Kabanata 6

Erina

Mabigat ang buong katawan ko nang magising ako. Pagmulat ko ay nasilaw ako sa puting ilaw. It took another seconds before it registered that I am inside the hospital—and Aaron punched me.

“Ah…ouch…” Impit na napasigaw ako nang maramdaman ang sakit sa aking pisngi nang subukan ko na magsalita. 

“Sssh, stay still, love. You’re not okay yet.” Hinawakan ni Jacob ang braso ko para pigilan ako sa pagbango. He adjusted the bed kaya nakaangat na ako. I have a better view of him now.

“Your…face…” My hands automatically found her face. He didn’t complain when I caressed every part of his face, starting from his eyebrow, down to the bridge of his nose, and his red sexy lips that’s now full of bruises.

“I’m sorry…”

“Sshh, not your fault.” Ngumiti siya saka hinaplos ang pisngi ko. “My brother and I are used to it. Everyone was used to it, Erina. This isn’t the first time that this happened.” 

“Still…it’s because of me…this time…and I am sorry.” Umiling ako habang nahihiyang tumingin sa kanya. “I think this arrangement is a mistake…”

“Mistake?” He creased his brow. “I am hurt that you’re calling our baby a mistake.”

“No, that’s not it. I just don’t want to get in between you. I know there’s always been bad blood between the two of you but I think I just made it worse—-” He kissed me.

“I don’t want to hear anything about that again, Erina.” He seriously told me, changing the topic. “Are you okay now? How are you feeling?”

“Jacob…”

I accepted my defeat. Well, he made up his mind and based on what I have seen, he’s not someone who could easily change his mind.

“I’m good now. What about you?” Nag-aalala pa rin ako. “Come here. I want to see your back. What about your stomach?”

“You’re so cute,” he teased me while I caressed my chin. 

“I am serious.” I rolled my eyes. “I don’t want you to get hurt because of me.”

“I am willing to get hurt for you, love.” He kissed my forehead. “Anything and everything for you and our baby.”

“Thank you.” I sincerely told him.

“You don’t need to thank me,” he fixed the strands of my hair. “And don’t worry about me, love? You’re the one I should worry about. Please, don’t ever do that again. Don’t ever jump to save me.”

“Why? You don’t like me becoming your knight in shining armour?” I teased him. “Isn’t it romantic?”

He laughed a little. “It is but I don’t want it at your expense, Got it? Let me be the knight in shining armour. You don’t know how you scared me to death.” His eyes softened and my heart started beating so fast.

His gaze melted me that I couldn’t breathe. What’s this? Am I attracted to him now? It’s hard not to…

“I thought I was going to lose you…” He whispered.

“Huh?” I didn’t catch that. “What did you say again?”

“Nothing, love. How about I pick some food for you? What do you want?”

“I am not sure…” I started thinking. 

“What does our baby want, then?”

“Hmm, cherry?” I smiled. “Well, cherries are my favourite.”

“Just cherry?” 

“Yes, and anything you want me to eat.”

He raised his brow. “Anything…I want for you to eat? Are you sure about that?”

“Hey, you dirty mind!” Hinampas ko siya kaya natawa siya nang malakas.

“What? You’re the one who said it.”

I rolled my eyes. “Real food…real one…and not you—at least not now…” I whispered the last words.

“I heard that so okay…once you feel better…then you can eat me.”

I laughed. “Whatever you say, husband.”

He smiled, kissing my forehead before he left the room.

I felt relieved, at least I know that my baby’s father is kind just as I want him to be. Kahit hindi na sa akin o kahit hindi na totoo ang mga ginagawa niya sa akin, basta masiguro ko lang na nasa mabuting kamay ang aking anak.

Although, I couldn’t help but think—is he lying to me? Sino ang babaeng tumatawag sa kanya ng love? What about me…he also calls me love? Is he really using me for his inheritance?

Kung oo, hindi ko maiwasan na manghinayang dahil nga sa totoo lang—he’s perfect. Tipong ang hirap na hindi mahulog sa kanya lalo na kung gaano niya ako itrato. But I should know better not to fall.

Right, Erina—this is all fake! This isn’t real. 

I should start to distance myself from him.

After all, this is just an unexpected arrangement. 

But I didn’t want him to notice that I am keeping my distance kaya hindi ko agad ito isinagawa. I remained just the same—iyon nga lang sa bawat pagpapakita niya ng concern ay lagi kong sinasabi sa sarili ko na wala lang, joke lang ang lahat ng ito.

“What do you mean? You don’t want to immediately get married? I thought you wanted it…” Tumaas ang kilay niya. “Are you changing your mind now?”

“Not really…” Umiling ako. Nandito kami ngayon sa kanyang bahay habang pinag uusapan ang kontrata. I want it signed and notarized in case something happens. Gusto ko ay may panghahawakan ako sa huli lalo na kapag sa aming dalawa ay ako ang naunang natalo—in this game of love.

He never calls it like that but I am starting to call it like that. Isa lang naman itong laro. Wala pa nga ay mukhang talo na ako. Bakit kasi ang hirap hindi magustuhan ng kagaya niya?

“It’s just if we hurry into marriage then they would think there’s something wrong. Aaron and Candice are also getting married. Nakikipagsabayan nga sila sa atin, e…” ani ko. “It’s just for two months…”

“But you’re starting to show.”

“Doesn’t matter. I’m petite, so they wouldn’t think I am pregnant.”

“Yeah, so I should feed you a lot of food.” He smirked.

I smiled a little, trying not to be affected by his joke. 

“Anyway, that’s what I want…plus if we’re to be together, we should get to know each other first. What if after two months, then…you don’t want to marry me? It would be a waste…”

“That’s not going to happen…”

“How can you say that?” I raised my brow as he seemed so sure.

“Nothing.” He turned his back as he grabbed some chips on the corner, whispering something I didn’t hear, “I’ve been wanting to marry you since…”