JENNIE
"Lisa..." I sighed as I held the phone in my hand. "I'm not sure ready na akong sabihin kay Dad. Natatakot ako."
"It's been a week, Jennie. We can't hide this forever. Soon, it'll show." I heard him sigh.
"I don't know if I can do this." My voice squeaked.
"We'll do it together. You know, just like how we did the baby."
"Gago ka talaga! For once, seryosohin mo naman ito. We're going to be dead, Lisa! DEAD! Papatayin tayo ni Dad kapag nalaman niya ito. Why do I feel like you're treating this as a joke?"
"I am not, Jennie. Believe me. I'm just trying to make the most out of my remaining days here on earth."
"Halos mabaliw na ako kakaisip kung paano ko ipaliliwanag sa kanila tapos ikaw ginagawa mo lang biro ito! Palibhasa hindi kasi ikaw ang nabuntis!" I swallowed the sob rising in my throat.
"Jennie... I'm sorry, okay? Please don't cry. I know our situation is difficult by I'll be with you every step." His voice was soothing and gentle.
"Hindi mo kasi ako naiintindihan. I'll be the one carrying this child. Ako ang lalaki yung tiyan. Ako ang mapapag-usapan. You can get away with this and I can't! How will I even explain this to people? Ano ang sasabihin ko sa kanila? Na nabuntis ako ng bestfriend ko?" My voice shook as tears began to sting my eyes.
I heard another sigh on the other end of the line. And then it went dead.
"Lisa? Hoy, Lisa!" I screamed and then there was nothing but beeps. I angrily threw my phone to my bed. I already felt scared and now I was abandoned by the only person who knows about my situation. Maybe he got fed up with me being a bitch to him 24/7. What would happen to me now?
I slipped into my bed and buried my face into my pillow to muffle my sobs as I cried.
Bumukas ang bintana sa kwarto ko. Lisa climbed into my room and carefully sat on the edge of my bed.
"Hey, are you crying?" He tucked some hair behind my ear. "Jennie, bakit umiiyak ka?"
"Ikaw kasi! Binabaan mo ako ng phone!" Humihikbing sabi ko. "I thought... I thought you've abandoned me..."
"Abandon you?" He looked surprise. "Binaba ko lang yung phone kasi pupuntahan kita. Scoot a little will you?"
Umurong ako at tumabi siya sa akin. He wrapped his arm around my waist and rested his hand on my tummy.
"I know things are hard right now but it never crossed my mind to abandon you. Sa tingin mo pababayaan kitang mag-isa? No matter what happens I'll be here for you and the baby."
"You don't get me. You only have to worry about my Dad and your parents but I also have to worry about what other people will think of me. Ni hindi ko nga boyfriend ang nakabuntis sa akin. I got pregnant by my bestfriend. By you..."
"Why do you make it seem like a bad thing? I mean, it's bad that you got pregnant at a young age but come on, it's not really worse than getting pregnant by a boyfriend. Hindi mo man ako boyfriend, special ang relationship natin. We know each other more than any of the people around us. Not everyone will understand our situation but what really matters is that we understand each other."
"I'm scared."
"I am too. But why should we? Whether we like it or not, the baby will come and change our lives." He began stroking my tummy.
"Ano ang sasabihin natin kay Daddy?" I sniffed.
"The truth." He answered and wiped away my tears. "Mabuti pa matulog ka na. Everything will be okay. Kapag nasabi na natin bukas makakahinga na tayo ng maluwag."
