Paakyat si Zandreaj ng hagdan papunta sa kanyang kwarto ng tawagin sya ng ama na nakaupo sa sofa sa sala at nanunuod ng tv. Ang mommy nya ay nasa school.
Bumalik si Zandreaj at nagtatanong ang mga mata na lumapit dito. Hinila sya sa kamay ni John at iniupo sa kandungan nito. Ganito sila kahit ngayong dalaga na sya. Mataman syang tiningnan ng ama sa mga mata bago nagsalita.
"Are you pregnant?"
Napakunot ang noo ni Zandreaj at kinabahan sa tanong nito. Bakit sya tinatanong nito kung buntis sya? May alam ba ito na may nangyari na sa kanila ni Blyther?
"No? Why?" Umiiling na sagot nya sa ama.
"Are you sure?" Nang-aarok ang mga mata nito.
"Aahhmmmmm yes, I have tested last month and it's negative. I'm sorry daddy." Napaiyak na yumakap si Zandreaj sa ama at isinubsob ang mukha sa balikat nito. Hindi nya kayang magsinungaling sa ama. Hindi nya pa nagawa kahit kailan.
"You have to test again." Malumanay pero may diin na sagot ng ama. Napakunot-noo si Zandreaj at nagtatanong ang mga mata na napatingin sa ama.
"You are pregnant Zj. Have you not noticed the changes in your body?" Her dad and mom calls her Zj. From the first and last letters of her two names.
Lalong napakunot-noo si Zandreaj. Napapansin nga nya na sumisikip ang kanyang mga damit pero naisip nya na naggigain lang sya ng weight dahil tumatakaw sya ngayon sa rice. Natakpan ni Zandreaj ang kanyang bibig when a realization hit her. Tumatakaw sya kaya sya tumataba. Buntis sya kaya sya tumatakaw.
Umiling si Zandreaj.
"No dad, yes I'm gaining weight but that's because I love eating now. And besides I don't feel any symptoms of being pregnant. No morning sickness or anything." In denial ang babae.
"But you love eating rice now which was not included in your diet before. You are not a rice eater."
"Yeah, that's too much of a carbo that's why I gain weight fast, which reminds me to exercise and observe my diet starting today."
"When was the last time you took pregnancy test?"
"More than two months now, why?"
"I'll buy a test kit now, you have to test again. I'm sure you are pregnant." Final na sabi ni John.
Kinabahan si Zandreaj sa sinabi ng ama. Lumabas si John sakay ng kotse at wala pang 10minutes ay nakabalik na ito. Tahimik na inabot nito kay Zandreaj ang test kit. Tinanggap ito ng anak at umakyat sa kwarto nya para magtest.
Nakatulala si Zandreaj habang nakaupo sa kama nito ng pumasok si John. Nasa gilid nito ang test kit at malinaw na malinaw ang dalawang guhit doon.
"Hey, you have nothing to worry about. Blyther promised me he'll come home and marry you once you got pregnant. All we have to do is inform him."
Nagtatakang napatingin si Zandreaj dito.
"He slept here the night before his flight right? And I was the one who drove him to the airport. He told me while we were on our way that he wants to marry you before going back but you didn't like the idea. He apoligized but promised me that he'll come back here right away once you got pregnant."
Naalala ni Zandreaj na hindi sya sumama noon dahil ayaw nyang ihatid sa airport ang lalaki. Hindi rin sya nagpagising bago ito umalis. Ayaw nya ang parting moments. Mas gusto nalang nya na paggising nya sa umaga ay nakaalis na si Blyther.
"No dad, we can not tell Blyther I am pregnant." Mahinang sabi ni Zandreaj.
"Why?" Nagtatakang tanong ni John sa anak.
"I don't want him to marry me only because I'm pregnant."
"But he has to marry you."
Umiling si Zandreaj.
"Once he left America, he will have no choice but to stay here. He will leave everything, all his dreams and a promise of bright future for us."
" But he can go back right after your wedding."
"No dad, it was stated in the agreement that once he got married within the two year contract he signed, he will be terminated."
"But that's just okay, it's just his commercial career. He can still continue with his scholarship and focus on his being a varsity and his classes."
"He also isn't allowed to leave America for atleast 2 days during school training days. He will be suspended from trainings and from playing too for a semester. His grades will be affected. He is working to graduate with highest honors dad."
"Once he came home, all his sacrifices will only be wasted. And our future will be questionable."
Matagal na hindi nakaimik si John. Tinitimbang ang sinabi ng anak.
"Blyther knows what he wants dad. And that's to come back here and marry me once we told him I'm pregnant. But that would also mean leaving all his dreams and the opportunity he has to be a good provider for me and for our baby. I don't want him to live in regrets dad."
Wala sa loob na nahaplos ni Zandreaj ang kanyang tiyan. At biglang bumuhos ang maraming luha ng dalaga ng maramdaman sa kanyang puso ang overwhelming feeling upon realizing she is now a mom and a baby inside her will soon grow. Her heart is swelling. Ngayon palang ay mahal na mahal na nya ito.
Napayakap si Zandreaj sa ama at tumatawa habang umiiyak na nagsalita.
"Oh dad, I can't imagine how happy you were and mom when you found out about me. I just can't contain this overwhelming feeling whenever it hits me that I have a baby inside me and that I'm going to be a mom soon. I hope I could share this feeling to Blyther." Biglang nalungkot ulit si Zandreaj ng maisip ang boyfriend.
"So what's your plan?"
"I don't wanna do it dad, but it will only take two years. Please let's keep my pregnancy to Blyther until he comes home after his graduation."
Napailing si John.
"I don't think it's right Zz. Blyther will be furious if he found out about it later."
"No dad. He will understand. I know he will." Tiwalang sabi ni Zandreaj.
Malalim na nagiisip si John.
"Promise me daddy, you will not tell him."
"But how do you think you could keep it from him? What about your studies? And your mom?" Napahawak sa sentido si John ng lumabas nang sunod-sunod ang mga alalahanin sa sitwasyon ni Zandreaj.
"I will enrol tomorrow for an online classes. Yung mga subjects na practical ay iiwanan ko at iienrol ko nalang pagkapanganak ko. Bring me to Lola's place in the province then. I will stay there until this little sunshine popped out."
"How about your mom?"
"You tell her when you come back here after you brought me to lola's house."
Napailing si John at napatingala sa kisame.
"I never thought this day will come that the tiny little baby I held in my arms will turn to be my manipulator." Nakatawang ani nito.
Napatawa din si Zandreaj. Yumakap muli ito sa ama at teary eyed na tumingala at ngumiti dito.
"Thank you daddy. I'm sorry I disappointed you." Napapahikbing sabi nito.
"No, you didn't honey. Your decision with this situation just made me realize how good as an individual you have become. I am proud of you anak."
Lalo lang napahikbi si Zandreaj.
"Blyther might not like your decision, but I guess that's the right one to do. So okay, let's go to your lola's place tomorrow after your enrolment."
BINABASA MO ANG
PRETTY LITTLE DEVIL 2 (He's Ours)
RomanceAfter their SHS graduation, Vyrr Blyther was offered full scholarship as varsity player at the university Dreigh is attending in USA. For four years, he battled against homesickness and longingness for Zandreaj just to fulfill his childhood dream. A...
