas ni Ate Susan ang mga nilutong ulam para sa hapunan ko.Tahimik kong pinanood kung paano nya inaayos yung tray ng pagkain sa lamesa."Sir, anong gusto nyo hong kainin? Mayroon hong nilagang baka o yung paborito nyong kare-kare""Mas sumarap ho ata yung luto nyo Ate Susan" I told her.Saglit itong tumingin kay Nana Belen bago ibinalik ang tingin sa akin at awkward na ngumiti."Ah, baka sa seasoning sir, nagamit na kasi ako ng magic sarap"
Amari VannGood morning po" bati ko kay Manong Jorge na syang security sa cityhall."Kamusta po kayo ma'am? Hiyang na hiyang ho kayo sa pagbubuntis, lalo kayong gumaganda" pambobola nito sa akin."Manong Jorge talaga napaka bolero, sya nga po pala, dumaan ako sa drive thru, isinabay ko ho kayo ng agahan, kayo na hong bahala magbigay sa mga kasamahan nyo dahil nahihiya ako" itinaas ko ang hawak kong tatlong plastic ng breakfast meal na nabili ko sa isang fast food chain."Ay nag abala pa kayo Ma'am Amari pero hindi ko ho ito tatanggihan dahil ito ay grasya" inabot nito ang mga pagkain. "Sira ho ang elevator ma'am, ayos lang ba na maghagdanan kayo?""Oo naman po, eat well ho" sabi ko at pumasok na.Kahit tila naninibago ay na appreciate ko ang paggamit ng flat shoes at rubber shoes. A new set of shoes came in the next morning at lahat iyon at flats. I am wearing a white rubber and a cute white dress.Nandito ako sa cityhall today dahil sabi ni mama ay sumabay na daw ako kay Art papunta
Art Theodore"Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans, the famous John Lennon said. I used to think otherwise dahil just like what everybody used to know about me, I like everything to be planned out, I do not like when things go the opposite way" I told everyone.It was just one regular day for me. I was just visiting one barangay to give some rice and groceries sa mga mamamayan.I was greeted by a lot of people except for one person who seemed to be lost in the crowd.I was simply trying to flirt with her but I guess it didn't work dahil nilayasan nya ako. That was the first time that somebody did that to me.I even asked myself kung bakit sobrang interested ako sa babaeng yun, but maybe it is because I am lonely, I just got out of a long term relationship with Mira.I don't know what made me attracted to her so bad. I thought we won't see each other again, but fate have its own way to play with people like me.I was so selfish to blame her and made it difficult for
Amari Vann"Mrs. Dela Cuesta, do you want to drop by anywhere before we head home?" one of Art's security asked me."Uh yeah, I want to go to this dessert cafe, may gusto si Tatiana na cheesecake" I told him and then I showed my phone.May kinausap sya gamit ang communication system nila, telling them that we will reroute dahil dadaan nga sa cafe.I was surprised by Art's announcement, hindi ko alam kung anong pumasok sa isip ng lalaking iyon pero hindi ko ipagkakailang natuwa talaga ako. He finally told everyone who am I to him. Dati, iniisip ko lang kung darating ba yung araw na magiging proud sya sakin at hindi na ako itatago sa publiko.I used to think that meeting him was a mistake, na ikinagulo lang ng buhay namin parehas ang pagkakamaling iyon but it turned out na, it was our fate. It is our destiny to be together, ang bumuo ng isang pamilyang parehas namin poprotektahan.I was lost in my thoughts and a loud sound made me deaf for a couple of seconds. I just felt the car makin
Amari Vann"I am delayed"That's what I told myself while staring at the mirror in the bathroom.What am I thinking? Sunod-sunod na kasi ang naging pangyayari that I literally ignored all of the symptoms.Just thinking about the possibility na buntis ako ay may matinding kabang bumabalot sakin.Art and I just got back and I don't know if it would be alright to surprise him with the news, if ever that I am.Naghilamos ako at nag decide ng bumaba para mag breakfast. I want to eat strawberry taho pero I know magiging hassle lang at kwestyonable kapag naghanap ako."Good morning mama!" masiglang bati sakin ni Tatiana.Mabilis naman na nagsilingunan ang mga taong kasama nitong nag aagahan. I smiled at them.Mabilis na tumayo si Art para salubungin ako, he immediately kissed the side of my head."Good morning Adi" he greeted me as he intertwined our hands guiding me to the dining table."Good morning po" I greeted everybody."Good morning hija, we are very thankful, you allowed us to visit
Amari VannMabilis kong pinahid ang takas kong luha. Ang emotional ko naman grabe.Art kneeled in one knee to level himself to Tatiana's height."Happy birthday, my princess""B-but are you really my papa?" That's the first word that came out of Tatiana's mouth. "Why didn't you tell me right away the moment that we met?"Art chuckled probably amazed by how witty my daughter is."Because I have to see first if you've been a good girl""And you still came even though I'm not a good girl" Tatiana's face is about to cry pero mabilis itong yumakap kay Art.The people around us started clapping as if they are on a show right now pero their claps slowly faded away as I focused on the two of them. Art was looking intently at Tatiana's face, memorizing every inch of it. He then turned his gaze to me and looked at me with a look that warmed my heart, he looked at me as if he is really proud how I raised Tatiana."Have you met Daddy Equinox? I think you and him will get along very well" Tatiana
Amari VannParang tinakasan ako ng lahat ng tapang at lakas ng loob ko ng marinig ko ang sinabi nya."She-she's not-"Please don't do that, Amari- we both know that she is mine, I don't know how this possible pero nararamdaman ko, the moment I saw her, ramdam kong akin sya so please just don't lie"I looked at Art and I can see confusion and frustration in his eyes."Art""Just please, I am begging you" he clasped both of his hands as if praying to me. "Anak ko yun diba?"Huminga ako ng malalim."Yes, Art. Tatiana is your daughter"Mabilis nyang naihilamos mula sa mukha nya papunta sa buhok nya ang mga palad nya and then he breathed in and out slowly as if calming himself."Aren't you going to ask how did I conceived Tatiana?"Tumingin sya sakin bago isinenyas ang kamay na magpatuloy ako."We stole your sperm donation for Mira years ago. Hanna was the one who brought it to me in Russia"His jaw literally dropped when I told him that na parang lahat iyon ay naging kasagutan sa mga tano
Nanatili ang paningin ko sa batang nasa harapan ko.Itinabingi pa nito ang ulo nya na parang nag-iisip din kagaya ko."I- I'm sorry, sir, baka nakukulitan ka na rito sa alaga ko" biglang sumingit yung nanny."No, it's fine" umayos ako ng tayo to get a better look.Ang imposible, napaka imposible ng nasa utak ko. Hindi ko napapansinb napapailing na ako."What did you say your name again?""I already said it mister, my name is as expensive as I am""Tati, let's go na hmm? Pasok na tayo ha tapos diba isusukat natin yung damit mo para sa birthday mo" her nanny told her.Nabigla ako ng magpapadyak ang bata."I told you nanny, I don't want to celebrate my birthday, I just want to go back to Russia!" pagkasabi nito ay mabilis nitong tinakbuhan iyong katulong.Mabilis naman itong sinundan ng huli and I remained on my position.Trying to erase the odd and impossible thought in my head.Maybe Amari just used some part of my name dahil lagi naman syang vocal how much she loves my name.I breath
Amari Vann"It's alright, Hazel" I told Art's sister while hugging her. "Tell Mommy Maureen that I forgive them, things happened and the only thing I or we can do is move forward""Ate Amari, sorry sa nagawa ni Kuya Art""Don't apologize on behalf of him, if I know your kuya don't feel sorry about what happened""Hindi ko talaga alam ang nangyari ate kasi alam naman namin that he only followed that woman to protect us, we can't believe as well na mabubuntis nya pala"Just hearing the last word send pain throughout my whole system."I can only wish your kuya happiness now, and give his freedom for their baby""Ate" halos maluha na ito. I hugged her one more time."Pursue your passion, hmm? Sige na, ipapahatid na kita" I told her and then she nodded.Nung maiwan ako ni Hazel ay syang pagpasok naman ni Equinox, looking so handsome dahil bago ang haircut nito."Ang gwapo mo naman senator""As always" mayabang nitong sagot kaya parehas kaming natawa."That's right, spend your time going on
Art TheodoreI was awakened by a soft knock in our door. A part of myself don't want to wake up but I know that I have to at some point.I pulled her closer to hug her tighter, gumalaw ang ulo nya kaya akala ko ay magigising sya pero hindi, she looks so tired and yet having her here brings peace sa panandaliang panahon.A knock interrupted my thoughts again kaya wala na akong nagawa kung hindi mag t-shirt para pagbuksan kung sino man ito. I covered Amari with the comforter dahil malamig pa rin sa kwarto.I opened the door to see Nana Belen, Ate Susan, and Lena at the door, all smiling brightly at me."Uhm g-good morning?" I gave them a confused eyes."Ay-ay good morning Kuya Art" Lena greeted me first."Good morning Art hehe" Ate Susan gave me an awkward smile."Magandang umaga hijo" Nana Belen greeted me. I nodded kaya naman tila natauhan ulit sila. "Anong gusto mong agahan?"Mas kumunot ang noo ko dahil sa tanong ni Nana dahil madalas naman alam nya na kung anong ihahain para sa alm
Amari Vann"I like the weather in here, mama"Nilagay ko ang cellphone ko sa bulsa ng coat ko pagkatapos kong magsend ng text message kay Art."I thought you prefer the winter in Russia" I asked Tatiana."Yes but the weather here in the Philippines is perfect for beaches and I want to go to the beach on my birthday" Tatiana jumped out of excitement."We'll go to the beach, anak""Will my papa come this time mama?"Parang kusang may kumurot sa puso ko dahil sa tanong nya.I knelt down to level myself so I can see her better."A-akala ko ba galit ka kay papa, you always say that-kaya akala ko""I am mad at him because he missed four birthdays already, he didn't bring me to school on my first day, I have no father on family day and even if I have Tito Rozen, Tito Raegan, Tito Enzo, and, Daddy Equinox,I feel like it would be better if I have my dad""Tati" mabilis kong niyakap ang anak ko."Can you tell him mama to stop flying airplanes for other people and just fly our private plane? I'l