Ever After Contract

Chapter 20

Dahil di mapakali si Cornelia sa dahilan ng pagsama ng kanyang pakiramdam ay bumili siya ng pregnancy kit bago pumasok ng araw na yun, ngunit, nakalimutan niya itong gamitin agad bunsod ng biglaang schedules at trabaho na dapat tapusin before the weekend.

She was assigned to fly off with their team to Siem Reap for a shoot. They will leave on Saturday for a five day shoot sa Angkor Wat.

Pinaalam niya ito kay Carlos. He is supposed to drive her to the airport on Saturday ngunit nagkataon naman that he has a scheduled breakfast meeting also kasama ng ama niya with a business associate. So she told him na magta-taxi na lang siya.

It was already Thursday nang naalala niya ang pregnancy kit. She came across it on her purse while she was packing her things for the trip. Kinuha niya agad ito at binasa ang instructions. Hindi pa rin dumarating yung period niya pero hindi rin naman naulit yung pagsusuka niya at pagsama ng pakiramdam.

Timing ngayon at wala pa si Carlos, katulad niya naging busy rin ito this week due to a very important business deal. Kaya medyo ginagabi ito sa pag-uwi.

She decided to do the test so she went to the bathroom.

Palakas ng palakas ang pagkabog ng dibdib ni Cornelia habang hinihintay ang result. Nakasandal lang siya sa bathroom wall habang hindi inaaalis ang tingin niya sa pregnancy stick sa may sink.

“Oh my… Oh my God!” Sambit ni Cornelia habang kinuha ng nanginginig niyang kamay ang pregnancy stick.

PREGNANT.

Ito ang klarong lumabas na resulta sa stick.

Halos hindi siya makahinga ng maayos sa sobrang lakas ng pagkabog ng kanyang dibdib. Hinarap ni Cornelia ang kanyang repleksiyon sa salamin na namumutla.

She’s having a baby…

She’s pregnant with Carlos’ child!
Pumatak ang luha sa kanyang mga mata on this realization.

She is somewhat happy for herself. Never in her million thoughts na naisip niya that she will have a child this early. And with Carlos.

Kaya she is also worried at the same time.

Bumuhos ang kanyang mga luha. How will she tell him? She knows that Carlos is not ready for the responsibility and commitment. Kaya nga their agreement and arrangement is just physical.

   But, she must tell him.

Kinapa niya ang kanyang puson. It is not still visible ofcourse and except for the episode ng pagsusuka niya, wala pa naman siyang naramdamang pagbabago sa kanyang katawan. Pero alam niya that she must be objective and she should have a plan on her condition considering that their marriage is just for a year only.

First things first, though uncertain on what will be the reception of her husband on this development, she will tell him. But she should be 100% sure that she is pregnant so dapat makapunta siya ng doctor before leaving for Siem Reap. And if the result is the same, which she is positive na ganun na nga, she must be ready for Carlos’ reaction and decision.

Pinahiran niya ang kanyang mga nalalabing luha at muling tiningnan ang sarili sa salamin, bahagya siyang napangiti. Nakikita niya ang sarili habang hawak-hawak ang isang sanggol. All of her life, sarili lang niya at ang kanyang Papa at Nana ang mga taong alam niyang hindi siya iiwan. Ngayon, she’s given a gift, a blessing, somebody who she can call her own. Hindi pa rin siya makapaniwala. She’s having a baby with the man that she loves.

Kaya, bahala na kung ano yung magiging reaksiyon dito ni Carlos. She will be there for their child, no matter what.

May kakaibang saya sa kanyang dibdib na nagbabantang umapaw habang pinagpatuloy niya ang kanyang pag-iimpake.

Nang nakompleto na lahat ng kanyang kailangang dalhin for the shoot ay napatingin si Cornelia sa orasan. It’s already ten o’clock at wala pa rin si Carlos.

She reached for her cellphone to send him a message na mauuna na siyang matulog.

There! Message sent.

Hay naku… If only they have a normal relationship and a normal marriage.

She could only wish and dream.