The Victim Acts

Act 15: Heavy Loads

THE VICTIM ACTS

No one escapes from my anger and pain.

ACT 15

Heavy Loads

[Lee]

Pagkapasok ko pa lang sa kwrto kung saan ako tutuloy pansamantala, inihagis ko na lang ang maleta ko sabay dial ng number ni Doc Rodriguez sa phone ko. Shit. Kung tama man ang kutob ko, siguradong hindi magandang balita yun. At lalong hindi maganda para kay Kira kung nagkataon.

"Lee!" she exclaimed.

"Yes, Doc Rodriguez. I bet you know the reason why I called this very late." alam ko kasing madaling-araw na sa Pilipinas ngayong oras na ito.

"I think so. Is this about your girlfriend?? Well, if it is, I have a good news for you. Nakuha ko na yung results nung tests na ginawa sakanya and so far, so good. Wala kang dapat ipag-alala."

"I'm very glad to hear that pero, there's one thing that I really wanna know. Do you know all the results of the tests?"

"Yes, I think so."

"I uhh... Just wanna know if... If.."

"Come on, Lee. What is it?"

I sighed. "If she's pregnant." natawa naman sya sa kabilang linya.

Seriously, I felt uneasiness when she laughed. It's like a threat for me or something. I started walking back and forth like a freak to ease the uneasy feeling within me.

She spoke after laughing. "I thought you were just concerned with her health but I merely thought that what you wanted to know is if  you will both have a baby. Silly of me."

"So, is she?" I stood up straight while waiting for her answer and I was rooted to the ground when she answered.

"Yes, she is preg--" naibaba ko bigla ang kamay ko mula sa tenga ko at ini-off ang phone ko.

Shit. I cursed under my breath. This isn't happening. This isn't supposed to happen. Why?? Of all people, why does it have to be Kira??

Nung nasa Pilipinas pa lang kami, napapansin ko na ang madalas nyang pagkahilo. Yun ang reason kung bakit pinapunta ko sya sa ospital para magkaroon ng general check-up. I thought there was a problem with her head kaya ganun pero I never thought that she will be like this now.. That she will carry a freak's child!

Paano ko 'to sasabihin sakanya?? What if she decides to abort the baby na wala namang kinalaman sa lahat ng mga nangyayari ngayon?? Paano na lang sya kapag nalaman na nya ang sitwasyon na ito?? Siguradong sigurado ako na hinding-hindi nya matatanggap ang batang dinadala nya sa sinapupunan nya. This is a heavy load. A very heavy one that I dont even know how to make it lighter.

I heard a cracking sound and I saw Kira standing in front of my room, leaning against the door.

"K-kanina ka pa ba jan??" nauutal kong tanong. Shit. Sana di nya narinig ang lahat. If so, lagot na. Wala akong alam na pwedeng paliwanag sakanya.

"Hindi naman. May sasabihin lang ako sayo." umupo sya sa gilid ng kama.

That's a good news. Buti naman at wala syang narinig dahil nababaliw na ko kakaisip sa mga nangyayari ngayon. Oh please, sana naman meron akong magawa para maitago muna sakanya ang kalagayan nya. I'm aware na clumsy sya kaya alam kong mahihirapan ako. Sooner or later, malalama't malalaman pa rin nya ang lahat pero hangga't maitatago ko sakanya ang katotohanan, itatago ko muna 'to para na rin sakanya.