Giving In

Chapter 6

               Mari was tense as the days went by. It was Saturday when she had the confrontation with Liam. It was Tuesday now and she hasn't heard from Liam yet. He's rarely at the office coz he's more often at the site where their company has undergoing projects. Mas kinakabahan siya. Kung nakuha ni Liam ang address niya, madali na lang para dito ang makuha nag cellphone number niya. Pero kahit text wala. It was terrifying for her to have to wait and expect the worst. Paano na lang meron na lang siyang matanggap ng summon galing sa korte or whatever that's called para sa korte na sila magharap ni Liam.

She already considered that possibility that once Liam finds out, he'd want joint custody or even visitation rights. But she thought that possibility small because she prefers to believe that even if Liam finds out about their daughter, he still wouldn't want anything to do with either of them. But basing on his reaction last Saturday, she was greatly mistaken. What he said about her made it clear, he may not have said it explicitly, but she knows she's not the woman he wants to be the mother of his children.

It was around twelve noon nang biglang bumukas ang pinto ng office at iniluwan si Liam. It was like being punched in the gut. Minsan nga lang kasi si Liam sa office, iilang beses lang ito sa isang lingo pumunta, usually, galing ng site or may dinaanan lang bago pumunta ng site. So it came as a surprise to Mari to see him without hearing from him since the last time they were within each other's presence.

Dumeretso ito sa kanya at ang iilang empleyado na hindi lumabas during lunch break or nakabalik na, napatingin agad sa kanilang dalawa. The suppressed anger in Liam was showing. "Let's go to my father's office. Kailangan nating mag-usap," may pagtitimping sabi nito.

Mari wanted so bad to refuse but she hates making a scene or being in one. Wala ang tatay nito ngayon kaya pwede nilang gamitin ang opisina nito but Mari still has second thoughts. She was calmer and able to think more clearly now. But she still couldn't think her way out of this present predicament.

Sumunod na lang siya kay Liam nang nakayuko. Halata naman na di tungkol sa trabaho ang pag-uusapan nila. "Sabihin mo nga Mari. Bakit ka nagtago mula sa akin? You couldn't have given me the time to get used to the fact that you were pregnant? Oo mali naging reaksyon ko Mari, pero sapat na ba yun na dahilan para ipagkait mo sa akin ang anak ko?"

The hurt Mari felt already turned to rage as Liam slowly made it seem as if she was entirely at fault. Anong karapatan nito? She'll talk her way out of Liam's life, one way or another. She could argue with her sister who was a lawyer by profession. Madali na lang siguro sa kanya ang baliktarin si Liam. Mari grinned evilly at him. "Don't be so full of yourself Liam. Di kita pinagtaguan. I simply left the city and went home during the break. Nag-enrol pa nga ako ng summer after your graduation and while you were reviewing for your board exam. But unlike before, I cut myself from everyone I know. Wala akong naging social life. It was easier when not a single one of my friends enrolled during the summer. My parents got me the condo and pinasamahan ako sa isang katulong. So don't blame me if I didn't make the effort to give you a responsibility you clearly didn't want. Nagkulang ka Liam. Wag mo sa akin isisi lahat."

"Damn it Mari! I was waiting for you to call me! Busy rin ako noon, alam mo yan! Oo na! kasalanan ko na! I wanted to give you time because I thought that was what we both needed. I wanted you to decide what you really wanted!" Liam was past caring whether the employees outside heard him or not. The Mari facing him right now was so different from the sobbing Mari from last Saturday. Delikado tong babaeng kaharap niya ngayon. "Ang pagkakamali ko lang ay ang hayaan ka. I waited for around a month for you to call me pero wala. When I tried to look for you, wala ka na sa dorm mo and the school wouldn't give me your address or anything because it was against the policy. Di ko rin naman kilala mga kaibigan mo kaya paano kita mahahanap. And I had my review. Nagkulang ako sa effort pero sana naman Mari inintindi mo ako. A baby at twenty one wasn't something I planned but when I was getting used to the idea, I didn't hate it. Yung mga kinuha kong tao para hanapin ka wala ring sinabi sa akin. They traced you to your house in the province but your parents lied about where you were. Siguro naman di mo na sa akin isisi yun. Nagkulang ako sa effort pero kailangan mo bang makaganti gamit anak ko?"

Mari was shocked to know he put a little effort into finding her. Ang buong akala niya, kinalimutan lang siya nito. Alam niyang may naghanap sa kanya sa bahay nila sa probinsya and she has considered the possibility that it might have been Liam but she chose to ignore it. As if naman may pakialam talaga ito. "Eh di wow! Anong gusto mo? Magpasalamat ako sayo dahil nag effort ka ng konti na hanapin ako? Kapal mo rin no?" Mari laughed but it was devoid of genuine amusement. "Alam mo ba anong totoong dahilan bakit di na kita kinulit Liam? I know what you really think of me. I know you think of me as nothing more than a social climbing, gold digging probinsyana na di matatanggap ng pamilya mong sobrang taas, no mere mortal could reach you. You said it yourself. I wouldn't be accepted by your family. Bakit ko ipipilit sarili ko sayo? You probably think me unfit to carry your child. You would have either taken my baby from me coz you didn't think me suitable to raise her or made my life a living hell if I stayed with you. I chose neither. If you're wondering how I know, I heard it from you. Sayo mismo nanggaling Liam. Those were your exact words. Lasing ka nun but drunk people are more honest diba? I have my daughter and I have my pride. I didn't need you. I didn't need anything from you. I rather face being the disgrace of my family than ask you for anything. Para ano pa? Para mapatunayan mong mga hinala mo tungkol sa akin? Na pera mo at estado sa buhay habol ko? Hell will freeze over before I ask you for anything Liam."

Mari's chest was heaving after all that she said. Namutla naman si Liam. He couldn't believe what she said. He remembers that time. Nag-iinuman sila at nagtatanong ang kaibigan niya tungkol sa kanila ni Mari. He had a very high opinion of himself then. Typical rich boy self-centeredness. He refused to admit the fact that Mari was more than a fuck buddy, he had to tell himself she wasn't worthy of him. At narinig yun ni Mari. Now he was paying the high price for his immaturity and stupidity.

"Consider this my resignation. It may be verbal but it is no less binding. Ayaw ko nang makita pagmumukha mo. And say goodbye to that property by the beach you were eyeing for your new project, narinig ko si Ma'am Eve at ang Daddy mo nag-uusap tungkol dun. It happens to be my grandfather's property and is being divided between my father and his siblings. Hindi ako makakapayag na sayo mapupunta yun. So you see Liam? Di man ako kasingyaman mo, di ako mahirap. You can go to hell to, Liam, and take your opinion with me as a gold digger with you."

Author's note:

So this chapter, I honestly don't know what happened. Lol. This isn't the way I planned it it. Di ko masyado napag-isipan to, sa totoo lang. Lol. Napasobra yata ang galit ni Mari and masyado yatang naging OA mga sinabi ni Liam hahaha. I always make my characters rational and realistic. Di ko alam anong nangyari dito.

COMMENT KAYO HAHAHA KAHIT VIOLENT REACTION.