Bewitched

CHAPTER SIXTY TWO: Time Bomb

Byron

"Nine months. I still can't believe that it is already nine months." My dad said while we were grilling pork at backyard of their house. We are talking about Yanny.

Hindi din ako makapaniwalang siyam na buwan na kaming mag-asawa ni Yanny. I glance at her. She is holding Ate Jackie's pregnant tummy.

"I knew it! The way you stared at her in Alfonso alam ko ng mahal mo na sya." Dad said with a chuckle.

"Was I really that obvious dad?" Umiiling kong tanong sa kanya. Inakbayan ako ni dad. "Anak na lang ang kulang sa inyo hijo." He whispered to me then he winks.

"Brent! Byron! Hindi pa ba kayo tapos dyan? Aba bawal magutom ang buntis!" My mom shouted.

"Sandali na lang ito mahal!" Dad replied then after ten minutes we headed to the table.

"Kelan ba ang due date mo ha Jacqueline?" My mom asks Ate Jackie.

"Hay naku Tita apat na buwan pa ang hihintayin namin nitong si Rico. Sana babae na." She replied then she smiled at Kuya Rico.

"Aba dapat lang! Pang apat nyo na yan diba Rico?" It was my dad asking. Kuya Rico just smiled.

"Tinanong namin Tito and Tita kung ano ang gusto ni Yanny na maging first baby nila ni Byron and she said baby boy daw." Ate Lilibeth said making Yanny blushed.

"Ang bagal naman kasi nitong si insan Tito. Hindi yata marunong gumawa." Pang-aasar ni Kuya Rico making everyone laugh.

After eating I help Yanny cleaning the dishes. I told her kaya na Manang yung mga hugasin but she still insisted. Matigas talaga ang ulo.

There are still times na nahuhuli ko syang malungkot at parang may malalim na iniisip but I am just happy that it wasn't as often as before. She still won't tell me what's wrong but I guess it's something personal at ayoko namang pilitin syang sabihin pa sa akin kung ano man ito. She told me it's not a big deal kaya wag na daw akong mag-alala.

I hug her from the back as she was putting soap on the plates.

"Baby boy pala ha." I whispered to her. She laughs. "Naki-ride on lang ako kay Ate Jackie at Ate Lilibeth. Ayaw kasi ako tigilan sa katatanong." She said.

I started kissing her neck up and down. "Byron! Akala ko ba tutulungan mo ako dito? You are not helping." She said in a strained voice.

"I don't know how to make babies daw. I want to prove them wrong." I whispered to her. Yanny stiffened and I smiled deep inside. I am finally having an effect on her.

"This is not the right time and place to make babies you know." She said alongside with a moan.

She shrieked when I lifted her up and carried her like we are a newlywed couple. It's been weeks since we last made love. She seems to be not in the mood kaya di na lang ako nag initiate but today I am making her say yes.

"Where are you taking me? Di pa tapos yung hugasin ko." Yanny complained while I carry her upstairs to my old room.

"They can wait." Matipid kong sagot then I lay her down my old bed.

Yanny

I don't know how long I've been staring at Byron's face. Ilang linggo ko ng iniiwasang mangyari ito but it seems as if I have no power over things whenever he starts to kiss me. Byron has this way of making me lose myself.

Babies. I also want that. I want little Byrons running around the house as their laughter fills up the air. I wanted to give Byron that but......

A baby will only complicate things even more.

I can't afford to make things worst. I just can't.

After three days...

"Yanny dad told me that you are always asking about the company." My Ate Tere said when she entered the living room. I decided to visit them because I am afraid to go home. Natatakot ako to be with Byron alone because I might end up doing another mistake.

"I also saw you coming out of Attorney Hervana's office two days ago. Is there something you are not telling us?"

Ate Claudia looks at me with a worried face. Hindi ko inakalang makikita ako ni Ate Tere sa opisina ni attorney. I want to keep our meeting a secret until I can finally tell my sisters about it.

I shrug my shoulders and sigh. I guess I should just tell them.

"Our company can finally stand on its own kahit mawala pa yung partnership natin with the Arevalos. Bakit pa ako maghihintay ng isang taon yung pwede namang maghiwalay na kami ni Byron ngayon?" I said with a heavy heart. My two sisters gasp with disbelief.

"But I thought everything is okay now baby bunso? Hindi ba okay na kayong dalawa ni Byron?" Ate Clau asks and I started crying.

She is right. Everything is going fine with me and Byron that it scares the hell right out of me. I can't bear waking up everyday scared to death na sa araw na yun mawawala na yung epekto ng Love Potion kay Byron. So I decided to pursue our old plan.

I am filing for an annulment.

"Everyday I am so scared na sasabihin na lang bigla sa akin ni Byron na hindi na nya ako mahal. I feel like I am living with a time bomb na any moment pwedeng sumabog. Kaya ngayon pa lang I will set him free hanggang kaya ko pa. Hangga't di pa sobrang sakit na mawala sya." I explained then I started crying heavily.

"I don't understand what you are saying Yanny." I heard my Ate Tere said. I look up and her sad face greeted mine. "The effect of the Love Potion doesn't lasts." I said with trembling voice.

I felt my Ate Clau hugging me. "I am sorry baby bunso. Nagsisisi na tuloy ako why I allowed you to marry him."

"Eto na nga ba ang sinasabi ko! If nakinig lang kayo sa akin then this wouldn't happen. I've been there Yanny. I fell in love with Francis but he didn't. What did I get from that marriage? A heartache!" Ate Tere shouted. "I just want to protect you kasi with her last breath mom told me too keep an eye on dad and both of you."

"I'm sorry." That was all I could say to my sister.

"And how about Byron? Paano na ang posisyon nya sa kumpanya? His name?" Ate Tere asks. It was Byron's main reason for marrying me nine months ago.

"I am going to talk to Tito Brent."

"And tell him what? Na hihiwalayan mo ang anak nya? Anong idadahilan mo?" Sunod sunod na tanong ni Ate Tere sa akin.

I've planning this since last month pati yung mga sasabihin ko kay Tito Brent. If someone is going to take the fall ako yun and not Byron. Ako ang may kasalanan ng lahat ng ito. If hindi ko pinagpilitan na makasal sya sa akin eh di sana di kami naging mag-asawa at di nahulog ang loob ko sa kanya. If I didn't fell for him I wouldn't be so desperate for him to love me back. If I wasn't desperate to make him love me eh di sana di na ako pumunta kay Lola Conching for the Love Potion.

Lahat ng blame they all point at me so if merong mas dapat masaktan dito ako dapat yun at wala ng iba.

"I am just going to remind you Yanny. Hindi lang ikaw at si Byron ang masasaktan sa desisyon mo you will also hurt his family because they have learned to love you too." Ate Clau said.

I covered my face with my hands and cried. Masakit ang gagawin ko pero yun ang tama at nararapat na gawin.