-(EMERALD CORLYN VERDANIO-FRANCISCO POV)-~Two months later~“Here, these are your calcium and ferrous sulphate. Take them once a day, okay?” My OB reminded me. “You did get a tetanus shot too, right?”“Yes, I did.” I answered with a nod.“Good, balik ka na lang kung may nararamdaman kang kakaiba o di kaya kapag naubos na ang vitamins mo.” She proclaimed. “Okay po, salamat po talaga.” Sagot ko. “Matanong ko lang din po kung ano ang nakalagay na due date ko sa chart niyo.”“Right.” She answered back. “It says here, March 21st is your due date.”“Okay, salamat po dito, Doc. Aalis na po ako.” Wika ko sa kanya.“Sige, mag-iingat ka. Wag mong kalimutan ang prenatal vitamins mo.” Paalala nito muli.I nodded in agreement before heading out, my hand caressing my belly as I head to my brother's car.“So? How did it go?” Lez asked me as soon as I made the final step.“Doctor Fernando gave me vitamins, of course.” Sagot ko.“Wala naman silang nakitang complication? Kay baby?” Tanong niya at sak
-(EMERALD CORLYN VERDANIO-FRANCISCO POV)-~♪~“Hi, how are you?” Tanong ni Ria nang makapasok na sila ng hospital room.“Still sore.” Sagot ko at saka tumawa ng bahagya.“Groggy?” Tanong ni King.Tumango ako. “Asan si Momma?”“Nasa labas, hinihintay si Dad.” Sagot ni Lez nang masara niya ang pinto. “We're so proud of you, Ems.”“Yeah, nakayanan mo ang lahat. And we are thankful for that.” Wika ni Clydel.“I couldn't have done it without you guys, you helped me a lot.” Sagot ko sa kanila. “Especially Ria and Lez.”Napalingon kami nang bumukas muli ang pinto, and seeing Dad teary-eyed as he stared at me caused me to smile a bit.“Nasaan si baby?” Biglang sambit ni Momma nang makalapit ito sa akin.“Natutulog.” Sagot ko at saka tiningnan ang baby na nasa tabi ko.“May pangalan na ba siya?” Tanong ni Dad.“Nag-iisip pa ako, eh.” Sagot ko.“Let's name her Marie.” Saad ni Ria. “Para pareho kami.”“Kayla.” Suhestiyon ni King. “Kayla Marie.”“Pwede rin yun.” Wika ni Lez. “Or, Ria Corleen.”“I
-(JEAN EVOLET LUXEMBOURG POV)-~§~“What?” She asked shockingly.“You heard me, I’m pregnant.” I answered happily as I talked with her through the phone.“Oh my gosh, I’m so happy for you Eve. Congrats.” She answered back. “You are finally going to have a baby.”“God does indeed answer prayers, Lyn.” I intoned. “And I can't wait to see her.”“Make me a godmother once she's in your arms.” She answered happily.“Sure, I’ll never forget about that.” I said. “We should celebrate right now.”“Celebrate?” She asked. “Where?”“Here, at our place.” I answered. “I’ll text you the address.”“You're in the Philippines, right?” She asked. “If you're in some country, I can't go.”“Yes, we’re in the Philippines right now. My husband's working here for the meantime.” I retorted.“Okay, I’ll bring my daughter with me if that's fine.” She said. “I don't want to leave her.”“Of course, that way I can meet her too.” I answered happily. “I'll hang up now, I’ll text you the address.”“Okay, bye bye.” She
-(EMERALD CORLYN VERDANIO-FRANCISCO POV)-~•~As the car came to a halt in the driveway, hindi ko maiwasan ang kabahan dahil pamilyar na pamilyar ang bahay na nasa harap namin.Puta..“Let’s go.” She started as she opened the driver's door.Akmang sasagot pa ako ngunit lumabas na ito ng kotse, at hindi ko maiwasan ang pagpawisan ng malamig dahil sa nakikita at nararamdaman ko.“Ma, nasaan po tayo?” Tanong ni Deanna.“Nasa bahay tayo ni Tita Eve, nak.” Sagot ko na lang at saka lumabas ng kotse.Pinagbuksan ko na rin ng pinto si Deanna at pinalabas ito, and seeing my plants outside of the yard thriving had me teary-eyed.“Mommy, are you alright?” Tanong nito muli.“I’m fine, darling.” Sagot ko. “Tara na, pasok na tayo.”“Beautiful, isn't it?” Eve asked as she waited in front of the doorstep.“It is.” I answered with a small smile.Heading inside, the first thing I saw was the painting I painted for him. It was still hanging on the wall, yet everything around it changed.From the walls p
-(EMERALD CORLYN VERDANIO-FRANCISCO POV)-~♪~“Where have you been? It's late.” Wika ni Lez nang makarating na kami sa bahay.It was 8:30 in the evening, and Deanna already slept while we head home. And I couldn't erase the scene from a while ago.(Emy…)(Anong ginagawa mo rito?)Everything felt different, and he was–he was so matured looking. Those cognac brown eyes that were once filled with affection, were now filled with anger and disdain.“I am asking you, Emy.” Giit ni Lez na nakapagpabalik sa akin sa reyalidad.“Galing kami sa kaibigan ko.” Sagot ko na lang. “Iaakyat ko na muna si Deanna.”Kahit na tinatawag pa ako nito ay hindi ko na siya pinansin pa, at basta na lang nagtungo at umakyat ng hagdan bitbit si Deanna.~§~“Saan kayo galing, te?” Tanong ni Clydel nang makita niya ako sa backyard.“Galing kami sa kaibigan ko. Nag-celebrate lang.” Sagot ko bago sumimsim sa hawak na basong may wine.“Bakit parang hindi ka masaya?” Tanong naman niya ulit at saka umupo sa tabi ko.“Pag
-(GELAL THEODEN FRANCISCO POV)-~♪~Kasalukuyan akong nasa balkonahe muli, at nilalasap ang simoy ng hangin habang tinitingnan ang buwan, at isang baso ng whiskey ang nasa kamay ko.“Theo, is everything alright?” She asked me for the fifth time.Ngunit hindi ko ito pinansin at sumimsim lang sa alak na hawak ko, hindi ko na rin alam kung ano ang pwede pang sabihin dito.“You’ve been avoiding me ever since Corlyn left, and I couldn't think of a reason for you to avoid me.” She stated. “I didn't do anything wrong or for you to get mad, but… I just want to say I’m sorry.”“Don't be.” I plainly answered before taking a sip once again.“Why not?” She asked again. “You’re like this because of me.”“No, no it's not.” I answered and faced her. “This is not your fault.”“Then why? Why are you avoiding me?” She asked again.“I have so many things in mind, and I don't want to open up.” I lied. “Especially with your state.”“You can at least talk to me, that way I can at least give you some comfor
-(GELAL THEODEN FRANCISCO POV)-~•~Kasalukuyan akong nasa mall, namimili ng mga regalo para sa anak ni Emy nang makita ko si Axzie kasama ang mga anak niya.“Oh, Lal. Kamusta?” Tanong nito na may ngiti sa labi.“Ayos lang ako, kayo?” Tanong ko naman. “Kamusta na si Kaji?”“Hanggang ngayon hindi pa umuuwi, busy daw sa trabaho.” Sagot nito. “Mabuti na lang tinutulungan ako ni Kuya Max mag-alaga.”“That's good to know, malaki na rin sila.” Giit ko at saka sumilip sa kanyang likod na kung saan nagtatago ang dalawa.“Oo nga, pero hindi sila sanay sa maraming tao.” Sagot naman nito. “Nao-overwhelm sila.”“Masasanay din sila, kung hindi, hayaan mo na.” Sagot ko na lamang. “Nga pala, kamusta na kayo ng asawa mo?” Tanong nito muli. “Narinig ko buntis daw siya.”“Oo, buntis nga.” Sagot ko at saka ngumiti nang bahagya.“Congrats, magkakaroon ka na rin ng anak.” Giit nito na may ngiti.“Oo nga, excited na ako.” Sagot ko. “Oh siya, aalis na ako. May pupuntahan pa ako eh.”“Sige, mag-iingat ka.”
-(GELAL THEODEN FRANCISCO POV)-~•~Nakarating kami sa isang parte ng bahay nila na kung saan walang gaanong tao, at hindi ko mapigilan ang inis na kanina ko pa nararamdaman.“What do you want to talk about?” I started. “Bakit ka nandito?” Tanong niya pabalik. “From what I know, hindi kita ininvite sa party ng anak ko.”“Ininvite ako ng kapatid mo.” Sagot ko. “And for the record, that's my child too.”“You're child?” She asked in disbelief. “She's not yours, Lal.”“She's mine.” I bravely answered. “You're both mine, Emerald.”“No.” She shook her head slightly. “We're not yours, and we broke up a long time ago. You already have a wife, so what's the big deal?”Hindi ako nakasagot dito dahil sa kanyang sinabi, ngunit isa lang naman ang pinunta ko sa party na ito.“Why can't you just let me see her and let me spend some time with her?” I asked. “It's not like I’m going to abduct her from you.”“I'm not going to allow that, and you have to leave whether you like it or not.” Sagot nito.“