Eren Pierce Salazar

Kabanata 23

"Pa..." I was shocked to see my father standing in front of the door.

He was wet. A sudden memory of my past triggered me, and now I was shaking. Tulalang nakatingin sa kanya at nanginginig. I can't stop myself. I was scared. I felt nervous. I'm hyperventilating.

I saw how my father's eyes widened as fear and some emotions made their way into his eyes.

"Eren!" I heard him shout, and a moment later, Eren was guiding me to the sala.

Why is he here? Is he going to hurt me again? But I'm pregnant... I didn't do anything wrong. Tahimik lang naman ako. The articles... Sana pumunta ako sa campaign niya, kasi kung pumunta ako baka hindi niya ako sasaktan ngayon...

"Maria... breathe, calm down... Baby... Come back..." That was the time I got back to my reverie. Ang mga mata kong hindi ko namalayan na lumuluha na pala habang nakatingin kay Eren. His eyes were both scared and gentle at the same time.

Why was he so scared?

"Hey, I'm here, baby. You're safe. No one is going to hurt you..." Malumanag niyang sabi. Napatingin ako sa may pinto kung saan ako nakatayo kanina. I was aware of this earlier, but I wasn't aware of how I managed to walk with Eren here at the sala.

"B---but h---he w---was t---there" I'm shuttering and so scared, not just for myself.

I saw how his jaw clenched, and afterward, he hugged me tight. He was combing my hair and caressing my back at the same time.

''No... No one will hurt you again... Not with me, and not again. I'm here, Maria. Please don't do that to me again...'' his voice shattered, which made my heart also shutter and squeeze.

I managed to hug him back for so long that I didn't notice I fell asleep. Nagising na ako umaga na at bumungad kaagad ang mukha ni Eren na nakangiti sa akin.

I smiled, and my smile widened when his lips went to kiss mine.

''Good morning, mahal na reyna'' bati niya pa sa akin. Napatawa ako ng mahina.

''Morning'' my voice was still raspy, while Eren's voice was a little bit raspy and husky. His every time's voice.

He chuckled for a bit and reached for both of my hands. Pulling me softly from the bed. ''Come on, lazy preggy head. You need to eat'' sabi niya sa akin kaya tumayo na ako.

We left the room, and when we got to the sala, kung saan dadaanan pa papunta sa kusina ay napatingin ako sa may pinto. The smile that was plastered on my face vanished. Naging tulala ako ng ilang sandali habang nakatingin duon. I was overthinking just like last night, but Eren saved me again this time.

''He won't come back. I won't let him near you. He already knows that I know what he did to you. I won't let your goddamn father do that to you again.''

Lumipat sa kanya ang paningin ko. The anger in his eyes says everything. I can also see the eyebags in his eyes. Mukhang hindi siya nakatulog... He was also stressed from it.

I smiled at him so wide to make him see that I was okay. I don't want him stressing about that.

''Kain na tayo...'' Kinuha ko ang kanyang kamay at hinila na siya.

I am very scared; I'll always be, but I need to be strong. I'm not alone anymore... Eren is already with me... Hindi na ako nag-iisa.

Pancakes, hotdogs, bread, scambled eggs, and plain rice. Ayon ang mga nasa hapag kainan na nagpakulo sa tiyan ko. Mukhang gutom narin si Baby namin.

''Eren...'' tawag ko habang nakatingin parin sa pagkain, nakahimas sa tiyan ko.

''What? Are you okay?'' his voice was starting to panic