Chased by El Lewis Vesper Esquivel

Chapter 41

I tried to remain as calm as possible when we reached Manila. I am covered from head to toe but I still can't help but feel anxious and nervous, pakiramdam ko may press nalang magtototok sa akin ng kamera.

My pregnancy is still private pero sa oras na umattend na ako ng hearing ay siguradong kakalat na ang balita.

Humigpit ang pagkakakapit ko kay Ervine, mabuti na lang rin at hatinggabi na kami nakarating kaya mas kaunti ang tao. Si Ervine na rin ang nag asikaso ng mga masasakyan namin kaya naman meron na ring naghihintay sa pagdating namin.

We made our moves as fast as we could, at nang makarating na kami sa sasakyan ay saka lang ako nakahinga ng maluwag.

“Are you fine?” Kaagad na tanong ni Joaquin sa tabi ko, Ervine looked at us the back looking so concerned as well.

I nodded my head and caressed my belly. Huminga ako ng malalim at uminom ng tubig, I am glad that my ob gyne still allowed me to travel. Safe pa naman at wala pa naman dapat akong ipag-alala.

Since there is no traffic, we only travelled for a few minutes and then we entered an exclusive subdivision. Pinara kami sa may security at kaagad namang nakipag-usap si Ervine, pagkatapos sy hiningan rin kami ng identification card. Only huge houses were seen outside and there were a lot of huge trees on the side of the road.

We slowed down and the gate of a house automatically opened. Ito na siguro ang pansamantalag tirahin namin.

Our van stopped in front of a huge house. Kaagad akong bumaba at tumingin sa paligid. The security was tight and I think this is enough. Medyo magkakalayo rin ang mga bahay dahil malalawak ang bawat bakuran ng bahay at matayog ang bawat bakod, pati ang gate ay matayog rin. Overall, the house looks very modern.

I looked in front of our temporary home but one thing shocked me to the core. Napasapo ako ng bibig pero umalpas pa rin sa akin ang hikbi.

Lola Soledad and Ate Mryna are here!

“Nikah!” Ate Mryna called my name excitedly. They are really here!

They walked towards me and I cried harder. Both of their eyes went back and forth to my belly and to my face, hindi na nagulat na buntis ako dahil marahil nasabihan na rin sila ni Ervine o ni Joaquin.

“Nikah, Iha.” Lola Soledad opened her arms and I hugged her right away.

“Lola…” I sobbed on her shoulder and hugged her tight.

Yumakap na rin si Ate Myrna na at tatlo na kaming nagyakapan.

“Sorry, Lola, sorry po.” I apologized and cried.

Lola cupped my cheeks and wiped away my tears. “Hindi mo kailangan na humingi ng tawad, Iha. Masaya na ako na nasa maayos ka na kalagayan.”

This felt like home. Pakiramdam ko muli akong bumalik sa pagkabata.

I nodded my head and hugged them again. I looked at Ervine and Joaquin who's looking at us who were quite emotional too and muttered ‘thank you.'

Hindi ko alam kung paano nila nagawan na paraan na nandito ngayon sina Lola pero malaki ulit ang pasasalamat ko sa kanila.

“Oh siya, hatinggabi na at galing pa kayo ng biyahe. Mas mabuting magpahinga ka na lang muna, nak. Bukas na tayo magkwentuhan lalo na at buntis ka.” Lola repeatedly patted my back and caressed my belly a little bit.

They started helping us with our things. Since buntis ako ay sa unang palapag ang kwarto ko, at dahil hatinggabi na ay hindi na rin kami nagtagal sa kwentuhan at kailangan ko pang matulog.

I hugged all of them again before going to bed and despite the reason for our arrival in the country, I slept with a smile on my face.

Medyo tanghali na ako nagising kinabukasan at wala na sina Ervine at Joaquin sa bahay. They had some personal business kaya naman naiwan na lamang kaming tatlo nina Lola sa bahay.