Dark Secrets Series: His Drastic Devotion

Chapter 2

HINAHAPLOS-HAPLOS ko ang limang buwan ko ng tiyan. Suot ang isang puting sleeveless maternity dress na hanggang tuhod  habang nag-lalakad sa mall. Papa want me to walk around and have some fun, and I immediately obliged dahil limang buwan na rin akong hindi lumalabas ng bahay. Masakit man isipin ang nangyari ngunit naging dahilan ito upang tumatag ako at harapin ang hinaharap kasama ang magiging anak ko.

My phone rang. Nang tingnan ko ang caller ay masaya ko itong sinagot.

"Papa!" I said enthusiastically. Papa on the other hand, chuckled.

"Anong oras ka uuwi, anak?" Papa asked. Naglalakad pa rin ako habang nasa telepono si Papa. Pumasok ako sa isang women's store. I stroll around until I found the baby's section.

"Around 4 in the afternoon Papa, bakit?" My eyes glued at the white baby onesie. It looks so cute and elegant at the same time. Unisex naman kaya kinuha ko.

"Maghahanda ako ng hapunan hija, I will cook your favorite." Ani nito. Masayang tumugo naman ako kaya nag-paalam na si Papa at sinabing mag-ingat ako.

Actually, when Papa said he'll going to cook my favorite ain't actually my favorite. Pinaglilihan ko ang ibig sabihin ni Papa. Weeks before I knew I was pregnant, I craved for nilagang baboy na sobrang anhang. Manga at may asin na may dinurog na maraming sili ang nakahalo.

And the only thing, I craved that Papa couldn't give, was the scent of that man. Pero nakaya ko naman. Right after I know that I'm pregnant, I have never cried again. It seemed that my baby wouldn't let me cry even just a single drop of tear, and I'm very thankful for that.

Ilang oras akong nagpaikot-ikot sa store ng mapadpad ako sa men section. Lots of men's wear that I usually seen in Papa's closet. From shoes to pants and from cap to shirts, and my eyes settled again on a black polo near where I stand. Nang hawakan ko ito ay ramdam ko ang lambot ng tela. I took it and went to the cashier with the onesie. Pinilig ko ang naisip ng imbis na si Papa ang naisip kong magsusuot nitong polong hawak ko ay ang katawan ng lalaking ama ng anak ko.

"5,850.00 pesos Ma'am" I gave her my card. After kong mabili ay naglakad ako papalabas ng store. Tiningnan ko ang cellphone ko at nakitang alas-dos palang ng hapon. I suddenly craved for a super spicy hawaiian pizza.

Dali-dali akong pumasok sa supermarket at bumili ng chilli powder. Nang mabili ko na ay pumunta ako sa pinakamalapit na pizza stall. I ordered 2 family size pizza at pumunta sa part ng mall which is the eating section. Nang maka upo ay mabilis kong binuksan ang pizza at chilli powder at binudburan ko ng spices ang top ng pizza.

"You should wash your hands or sanitize it first before you eat." Akmang kukuha na sana ako ng may nagsalita sa tabi ng lamesa ko.

I glanced at my side and saw a tall man sitting on the next table. He's wearing a white shirt and a maong pants with a black Nike hat. Bahagya akong natigilan at nanginig ang mga kamay. His eyes bore onto my hands it was showing so much emotions. Guilt was very visible into his gray eyes.

"I'm sorry. Did I startled you?" He asked me huskily with a hint of concern.

Pinagsawalang bahala ang naiisip. I was like this before too, when one of the male nurse's came into my room to have me checked when suddenly my body immediately reacted. I was having a panicked attack that time; I was sweating bullets and my body shakes uncontrollably. Men really triggers my emotions right now.

Umiling ako sa kanya at bahagyang ngumiti. He sighed heavily and nodded too.

"Here. It's not safe to eat with dirty hands." He handed me a hand sanitizer. Gustong ma-offend ng isip ko pero dinugtungan niya agad.

"You were holding some clothes earlier though. You never knew how many hands were holding and touching that polo too. It's not safe especially... especially that you're..." Tumikhim siya at nag-patuloy. "... pregnant." I saw his adam's apple moved.

"Thank you." Binalik ko kaagad ang hand sanitizer pagkatapos kong kumuha ngunit umiling lamang ito at nag-paalam na.

Gustuhin ko mang magtanog kong bakit parang alam nito ang buong araw niyang ginawa sa mall ay tumahimik na lamang ako. He looks dangerous yet he feels like safe at the same time too.