Elaina quietly stares at the blank page of her laptop. Her mind has full of thoughts about her pregnancy, her life and Lorenzo's offer to marry her.
He is persistent. Almost everyday, he keeps on calling and dropping by to her office to visit her, bring foods for her, little things for her and the babies. He even accompanied her to the doctor the other day. And at the end of the day, the question is still the same. If she is going to marry him.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
Marriage. Marriage is for two people inlove with each other. But we are not inlove. Maybe I am attracted to him and that feeling goes deeper but I can't take a marriage without love. I'd rather stay a single mother than imprisoned him in a loveless marriage.
"Aga naman 'nyang muni – muni mo," iyon ang pumukaw sa malalim na pag – iisip ni Elaina.
Nakita niyang nakapasok na pala sa loob ng office ang assistant na si Olivia. Umupo ito sa mesa hindi kalayuan sa kanya at inayos ang mga dala – dalang mga papel.
"Nag – breakfast ka na?" narinig pa niyang tanong nito.
Tumango siya at nagsimulang mag – type sa kaharap na laptop pero kataka – takang wala siyang maisulat doon. Tingin niya ay mukha ni Lorenzo ang nakikita niya.
"Damn," mahina niyang sabi at isinara ang laptop. She rested her head sa headrest ng upuan niya at pumikit.
"Are the twins giving you a hard time again?" narinig niyang tanong ni Olivia.
Nagmulat siya ng mata at nakita na niya itong nag – iisa – isa ng mga bills to pay nila.
Umiling siya at umayos ng upo. "Just thinking of something," tanging sagot niya.
"Hulaan ko, si Lorenzo 'yan 'no?" may ngiti pa ito sa labi at talagang nanunukso ang tingin sa kanya.
Napatawa lang siya at naisabunot ang mga kamay sa buhok.
"He was asking me to marry him," at napasubsob siya sa mga kamay. Narinig niyang tumili si Olivia sa sinabi niya.
"Oh my god! Really?! And you said yes of course," sabi nito.
"No. I cannot accept his marriage proposal. Alam ko naman na dahil sa pagbubuntis ko kaya siya nag – o – offer ng kasal. Ayokong matali siya sa akin dahil sa nadisgrasya niya ako. Paano kung makakita siya ng talagang gusto niya?"
Napairap si Olivia sa narinig na sagot niya.
"Ewan ko sa'yo. Hindi mo naman pinipilit ang sarili mo sa kanya. He is the one offering marriage to you. Huwag mo na lang isipin ang sarili mo. Isipin mo na lang ang mga bata. This is for their future," sagot nito. "And besides, it is so obvious that you really like the guy," nanunudyo pang sabi nito.
"I don't know, Olivia. Lorenzo is a different man. Independent. Hard headed. Hindi ko alam kung paano kami magkakasundo kapag nagsama kami. Besides, marriage is useless if there is no foundation of love," sabi pa niya at muling binuksan ang laptop.
"Marriage can be the start of your love for each other. Come to think of it. Hindi ka naman papayag na walang mangyari sa inyo kung wala kayong attraction sa isa't – isa 'di ba? Love starts there. Hindi naman sa isang snap of your fingers you could be in-love agad."
Napahinga na lang siya ng malalim at napailing. Maaaring may punto ang sinasabi ni Olivia. Her attraction for Lorenzo is really different. Talagang matindi ang nararamdaman niya kapag nakikita niya ang lalaki. Minsan nga iniisip niya baka init lang ng katawan ang nararamdaman niya pero hindi. She has some feelings for Lorenzo and it's not just because he got her pregnant.
Pareho silang napatingin sa tumunog na bell ng pinto dahil sa pagbukas noon. Nakita niyang si Kit Herrera ang naroon at tuloy – tuloy ng pumasok.
"Hi," alanganing bati nito na may mga bitbit na fruits. "You are not answering my calls kaya ako na ang pumunta dito," sabi nito sa kanya.
Saglit na nagpaalam sa kanya si Olivia na lalabas muna para maiwan silang dalawa ng lalaki.
Pinilit niyang ngumiti sa lalaki at nanatiling nakaupo lang.
"Are you sick? I was out of the country the past months kaya hindi na ako nakadalaw after our dinner date. I was sending you some emails, texts and I even called you pero you are not returning it," damang – dama niya ang pag – aalala sa boses nito ng umupo sa kaharap na upuan niya.
"Kit, I am pregnant. It's my sixth month already and I am having twins."
Nakita niyang natigilan ang lalaki sa sinabi niya at nanatiling nakatingin sa mukha niya.
"So, whatever is your motive of getting close to me, you can kill it now," sabi pa niya. "I am so sorry for not telling you. I have lots of things running in my mind."
"I just wanted to be your special friend, Elaina." Tanging sabi nito. "And who cares if you are pregnant? You still look beautiful to me," sabi pa nito at ngumiti ng matamis sa kanya.
"Napaka – bolero mo talaga, Kit. Huwag na ako. Marami pang babae diyan na walang excess baggage."
"I am a complicated person. Mas gusto ko ang may excess baggage," natatawang sabi nito. "And besides, kung tinakbuhan ka man ng tatay ng twins mo, I can be here to help you raise them."
"You don't know what you're saying. You just met me and now you are telling me to help raise my kids? Baka nabibigla ka? Maraming ibang babae, Kit. Huwag na ako," pakiusap niya.
Dumukwang sa mesa ang lalaki para mapalapit sa kanya at hinawakan ang kanyang kamay.
"Elaina, I don't care what happened to you. I like you. I like you a lot. This journey of yours now, hindi mo 'yan kayang dalhin mag – isa. I know you don't have a boyfriend. Magaling akong researcher kaya alam ko. I know you just got pregnant because of a one night mistake. Let me be the one who will help you get through this," sabi pa nito.
Marahang hinilot – hilot ni Elaina ang tila sumakit na ulo. Ano ba naman itong nangyayari sa kanya? Kay Lorenzo nga ay para na siyang masisiraan ng ulo tapos dumagdag pa ang isang ito.
"Now tell me. Who is the father of your twins?"
"Me."
BINABASA MO ANG
CLOSER TO LOVE
RomanceAll Elaina ever wanted was to let Esmeraldo Pacheco, her father, knew about her existence. And to spit on his face because of what he did to her mother. She was willing to do anything just to face the man that wanted her dead. She would do anything...
