Healed in his arms (De Alleje 1)

Prologue

"Babies are fruits of love... Anya," Tita Glovel uttered in a patient tone. She is talking privately to Ate Anya who got pregnant unwantedly.

Anya keeps sobbing and looks really upset. Nakakaawa siya. She's been like this in the past few days. Lagi siyang tulala, last night I saw her puking in the kitchen sink and she was as white as a sheet!

I was so silly that time to asked her why she was puking na tiyak namang alam niya na alam ko ang dahilan.

It's already late in the evening. Actually hindi ko na dapat sila marinig dahil nagbubulungan lang sila, but since everyone except the three of us are asleep, I could hear them from where I am.

I was upstairs ago, nauhaw ako so I hurried down, I was about to run through the kitchen pero nahinto ako nang marinig ang bulungan nila kaya sinilip ko sila. Ang bait ni Tita Glovel. Napakapasensyosa niya kahit kanino. I wish my mom would be like her.

Impossible.

I watched them as they hugged. For some reason tears escaped my eyes. Perhaps I was just touched of their dramas. But something really unfamiliar filled my heart.

As I closed my eyes, a vivid image flashed into my mind. That tiny, weak and fleshy creature growing inside Anya's womb. Soon it'll come out and call her 'nanay'.

Almost perfect.

Anya will be having a baby... but is she happy about it?

Kaagad na kumalas sa yakapan nila ang dalawa at nagsikilos. Nataranta ako, I'm sure papanhik na sila sa taas. Kaagad akong umalis sa kinatatayuan at tinakbo ang hagdan. Milagrong napawi ang pagkauhaw ko. Marahan akong naglakad pagkarating ko sa palapag. I'm careful not to disturbed my sleeping cousins and Lolo, nang biglang iluwa ng kuwarto nito si Tanner- no doubt he's awake all the while.

He looked at me with stern face. "Hey." Sita niya sa akin sa paos na boses. "What are you doing? You supposed to be in your bed this time." He frowned as he came closer to me.

I rolled my eyes at him. "Why panicking Tan? Bumaba lang naman ako cause I got thirsty!"

Tinitigan niya ako sa mga mata, as though he's searching for evidence there. What the hell is wrong with this one? Para siyang ewan. Nakakasakal na ang pagiging over protective niya.

"Are you sure you didn't go anywhere?"

Here we go again. "Only here inside the house Tanner, I told you I got thirsty. Ba't ba ang kulit mo?"

"I was just concerned about you Catherine. Morris will wring my neck pag may nangyaring masama sa'yo."

"There. You said it already. Morris will wring your neck kaya ka nag-aalala sa'kin, and its not that you were concern. Anyway, nothing to worry about me cause I can take care of my self."

He sighed. "Go to your room and sleep. Pupuntahan mo pa siya bukas,  good night."

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay saka nilagpasan. Pumasok ako sa kwarto ko at sumampa sa malambot na higaan. Bukas pupuntahan ko raw si Morris!

Morris.

I smile like a stupid. I grabbed a pillow and pressed my face in it. I can't wait to see him!

At my age, eighteen I'm already engaged. Kagagawan to ng mga grandparents namin and I thanked them for that! Mahaba-habang istorya kung ba't kami ipinagkasundo.

I was smiling from ear to ear— was the last thing I can remember before dozed off.  Naalimpungatan na lamang ako nang biglang may tumapik sa braso ko.

"Wake up and get crackin'!"

As I opened my eyes nakita ko si Tita Glovel na ipinapasok sa wardrobe ko ang mga bagong laba kong damit. Bakit siya ang nandito ngayon at gumanawa nu'n? Where's Anya?