HIDING HIS DAUGHTER (UNDER EDITING)

CHAPTER 37

ANGELA'S POV

Napatingin ako kay Althea. She looked a bit sad, not her usual cheerful self, kaya nilapitan ko ito. My heart always aches a little when my baby isn't smiling.

"Baby," tawag ko sa kanya, gently stroking her hair.

"Mommy," she replied, but it was spoken without her usual enthusiasm. Her tone was flat.

Ano bang nangyayari sa anak ko? Hindi naman siya ganito. Usually, she'd be bouncing with energy or asking a million questions.

"Tingnan mo, 'nak, malapit nang lumabas si baby. Magiging ate ka na, 'nak," sabi ko, trying to lighten her mood by talking about her future sibling. Bumaba naman ang tingin niya sa tiyan ko.

Matalim niyang tiningnan ang tiyan ko. It was an intense stare for such a young child, and a shiver ran down my spine.

"I don't want it, I hate it, Mommy," sigaw niya, her voice filled with an unexpected venom.

"Why, baby?" tanong ko, surprised and a little hurt by her strong reaction.

"I changed my mind. I don't want a sibling. I want to be the only one, Mommy. I want to be your only child with Daddy," she declared, her eyes fixated on my growing belly. My breath hitched when she suddenly grabbed a knife from the fruit basket on the bedside table.

"A-anak, put that down," I said, my voice trembling. My heart pounded against my ribs. This was wrong. This wasn't Althea.

"If I stab your belly, Mommy, will the baby disappear? I don't want a sibling, Mommy," she said, her voice eerily sweet, yet her lips curled into a chilling smirk.

"A-anak," naghahalo ang nararamdaman ko. There was confusion, pain, and disbelief, pero mas matimbang ang nararamdaman kong takot. Pure, unadulterated fear.

Humakbang siya papalapit sa akin, the knife glinting under the dim bedroom light.

At akmang isasaksak niya sa tiyan ko ang kutsilyo nang may humarang.

No... My world crumbled.

Bumagsak ang luha ko nang makita ko na si Jaiden ang humarang. He stood between us, shielding me with his own body. Nginitian niya ako, a small, sad smile that ripped through my soul.

"Run, love," sabi niya, his voice a strained whisper, bago siya tuluyang bumagsak sa sahig. The knife protruded from his chest, a stark, terrifying reality.

"N-no, n-no, n-no!" paulit-ulit na sabi ko, umiiling. My mind refused to accept what my eyes were seeing.

Hindi totoo 'to. It couldn't be.

"M-mommy," Althea's voice was soft, laced with a disturbing sweetness.

Nanginginig akong tumakbo palabas, leaving everything behind. My legs felt like lead, but I pushed myself, fueled by a primal need to escape.

Patuloy na naglalandas ang luha ko, blurring my vision.

Napatingin ako sa likod ko nang hinahabol niya ako. F*ck.

Umakyat ako sa may hagdan, my breath coming in ragged gasps. Nang napatingin ako sa likod ko, ay wala siya. Nakahinga naman ako nang maluwag, just for a second.

Ngunit nanlata ako nang makita ang anak ko sa harap ko, blocking my path at the top of the stairs.

"Gotcha," nakangiting sabi niya, her eyes glinting.

"B-baby," nauutal ngunit lumuluhang sabi ko, my voice barely audible.

"Ahhh!" sigaw ko nang isasaksak na niya sa akin ang kutsilyo.

"Mommy, Mommy!" Nagmulat ako ng mata. I was back in our bedroom. My heart was still racing, but the scene had changed. Nakita ko ang anak ko na nakaupo sa kama malapit sa akin, her face filled with concern. Si Jaiden naman ay nasa kabila, already awake and looking at me with worry.

Umupo ako, hingal na hingal ako. My body was drenched in cold sweat.

Hinalikan ni Jaiden ang noo ko, saka niya pinunasan ang luha ko. His touch was real, reassuring.

"It was just a dream, love," Jaiden said, his voice a soothing balm.

"Mommy, are you okay?" Tanong ni Althea, saka yumakap sa akin. Her embrace was warm, loving. This was the real Althea.

"Baby," sabi ko, clutching her tight, needing to feel her presence, her warmth.

"What was it, Mommy?" Tanong niya, her innocent eyes searching mine.

"Ah, wala, anak, okay lang ako," sabi ko, lying, but mariin akong napapikit. Tama, panaginip lang. Hindi 'yon totoo.

"Ang sama ng panaginip ko," sabi ko, still shaken.

"Ano ba ang panaginip mo, love?" Tanong ni Jaiden, his curiosity piqued.

"Oo nga po, Mommy," sang-ayon ni Althea, pulling back to look at me.

"Buntis ako sa panaginip ko, tapos gustong patayin ni Althea 'yung baby sa tiyan ko. Tapos, nung isasaksak niya sa akin 'yung kutsilyo doon, humarang ka, love, tapos ikaw 'yung sinaksak ni Althea," sabi ko, recounting the terrifying dream.

"Hmm, then what?" Jaiden asked, surprisingly calm.

"Then you told me to run, because Althea was chasing me. She really wanted to target my belly, she didn't want a sibling in my dream," sabi ko, the details still vivid.

Tumawa lang si Jaiden saka si Althea. Their laughter was a stark contrast to the dream's horror.

"Kabaligtaran naman po, Mommy, e! Gustung-gusto ko nga po ng kapatid. Bakit ko naman 'yan gagawin?" sabi ni Althea, still chuckling.

"I know, baby, pero kaya mo bang makipaglaban? Kaya mong humawak ng kutsilyo?" Tanong ko, my tone now serious. This was the real issue.

Nakita ko ang paglunok ni Althea saka ni Jaiden. Saka sila umiwas ng tingin. Tinaasan ko silang dalawa ng kilay.

Talagang magkasabwat ang mag-amang ito. My suspicion grew.

"JAIDEN!" tawag ko sa pangalan niya, my voice firm.

"D-daddy, I t-think you can h-handle this, hehe," nauutal na sabi ni Althea, saka akmang lalabas nang binuhat siya ni Jaiden. He caught her in mid-escape.

Napakurap-kurap ang anak ko. Gusto kong matawa sa dalawang ito, despite my anger.

"Sabay nating harapin ang galit ng Mommy mo, baby," sabi ni Jaiden kay Althea, a hint of amusement in his voice.

"But Daddy, why am I involved?" she asked, looking utterly betrayed.

"Napakagagaling ninyong dalawa, ano?" sabi ko sa kanila. Alanganin naman silang ngumiti sa akin, caught red-handed.

Huling-huli.

"Marunong kang makipaglaban?" Tanong ko sa anak ko directly.

"F*ck!" mura ni Jaiden. Kaya sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. Naging parang maamong tupa nanaman siya.

"D-daddy, M-mommy is scary," mahinang sabi ni Althea kay Jaiden, but I heard it.

"You know you can't lie, Althea Jane," seryoso ang boses ko.

"M-mommy, kasi po..." Nakangusong sabi niya, pero nakayuko siya.

"Kasi po?" Tanong ko, urging her to confess.

"Kasi po, Mommy, tinuruan ako ni Uncle Anthony na lumaban at gumamit ng iba't ibang armas po," nakangusong sabi niya, finally spilling the beans.

"And you?" Turo ko kay Jaiden, who visibly gulped.

"W-what, love?" Nauutal din si Jaiden, trying to play dumb.

"Alam mo?" Tanong ko.

"Hindi," agap ni Jaiden, which made Althea raise an eyebrow.

"Daddy!" biglang sabi ni Althea, clearly calling him out.

"Mommy, sabi nga ni Daddy, okay lang po," sabi ni Althea, trying to defend her father.

"Love, by the way, your daughter has a crush," sabi ni Jaiden, trying to change the subject, kaya napakunot ang noo ko.

Bakit ba iniiba ang usapan? And who naman ang crush ng anak ko na 'yan?

"Ka-bata-bata pa, may crush ka nang nalalaman, ha, baby!" Sabi ko, kaya napanganga siya.

"Mommy, hindi po gawa-gawa lang 'yan ni Daddy," sabi ni Althea.

"Well, Mommy, Daddy said he would po-" Hindi natapos ni Althea ang sasabihin nang tinakpan ni Jaiden ang bibig niya.

"What do you want, baby?" Jaiden asked, trying to distract her.

"Ayiee, really, Daddy?" Tanong ni Althea, sensing an opportunity.

"Of course," sagot naman nitong si Jaiden.

"What is this?" I asked strictly, my eyes narrowed at both of them.

"N-nothing, love," Jaiden said, avoiding my gaze.

"Yes, Mommy, nothing. You'll find out soon, but not now. Oh, by the way, Daddy, I want Jollibee," sabi ni Althea, and she looked at me again.

"Mommy, g-galit ka po b-ba?" Nauutal na tanong ni Althea sa akin, sensing my displeasure.

"No, I'm not angry, baby, but I'm worried. You're too young for this, and you already know how to fight. Tinuruan ka kamo ni Kuya Anthony, paano kung nabali ang buto mo, anak?" Tanong ko, my concern overriding my anger. Napayuko naman siya.

"Sa paggamit ng iba't ibang armas, kamo na 'yan, paano kung mamali ka ng hawak? 'Yung posisyon ng paghawak mo, paano kung masugatan ka, masaktan ka?" Sabi ko, laying out all my fears.

"S-sorry, Mommy, I promise I'll tell you everything I do, and everything Uncle Anthony teaches me," sabi niya, her voice small.

"Don't listen to your Uncle Anthony," ani ko firmly.

"But why, Mommy?" Tanong ni Althea, looking genuinely puzzled.

"Sometimes he'll teach you things that don't make sense. If that happens, leave," sabi ko, sending a clear warning about her uncle's sometimes questionable methods.

"You're so mean to me, Angela," rinig kong boses ni Kuya Anthony, who was standing at the door. He must have heard everything.

Ngumiti lang ako kay Kuya. "Sige na, punta ka na kay Xianna. Tumitino ka lang kapag nasa tabi mo si Xianna," sabi ko, and Jaiden and Althea both laughed.

"Tsk," sabi niya, saka naglakad palayo, probably heading to Xianna.

Pero maya-maya lang, ay bumalik ulit.

"Kakain na raw. Magsibaba na kayo diyan," sabi niya, and walked away again, this time definitely heading to the dining area.