My Boyfriend is a Freak (Published under Pop Fiction)

62: Vren

I knew from experience that keeping secrets from Mira is a big no. So I figured that the sooner I tell her about Zac, the better.

Yet after countless missed calls and unanswered text messages, I still wasn't able to get in touch with my girlfriend. Which made me wonder — could it be that she was purposely avoiding me? It seemed illogical that it would take her all day to force the "truth" out of Stupid Chase, whatever that may be.

And for all I know, that idiot might be talking about Zac all along. Hindi na ako magtataka kung alam pala ng lalaking 'yon ang tungkol sa itinagong anak ni Bella.

If that's the case, I thought morosely, then I'm really screwed.

****

Since I failed to contact Mira, I resorted to telling my siblings about Zac instead.

To: Vince, Vira

News flash: Bella and I have a son. His name is Zac.

I expected Vira and Vince to flip out upon learning that they have a secret nephew, and it turned out I was not mistaken.

One new message
From: Vince

WTF? Advance Happy Father's Day, bro.

One new message
From: Vira

Vren Andrei, please tell me that you're joking.

They both called to demand my whereabouts, so I mentioned I had just returned to Medialink. I told them not to go rushing to my office, though, because I wanted to be alone.

But despite my insistence, it didn't take long for my office door to open and reveal a wide-eyed, evidently panicked Vira and, behind her, a dumbfounded Vince.

"Dios mio! Where's the kid, Vren? Where is he?" Vira scanned the room, frantic. I would have laughed if not for my current miserable state — my sister was acting as if Zac would be lurking under my office desk.

"Zac is with Tita Ivana," I told her flatly. "You need to calm down, Vira."

"Calm down? How am I supposed to calm down?" She glared at me. "I was in the middle of a peaceful day, and all of a sudden, I received a text message saying that you have a kid named Zac. Are you freaking kidding me?"

Fair point, I thought. But I was too tired to admit I agree with Vira, so I just stared at her.

"Vren's right. There's no need to panic, Ate." Vince placed a calming hand on her shoulder. To his credit, my brother was a lot more levelheaded than our sister — this is probably why he makes such a good doctor. "Bro, tell us how this happened."

I sighed. Truth be told, I still felt too drained to talk about it, but I realized that sooner or later, I would have to tell my family about the specifics of how Zac came to be. Why not do it now, then?

After I finished recounting everything for my siblings, they were silent for a moment.

"Damn it. Bella's one hell of a secret keeper," Vince finally remarked. "I don't understand why she did it, though. Natakot ba siya na hindi mo panindigan ang bata?"

"That's what I suspected, too," I told him. "And frankly, that's like a slap in the face for me. Hindi ko naman alam na iresponsable pala ang tingin sa akin ni Bella."

"Maybe she thought you're too obsessed with work?" my brother suggested.

"Too obsessed with work that I'd rather stay in the office than take care of our child? Thank you very much for making me feel better," sarkastiko kong sagot sa kanya.