BrightWin: The Arrangement

XXI

R18 chapter because why not?

Keiran

She is in fact, pregnant.

I'm going to be a dad.

I'm going to be a dad at eighteen!

Stress filled my face immediately as the thoughts sinked in, I cupped my face at hinilamos ang mukha ko. Parang hindi ko kaya.

"I can't do it." I whispered.

Nasa loob na ng room si Jasmine at pinagpapahinga, nandito kami ni Xavier sa labas.

"Do what?" He asked.

"Be a dad." Tinignan ko siya, concern is visible in his eyes. Hinawakan niya ang balikat ko and let out a small smile.

"You're going to be a great dad, Keiran." He says, "We're going to be great dads."

"Ang bata pa natin." I replied, "Paano na tayo mag-aaral? Ang future natin? Bato na lang?"

"Shh," Hinimas himas niya ang kamay ko, "We can worry about that in the next couple of months, sa ngayon, you need to rest."

We agreed na siya na muna ang magbabantay kay Jasmine while I go home sa apartment namin.

Yes, kay Xavier na ako uuwi. Both Jasmine and I won't be missing for twenty-four hours kaya hindi kami malalagay sa missing person report chuchu and I will text mum every now and then.

Turns out, she's g for whatever me and Xavier have, sadyang nadala lang siya ng emosyon ni Elias nung gabing nalaman nila which made her look like a bad person.

I told her the truth at siya na ang bahala magsinungaling sa tatay ko.

I'm too stressed to even think as of the moment, para akong lumulutang sa kinapupwestuhan ko. I just got a girl pregnant! Hindi ko inakalang aabot ako sa ganitong point ng buhay ko na I would actually have someone pregnant, I didn't think my sperm was that effective.

Nevertheless, I have to accept the fact that I'm going to be a dad soon, at mamahalin ko ang batang 'yon kahit ano o sino pa siya, I am not another Elias.

Magiging mabuting tatay ako, maging bakla o tomboy man siya, I will be here for my child.

I walked palabas ng hospital, walking home isn't the best choice but I did it anyway. Tinatamad akong magmaneho.

It's a rainy night. Gabi na pala, buong akala ko maaga pa dahil sa dami ng nangyayari. I got a girl pregnant.

Konting buwan na lang din ay birthday ko na, I'll be hitting nineteen in just a few months, siguro naman by that time, kaya ko na maging matinong tatay.

Nang makauwi ako sa apartment, naligo ako at humiga nang hubo't hubad sa kama, thinking of all the possible things na pwedeng mangyari. Elias might find out na may anak kami ni Jasmine and take our child away from me, lalo na once malaman niyang I'm back together with Xavier. What scares me is alam kong may karapatan siya dahil apo niya yon.

Hindi pa man lumalabas ang batang yon, the fact na akin siya, mahal ko na siya. Mahal na mahal ko ang anak ko.

Hindi ko napansin na nakatulog ako sa sobrang pago-overthink, I woke up with a full set of clothes, clothes that aren't mine to begin with, these are Xavier's.

I woke up to the smell of bacon and eggs, ang bango.

"Good morning, babe." Ani ni Xavier nang makitang bumangon na ako, kinusot-kuson ko pa mata ko.

"Anong ginagawa mo rito?" Pagtataka ko. He should be at the hospital taking care of Jasmine!

"Calm down, nasa hospital ang parents ko taking care of our impregnated friend." Sagot naman niya habag nilalapag ang dalawang itlog sa mesa, "Hindi nila tayo isusumbong sa mga magulang mo, they love me."