Chapter 39CurtainsLarisse calling...I stared at Ivan's phone. Kanina pa iyon nagba-vibrate sa ibabaw ng side table kaya hindi ko matuloy-tuloy ang pagtulog ko. He's in a deep sleep beside me.Unti-unti kong inalsa ang sarili. I gave him a quick glance before towering over him so that I can pick his phone up. Nakasandal iyon sa lampshade kaya madali ko na lang nakuha. I held it tight when I saw her name clearer.Hindi ko na kailangang kuwestiyonin ang pagtawag ng babaeng ito. Of course, she's Ivan's girlfriend. Kung paano niya akong naibigay sa lalaking ito, hindi ko na rin gustong malaman. Malamang, parte ito ng palabas nila para matupad ang maiitim nilang balak.I tapped the phone ungently. Dinikit ko ang speaker sa tainga ko at pinakinggan ang mga sinasabi ni Lara."Babe, Ivan..." her voice was surprisingly problematic. "Kausapin mo naman ako. P-Parang awa mo na..."Sa palagay ko, hindi na niya naituloy ang iba pang sasabihin dahil sa pag-iyak. I bit my lower lip. Bakit kaya siya
Chapter 40 How Clueless about everything that happened next, I didn't realize how long I had been sitting behind the curtains. Yapos-yapos ko ang mga tuhod ko. Instead of being clouded with so many thoughts, my mind had nothing to think about. It's like I forcefully pushed my thoughts away so they wouldn't blow me away. "Where is she?!" ang nagmamadaling boses ni Ivan. "Who among them?" malamig na tanong ni Xyleus. "My wife, Santiago!" "Damn it, Ivan. Ang sinabi mo walang madadamay sa kanila!" I recognized it's Creed's voice. Marahan akong pumikit. I badly want to cover my ears but I'm exteremely weak to do so. I didn't know it's too much draining to just have listened to something. Parang hinihigop ang lahat ng enerhiya ko... "We are totally fucked up now. They tricked us." The curtains opened harshly. Napamulat ako nang wala sa oras. Ivan showed up. Fear blazed through me. What the hell is his involvement with this and what the hell just happened? "Rigella," may hingal ni
Chapter 41Emotional"Something happened?!" nalalamon na ng pagkabingi ko ang boses na iyon. "Help me!" hindi ko na narinig ang sunod na sinabi ni Ivan. Until I blacked out. Out of too much stress, I bled. Halos hindi ko iyon maramdaman. Tears fell from my eyes while I listened to my diagnosis. "This wouldn't be easy for you. Just try to switch it off. Your thoughts might kill the baby in the process if you don't control them," Creed informed in the middle of reading his chart. They put me on a single bed. Everything was dark except for this particular space. Hindi ko alam kung saan ito. Mayroon lang akong nakikitang ultrasound monitor sa harap ko at ilan pang equipment. I can clearly see the bean-like structure in my womb. Pinahid ko ang aking luha. This is the first time I've been checked inside at sa ganito pang pagkakataon. This will surely be memorable. I might not want to entertain memories of Ivan, but I know this will still be a keepsake. The first time that I saw the im
Chapter 42AnguishNanatili ako sa kuwartong iyon nang sumunod na araw. I also didn't expect they will let me go so it's no surprise for me. Iyon nga lang, nami-miss ko na ang anak ko. Nagawa na nilang ipakita sa akin si Ice ng isang beses at hindi ko alam kung bakit hindi nila iyon magawa ngayon.I sighed when Ivan placed a tray of food in front of me. Yakap ko ang aking mga tuhod. His scrutinizing gaze made me a bit uncomfortable. I cleared my throat.Tahimik kong ginalaw ang pagkain. He sat down on the edge of the bed. I didn't give him my attention even if I got a little curious about his consistent phone calls. Bawat minuto yata ay may sinasagot siyang tawag."You received the location?" he answered another call.Saglit akong napatigil sa pagsubo. From an empty spot, his eyes moved to me. I crouched my head. Tinuloy ko ang pagkain kahit na hindi ko malasahan nang mabuti ang nakahain at halos mahirapan ako sa pagnguya."We're good. He's already on the way. You can switch places, i
Chapter 43ExplosionNagbaba ako ng tingin. Lumabo ang aking mata. No, I can't cry. Ito na ang pagkakataon ko para mapapayag siya. Hindi ko man iyon sinadya pero tama lang siguro."Rigella," he called weakly. Hinawakan niya ang aking baba dahilan ng pagkatuklas ko sa kaniyang umaagos na luha. "You're tired of loving me already?"Hindi ako makasagot noong una. Alam ko naman ang sagot pero ayaw ko munang magsalita. Matapang ko siyang tiningan."H-Hindi na kita matatanggap kahit kailan. Masama kang tao..." nanginig ang aking bosesHe bit his lower lip. Tumango-tango siya. Mas lalong kumulimlim ang kaniyang porma."You don't deserve us, Ivan. You couldn't tell the truth from the start. Magtiis kang mawala kaming lahat sa 'yo dahil ginusto mo namang mag-isa, hindi ba?"Tinatagan ko ang aking hitsura. Pinisil niya ang aking kamay."Learn to give me up, like how you'd always wanted to get rid of me. Dahil ako? Tapos na tapos na akong maging asawa mo. Makita lang kita, mas pipiliin ko pang ma
Chapter 44SaveThat evil laugh terrified me to the core. Halos hindi na 'ko makagalaw sa tinataguan ko sa likod ng mahabang sofa. I covered my mouth to avoid making any noise.I uttered my deepest prayer at that time. Please, save me and my baby. I can’t... just die like this! Ni hindi ko alam kung bakit ako napunta sa ganitong sitwasyon!“Ah, someone’s coming...” the man’s deep voice still sounded as if it was near me, but it also felt like he was still too far away to reach me.I was trembling in fear. Pinipilit kong kumalma pero hindi ko magawa. I was also thinking of Ivan. Hindi ko alam kung nasaan ba siya at kung ano nang kalagayan niya. At kung kasama na ba niya ang anak namin.Oh, please. Save me from this! I don’t want my child to lose me. He doesn’t deserve it. Please, dear Lord!“Ah!” I heard the man moaned in pain.Narinig ko rin ang tunog na tila paghampas ng isang bakal. My eyes blurred but my hearing turned hypersensitive. In the middle of the dark, I wanted to escape b
Chapter 45WorldLumambot ang kaniyang ekspresiyon. “Rigella...”She took a step forward but I took a step backward. I glared at her and pointed a finger at her.“‘Wag kang lalapit sa ‘kin,” I warned her.Namanglaw ang kaniyang mga mata. “Rigella, please—”“Sabi nang ‘wag kang lalapit!” I saw her tear fell. Pero wala akong pakialam. How dare she show up in front of me. Ang kapal ng mukha niya“Rigella, please. Kailangan nating mag-usap...” pakiusap niya.“Mag-usap? After all these years? Yayayain mo ‘kong makipag-usap na parang wala lang? Na parang wala lang nangyari, ha?” Nangilid ang luha ko. Sheer anger boiled within me. Walang mapaglagyan ang galit at sakit na nararamdaman ko. Umiling si Ate Rina. “Please, hayaan mo lang akong magpaliwanag...”“Magpaliwanag? Ano pa bang ipapaliwanag mo? Na siyam na taon kang nawala, ha? Dahil ano? Dahil sinuway mo sina Daddy! Dahil makasarili ka at ang gusto mo, lahat ng ambisyon mo lang ang masusunod! Na ang totoo, wala kang pakialam sa ‘min n
Chapter 46Her Authority“Ma’am, the managers are already waiting for you in the conference room to present the newest collections,” my secretary, Zella, informed while I was busy applying my perfume.My brow arched. I tilted my head to spray the scent on my neck. Pagkatapos kong gumamit ng pabango ay sinilid ko ulit iyon sa handbag ko. I flattened out my cream colored coat and made sure that my black silk blouse inside was tidied. I also made sure my cream skirt didn’t have the tiniest crease.“What do you think of my shoes?” I asked for her opinion while eyeing my red killer stilettos that stood seven inches high.Zella smiled. “Striking, Ma’am.”That put a contented smile on my face. I gave myself a once-over on the mirror in front of me. My hair was in a French twist and I had a sparkling diamond necklace that emphasized my slender neck.Zella handed me my bag. Bitbit naman niya ang mga folders na ako mismo ang nag-asikaso at tumrabaho nitong mga nakaraang linggo. Well, better be