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Chapter 4

Katrina was having a hard time breathing. Sobrang bilis ng tibok ng puso niya habang papalapit na sila sa maliit na apartment niya. She glanced at Aspen's face at kitang-kita niya ang pandidiri sa lugar kung nasaan sila ngayon.

It was a small, low-class subdivision kung saan halos dikit-dikit na ang mga bahay. Some were already old and dilapidated while others were completely abandoned by owners.

This was the same face he wore ng malaman nitong binayaran siya nito ng pera for sex. What could he be thinking now of her?

"Diyan na ako sa may pulang gate," anunsyo niya sa binata. His sports car was treading carefully sa maliit na kalsada ng subdivision na iyon.

"Okay," tipid na sagot nito at tumigil ng tumapat sa apartment niya. He glanced at it at pagkatapos ay sa kanya. "Dito ka nakatira?"

Tumango siya. "S-Salamat. Hintayin ko na lang-"

"Is this place even safe?" parang naiiritang tanong nito.

"Oo, dito na ako nakatira simula nang lumipat ako dito sa Maynila galing sa probinsya."

"You live alone?" gulat na tanong nito.

"Yes, bakit? May problema ba?"

Aspen then saw a group of men drinking beside a small sari-sari store malapit sa apartment. Nakatutok na ngayon ang atensyon ng mga lasinggero sa kotse nitong maganda na nakapark sa harap ng maliit na apartment ni Katrina.

"I just don't think you're safe in here. I mean, the baby as well." He looked so pissed off at the thought of her living in this place.

"I'll be fine. I've lived here for years. Salamat sa paghatid." She stepped out of the car at binuksan na ang gate ng apartment niya. It was just a small one-bedroom place pero masaya na siya doon. At least, hindi siya sa kalsada natutulog.

"Wait!" sigaw ni Aspen na ngayon ay nakababa na rin ng sasakyan.

Katrina turned around to look at the man and saw him awkwardly walking towards her. He was wearing a corporate suit at halatang-halatang hindi talaga siya bagay dito. "Bakit?"

"Do you need money? May pambili ka ba ng pagkain man lang or vitamins? Have you been on a checkup?" sunod-sunod na tanong nito.

Just then, sumigaw bigla sa katabing bahay ang landlady niya na nakita pala ang pagbaba niya sa isang magandang kotse. "Katrina, aba! Mukhang nakabingwit ka ng mayamang boyfriend dito ah!"

"Aling Melay!" saway niya sa matandang babae na tinging-tingin ngayon kay Aspen. "Kaibigan ko lang po siya at bisita."

Aspen looked at the old landlady na naka-daster lamang at nakabalot sa tuwalya ang basang buhok. He looks disgusted even more.

"Wel-kam sa apartment ko. Ang gara naman ng sasakyan mo," pansin ni Aling Melay.

"Thanks but can I just have some privacy with her?" tanong ni Aspen at sumunod kay Katrina palapit sa gate nito.

"Sige, ngayon lang naman nagdala ng lalaki yan dito! Enjoy kayong dalawa!" wika ni Aling Melay bago sila iwan.

"Who was that crazy woman?" tanong niya kay Katrina.

"Landlady ko. Siya yung muntik ng magpalayas sakin noong di ako makabayad three months ago," kwento niya at pinapasok na si Aspen sa gate. Ilang hakbang lang naman at nasa front door na sila ng apartment niya.

She opened the door and the lights at niyaya papasok si Aspen.

Aspen didn't even bother sitting down. He looked around the small space kung saan nandoon na ang sala, kitchen at dining. "Bakit ba chine-check mo pa itong bahay?"

"I'll give you some money before I leave. Do you want to go with me sa supermarket? We can also drop by a pharmacy."

"I'm fine! May pagkain naman akong maluluto," wika nito. "You don't have to be so concerned. Isa pa, hindi ka pa naniniwala sakin na anak mo to. So why bother?"

Anger quickly crossed his face but it was gone quickly. "You're still pregnant nonetheless and you live in an unsafe place."

"I'll be fine. Kilala ko na halos lahat ng mga tagarito."

Tumango-tango lamang si Aspen and opened her refrigerator. It was almost empty. "Really? May maluluto ka dito?"

"Ahhh.. may karinderya sa tapat. Doon ako bumibili palagi ng pagkain kapag tinatamad ng magluto."

Aspen shook his head and quickly combed his hair with his fingers, as if thinking of something. "Come with me. Magdala ka ng ilang mga damit na kailangan mo."

"W-What?"

He grabbed her right arm at itinulak siya sa pinto ng kwarto niya. "Quickly! Hindi ako makatagal sa lugar na to. I feel like I'll be murdered here anytime."

"Ang kapal naman ng mukha mo! Hindi lahat ng mahihirap, ganyan. Walang magnanakaw o mamamatay tao dito!" pigil niya dito.

But Aspen was insistent. "Fine, you don't want to bring clothes? I'll just easily shove you into the car then." At aktong bubuhatin na siya nito ng sumigaw siya at umiwas.

"Are you crazy? This is kidnapping, Aspen! Hindi mo ko kailangang alisin dito."

But he was persistent, he tried again and this time, mabilis niyang nabuhat si Katrina at naisakay sa mga balikat niya.

"Ibaba mo ko!" sigaw ni Katrina.

"Shut up. I gave you a choice," he said at dirediretsong lumabas at inilock ang pinto.

"Ibaba mo ko! Aspen, ano ba!" she screamed again.

It brought the attention of her landlady who lives beside her apartment at pati na rin ang mga tambay sa kanto. Lumabas ng gate si Aspen at isinarado iyon habang bitbit pa rin sa balikat si Katrina.

"Hoy, saan mo dadalhin si Katrina?" sigaw ni Aling Melay sa kanya.

"Don't worry. Wala akong balak na masama sa kanya. She's my girlfriend, okay?" sagot niya sa babae at naglakad sa passenger seat door ng kose niya para ibaba doon si Katrina. Pagkababa sa babae, he immediately locked the car and climbed to the other side to drive.

"You're a crazy man!!" sigaw ni Katrina sa kanya at pilit na ina-unlock ang kotse.

"This has an automatic lock system. Huwag ka ng mag-attempt na tumakas. Para sa ikabubuti mo ang ginagawa ko." He pushed the button to start his car and maneuvered out of that small eskinita.

Katrina just screamed in frustration inside the car. This man insulted her and manhandled her all in one day. "I am not your girlfriend! At saan mo ba ako dadalhin?"

"I have a huge penthouse. You can stay there while we wait for the DNA test. For all we know, that child is mine and I won't allow it to live in a God-forsaken place!"

She breathed deeply and composed herself. Inis na inis siya sa mga nangyayari but what can she do? The car is now on high speed sa main road. And she has nothing left to do but to sulk in silence.

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A/N: HAPPY SUNDAY EVERYONE!! I hope lahat ay nakapag recharge ngayong araw with their fambams or loved ones. 🤗😘 Stay safe mga siz! Hopefully patapos na itong pandemic na to? Ano, opo? 😊 Abangan ang mga susunod na kabanata. 🤭😁😉😉😉😉

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