Prologo
SHE heaved a long sigh before inhaled a lot of air. Hindi malaman ni Angielyn ang gagawin.
Kanina lang ay buo na ang desisyon niya para sabihin kay Clayton ang tungkol sa pagbubuntis niya. Ngunit ngayong nakatayo siya labas ng pinto ng condo nito, hindi niya yata kayang gawin ang naiisip niya.
She can't deal with the fact that they'd broken up when she found out she's carrying his child!
Paano kung hindi ito maniwala? Anong gagawin niya? But that's absurd! Si Clayton lang ang tanging lalaki sa buhay niya.
But still...
Angielyn, again, inhaled a lot of air before she touched the intercom to inform him that she's outside.
Mayamaya lang ay may nagsalita mula sa loob.
Si Clayton.
"Who's this?"
Angielyn moistened her dry lips before she uttered her name and told Clay that she wants to talk to him.
"Please, Clayton... I need to tell you this..."
Bumukas ang pinto at sumilip ang mukhang kagigising lang na lalaki. Hubad-baro pa ito tanda na mula ito sa kama at dumiretso ito sa harap niya para pagbuksan siya ng pinto. Walang mababakas na anumang ekspresyon sa mukha nito habang nakatitig kay Angielyn.
Looking at Clayton now, naisip niya kung bakit niya ito nagustuhan at patuloy na minamahal ngayon.
He has deep set brown eyes, chiselled jaw, well-pointed nose and those lips she's always want to stare at.
But his heart... she can't have it even if she wishes for it.
"Come," anito, waring ginising si Ann sa sandali niyang pagkatulog.
Alanganin siyang pumasok sa loob ng condo at inikot ng paningin sa loob. Inakay naman siya ni Clayton patungo sa sofang malapit upang paupuin doon.
He sat in front of her. Iniisip siguro nito kung ano ang kailangan niya dito.
They had a talk before they cut ties between them. Na aakto silang dalawa na hindi magkilala. Not that they had bad blood between them. It's just that she fell for him when he told her that he couldn’t love her. It's Clayton’s way of helping Angielyn to move on by breaking up with her.
Iyon siguro ang gumugulo sa isipan ng lalaki. Bakit soya narito gayong nagkaroon na sila ng pagkakaintindihan? Why would she be here, anyway?
"So, tell me, what makes you go here, Ann?"
Lumunok si Angielyn nang ilang ulit. Paano niya ba sasabihin dito ang totoo?
Lumipas ang ilang sandali na bumalot sa kanila ang katahimikan.
"Ann..." he called her attention once again.
Humugot siya nang malalim na hininga bago nanginginig na bumulong.
"I-I'm pregnant, Clayton... and you're the father..."
Nang tumingala siya ay nakita niyang natigilan ito at namutla. Hinanda na ni Angie ang sarili sa magiging reaksyon nito.
"Y-you what?!" he stuttered but nonetheless shouted those words. His booming voice makes her nervous.
"I'm pregnant..."
A pause.
Wala kaagad sa kanilang dalawa ang magsalita.
"Get rid of it. I don't want that, Angie. You know that!" Iyon ang lumabas sa bibig nito nang mapagtanto ang sinabi niya.
Napatayo siya at gulat na gulat na napalunok dahil sa narinig. Get rid of her baby?! Is Clayton crazy?!
Marahas na hinarap ni Angie ang lalaki at dinuro. "Are you fucking hearing yourself, Clay?! It's your baby! Our baby! Ganyan ka ba? Fuck you! Fuck you so much! I don't know what to do but abortion is clearly not an option for me! This is your baby we're talking about!"
Galit na hinarap din siya nito. "And I don't want it! You know that! Is this your way to trap me, huh? Fuck you, Ann! I didn't know you'll stoop this low just to have me! And let me ask you this... is that really mine?!"
Hindi nakapagpigil ay umigwas ang kamay ni Angie at sinampal nang malakas ang lalaki.
Hindi ito ang gusto niyang marinig mula kay Clayton. Hindi ito.
Hindi naman hiniling ni Angie na panagutan siya nito — okay, that's on her mind. But not like this. Hindi naman niya plinano ang pikutin ito. One drunken night without protection was a mistake, she knows that already, okay! But killing an accidental baby is not on the picture!
"I may love you but I'm not that stupid to shackle you in a loveless marriage! And I'm regretting that I feel something for you because you're a monster! Akala ko may paninindigan ka, Clay! Guess that I'm wrong about it. Fuck. You got me pregnant and now you're washing hands? Ano, ako lang ba ang gumawa nito? Ang kapal ng mukha mo!" Huminga siya nang malalim at matiim itong tiningnan.
"Please forget that this happened. This is the last time you'll be seeing me, Clayton. 'Wag mong hilingin na patayin ko ang anak ko. I'm not that heartless like you."
Pagkatapos iyon ay tumalikod si Ann para lumabas nang makita niyang hindi lang sila ang tao sa loob ng condo ni Clayton.
Sa may pinto ay nakatayo ang ina nito at nakanganga habang nagpapapalit-palit ang tingin sa kanilang dalawa.
Napalunok si Ann dahil sa takot na lumukob sa kanya.
"M-ma'am..." she whimpered. Hindi man lang siya tinapunan ng tingin ng babae nang maglakad ito patungo kay Clayton.
The next words that woman told them made her world crumble.
"You got her pregnant, Clayton? Marry her then."
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BINABASA MO ANG
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