Rule #3: Changing The Rules

[37]

This is a flashback part. Way before the events of Chapter 30.

Chapter 37

I was done with my first year in medical school when I found out I was pregnant with Ardie.

Me and Prince had already broken up, hindi ko siya pinapansin kahit lingunin man lang at madalas si Troy lang ang kasama ko noon.

During that time, Mommy filed the case against my father and his mistress. Hindi na rin ako nakikipagkita sa kanya at tinutuon nalang ang atensyon sa pag-aaral.

"Baby, please..." pagmamakaawa ni Prince habang nakasunod sa akin.

It was the middle of the school year, when he hasn't stopped chasing after me. Wala na akong pakialam sa kanya at tanging mga libro nalang ang gusto kong tingnan.

I ignored him as usual, we were already done after graduation and he headed to law school. I wanted to study abroad and forget everything, but I couldn't because I knew that Mommy needed me.

Kinuha ko ang mga dala niya para sa akin at tinapon iyon sa basurahan. Isang malamig na tingin lang ang ginawad ko sa kanya bago naglakad palayo.

I'm tired of everything, I felt like a complete fool in their little game. He used me as a pawn, he lied to me and made me believe that he was in love with me.

Ang galing niya rin no? Konting mabulaklak na salita lang ay nahulog na ako. Gusto ko nga siguro talaga siya ng sobra kaya napaniwala ako.

Every week continued like that. Hindi siya tumigil sa pagkuha ng atensyon ko. Kada lapit niya ay siyang layo ko rin.

Then he stopped... hindi ko alam kung bakit pero di ko na ring tinanong.

"Elijah! What is this?" gulat na sabi ni Mommy nung bumisita kami ni Kuya sa condo niya.

Nagulat ako nung malaman na may anak na pala si Kuya. He said, he kept this secret from us because he didn't want to worsen the situation we are in.

Naglalaro ang anak niya sa sahig, tanging sila lang dalawa lang ang nandito at wala ang Mommy ng anak niya.

We visited his condo to bring him some food. Pero iba ang nadatnan namin. A kid. Wow, it amazes me how little this baby could be.

"Ma, di kami kasal. Nor are we planning to get married," Kuya tried to explain.

Suminghap si Mommy. Hindi ko sila pinansin at nilaro si Sebastien. Ang gwapong bata! He got my brother's fair complexion and pointed nose. Baby palang, pero ang tangos na ng ilong. His features are also perfectionly proportioned just like my brother.

"Why not? Mahal mo ba 'yung nanay ng anak mo?" Mommy asked.

Kuya sighed and nodded.

"I love her but she doesn't want to get married..."

"Then maybe she doesn't love you as much! Marriage is important, Elijah. It's the basis of love and foundation of a family. You have to get married, hindi pwedeng aanakan mo lang, tapos pag nagsawa ka iiwanan mo na, ganoon?"

Kumunot ang noo ko roon. Marami rin namang napipilitan ikasal at hindi lahat ng nagpapakasal ay nagmamahalan. Is it really enough to call it a basis of love? Na pag nagpakasal ka ay matatawag mo ng mahal ang taong pinakasalan mo?

"I won't do that, Mommy... hindi naman ako gago. Inanakan ko na nga e, kase nga mahal ko." kaswal na sambit ni Kuya.

Napailing ako at pinigilan ang pagtawa sa kapatid. Ganyan ba silang mga lalaki? Pag mahal ang isang babae, aanakan na para di makawala?