His Virgin Stripper

14

"Celestine, I plan to buy your child some baby clothes, but it's too risky. I don't want my daughter's image to appear as pregnant without marriage. Sex before marriage? That's awfully ideal. You don't even have the guarantee that you'll live happily with the father of your child. They won't treat you right. Look at you. What now?"

Sarcasm filled the car, laced with something bitter.

Hindi ko alam kung may hinanakit ba siya sa tono ng boses niya o kung may pakialam lang talaga siya sa nangyayari sa buhay ko ngayon.

"I'm sorry for being reckless," mahina kong sabi. "Please don't hurt my baby."

Napatingin ako sa mga kamay niyang mahigpit na nakahawak sa manibela. I had to be responsible too. They adopted me, gave me a comfortable life, a proper position—but I abused the freedom they gave me.

She glanced at me.

The first time she actually looked at me with those eyes. Eyes that seemed to long for something. For someone. And maybe that someone was Celestine.

Wala naman talaga akong galit sa kanila. Gusto ko lang magkaroon ng pamilyang mamahalin ako.

Mabait naman si Mrs. Cuerva kapag kaming dalawa lang. Kapag wala ang asawa niya, parang nababawasan ang sungay niya. Na para bang tinatrato niya akong anak nang hindi niya namamalayan.

"As long as you obey us, your baby will be safe," sabi niya, ibinalik ang tingin sa kalsada. "Like an egg on top of sharp glass."

Napahigpit ang hawak ko sa bag ko. "I will," sagot ko, pilit nilulunok ang kaba.

From what I remember, they already had plans for me. That was why they took me back.

Kumunot ang noo ko nang may mapansing pamilyar na sasakyan sa tabi namin. Mabilis ito, halos nakikipagkarera, pilit tinutumbasan ang bilis namin.

"It's tinted. Don't move," mariing utos niya.

Huminga ako ng maluwag nang bumaba ang bintana ng kabilang sasakyan at lumitaw si Elijah. Kita sa mukha niya ang galit, kaba, at pag-aalala habang sinenyasan kaming magbukas ng bintana.

Instead, Mom stepped on the gas.

Naiwan siya sa likod. Nakita kong bumagal ang sasakyan niya, parang sumusuko na rin.

"Why don't you like him?" bigla kong tanong.

"Hindi sa ayaw ko," sagot niya, kalmado. "I said what I said. Celestine will be okay soon, and she'll return to her life. Elijah is unnecessary. If you ignore him, he'll forget you. That's how Vega thinks."

"Celestine..." Nag-alangan ako. "Has she been awake ever since the coma?"

Gusto kong malaman kung alam ba niya na nagising kagabi ang anak niya.

Her expression darkened. "Ever since her coma, she has never woken up. She only gets weaker every day. I blamed everyone for her sickness." Sandaling tumigil ang boses niya. "To answer your question, no. She hasn't woken up."

Halata ang pagpigil niya sa luha.

Hindi ganito dati, seven months ago. I wanted her to love me too. Anak din naman niya ako—she adopted me.

"I—I was just curious," mahina kong sagot.

"I'll put you through any course you want," bigla niyang sabi. "Homeschooled. I'll make a way. Choose wisely. This is the only thing we can give you in return for being our substitute daughter."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. Sa orphanage, pangarap kong maging veterinarian. Pangarap na matagal ko nang inilibing.

"I'll let you know," sabi ko, may ngiting hindi ko mapigilan. "Thank you."

Tumango lang siya.

Now, I had two reasons to live.

For my dreams.