Read up to Chapter 28 now on my Patreon creator page Rej Martinez and/or message my Facebook Rej Martinez to join my growing Facebook VIP group! Thank you!
Chapter Eleven
Appreciate
"Dad...?"
"Are you all right?"
I think ilang sandali pa lang akong nakatulog. When I woke up daddy was already inside my room. He sat near the edge of my bed while he gently comb my hair using his fingers. I smiled and got up slowly. "I'm okay, dad. Umalis na po ba sina Tito Axel?" I asked.
Daddy nodded. "Yes. Sige na bumalik ka na sa pagtulog. Sorry if I awoke you."
Tumingin ako kay daddy. He's older now than when I was young. He aged but he's still my dad. I smiled again. "Are you worried, Dad? Please don't be. I'm fine, po."
Daddy sighed a little. "I can't help it, Tristeen... You're pregnant and having a baby..."
Nakangiti pa rin ako kay daddy. "Magiging lolo ka na po, Dad." I grinned.
Dad smiled after a little sigh. "Nag-usap ba kayo ni Aaron?"
Marahan akong tumango. "Opo. I told him that I won't marry him just like what I said sa dinner po natin."
Unti-unting tumango si daddy. "He's undeserving. I think I want to beat him up."
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa sinabi ni daddy. I shook my head. "Huwag po, Dad. Don't do it, Daddy. Ayaw ko po na mapasama pa kayo dahil lang sa akin. Okay lang po ako. I don't need Aaron."
Daddy nodded. "Yes, hija. You don't need that bastard. I can take care of you and your baby, all right?"
I nodded my head like I was still a little child assured by her daddy. Tears pooled in my eyes. Yumakap ako kay daddy. And daddy comforted me. "It's all right. It's all right." Dad kissed the top of my head as he enveloped me in his comforting and protective embrace.
Hindi ko namalayan na nakatulog na pala muli ako. When I woke up again the morning after I was alone in my room. Pakiramdam ko ay parang bumalik ako sa batang Tristeen na hinanap pa ang daddy niya na wala na sa tabi niya pagkagising. I smiled to myself. I actually feel better after talking to daddy last night.
"What do you mean, Tristan?"
I heard mommy's voice as I was nearing the dining area. I woke up and I feel hungry already. I just washed my face and brushed my teeth in my room's bathroom and then bumaba na ako and was still wearing my terno pajamas.
"We can take care of our daughter and her child, Camille."
"Yes, Tristan, we can. But what about our grandchild? And Tristeen." si mommy.
"We won't force our daughter to marry Aaron if she doesn't want that."
"Yes, we won't force Tristeen... Pero paano? Ano ang mangyayari...?"
"Our daughter and grandchild will be fine, Camille."
Narinig ko nalang ang pagbubuntong-hininga ni mommy. Pinalipas ko muna ang ilang sandali bago ako tumuloy na rin sa dining room. Both mommy and daddy greeted me with a smile on their faces.
"Good morning, hija."
"Good morning, Mommy, Daddy. Where's Lance?" I kissed both their cheeks.
"Pababa na rin ang kapatid mo."
"I'm hungry." I said.
"Oh. You can eat first, anak. Baka magtatagal pa ang kapatid mo. Come here. It's just the usual breakfast. May gusto ka ba? Ipapaluto natin."
Umiling ako habang tinitingnan ang mga pagkain sa mesa. "This is fine, Mom. Thanks."
Umupo na rin sila ni daddy doon and we started eating. Dumating na rin si Lance na naka-uniform na para sa pagpasok sa school. Pareho rin aalis sina mommy at daddy para pumuntang ospital. While I'll also have my duty later.
"Are you sure, Tristeen? We should talk to your doctor again." daddy said.
I nodded. "I'm fine, Dad. Kaya ko po. But, all right." Hindi na rin ako nakipagtalo sa gusto ni daddy na masiguro muli sa doctor kung okay ba sa akin ang pagpapatuloy sa med school with my condition right now.
Nasa duty na ako nang pinuntahan ako ni Aaron sa hospital. Ang kulit naman niya. Kahit tapos naman na kaming mag-usap ay gusto pa rin niyang mag-usap kami muli. He's being annoying to me. "What is it?" I asked in an annoyed tone and expression as I finally faced him.
"Mag-usap tayo, Tristeen." he said.
I looked at Aaron. He was looking at me, too. I sighed. "We already talked."
"We did not. This is serious, Teen. It's our child!" He sounded as if he's getting real frustrated with me.
"Walang magiging problema. Nag-usap na kami ni Daddy. He agreed na hindi naman talaga kailangan na magpakasal pa tayo. And for what, really? We can be parents to our child without getting married." When I was a child kahit hindi kasal ang parents ko noong una ay hindi naman ako gaanong naapektuhan noon dahil pareho ko namang palaging nakakasama ang parents ko. Except when I heard that daddy or mommy was dating someone else back then... Dahil wala rin naman talaga silang ibang relasyon noon bukod lang sa parehong pagiging parents nila sa akin noon.
"Then what will happen to us? Ganito nalang? Tristeen, we're having a child. I do not want anyone to call my child a bastard."
Bahagya akong natigilan sa sinabi ni Aaron. Parang may kinalaman iyon sa kaniya. Alam ko pa rin ang pinanggagalingan ni Aaron. He's Tito Axel's child to another woman. Noon pa man kahit hindi niya sabihin ay alam kong apektado pa rin siya sa sinasabi ng mga tao tungkol sa kaniya o sa pamilya nila...
Pero umiling pa rin ako pagkatapos ng ilang sandaling pagkatahimik. "Hindi tayo magpapakasal."
Aaron looked at me as if he doesn't anymore know what he'd do with me.
"I know you're mad at me... Pero huwag mo namang idamay ang anak natin... Let's give our child what he or she deserves. Let's be more responsible parents, Teen. Let's fix this."
Nagkatinginan kami ni Aaron. Wala akong ibang masasabi sa kaniya kung 'di ayaw kong magpakasal. And as if he read my mind he sighed like he's giving up but no. "Fine. Kung ayaw mo pang magpakasal, then fine. But at least let me stay with you even for our child. Kung ayaw mo kahit para sa anak nalang natin, Teen." he begged. "Please."
I found myself slowly nodding to him. Aaron gave out a faint smile. Ngayon ko lang din napansin na parang pagod ang hitsura niya at parang wala siyang maayos na tulog. Nakaramdam ako ng awa pero mas naguguluhan pa rin ako sa sitwasyon namin.
"Ate! Kuya Aaron's downstairs!" Malakas na kinatok ni Lance ang pinto ko.
I sighed. Palagi akong binibisita ni Aaron sa bahay. Araw-araw ay pumupunta siya despite daddy's cold treatment towards him. Parang hindi rin siya welcome sa bahay namin kung hindi lang din dahil kay mommy na okay naman kay Aaron unlike daddy. I think galit pa rin si daddy kay Aaron simula noong malaman niyang pinagdudahan pa ni Aaron ang anak namin.
"Hey," agad tumayo si Aaron mula sa malaking sofa ng living room namin when he saw me.
Lumapit naman ako sa kaniya. Galing pa siyang trabaho. Pumupunta siya rito kapag ganitong after ng work niya or even before he goes to work. Kapag may naiisip akong gusto kong kainin at nasasabi ko sa kaniya ay dinadalhan niya ako ng pagkain dito sa bahay kahit minsan ay maaga pa at bago siya pumasok sa trabaho niya sa company nila. At kapag nasa duty naman ako ay halos samahan niya rin ako sa hospital. Minsan ay naaawa na rin ako dahil pakiramdam ko ay wala na siyang sapat na pahinga. Although he's still looking handsome despite.
"Sana ay dumeretso ka nalang ng uwi sa bahay ninyo." salubong ko naman sa kaniya.
"It's all right, Teen. Here, I brought you dragon fruit. Didn't you said you want to eat some?"
Unti-unti akong tumango. Sinabi ko nga iyon sa kaniya kaninang umaga sa text. We exchange messages when he's at work and probably in his meetings pero may time pa rin siyang i-message ako just to ask how I was. Truth is ayos lang naman talaga ako. They shouldn't really be worried with me. I'll be fine.
"Thanks." I called one of our maids to bring the fruit Aaron bought to the kitchen.
"How are you feeling?"
I sighed with a little annoyance. "I'm fine. I'm pregnant but I'm fine!"
Maagap na tumango si Aaron. "All right. I'm just asking."
"Umuwi ka na nga lang sa inyo. Maaga akong magpapahinga ngayon."
"What about your dinner?"
"Kakain ako mamaya." I knew that it was rude of me na hindi ko nalang siya isabay sa dinner ko at pakainin nalang din siya sa bahay namin since it's already dinner time at bisita rin siya. I sighed. "Fine. Kumain ka na rin muna dito. Mauna lang ako sa kitchen so I could tell Manang to prepare food for you, too." Wala pa sina mommy at daddy na mukhang malilate ng uwi kaya muuna na kaming mag-dinner ng kapatid ko. I ate my dinner with Lance and Aaron.
Naging ganoon lang ang set up namin ni Aaron. He takes care of me, too, in his own ways. And I'd say I appreciate it, too. I can feel his genuine care for me and our still unborn baby. I can certainly feel Aaron's sincerity.
"Tomorrow's our appointment to the doctor, right?" Aaron asked when he was already about to leave a while after we finished our dinner. Hindi pa rin nga nakakauwi sina mommy at daddy.
I nodded. "Yeah. But if you're busy with your meetings at work I can go with mommy and daddy. O kahit si Ava ay pwede akong samahan sa check up ko." Since nasa ospital lang din naman sila.
Mabilis na umiling sa akin si Aaron. "No. I have time. I told you I'll be with you."
Tumango nalang ako at tiningnan nalang siya na lumapit at pumasok sa sasakyan niya pagkatapos. Hanggang sa makaalis na siya nang tuluyan. Pumasok na rin ako sa loob pagkatapos na sinalubong pa ng isang maid.