The Gentle Truth

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 7 | Blood

"Anya! Please! Akin na yan!"

Mangiyak ngiyak na akong sumisigaw. But she was literally having fun. She ran downstairs and I knew I'm doomed. I followed her but was careful enough knowing that there's a life growing inside of me.

Noong makababa ako ay nakatayo na silang lahat, si Lola, Tita Andra, Mama, at Papa. They're looking at the pregnancy test kit Anya gave them. As I step on the last staircase, i could feel my knees wobbling in tremendous fear.

Papa was the first one who spoke.

"Alaina, ano ito? Kanino? Sa'yo ba?" My whole body froze upon hearing papa's serious voice. His eyes wandered on my being till it stopped on my belly. I unconscious held it, as if protecting something that might be in danger. Loud gasps were audible in the whole living room.

"P-pa... M-ma..." My voice quivered in nervousness. I suddenly feel dizzy.

"Sagutin mo ako! Buntis ka ba?!" I couldn't move a limb. The whole situation is suffocating me. Tears started cascading down my cheeks as I looked at papa's eyes. It was full of disappointment and above that all, anger.

"O-opo..." Pagtatapat ko. He then grabbed my arm before forcing me to kneel on the floor. Mama was already crying. I sobbed looking how disappointed they were.

"Sino ang ama, Lai?!" I sobbed harder as realization dawned on me—I cannot tell them that it's Joaquin's. I cannot bring myself to admit the truth, even though It's already held right infront of me. I don't want to hurt Joaquin. He doesn't even know about this yet.

As I shook my head at papa, anger bursted into him, he then goes into their bedroom, walking out while holding his belt. The belt that would always hit me whenever i did some mistakes when i was younger.

It's been years but i could still feel the sting it causes everytime it hits my delicate skin. My whole body shivered in fear. My hands instinctively went to protect my belly. I tried to stand up but he just raised his voice at me again.

"Lumuhod ka. Aminin mo sino ang ama nyan!" Cries were around the house. Mama couldn't move. She's crying and was about to walk towards me when papa warned her. "Huwag mong subukang ipagtanggol yan, Annie. Mayayari sakin 'tong anak mo."

I smiled softly at mama, as i shook my head at her. Tita Andra, and Anya was just watching. There was a grin on their faces. Lola was crying silently, holding Mama's arms. We all know that nothing could stop my father when it comes to teaching me lessons.

"Nahihibang ka na ba, Havier?! Buntis ang anak mo tapos sasaktan mo?!" My mother was still trying to fight for me despite the knowledge that she will never win against my beloved father.

"Buntis ang anak natin ng walang nobyo, at sa tingin mo ikakatuwa ko iyon? Annie, kahihiyan iyon sa pamilya natin!" I flinched upon hearing their voices. My body trembled in fear when the belt clanked on the floor. It made my blood run cold. Then my father turned and looked at me with bloodshot eyes. "Lai, sino ang ama? Sabihin mo na bago pa ako lalong magalit sa'yo."

"Baka naman kasi may nobyo talaga at hindi nyo lang nahuhuli." Puno ng pangaakusang saad ni Tita Andra. Napalingon sakanya ang papa.

"Andra, itigil mo iyan! Hindi ka nakakatulong! Hindi ganyan ang apo ko!" Sabat ni lola. Muling lumipad saakin ang tingin nila.

I shook my head for the nth time. That completely snapped my father's patience. With that i screamed in pain when the belt hits my skin. I was sobbing hard, trying not to fall on the floor completely. I looked over my arm and saw that it's already wounded.