YOU ARE MY HOME

Chapter 20

"Where am I?" I asked as soon as I woke up. Hero suddenly stood up and moved towards me, looking worried and upset.

"We're in a clinic, Zac. You suddenly fainted so I brought you here, " nag-aalalang sabi ni Hero. "You got me worried!"

My eyes roamed around the place and seeing the machines and all medical stuff, we're definitely inside a clinic.

"How long had I been ...sleeping?" tanong ko at sinubukang maibangon ang katawan ko pero pinigilan ako ni Hero na gawin iyon. In the end, I remained lying in bed.

I remember the moment I lost my consciousness. It felt like everything inside me was sinking all at once.

"You passed out for like 2 hours, I guess," he said.

After few minutes, a middle-aged woman wearing a medical gown stepped inside and examined me. She must be the doctor.

"How are you feeling, Ms. Dominguez?" asked the doctor after checking on my vital signs.

"Medyo okay na, Doc. Something feels quivering inside but I guess it's all because of the food I had eaten the whole day," I answered.

"It's normal for pregnant women to feel that way especially when they're on their first trimester," the doctor said, her face brightened.

"Congratulations to the both of you!"

"What?!" sabay naming sambit ni Hero.

He was giving me the look saying that the doctor was only making things up or a quack. I tore my eyes off her and shifted them to the doctor.

"He's not my husband. Ah- Doc, it might not be the case here. Pagod lang ako at wala akong kinakain na matino kaya siguro nahilo ako. You could run another test," I sounded desperate.

"Oh. When was the last time you had your menstruation?"

Napaisip ako sa tanong ng doktor. Hindi nga dumating ang dalaw ko. I thought it was just normal because stress got the hell out of me lately.

“The result won't lie, Ms. Dominguez, she said after a long silence. “You're indeed pregnant. If you want, I'll refer you to another doctor, a specialist to that area, so you'll be 100% convinced that there's a life inside you already."

Napahawak ako sa tiyan ko. It's really happening. There's a life inside me already probably seeking for comfort and care?

I didn't even see it coming to me in this lifetime.

This is my child with Marcus. Hindi namin naisip na magbubunga iyong gabi na may nangyari amin.

The thought of becoming a mother scares the shit out of me and I'm not sure if it's gonna worth the pain. Ready ba ako maging ina?

I made up my mind. I will raise this child alone without Marcus knowing. I don't want this child to get into a messed up situation.

I'm not sure if Marcus will accept the baby if he ever finds out about this. Baka magalit lamang iyon dahil lalo kung pinapalala ang sitwasyon niya. I'm not going to inform him. Never. Ayokong madamay ang bata sa gulo ng sitwasyon.

Hero stared at me, looking confused. I'm not yet ready to tell him about all this. Maybe, not now.

Sa huli ay umuwi kami na bitbit ang lahat ng binilin ng doktor. I've never heard him scold me nor give me reason to worry or be upset. Para lamang siyang sumusunod sa agos kahit na hindi niya alam kung saan patungo iyon. He's such a good friend to me, I know. He was there for me when no one else was.

"Thank you, Hero," sambit ko nang naihatid niya ako sa bandang pintuan ng unit ko. Nakatingin lamang siya sa malayo at tila malalim ang iniisip.

Binaling niya ang tingin sa akin. "For what?"