Housemates With Benefits [COMPLETE|PUBLISHED]

Sabrina (68)

It is a beautiful Sunday morning and it started out like any other day the past two weeks, with my head over the bathroom sink as I hurl my stomach's content out.  I tried to make myself look human again.  And bargained with my baby not to reject the breakfast I'm preparing.

"Baby, hindi tayo mabubuhay sa watermelon milkshake lang," pakiusap ko sa nilalang na nasa loob ng aking tiyan.  Pero heto at naghihiwa pa rin ako ng pakwan na ilalagay ko sa blender at gagawing shake.

I can't still believe I'm actually carrying another human being inside me.  And I am battling with the guilt of keeping him or her hidden from the world.  I still don't know what I am going to do.  No plans whatsoever beyond going to my monthly check-ups.  I'm just trying to live each day as it come as I fret and worry sa nalalapit na pagbabalik ng kanyang ama.

Nasa dining table na ako at nagsisimula nang mag-almusal nang biglang bumukas ang pinto ng bahay and in came a fuming mad Oliver San Martin.  So, it was really his car that I heard earlier but ignored.  

Naibaba ko ang cheese sandwich na akma ko sanang kakagatin at tahimik na pinanood ang kanyang paglapit.  Glaring at me fiercely, he grabbed the nearest chair and sat down on it.

"I'm going to wring your pretty little neck, woman.  I swear!" nanggigigil niyang sambit bago tinapon ang dalawang envelopes sa mesa.  Tuluyan na akong nawalan ng gana habang namumutlang napatitig sa mga nagkalat na mga larawan at isang puting dokumento.  "Explain that to me."

Irritation flashed across his eyes as I continued to stare at him silently and stubbornly.  The air turned heavy with his displeasure.    

"Let's go upstairs, Sabrina," he demanded, coldly.  "There are so many breakable things here."

I shivered inside.  I have imagined this scenario a hundred times to supposedly numb myself from feeling anything but the reality of this still scares me.

"Can't we just stay here?" tanong ko sa maliit na boses.

"Don't test me," he snapped.  "This is not the place for this fucking conversation we are definitely going to have.  Move it."

Reluctantly, I stood up as he glared at me fiercely bago ako tinalikuran at nauna nang umakyat.  He assumed, correctly, that I will follow.  Malaking pasasalamat ko na pinili niya ang kanyang kuwarto sa halip ng sa akin.  Tiyak na mas magagalit siya kapag nakita ang kuwarto ko.  My room is neat and clean.  Too clean that one can assume that nobody is living there.  I've been living out of my suitcases since my last conversation with his mother two weeks ago.  I've been preparing to run.  To disappear.  The universe did not even give me that.  Palihim akong napabuntong-hininga.

He opened his door and impatiently waited for me to get inside ahead of him.  He got in after me at pabalabag na isinara ang pinto.  Sumandig siya doon and stared at me as I sat primly on his bed.  I waited in silence for the hailstorm that he is sure to rain down on me.

His face darkened the longer he looks at me and the longer I keep quiet.  I don't know what he sees on my face.  Ang alam ko lang, I just feel so hollow inside. He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back.  He crossed one foot in front of the other and assumed a deceptively relaxed pose.    
"Why is my mother giving you an island?"  he asked, mildly.  His tone is in direct contrast to his eyes.  They were spitting fire at me.  If looks could burn, abo na ako ngayon.  

"I asked for it," simple kong tugon. 

His experession hardened even more but he maintained his control.  "In exchange for what?"

I sighed.  "You know for what."

He smiled without humor.  "Don't, love.  Give me the simple courtesy to say bullshit straight to my face.  Kahit 'yan man lang.  I repeat, you asked for that damn island in exchange for what?"