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"What do you want to know?" I asked him when we're finally alone.
His eyes turned slit. He was acting all cool back there noong ini-interrogate siya ng family ko. Well, his confidence is undoubtedly astronomical. Ngayon naman na wala na sila, para bang nangingibabaw na sa kanya ang reason why he's here.
He stretched his arm wide to place it around my shoulder. He leaned towards my ear then whispered.
"How about we start with you and Joan?"
My pupils dilated in shock. I heard him scoff.
"That poor woman has the guts to piss me and Dreymont off."
Oh gosh, Joan. How much did you tell? Ugh!
"It was nothing." I rubbed the tip of my nose.
Anyway, speaking of.... Okay na ba sila ni Drey? Nag-usap daw sila eh. I couldn't help but smile.
Nagulat ako nang bigla niyang hinalikan ang tummy ko.
"I'm your daddy." He whispered.
"You're my daddy...." I said playfully to tease him.
He bit my thigh. "Naughty."
He then grinned. Look at this man, he's really happy to become a father. He's expecting this-
Actually no. He planned this. He wanted this.
"I already talked to your father." He said out of the blue after a long pause.
Agad na nanlake ang mata ko. Kaya nga ako umalis ng Pilipinas in the first place is because of my dad. We don't want him to know.
I could imagine tita Marinela's reaction. Ayaw niyang ma-drag ang mga Dondiego sa issue ko but here's this guy. Ghad!
"I'll talk to your mother later."
He's saying words with conviction. I don't know why but it gives me warmth. It's like he's assuring me that everything will be okay.
"Can you sleep with me tonight?" Ngumuso ito na parang bara.
As if naman kelangan niya pang itanong iyon!
Kumunot ang noo niya nang makita nang makita ang panyong ibinigay sa akin ng babae kanina. Kinuha niya iyon at iniladlad na para bang may hinahanap doon.
I heard him curse.
"Who gave this to you?" He sounded critical.
Bigla akong kinabahan. Napaseryoso ng mukha niya.
"W-Why?" I stuttered.
Hindi siya sumagot. Instead, he crumpled the hanky. Nakakuyom ang isa niyang kamay sa ibabaw ng kanyang hita.
Nagbago lang expression sa mukha niya nang dumating si mommy.
"Can I talk to my daughter? Alone." She asked Zeno. "I'll talk to you later as well."
I saw the hesitation in his eyes. Para bang may gusto siyang sabihin. Sa huli ay napabuntong hininga na lamang siya. Alanganin siyang tumango bago tumayo at nag bow kay mommy.
"It's nice to meet you again, Mrs. Henderson."
My mother simply smiled as a response.
Hinabol ko na lang ng tingin ang papalayong si Zeno.
"Tanya....."
Umupo siya sa tabi ko. It was a long awkward silence before she opened the topic about me being pregnant.
"When I was your age, your grandmother was always mad at me for not having Arnulfo as my husband. I was pregnant that time. Kung ako ang tatanungin, magpapakalayo-layo na lang ako dahil hindi ko naman minahal ang ama mo. It's my fault too kung bakit ako nabuntis. My plan was to raise you alone but your mother was the Mayor that time and it's a family disgrace kung lalaki ka na walang kinikilalang tatay."
Napakunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. It was different from the story I grew up with.
"So I followed them. But Arnulfo and I know the real score between us. So we ended up to the agreement that he'd take responsibility of you, financially. He treats you and Savannah fairly." She added.
The way my mom could say it without bitterness is enough for me to know that it's true. They've both moved on and I'm happy about it.
"I am saying this to you because I don't want you to take the same path I took. Fight for what you think is right. Follow your feelings. Not because someone told you it's wrong doesn't mean it isn't right. You do you." She smiled at me before reaching my tummy.
I couldn't help but cry. I always admire my mother for having strong personality.
"The only thing I regret the most is not giving you so much affection kaya medyo malayo tayo sa isa't isa. Akala ko kasi when I did that, you'd grow stronger...stronger than me. It just that....I don't want people to step on you, anak."
I immediately hugged her. I cried like a baby. She doesn't know how much I've been longing for those words.
"I don't know if I could be a good mother, ma." I sobbed.
She laughed at me. "Trust me, ganyan din ako dati. You'll be a good mother."
My mom and I talked for hours. She suspected immediately that I am pregnant pala as soon as I got here. Alam na din niya ang nangyayare sa akin sa Pilipinas. She knew Zeno all along.
Speaking of... Where did he go? Baka iniwan na naman ako non?
Ghad! Why am I being too emotional?
I spent my days with my mom. I told her na doon na matulog sa bahay si Zeno at pumayag naman siya.
Sa mga nakalipas na araw, dalawa ang napansin ko. One is that, my mom and my stepfather were acting weird. As if they want to tell me something but too hesitant to express it. Second is, Zeno. He's like he's waiting for something to happen.
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