The Mayor's Paragon | ✓

28

"YOU are eight weeks pregnant, ma'am. Congratulations."

Hindi ko alam kung saan ako dinala ng mga paa ko pero namalayan ko na lang na nasa harden na ako ng hospital. Nanghihina akong napaupo at wala sa sariling pinanood ang mga taong naglalakad.

After leaving Riez, I chose to stay here in Baguio. It's difficult to leave everything behind, but I'm doing it for my inner peace. I want to heal and become better.

Alam ni Jhaaja kung nasaan ako ngayon dahil siya mismo ang nagdala sa akin dito sa Baguio. I called him the very night Riez left and asked him to take me away. Bago ako tuluyang umalis, nagpaalam muna ako kay Tatay. Hindi ko alam kung naramdaman niya ang kalungkutan ko sa mga panahong iyon pero tumango lang siya at saka sinabing mag ingat ako. Nagpapasalamat naman ako na hindi na siya nagtanong pa.

Jhaaja was so kind enough to let me stay in his condo. Hindi na rin siya nagtanong pa noong dinala niya ako rito na siya namang ipinagpapasalamat ko. I don't think I'm ready to talk about it. Pinakiusapan ko na lang siya na 'wag sabihin kay Riez kung nasaan ako. Hindi ko alam pero nagtitiwala ako kay Jhaaja na mananatiling tikom ang kaniyang bibig. I have this feeling that he's going to keep it a secret and I strongly trust him.

Shortly after arriving in Baguio, I experienced vomiting first thing in the morning. I thought it might be due to spoiled food or something, but it didn't stop. Nagtuloy-tuloy ang pagsusuka ko kaya naman natakot ako. Dahil doon nagpagdesisyunan kong magpa-check up. Then it turns out that I am pregnant.

Napabuntong hininga ako bago hinawakan ang aking tiyan. Hindi ko alam kung anong nararamdaman ko. Masaya ba? Takot? Pangangamba? Lungkot? Hindi ko mawari. Naguguluhan ako.

I blinked away the tears starting to form in my eyes. When I was with Riez, I felt ready for anything. I believed that no matter what fate threw at me, I could handle it as long as he was there. But now that I'm alone, I don't know what to do.

It happened so fast that I couldn't grasp everything. Am I really ready? May pera naman ako. I have enough money, but is it really enough? Is money enough? Emotionally and mentally, I'm still not sure. Ang hirap pala. Ang hirap magdesisyon.

"Hi!"

Napalingon ako sa gilid ko at nakita ko ang isang babaeng nakangiti sa akin. She's so pretty, with an angelic face and a warm, comforting presence that surrounds her. Ang amo ng kaniyang mukha. Talagang nakakabighani.

"Hello," bulong ko.

She giggled, and it made her beauty shine even more. She's blooming; her beauty radiates, and I'm in awe as I watch her. Ang ganda niya talaga. She's just wearing a simple blue dress, but her beauty is breathtaking.

"Can I sit beside you?" tanong niya at tinuro ang espasyo sa tabi ko.

Tumango ako sa kaniya.

"Oo naman." Ngumiti ako at saka umusog nang kaunti para bigyan siya ng espasyo.

Maligalig siyang umupo sa tabi ko. Hinawi niya ang kaniyang buhok at tumingin sa akin bago nilahad ang kaniyang kamay.

"Hi, I'm Canna," pagpapakilala niya.

Agad ko namang tinanggap ang pakikipagkamay niya. Her hand was soft and delicate, radiating warmth that reached my heart.

"I'm Kesiya," saad ko.

"Pretty name. Nice meeting you, Kesiya," she cheerfully told me.

"Nice meeting you too," nahihiya kong saad.

Mabini siyang ngumiti noong napinsan niyang nahihiya pa ako sa kaniya. She tilted her head as she looked at me.

"Are you here for a check-up?" tanong niya.