Her Entrancing Smile [COMPLETED]

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SIX

THERESIA'S POV

"Theresia Myers! Where the hell have you been?" Sigaw ni Dad ang bumungad sa akin sa sala.

Kauuwi ko lang mula sa condo unit ni Martina, masakit ang ulo ko pati na ang pagkababae ko. No actually, it's more like masakit ang buong katawan ko.

"We've been calling you since last night! You didn't respond to any of our texts either," litanya pa ni Mom.

Hindi ko nalang sila pinansin dahil nanghihina na talaga ako but as I ascended the staircase, they continued asking me about what happened to me.

I know they're concerned about my being but I can't think straight right now.

"Please, not now. Let me sleep. I promise I'll answer you pagkagising ko." I continued to carefully walk on the stairs. I noticed Dad wanted to say something but mom stopped him. Good thing Mom trusts me.

I was finally inside my bedroom. Pinaghalong pula at itim ang bumungad sa akin. My favorite colors. My room somehow calmed me down. I let myself fall on the bed and let the sleepiness take over me.

When I woke up, I felt a wet towel on my forehead. I looked around and saw a small basin over my side drawer. Must be Mom. At tama naman ang hula ko nang makita ko siyang pumapasok sa kwarto ko.

"Theresia, thank God you're awake. You had me worried," sabi niya habang papalapit sa akin. Umupo naman siya sa gilid ng kama ko. "You were burning with fever. Ano ba kasing nangyari sa'yo kagabi? Your dad almost called a doctor."

Mahina akong natawa. "Lagi naman pong OA si Dad."

"Agree," she said as she smiled at me. " So, tell me. Anong nangyari kagabi?"

Kabado akong tumingin kay mom, scared to confess what happened. "Mom... Na-Nanakaw po yung kainosentehan ko po," halos pabulong kong sinabi.

I was just staring at her emotionless face, and then slowly, the shock was visible. Hindi siya makapaniwalang tumingin sa akin. I watched her mouth open and close without anything coming out of it.

I know she'll be mad. I expect she'll be mad. They'll probably disown me.

But instead of saying those words, she asked me something else that stunned me. "Are you okay?" Worry was written all over her face. "Honey, answer me. Kaya ba masama ang pakiramdam mo?"

"Aren't... you... mad?" I was careful with every word that left my mouth.

"Of course, I am, but mas nag-aalala ako sayo. I'm still your mother. We'll talk about that some other time but be sure to tell that to your dad, aalalayan naman kita," paninigurado sa akin ni Mommy.

They never asked who took my innocence but I'm sure they're curious until two or three weeks later, I began showing symptoms of pregnancy, which resulted in them asking me that question.

"Who's the father?"

They asked me again and again but I never answered. Ayokong maipit siya sa sitwasyong pwedeng gawin ng mga magulang ko because for sure, they'll want me to tie the knot with him and I don't want that, I don't want to force him. It was my fault that I ended up in this situation.

Weeks after that "mistaken" night, I could remember clearly what happened. Simula nang makarating kami sa condo unit niya hanggang sa narealize ko na hindi si Mr. Gorgeous ang kasama ko, hanggang sa magkausap, at hanggang sa maka-abot kami sa kama na pareho nang nakahubad.

I wanted to forget it but every time na masusuka ako at magpapakita ang signs na buntis ako, mas lalo ko lang naaalala ang gabing yun.

When I was a month pregnant, I decided to stay in the US. Kapag nanatili ako sa Pilipinas, magkikita't magkikita kami, at ayoko nun. Good thing my parents approved my decision, but since I'm already sure that I was pregnant, ginusto nilang sumama.

My parents helped me during my labor, they were there when I had my cravings, my mood swings, hanggang sa manganak ako, nasa tabi ko silang dalawa. They both tried asking me again who my daughter's father is, but they never succeeded. Pareho pa silang nagtaka kung bakit Martha Therese ang ipinangalan ko. I mean they understood where the "Therese" came from but not the "Martha" but they both respected my decision, hence stopping from asking about Martha's dad.

We stayed for five years in America. In the first two years, I was reluctant to come home and introduce Martha to her dad, but as I gathered magazines and articles, even news about him, I decided to just let him be.

He's happy and successful on his own, why would I bother him with the responsibility of the child?

At paniguradong hindi gugustuhin ni Martina na magkaanak. He's into men, not women. It might somehow mean that he didn't want a child with a woman he had a one-night stand with.

Kaya naman napagdesisyunan ko na lang na tuluyang manirahan sa States hanggang sa tumanda si Martha. But then when my daughter turned at the age of three, she began asking me about her dad. Curious daw siya dahil yung mga kaklase niya ay laging kasama ang mommy at daddy nila.

I wanted to tell her that she won't be meeting her dad ever, but that'll be cruel. I don't wanna hurt my daughter's feelings.

"Mom, where is my daddy?" I heard Martha's voice. She was looking over the window and curiosity was visible in her shiny brown eyes.

She got his eyes.

I smiled at her, hiding the chaos inside me. "Umm... Daddy is... umm... You see, baby, daddy is working."

Mas lalong nagbigay ng atensyon sa akin si Martha. "Why can't he visit us? Grandma and Grandpa are also working, but they always visit us."

Martha is a very smart and curious kid. To the point na nakakakaba na dahil ang lagi niyang tanong sa akin ay ang tungkol sa daddy niya.

I took a deep breath and thought of an excuse. "Daddy is far away from us, baby. He's in the Philippines."

"Are we going there, Mommy? If Daddy can't visit us, then let's visit him."

Akala ko talaga sa States na lang kami, but after a year, Mom and d=Dad are required to attend a meeting in the Philippines, at dahil sobrang lapit nila sa apo nila ay ayaw nila itong iwan.

"You stay here if you want, but we'll bring Martha with us."

I can still remember Mom's line when I was against their decision. Sa halip na maoffend o mainis, lagi akong natatawa kada maaalala ko yun.

They really love my daughter, and I am very thankful for it.

Nang makarating kami sa Pinas, hindi lang pala simpleng meeting ang aatendan nila. My parents dropped a huge bomb in front of me, telling me—not asking—to model in a fashion show. Not just a simple fashion show but Martina's fashion show!

Are they playing with me or not?

Ayoko na nga sa pagmo-model tapos magmo-model pa ako sa runway na pagmamay-ari ng taong limang taon kong iniwasan?