Chapter 6

How Much

Stella slowly walks inside the living room. Namataan agad niya ang kanyang tiyahin na si Nelly at ang asawa nito na si Teddy. Napatingin naman ang mga ito sa kanya.

"Auntie... pinapatawag n'yo raw ho ako?" Stella talked first.

Tahimik at galit itong tumayo mula sa sofa, lumapit ito sa kanyang harapan at saka siya binigyan ng isang malakas na sampal sa pisngi.

"A-auntie?" Stella was taken aback by the strong slap.

"Saan ka nanggaling?" galit nitong tanong sa kanya.

Tumingin siya rito habang nakahawak sa kanyang namulang pisngi.

"Sagutin mo ako! Saan ka nanggaling?" paguulit nitong tanong sa kanya.

"Didn't I tell you, Mom, na nanggaling siya sa hospital para magka check up?"

Napalingon si Stella at ang kanyang tiyahin sa pinanggalingan ng boses.

It was Tanya. She was leaning on the door frame with a vicious smile.

"Stella! Sagutin mo ako! Saan ka nanggaling?"

"Mommy, ayaw niyang sumagot. Ako na ang sasagot sa tanong mo para sa kanya," Tanya said then slowly walked in their direction. "She went to the hospital because..." Tanya trailed off her words.

"Because what?" Nelly was impatient to hear what was next.

"Isn't it obvious, Mom? I already showed you the video of that night during my birthday, right? And it's already two months since that night. Sa tingin mo mommy, ano ang ipinunta sa hospital ng magaling kong pinsan?" Tanya is still speaking. It's obvious that she was hitting on something.

Agad napahawak ng mariin si Stella sa sling bag niya kung saan nakatingin si Tanya.

"Stella, tell me the truth about the scandal video! Is it true?"

"W-what scandal video?" Stella stammered.

"Here. Watch it for yourself, dear cousin... Look how you embarrassed yourself!" Tanya shows her phone in front of Stella.

The video was slightly dark on the surface. The location is in the dimly lit bedroom. In the bedroom, there was a couple. A man and woman in the middle of the bed. Their bodies intertwined and the two enjoyed fucking each other.

Pinakatitigan ni Stella ang bulto ng babae sa video. Napapailing siya. "This is not me!" Galit na humarap si Stella kay Tanya.

"Not you? Then if it's not you bakit nagpa check up ka?" lumingon si Tanya kay Nelly. "Mommy, believe me, Stella is hiding something. You must check her bag now. Tiyak nasa bag niya ang sagot sa lahat."

Tanya knew, it was not Stella. Iyon rin ang ipinagtataka niya kung bakit hindi si Stella ang babaeng nasa video. When she shows Stella's picture to the man nakompirma niyang hindi nga si Stella ang babae. But the man tells her na nakita niya si Stella na lumabas sa isang hotel room. Her dress is a mess and also she was wearing a robe.

Tanya tried to investigate the information of the next room kung kanino iyon nakapangalan. But to her surprise, wala siyang nakuhang sagot because it was empty. No occupancy. But the man insists na si Stella talaga ang nakita nitong lumabas sa room 101.

To confirm, she hired a hacker to hack the Cctv cameras of the hotel that night. Ngunit wala ring nakita ang hacker na kahit katiting na ibedensya at iyon ang malaking palaisipan kay Tanya.

Napatingin si Nelly sa bag ni Stella. "Show me your bag."

"No!" Stella keeps her distance. Napalunok siya ng humakbang ang magina malapit sa kanya.

Hindi niya inasahan ng sapilitang hilahin ni Tanya ang bag niya.

"N-no!" Stella was trying to reach it, but it was too late.

"Oh..." Tanya smirks.

"What is that?" Nelly asked and reached for the piece of paper.

"As expected, my dear cousin is two months pregnant, mom."

Sa naririnig ay napatayo si Teddy at napalapit sa asawa na si Nelly. He also read the pregnancy result.

Nelly slapped her niece again. "Hindi mo na nirespeto ang namayapang mga magulang mo! How dare you betray6ed your parents and we as your parents, Stella!" malakas na singhal ni Nelly.

Stella gritted her teeth. Napakuyom rin ang kanyang kamao sa narinig mula rito.

"I didn't betray my parents..."

"At paano mo ito ipapaliwanag sa akin? Your mother is my good sister. Ano na lang ang maramdaman niya ngayon na nagdadalang-tao ka na sa edad na disiotso? My God, you are not thinking, Stella!"

"Hija... hindi kami nagkulang ng Auntie mo sa'yo. Inalagaan ka namin simula ng pagpanaw ng mga magulang mo

Itinurin ka rin naming bunsong anak. How come you got pregnant without marriage?" Teddy said. He looked very disappointed.

Stella sneered. She really wants to vomit with their acting in front of her.

"Hinintay namin ang pagtuntong mo sa tamang edad upang ikaw na ang mamahala sa naiwan ng mga magulang mo."

"I was framed, auntie! Siguro naman alam mo kung sino ang gumawa nito sa akin. As if hindi n'yo alam lahat. Or, should I tell you that all of you scheme against me."

Nelly and Teddy were stunned by Stella's voice and accusations. Unang beses nila itong nakitaan ng galit at pagtaas ng boses. The Stella they knew is well behaved and obedient.

Tanya raised her eyebrows. "You are an ungrateful bitch! Kinupkop ka ng pamilya namin dahil sa maaga kang naulila—"

"In a few days, napapasaakin na ang lahat na naiwan ng mga magulang ko sa akin. How much do you need? Babayaran ko ang lahat lahat na utang na loob na ipinamumukha ninyo sa akin!"