THE WAY WE LIVE

XXIV. Meet Jillian

"Good evening baby Jillian!" Justin lovingly carries the baby in his arms, barely 3 months old but a bit heavy. His half sister is just so cute with fluffy cheeks, fair skin and tiny hands. The baby smiled as if hearing her brother's greeting.

Jillian is a slice of heaven, a ball of sunshine Justin didn't know he needed. He excitedly waited for her to be born, to be a bit older so he could carry her.

Emma allows Justin to be close to Jillian, to treat her and love her as a little sister. Almost every morning and night, she would bring Jillian to his room and let him play with her. She thinks she succeded in letting Justin be close to her daughter.

"Jah, I want to ask you something."

"Yes po?"

"Di mo naman hahayaang may mangyayaring masama kag Jillian di ba?"

Justin looked at her, confused. "Syempre Tita, anong tanong yan?" He handed the baby to Emma and asked seriously "May problema po ba?"

Emma must be really crazy doing what she thinks she must do, but she doesn't have a choice. Alejandro's threat still haunts her every night.

"Just make sure anak ko yan, pag hindi papatayin ko kayong dalawa"

Those were his exact words to her when he found out that he was pregnant. She's been brave all this time but not anymore when she found out that Jillian is scheduled for a DNA testing.

"Jah I made a mistake"

"What mistake?"

"Remember Sejun Nase?"

How can he forget that name? Never.
"What about him?" He doesn't know where this conversation is going but mentioning Sejun's name made his heart beats faster.

"He is Jillian's father."

"What?!" He couldn't believe with what he just heard. "Is this a joke or something? Tatawa ba ako?"

Emma stayed quiet and he knows what it meant. "Shit! How can you do this to Daddy Tita Emma?You betrayed us!" Justin frustratingly walked away and sat on the bed feeling weak and shocked. His head is spinning.

"I'm sorry Justin, It was a mistake." A mistake I did not regret.

"W-why are you telling me this?" He looks at the poor baby.  "Di mo ba alam kung anong kayang gawin ni Daddy?"

"Exactly why I'm telling you this Jah, I need your help." She sat beside Justin. "Please help us" For the first time, she begged. "papatayin kami ng Daddy mo."

He stood up, perplexed. "What made you think na tutulungan kita? You cheated on Dad!"

"Sejun saved your life Jah, and I hope you'd do the same to his daughter."

He doesn't know what to say. How can he help someone who cheated on his Father? "How did this happen? How did you know Sejun?"

"We were lovers even before you met him."

There's something in Emma's words that hurt him. "We were lovers" He grit his teeth and ignored the feeling.
"I'll do this for Jillian, ano gagawin ko?"

"I need money, and your blood sample for the DNA Test"