HIDING HIS DAUGHTER (UNDER EDITING)

CHAPTER 4

ANGELA'S POV

"You know, Kuya Alvin, it would be so much better if Angela in the Philippines-not somewhere else far away" Nakapangalumbabang sabi ni Kuya Anthony while reaching for an apple from my bowl.

"Kuya naman e! Akin ito, tapos ikaw lang ang kakain ng lahat?!" I said in an irritated tone, snatching the bowl back before he could take another piece. My voice came out sharper than I intended, but my whole body was already feeling off-like every little thing was getting on my nerves more than usual.

"Ang sungit mo naman talaga ngayong buntis ka na saka..." He chuckled, still trying to grab the apple from my hands. Even his smile was starting to get on my nerves, but deep down I knew he was just being his usual playful self.

"Don't you dare annoy your sister like that, Anthony-you know how important it is for her to stay calm right now," Mom scolded him gently, placing a plate of warm food on the dining table. Her hands were shaking a little as she set down the plate, and I noticed dark circles under her eyes like she hadn't been sleeping well.

"Come on Mom, it's just fun! Ang sarap kaya pikunin ni Angela-she's always been so serious even before she got pregnant!" Lalong lumakas ang tawa ni Kuya Anthony this time, at iniwas ko na lang ang tingin ko sa kanya, dahil sa biglaang paggalaw ay nagpapintig ang ulo ko.

"Mom, where's Dad? Why are only you, Kuya Alvin, and Kuya Anthony here? And where's Kuya Adrian too? He never misses family dinners like this" Tanong ko, nakapatong ang kamay ko sa tiyan ko dahil bigla akong tinamaan ng matinding cramp. Mabilis lang, pero sapat na ang sakit para mapangiwi ako.

"Dad's at the office-he's been handling some urgent matters at the company these past few days" Kuya Alvin answered, his eyes glued to his phone as he typed away rapidly. He looked stressed too, his jaw tight like he was holding back something he couldn't say.

"Then what about Kuya Adrian? Is he with Dad too?" I pressed further because I had a bad feeling in my gut-tiyak na may mali, at lahat ay kumikilos na parang itinatago nila ito sa akin.

"May inutos si Dad sa kanya na kailangang tapusin ngayon lang. Medyo confidential pa raw kasi," Sabi ni Kuya Anthony tapos biglang tumikhim siya kasama na rin si Kuya Alvin.

"Nakakapagtaka talaga... One day the company is doing fine, then the next thing we know we lost 300 billion pesos just like that..." Biglang sabi ni Mom tapos napahawak sa noo niya parang nahihilo.

"Mom/My!" Both my brothers called out at the same time, their voices sharp with warning. They looked at Mom like she'd just said something she shouldn't have, and that made me even more worried.

"Ano po?! Bakit ang laki ng nawala? Kailan pa 'to nangyari?! Bakit hindi niyo ako sinabihan?!" Gulat na gulat kong tanong saka biglang kumirot ulit yung tiyan ko-mas sakit pa kaysa kanina.

"Nung nakaraang linggo lang, anak. Hindi ka namin sinabihan kasi baka mabigla ka tapos ma-stress" Sabi ni Mom habang lumalapit sa akin para hawakan yung balikat ko.

"My, Angela, you really can't afford to be stressed right now-the doctor specifically said any kind of tension could be dangerous for you and the baby," Kuya Alvin said firmly, putting his phone down at last to look at me directly. His eyes were filled with worry, and I knew he was only saying this because he cared.

"I'm okay, Kuya-I promise. But 300 billion is not a small amount! How could something like that just disappear without anyone noticing?" I said, trying to keep my voice steady even though my hands were starting to shake. The cramps were coming more often now, every few minutes, and each one was stronger than the last.