VODKA [GXG, INTERSEX] (BOOK 1)

Chapter 23

DAWN

"Congratulations," sabi ni Dr. Lennon, the wife of Chief General Lennon, mas lumawak ang ngiti niya. "You're about four weeks along."

I nodded, my mind racing.

Four weeks.

The news felt both surreal and incredibly real. I reached out and touched my stomach, nanginginig ang kamay ko, my heart is pounding.

My mind went straight to the night Dmitri and I did it. I never thought na magbubunga ang nagawa namin ni Dmitri. Well, that was one night pero, oo nga naman, we did it for how many times.

Napakuyom ang kamao ko, I'm scared. Dusk would be mad and disappointed for sure, this wasn't part of my previous mission.

I'm going to keep the baby, of course. I don't have the guts to get rid of my own flesh and blood. Kung mamamatay tao yung isang parent niya, well I'm not. I'm still in the right state of mind, despite these mga happenings sa buhay ko.

I was sitting next to my parents' gravestones, once again. It's already the fourth of November, I was late to visit him.

"Dad... Mom..." I sobbed, "I'm sorry for being a disappointment. My feelings betrayed me, it reflected through my actions. Now, I'm facing the consequences of it. Nagmahal lang naman ako, sa maling tao pa. I was in the momentum, I did really put myself in the shoes of my twin sister. I played a role so seriously that I wish it didn't end. Dmitri made me feel what I've been seeking and looking for, I felt her love that I've been denying from the start. Her love was meant for Dusk, pero ako ang umako. She loved Dusk, not me. However, I do understand. We were both victims of a circumstance that we weren't able to control."

It was suddenly windy, naramdaman kong parang may yumayakap sa akin. I closed my eyes and imagined two figures hugging me, it felt so real as the wind hugged my huddled body. I don't believe in ghosts but I kinda felt the presence of my parents, it seems like they're comforting me which made me weep even more than I just did.

"Iha, okay ka lang ba diyan? I think, it's going to rain. Sasabayan ka talaga nila kuya na iiyak, look at that gloomy sky." I looked up at Tita Selene, sinamahan niya akong bisitahin ang parents ko. She stayed in the car awhile ago to give me a moment.

She helped me up, I let out a small smile when I looked up in the sky. It was sunny when I got here, but it got gloomy after kong umiyak.

"I have to go, Dad, Mom. See you soon," I stared at their gravestones one last time before kami bumalik sa sasakyan.

"Manong, sa mansion tayo." Tita ordered her driver. She then turned to me, "Marami tayong pag-uusapan, Dawn."

She seemed serious, tumango lang ako at hindi na umimik pa. It took a ten-minute drive, nasa bahay na kami.

Kami na lang dalawa ulit ang natira dito, I hope Dusk and Vaughn were doing better in America.

Naupo kaming dalawa sa sofa, the maids served us tea. Wait, talagang spilling of teas na ba.

"Iha, care to explain to me what has been happening to you?" She started. Yumuko ako, I played with my hands. "Cause someone went to my office."

Napatingin ako sa kanya, "Sino po, Tita?"

"Vanity Antonov," she responded.

"P-po?"

"She went there and asked something, it's about you. That's why I'm going to ask you first, please tell me what's your connection with her daughter. I'm so confused right now, pati si Dusk, she's also involved here. Anong pinaggagawa ninyong kambal, kindly explain everything to me para maliwanagan ako. I've been waiting for the perfect time to talk to you, and I'm grabbing this chance." Tita explained.

I can see that she's very much confused and eager to tell me more, pero hinihintay niya muna akong magsalit. Now I'm also confused kung ano ang pinag-usapan nila ng Dad ni Dmitri.

I released a heavy sigh before I spoke, "Vodka Dmitri, she's the daughter of Tita Vanity. Four years ago, may naging relasyon sila ni Dusk that she didn't even bother to tell us. Nabuntis siya ni Dmitri, that's why pumunta siya sa America."

"Ohh, now I see," napaisip siya. "Vanity said that Dusk had betrayed Vodka- ano ba namang pangalan yan, may saltik talaga yang si Vanity at alak ang ipinangalan sa anak niya. Anyway, she said that Dusk betrayed Vodka?"

"Dusk called the cops on Dmitri because she murdered someone, but to Dmitri's defense, ang sabi niya sa akin... she only did that because that person was making rape-jokes about my twin sister-"

"What? Grabe ha. I understand her reason, pero it's not enough to kill a person." She sipped on her tea.

"Yes, I was surprised too. But now I can see why she's capable of doing such things." I paused. "When Dusk came back and enrolled at the university, nakalaya na din pala si Dmitri and also enrolled there. It was a coincidence that Dmitri and I had the same course, ako ang una niyang nakita sa university kaya napagkakamalan niyang ako si Dusk."

"Oh? Bakit hindi niyo man lang na-chika sa akin na may ganyan pala kayong drama ni Dusk?" She asked.

"Let me continue, Tita."

"Oh yeah, sorry iha. Sige go." Humigop ulit siya sa kanyang tsaa.

"I decided to tell Dusk about this, well I doubted to tell her since I sensed that Dmitri is dangerous. She was aggressive when she first met me at the university. We also told Luna about this, we made up a plan. My mission is to cover up Dusk and pretend to be her. That was to give her time to decide about their daughter, she mentioned that The Antonov are a crime syndicate at ayaw niyang ma-involve si Vaughn doon. I did that mission for the two of them, especially that it's for the future of Vaughn." I paused and sipped my tea as well.

She waited for me to continue, I can see that she's processing what I've just revealed to her.

"But, in the long run. I can't help but to fall in love with Dmitri. I can't control it Tita, it's just... I did try to deny and-" I shook my head, tears were forming in my eye again. I felt her rub my back.

"Sige lang, ilabas mo,"

I guess, hindi niya narinig yung mga sinabi ko kanina sa parents ko.

"Tita, I'm in love with a criminal."

"Same."

"H-ha?"

"Well, was. Vanity was my ex-girlfriend. But things happen, tsaka ko na lang ikuwento sayo at the right time. Since, moment mo naman ito." She smiled at me, and comforted me more. "Actually... Vanity went there to my office seeking for your hand in marriage with her daughter."

"W-what?" I wiped my tears and looked at her, gulat ko siyang tinignan.

"Ikaw daw makakatulong kay Vodka."

Yumuko ako, I don't know if I can. "There's one more thing, Tita..." I said, my voice barely whispered.

"Okay? What is it?" She asked curiously, her eyes filled with a mixture of concern and anticipation.

"I'm carrying her child." I admitted, the words tumbling out of my mouth like a confession. The weight of the revelation pressed down on me, a crushing burden that I couldn't escape.