CHAPTER 01

TWO RED LINES.

I blinked faster than usual. My heartbeat seems to join the rhythm. Hindi ko matanggal ang  aking tingin sa hawak ko. I can feel my hands shaking and sweating.

Napapikit ako nang mariin habang pilit na hinahalukay sa aking isipan kung saan nagsimula ang lahat ng ito.

Damn! This can't be!

I didn't notice a soft knock on the bathroom door from outside. I still couldn't let go of what I was holding, and I suddenly looked up just as the small tears that had been clinging at the corner of my eyes fell.

"Blythe, ang tagal mo na d'yan. Please come out, kinakabahan na ako sa 'yo!" Oh damn! I almost forgot that my best friend is here.

Hindi ko na namalayan ang oras at sa kung ilang minute na ako nalagi rito sa banyo. Ayaw pa rin talaga magsink-in sa utak ang katotohanang pinapakita sa akin ng test kit.

"Hey! Please say something. Ano, okay ka lang ba d'yan?" Hindi na rin nito nilubayan ang pagkatok sa pintuan ng banyo. "Do I need to call a doctor na ba?"

Doon na ako natauhan sa huling sinabi niya. With my present situation, I must see a doctor that specializes in my condition to ensure my safety and to know what to do and avoid.

With trembling knees, I managed to stand up and mend myself. I brushed away my tears and went to the sink, letting the cold water wake me up to this unforeseen twist to my life. I placed the Urine HCG Test on the edge of the sink, which my best friend had bought for me before coming here.

Matapos kong basain ang aking mukha ay agad akong kumuha ng ilang piraso ng facial tissue para ipampunas. Hanggang ngayon ay tila pakiramdam ko na nasa isang panaginip ako. Isang magandang panaginip sana kung hindi lang mali ang tiyempo.

After I finished, I picked up the test kit and stowed it in the pocket of my warmer shorts. Paglabas ko, sinalubong agad ako ang nag-aalalang mukha ni Elisha.

Hindi ko magawang tumingin ng diretso sa kanya dahil na rin sa sobrang kahihiyan na nararamdaman ko ngayon. Mabilis akong nag-iwas at dumiretso sa kusina. Narinig ko pa na tinawag niya ako at kalaunan ay sinundan niya rin ako. Kumuha ako ng tubig sa fridge para mapawi ang aking uhaw.

I could still feel the trembling in my body, but I choose to ignore it.

"Huy B, ano ba? Don’t make iwas to me!" Elisha raised her voice a bit.

Hinarap ko naman siya, "I'm not!"

Tinaasan lang niya ako ng kilay saka inilahad ang kamay niya sa akin. I know what she wants but I won't give it to her for now. Hindi ko kayang makita ang reaksiyon na. Baka mandiri siya sa akin o baka pagalitan niya ako sa katangahan na nagawa ko sa aking sarili.

"One or two?" She earnestly asked me.

I glanced at her, and she still has this serious aura. Wala talaga siyang balak tigilan ako sa pagtatanong hanggang makakuha siya ng kasagutan. Nagsukatan pa kami ng tingin sa loob ng isang minuto at ako ang naunang kumurap. Napabuntong hininga na lang ako dahil hindi ko talaga kayang makipagmatigasan sa kanya dahil alam kong hindi ako mananalo.

Instead of answering, I fished out the test kit inside my pocket and shoved it towards her. I will let her decode the answer to her own question.

Nanghihina akong napaupo sa upuan at wala sa sariling pinagmasdan si Elisha at inabangan ang magiging reaksyon niya.

She is one of my childhood best friends. Sabay kaming nag-elementary hanggang College at ang pamilya namin ay magkakaibigan din. Pareho kaming nagtapos sa Florence Design Academy with flying colors. Elisha is now a famous supermodel under IMG Model Agency and the COO of my company.

"Oh my god..." Elisha's eyes got widened.

Alam kong gulat na gulat siya sa nakitang resulta pero hindi niya magawang sumigaw. Hindi ko tuloy alam kung masaya ba siya o naiinis sa nalaman niya.

Sino ba naming hindi magugulat kung yung isang taong kilang-kilala mo na ni’ minsan hindi na dawit ang pangalan sa kung sinu-sinong lalaki ay magakakaroon ng ganitong pasabog sa buhay.

I am pregnant.

A No-Boyfriend-Since-Birth woman like me just got pregnant. How could that be possible, right? The heiress of Montreal Empire, the world-renowned Interior Design millionaire Bachelorette, is freaking pregnant.

My pregnancy would undoubtedly become the subject of controversy, mockery, and disgrace the moment it was announced in the media. Given the fact that no man was ever linked to me or even seen with me, it would shock everyone by unveiling that I am pregnant after being single for a long time.

I don't even want to remember everything that happened that night. From how it all started and how I got out of there and especially who was the only man who owned me that night.

Wala sa sariling napahilamos ako sa aking mukha. Nagsisimula na namang umalpas ang mga luha sa mata ko.

Fuck! Why am I so being emotional?

"Hey! Stop crying, I'm here for you…" Elisha rubbed her hands at my back. Giving me the comfort I needed the most.

Nilingon ko siya at mabilis na niyakap. Hindi ko inaasahan na sa kabila ng nalaman niya ay hindi nagbago ang tingin niya sa akin at hindi niya ako hinusgahan. Handa pa rin siyang damayan ako. Sa sitwasyon kong ito kung saan hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko ay laking pasalamat ko na meron akong tunay na kaibigan na sobrang maaasahan.

Ngayon mas nagingibabaw sa akin ay takot. Takot para sa batang nasa sinapupunan ko dahil sa kung ano ang maaaring sabihin ng ibang tao sa kanya. Natatakot ako na baka hindi ko magampanan ang pagiging isang Ina sa kanya.

I can't take the humiliation of being called a terrible mother or a fucked up parent to my child.

"Ano na ang… ang g-gagawin ko ngayon?"

Sa totoo lang hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko. Kung saan ako magsisimula o kung paano ako magsisimula sa pagbubuntis ko. Lahat ng tapang ko nawala at napalitan ng takot.

I don't have any idea how to change a baby's diaper, the proper way to let him burp, or how to stop them crying if they are having tantrums.

How can I fulfill my parental responsibilities if I am unable to perform the most the basic obligation of motherhood? God! This is more frustrating than a few design revisions overnight.

"Calm yourself first," Elisha distance herself and sit in the next chair beside me. "Blythe, please do not abort the child. Please, please, never do that!"

Natigilan ako sa huling sinabi niya. Nagtama ang aming mga tingin at doon ko nakita ang seyosong tingin sa akin ng kaibigan ko.

My family raised me with so many manners and traditions to follow. I am a family-oriented woman. Meron akong malaking takot sa Diyos. If I defy one sin before, having sex without getting married, I won’t dare to add another sin by killing an innocent child inside me. Hindi kakayanin ng konsensya ko na sariling dugo’t laman ko ay pag-iisipan ko ng masama at ipapalaglag ko.

Maaaring naguguluhan pa ako ngayon sa nangyayari sa akin pero kahit kalian hindi sumagi sa isip ko ang ipalaglag ang anak ko. Hindi niya kasalanan na nabuo siya, ang tanging kasalanan lang ditto ay ang pagiging marupok ko na hinayaan kong ma-angkin ako ng isang estranghero.

"I will never do that! Never, Eli!"

Besides, the angel inside me has nothing to do with what happened in the past.

Oh, God! I don't want to remember what happened that night. I don't want to remember anything from the time I was saved, when I got drunk and was stupid enough to let a stranger take me into a one-night pleasure that took away my innocence and later on, got me pregnant.

Most of all, I don’t want to remember him ─ his physique, his masculinity, his hotness…and his face.

My pregnancy's backstory is no longer up for discussion. That particular page has already been buried on Satan's grave, and I have no plans to unearth it and look back at it.

Sisikapin kong mabigyan ng magandang buhay ang magiging anak ko kahit walang tatayong ama sa kanya. Gagawin ko ang lahat para hindi niya maramdamang may kulang sa kanya. I am willing to do everything, give everything and all the best in the world to make my baby feel loved.

Hinarap ko si Elisha. "I can raise my child alone. I will do everything to give nothing but the best to my child."

"I know. But how about your grandfather and si Bryce?" Nandoon ang nag- aalalangang tingin niya sa akin. “Hindi mo naman puwedeng itago to’ sa kanila ng habangbuhay.”

Suddenly, my family comes back to mind. My brother and Abuelo remain my sole remaining family members. While my Abuelo is the current CEO of our company empire and is widely recognized as one of the top business moguls in Asia and Europe, my brother Bryce is succeeding in his career as a well-known doctor and is busy expanding his hospital throughout the world.

In addition, my parents, Arabella Drevalli Montreal, was a well-known Hollywood actress best known for her stage name Belladona while my Dad, Dominic Montreal holds the title as Wealthiest Man in Asia and has been recognized as one of the Pentagon Pillars in Europe. Unfortunately, they both killed in a vehicle crash when I was quite little, shocking everyone.

Hindi ko maiwasan na mag-alala dahil alam ko na maaapektuhan sila kapag lumabas na ang balita tungkol sa pagbubuntis ko. Alam ko na sobra silang madidismaya oras na malaman nilang ang prinsesa nila ay naging istupida at nagpabuntis sa isa isang estranghero.

I'm also aware that my brother will be adversely affected by my situation, which may lead to our sibling breakup. He swore to our parent's grave that he would watch out for me and take care of me at all costs. That gave me the chills since I knew that Bryce would undoubtedly become a mad beast once he discover my pregnancy, the memoirs of that night, and my child's father.

"I will tell them about this but not now…I’m not y-yet r-ready…" Hinaplos ko ang aking tiyan.

My baby bump is not yet visible, but I could feel this little wonder inside of me. I couldn't help but smile. Suddenly, all of my anxieties vanished and excitement overtook my heart. I wish my baby was proud of me, even though I am not proud of myself.

“It’s up to you B. But please worry no more, Bryce might get mad but he won’t hurt you physically or emotionally. Hindi ka niya matitiis dahil kapatid ka niya.” Elisha tried to comfort me again with his words.

Kilala niya rin kasi ang ugali ni Kuya dahil nakasabayan rin niya ito noon sa tuwing nagbabakasyon siya sa Greece.

Sana nga magdilang agnhel itong kaibigan ko. Sobrang hirap kasi kapag magkakaroon ng lama tang pagsasamahan naming magkapatid dahil lang sa pagbubuntis ko. Handa naman akong akuin ang pagkakamali ko oras na magharap kami nila Kuya at Lolo.

I just couldn't tell them right away because I was scared. I'm still not sure how to reassure them that they will not feel too much hurt and disappointment.

"And don't worry about what other people think about you and your pregnancy. You are a beautiful, successful, and wealthy woman who is capable of handling motherhood effortlessly. Besides, those mosang aren't going to provide for my future inaanak's basic needs or fulfill your parental duties. Their words are useless, from poop to puke."

Elisha has a valid argument. After all, even as a single parent, I am still able to support my child. Being a public figure has its drawbacks, since paparazzi are always on the lookout for major scandals featuring you. Once they get a picture opportunity, they will fabricate stories about you that aren't validated and post them on social media. You will be shocked to learn that you are at the forefront of a humiliating scandal in a matter of seconds.

Elisha's ability to deal with the paparazzi who were always after her is another reason why I find her extraordinary. She always puts on a classy bitch face and annoys them through her candid and snarky responses when they catch her at an event and ask her those underhanded questions.

How I wish I had her level of bravery and boldness. That is one quality I wish I had in order to avoid feeling uncomfortable and anxious around other people. Sanay na rin kasi ang tao sa akin na kahit totoong tao ako, hindi ako ganun ka prangka at katalim magsalita tulad sa kaibigan ko.

I always make sure that my name will remain gold no matter what choice I make. Anything I say in public or to the media in general needs to be well-considered and succinct in order to avoid offending anyone's ego.

I got used to that kind of upbringing by my Grandpa. Because that's the most important lesson he taught me and my older brother and that is to always have a good image, everything that comes out of our mouth, and the way we deal with people. Damage to your reputation can have a negative impact on your credibility, business, and name.

Suddenly, I felt Elisha's hands suddenly resting on mine. Her eyes were looking at me intently. Through it, I can see her eagerness─

"That baby was made in Italy, am I right?"