The Catch (COMPLETED)

Angler

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I rushed to the hospital as soon as I got the call, bolting out of the meeting, cutting through traffic and driving like a mad man, all the while muttering a prayer like a chant.

"Please. Please. Please, Lord, keep Maine and our baby safe."

I pulled up in front of the hospital in record time, reaching it in only thirty minutes instead of the hour and a half drive that should take me to get there.

I stormed out of the semi-parked car, taking the risk of getting towed instead of wasting another second away from you. I breathlessly barked my question to the ER nurse who immediately directed me to your room.

I sprinted through the hallways and run up the flights of stairs, heart pounding and emotions raging, whispering a plea.

"Mommy, malapit na ako. Hintayin mo ako. Malapit na ako."

I reached your floor in a few minutes and as I turned to the corridor that will lead me to your room, I saw Ivan with your dad and brother talking outside.

"Salamat, Ivan. Kung wala ka doon, hindi ko na alam kung Anong nangyari sa anak ko." Your dad said.

"Wala po yun, Tatay. Sa kabila nang lahat, mahal ko po si Meng at gagawin ko ang lahat para sa kanya. The girls who she overheard talking about her in the restroom came clean to the dean and are now both suspended."

"Thank you, tol. I really hope you guys work things out." Your brother told Ivan.

"Ivan." I called to get their attention.

"Faulkerson! Finally!"

"RJ, tol." Nico nodded and I waved at him.

"Tito, Tol." I waved at them as I caught my breath.

"Some emergency contact. You're almost an hour late."

Your dad stood quietly behind Ivan, staring at me intently.

"Sa lahat ng hospital dito talaga?" I told him.

"It's the nearest one to the university and this is where she should be, under my care." The jerk smiled cockily.

"You're not her fiancé anymore."

"Yeah. You made sure of that." He spat. "Look. I don't know why you're so wired up about this when you should be thanking me. It's a good thing I was there, dude. Just in time to catch her. Literally. And where were you?"

"I was in a meeting. I- I drove as fast as I could. Where is Maine? I have to see her. The baby..."

"Is fine. They're both fine. No thanks to you." Ivan said smugly.

"Nagtataka lang ako." Your dad finally spoke. "Bakit ikaw ang nasa emergency contact ni Meng? Ganoon na ba ngayon? Hindi na tatay, kapatid o mapapangasawa ang nasa ID? Kaibigan na lang?"

"T-Tito kasi po..."

"Oh! This is interesting. Tatay doesn't know. You haven't told him, have you?Can't say I'm surprised because that's exactly the kind of coward that you are. You don't have the balls to tell a man the truth." Ivan chuckled.

"Sumosobra ka na." I yelled and pulled my arm back to swing a punch to his face which would have wiped that smirk off that jerk's face if your brother had not stopped me.

"What, Faulkerson? You're gonna hit me? Go ahead. Masakit ba marinig ang katotohanan? The nerve of you going here, in my family's hospital, and trying to hit me."

"You shouldn't be here. Umalis ka na. Salamat sa tulong mo pero hindi ka kailangan ni Maine dito." I said.

"And she needs you? What have you done for her so far aside from knocking her up and subjecting her to all these stress and humiliation which is why she's here in the first place."

"Ano? RJ ano to?" Your dad asked sternly.

Before I could answer, I felt a strong blow hit my jaw and fell to the floor.

"Putangina mo! Gago!" Nico yelled furiously as he towered over me. He grabbed my collar and pulled me up. "Ikaw? Ikaw ang gumawa nito sa kapatid ko? Tarantado ka!"

He pulled his fist back to hit me again when your dad spoke.

"Nico, tama na yan." He said coldly and stared at me icily. "Bakit? Buo ang tiwala ko, namin sa'yo."

"Tito, sorry po." I whispered. "Pero nagmamahalan po kami ni Menggay. Magpapakasal na po kami. Bubuo po kami ng pamilya. Aalagaan ko po sila at..."

"Hindi." Your dad said determinedly. "Hindi mangyayari yan. Hindi kayo magpapakasal. Iuuwi ko ang anak at apo ko at hindi ka na magpapakita pa sa kanila kahit kailan."

I heard Ivan scoff and I glared at him. I stood motionless and speechless for a while before shoving your brother's hands, which were still groping my shirt, away.

I fixed my shirt, took a deep breath and met your father's eyes with a steady gaze.

"Hindi po. Nasa tamang edad na po kami ni Maine. She's twenty seven at alam ko po kung gaano siya nagsikap para ipagmalaki niyo siya, para tuparin ang mga pangarap niyo para sa kanya. She was always afraid to disappoint you and in turn she never really got to choose what would make her truly happy except for that night na pinili niya ang puso niya, na pinili niya ako."

"Anong alam mo? Anong alam ninyo? Ipinagmamalaki mo na ikaw lang ang magpapasaya sa kanya? Look at where she is now. Napahamak siya at ang magiging anak niya dahil sa'yo."

I was stomped by what your father said. Am I really the best person for you to be with right now? Can I truly make you happy and take care of you and our baby?

"Excuse me po. Gising na po si Miss Me ndoza and she's looking for an RJ. Sino po sa inyo si RJ?"

No one spoke but all three men directed their stares at me. The nurse got the silent message and addressed me.

"Sir, hanap mo kayo ng pasyente pero kayo lang muna po ang pwede pumasok. Bilin po ni doc na isa-isa lang muna ang pwede kumausap kay Ma'am."

She went inside and I stepped to follow her. Your brother stopped me before I can do so by pressing his arm up under my neck.

"The only reason I'm not killing you right now is because my sister cares for you and I care for her. The second you hurt her, you're dead. Do you understand?" Nico said.

"I will never hurt her." I answered.

He then let me go and let me step inside the room where I am met by your weak yet still very beautiful smile.

I smiled back and thought to myself. "We have made mistakes, disappointed a lot of people including your family and I know it won't be easy for us to redeem ourselves but as long as we are together, everything will be alright."

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Unbeta'ed and not proofread.

Just a few more chapters to go. Will they keep holding on? Kayo ba?

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Thank you for reading. xoxo