Mending Heart's Affliction [Phoenix Countesses: ETHEREAL MAIDENS SERIES I]

Chapter 3

Plea

I could hardly bring myself to go to the office the next day because of the heaviness I felt in my body. I haven't been able to have myself checked to confirm if I am indeed pregnant because I'm still scared. I don't even know what to do next.

Hindi puwedeng malaman ni dad ang tungkol dito. He'll kill me. I've heard more than enough from him when he found out about Mr. Lim rejecting the company's proposal. I wonder if he has more hurtful words in store.

In the end, I arrived at the office feeling like a lifeless vegetable and immediately started my work. I didn't have a choice. Sana lang ay huwag ko munang makita si Isabella dahil wala akong sapat na lakas para makipagpalitan sa kanya ng maaanghang a salita. O ang kahit na sino sa kanila.

"Pau, can you make me a cup of coffee, please?" I requested my secretary as she placed the files I assigned to her on my desk.

"Sure, Ma'am Celeste. Ayos lang po ba kayo? Namumutla ka," she remarked with concern.

I shook my head and ignored what she said. "Just tired and exhausted. Coffee will fix this."

She gave me one more worried look before finally leaving my office.

I noticed the screen of my phone lighting up on the desk, diverting my attention. Nangunot ang noo ko nang makita ko ang unregistered number. Wala namang nakakaalam ng number ko na iba maliban sa family and friends.

Unregistered Number:
Hey.

"Sino naman kaya to? Paano ko rereplyan ang hey niya?" Bulong ko sa sarili ko at hindi na pinansin pa iyon.

I spent half of the day at the office since I didn't have any scheduled meetings today. Pagkatapos ay nagdesisyong mag lunch outside kasama si Kim. Mabuti na lang ay hindi pa siya kumakain.

"I heard you're pregnant. Damn it! Naka-three points agad ang lalaking iyon? Grabe!" She blurted out as we sat down at the table for two.

I groaned and found myself worrying again. "It's not confirmed yet."

"Really, huh? Well, that's acceptable. You're still in denial. Gusto mo bang samahan ka namin sa OB?" She asked.

We finished ordering our food before I responded. "I'll manage on my own. Kaya ko naman."

"Are you sure? Baka kung saan-saan ka na naman mapadpad niyan," she warned.

Imbes na sagutin ang pang-aasar niya ay nabaling ang atensyon ko sa phone ko nang umilaw iyon. May text ulit galing sa numero na iyon. Sino ba to?

Unregistered Number:
You're just having lunch now? It's already too late, miss ma'am. You should eat healthier food.

My jaw dropped as I read the message. Mabilis akong naglibot ng tingin sa buong restaurant sa pag-aakalang may nanonood sa amin ngunit wala naman akong napansing kakaiba. The restaurant was sparsely populated, so I would have noticed if there was someone suspicious.

"Shit!" I hissed, realizing that it might be him sending me these texts.

"Bakit? Para kang natatae," Kim interrupted.

Mabilis na dinukdok ko sa mukha niya ang phone ko para ipakita ang text na iyon.

"Oh, my God. Alam niya number mo? Text buddies na kayo? O baka naman sex buddies?"

"Fuck you! No! I didn't give him my number," I replied, annoyed.

"E paano niya nalaman? Baka naman may nagbigay sa kanya," she suggested.

I couldn't bother to think about that. I quickly typed a response.

To Unregistered Number:
Who's this? How did you get my number? This is my personal number. No one else should know it.

Unregistered Number:
I have my ways.

Unregistered Number:
Now, answer me. Are you free later tonight? Let's talk.

To Unregistered Number:
I don't know you. Leave me alone.

Unregistered Number:
Then come out of my restaurant if you want to know me.

I felt a shiver run down my spine as I read that message. Nabitiwan ko ang phone ko at agad na tiningnan si Kim na unti-unti nang naiirita dahil sa paghihintay ng pagkain namin.

"Kim," I called out to her.

"Tangina! Gutom na gutom na ako! Ang tagal naman ng serving dito!" she complained.

I bit my lower lip. "Lumipat na lang tayo sa iba. Ililibre kita."

"What? Why? We've already ordered."

"I'll explain later. Let's go. Hindi pa naman dumadating ang pagkain. Puwede pa tayong umalis. Mag iiwan na lang ako ng tip," I hurriedly said to her, grabbing my bag and phone, then pulling her out.

"Nakakainis ka naman! Pasalamat ka wala akong pera ngayon. Ilibre mo ako sa Ocean Blues," she said and grinned as we got into my car.

I frowned. This girl is so cunning. The food at Ocean Blues is so expensive!

"Fine. Pasalamat ka mahal kita." I quickly started the engine and left the place in a hurry.

That was his restaurant? How come? Fuck!

"Bakit tayo umalis?" she asked, giving me a suspicious look. "Ano bang sinabi?"

"That's his restaurant. He wants to talk to me." I confessed.

Dinig ko ang pagmumura niya at hinampas pa ako sa braso.

"Gago! Baka naman gusto kang makita ulit! Bakit ayaw mo?"

"I don't think we have anything more to discuss. I told you, kilala niya si Isabella. Para ngang gusto pa siya ni Isabella. Ayoko ng gulo. You know how she thinks. Ako na lang ang iiwas habang maaga pa." I explained to her.

Ramdam ko ang pagbigat ng puso ko sa di malamang dahilan. Pakiramdam ko ay lahat na lang ng sitwasyon ay hindi pabor sa akin. Palagi na lang akong talo. Na kahit anong laban ang gawin ko, hindi ako manalo-nalo sa kaniya.

Lalo na sa puso ni dad.

"So? Ibig sabihin ay hindi mo sasabihin sa kanya ang tungkol diyan sa pagbubuntis mo?" She asked, surprised. Her expression turned serious.

I didn't answer. That was my original plan. If I am indeed pregnant, he doesn't need to know. What we had was just a one-time experience. No feelings were involved.

"Ang tanga mo, Celeste. I don't know what's wrong with you," she said, giving me a disgusted look.

A bitter smile crept onto my face. I wish I could stand up for myself, just for once.