Chapter 12

SVEN's POV

'Nak ng kabayo o, di ako mapakali! Ewan ko ba kung bakit basta ang alam ko nakukusinsya ako.

Bakit? Ewan ko! Kanina pa ito ang nararamdaman ko! I think nakukusinsya ako sa pag-iwan ko kay Fointess.

Pero sya naman ang may kasalanan, ah? Di ba? Paano kasi sinabihan ko na sya ng ayaw ko ng away dahil alam nya kung kaninong bahay ang dadalawin ko pero ayon ang babaeta nagasimulang awayin si Noreen!

What? Di ko sya masisisi? Dahil sa si Noreen yong babaeng naging kabit ni Michael?

Kahit na no! Pinakiusapan ko na sya! Pero anong ginawa nya?

Pero ba't ganon nag-iba ang aura nya na para bang ewan! Ok, di ko mawari ba't di maalis sa isipan ko ang lungkot na nakita ko sa kanyang mga mata.

"Hey, are you ok?" Naalimpungatan ako sa boses na yon.

Si Noreen pala. Kakagaling lang namin sa ospital na ngayon ay nasa isang resto kami.

Di ko akalaing makakalimutan kong kasama ko pala sya ngayon.

"Sorry... may iniisip lang ako." Sabi ko na lang sa kanya.

"Hmmm... it must be important for you think that deeply."

Hm? Important? Sino si Fointess? Naku hindi ah!

"Di naman... na zone-out lang ako."

"You know what? Sorry if naabala kita ngayon. You won't be that distracted ngayon if it's not that important." Ang sabi sa akin ni Noreen habang naka-smile apologetically.

"Really it's no-"

"I really am thankful sa pagsama mo sa akin Sven and I think you should go to her na."

"Huh? Her?" Clueless kong tanong. Ano ba naman ang pinagsasabi nya?

"Her! Kristine, Michael's fiancèe. I know you are worried about her. But you can't blame me na ganon ko na lang sya tinrato."

Ganon ba ako kahalata? Teka nga, ako worried kay Fointess? Hin- ok worried na kung worried ako sa kanya!

"Sorry din but like what you've just said you can't blame her, I am not siding to her or to you, dahil you are Michael's other woman. Sorry sa term, but it is true... pero kung titingnan ng maigi the both of you are his victims." Ang sincere kong sabi and that's how I see it.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit dahil di naman ako santo o samaritan pero ang alam ko at pinaniniwalaan ko si Michael talaga ang may kasalanan dahil yan ang naramdaman ko that day until now! 😠

And you know why! Dahil isa rin ako sa biktima nya! No! He is my brother, ew! Wag green minded I am not into incest! 😑😑😑

Siguro nga dahil naagrabyado ako sa kalukohan nya kaya ganito ang pananaw ko sa nangyari.

Ngumiti ng bahagya si Noreen. "I know for others I am Michael's mistress who seduced him and I can't change that."

"Sorry..."

"No need na magsorry ka you are not him and thankful ako sayo no because dispite of Michael's denying my child kahit di tayo nagkakilala ng matagal you are trying to be there for me. Tulad ngayon sinamahan mo ako, aren't you afraid na ginagamit lang kita?"

Natawa ako sa sinabi nya, sino ba kasing taong itatanong pa nya yon?

"Ewan ko... all I know is anak yan ni Michael so pamangkin ko yan. He/she must be my niece/nephew." Nakangiti kong sagot. "Then again tulad ng sabi mo I have to see Fointess friend ko rin sya tulad mo. Malaki rin ang utang ng loob ko sa kanya after all she's the one who took care of me so I have to go."

Mag-iiwan sana ako ng pera pambayad sa inorder naming pagkain pero pinigilan ako ni Noreen.

Sabi nya sya na raw ang magbabayad at libre na lang nya yon sa akin dahil sinamahan ko sya mag-pa-check-up sa ospital.

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NOREEN's POV

Looking at her back made me recall how desperate I was when I learned I was pregnant na dinadala ko ang anak namin ni Michael.

At first I got scared yet I also felt happy... scared because this is unexpected and don't know what to do. Happy because I know Michael will be there for me dahil minsan na nyang nasabi sa akin na gusto nyang magkapamilya.

I thought that is his way giving me hint na magpo-propose sya sa akin, that he will marry me one day.

But everything crumbled the moment I told him I am pregnant and he is the father.

He got hyterical and said he wants me me to abort the child because he is not ready to be a father.

Me being influenced by my step mom's belief that a baby is a blessing came from god refused what Michael's want.

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Flashback

"Didn't you said before you want to have a family?" I asked him. "No matter what happen I won't abort this child!"

"God damn it Noreen di pa ako handa! And I want you to abort that kid! Magiging sagabal lang yan!"

SLAP!

"Bastard! Hayop ka! Ano ito laro lang? Sarap na sarap ka sa aking galawin ako gabi-gabi tapos ngayon kailangan kong pangatawanan mo ang responsibilidad mo yet now you're backing down?" I angrily said.

"Don't tell me wala kang balak pakasalan ako? Na wala kang balak tuparin lahat ng pangako mo sa akin!? Tell me Michael did you really loved me in?" I asked impulsively without thinking.

He didn't answered and just look at me blankly which scared me.

Did this mean he never really loved even once that I am just a play thing for him?

"I can't take this anymore, we're over Noreen." He said and turn his back on me without even hesitation.

I got scared and desperate so without thinking twice I clung into him.

Clutching to his clothes desperately and cried.

"I love you Mike don't do this to me! Please... don't leave me... and your child. Mahal kita... I do anything just don't leave me." I pleaded to him.

I can't believe I beg to a man just to not leave me if it was before I'd laugh it off.

But I love this man that I'd even beg just for him to stay.

"Anything?" He asked not even look back at me.

I didn't answered but noded and I know he felt me as I am hugging his back.

I silently cried and praying to god to let Michael change his decision leaving me.

"Then have an abortion then let's talk about me not leaving you." He said as he broke free from me then walk away.

End Flashback

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Afraid of what my father will say and not knowing what to do I almost got tempted at what Michael wants.

Mama Wilma noticed my odd behavior and talked to me. She asked if I am alright or if there's something wrong.

Me out of my wits and helpless at what to do cried to her.

Mom died when I was just barely a teenager so dad remarried after a few years to this beautiful kind hearted Filipino woman.

She is the one I could call a mother figure when I needed someone and god knows na hindi ko sya kadaling natanggap. I give her hell, pinahirapan ko sya, but at the end of it I give in after I saw her determination to earn my trust and acceptance.

I told her everything and god knows how thinkful I was listening to her advice to not abort the child at sya na raw bahala kay dad.

A few days after malalaman ko na lang na Michael is getting married to someone.

I was in pain and hurting then angry and hateful because I felt betrayed.

Is this the reason he wants me to under go abortion? So many questions coming into my mind blinding my rationality, I went to his condo but he isn't there.

I asked his friends anyone who knows him where I can find him but no one wants to tell me until one day I heard his friends are going to visit him at his parent's house so I tailed after them.

Sa liit ba naman ng mundo nasa iisa kami ng subdivisiong tinitirahan!

I know he is avoiding me and told his friends not to tell me where he is.

Unfortunately I didn't know he can be that shameless dahil di nya ako hinarap at nagpasabi sa maid nila na wala raw siya.

But the most hurtful is that when his father is the one confront me and told me na layuan ko na ang anak nya at kahit kailan hindi nila matatanggap ang ipinagbubuntis ko because Michael denied everything we have.

I told to mr. Madrigal his son will regret leaving me and left.

Waiting for the arrival of Michael's wedding I planed to sabotage it. He wants to be happy with his woman while me is in pain and anger?

He must be dreaming! He has to know the price of leaving me.

I succeeded sabotaging his wedding yet I did not felt relief I believed I'll attain the moment I took my revenge.

And even if I did not do anything sya rin ang gumawa ng way to ruin his own wedding.

The sad part for me is that it's too late for me to realize what I had done because of my impulsiveness.

I almost become a murder because of a man dahil lang sa pag-iwan nya sa akin.

To think I'd do all that I did just for Michael makes me sick. Yes, I still love that man but that does not mean I have to forget myself espicially now that I am going to be a mom.

Getting to know Sven made me ask why did I fell in love to Michael?

He has what every woman wants in appearance to a man. Has confidence and self-esteem in himself, know what he wants and he is stuborn and straight forward just to get it.

He is gentleman and sweet when he wants to.

He is good in bed and can pleasure his partner really well yet he is selfish and only wants to please himself inspite of all of his good qualities.

Knowing his sister for only two-three days made me wish she is Michael because she is caring and attentive to me kahit na nagkasala ako sa kanya.

She is the person only person who smiled at me and did not say I am at fault, na may kasalanan ako kahit na I almost killed her because of the gun I borrowed to one of my father's bodyguard.

Only recently did I know that Michael was already in a relationship to that Kristine Fointess for four years and I became his lover (kabit) for three years.

All the respect and dignity I have are gone because of the title kabit na nakapatong sa akin.

Never in my life did I wish to be the other woman in a relationship the irony of it is that I am now kahit di ko ginusto dahil lang sa kagaguhan ni Michael.

Ang masakit ay di basta-bastang kabit ang nangyari sa akin. I became a fuckgirl in the eyes of others his, Michael, fuckgirl dahil he has yet deflower his so called fiancèe.

Funny right daig ko ang isang prostitute! My clean name got stained because of him.

But I admit I too am at fault dahil ini-ignore ko some signs about Michael's lie but because I love him I made excuses for him.

"Hey, sweety, ang lalim ata ng iniisip mo?" Isang boses na nagpukaw sa aking paglalakbay isip.

"Ma! How are you here?" Takang sabi ko.

"I thought magkasama kayo ng batang Samañiego na yon? Bakit na lang sya tumawag na di kayo magkasama at nandito ka?"

I chuckled at what I heard. See? She is so caring and attentive that Sven is so kind for someone like me who almost took her life.

"She has something important to do ma. I didn't know na tinawagan ka pala nya, she is so worrywart. I can take care of myself and can go home on my own mama."

"Better to be safe than sorry after what happened to you anak. You almost lost your baby before so tama sya na mag-alala lalo na kaming pamilya mo." Pagalit yet may worry na sabi ni mama Wilma sa akin.

Right now I only feel gratitude kay Sven for giving me a chance to change and rise up dahil kung hindi di ako alam ang gagawin ko.

This chance she give me made me realize that as long I have my family and people who love me everything is not over yet.

That is why I've made up my mind na hindi na ako aalis ng bansa para magpakalayu-layo.

Of what Michael should be doing ay sya ang gumawa. She beg forgiveness and asked me na wag ilayo ang pamangkin nya for her brother.

"I'll make Michael acknowledge your baby that I promise pero di ko maipapangako na babalik sya sayo dahil patay na patay sya kay Fointess. Sorry if that hurts but that is the truth mahal nya talaga si amasona, eh. Sisimulan ko lang sa mga magulang ko na matanggap ka at ng anak mo, don't worry lagi akong nasa likod mo basta bigyan mo kami ng isa pang chance."

She said and did all of that in front of my family the other day na biglaan nyang pagbista sa bahay.

I saw Michael in her because of her stubborness and straight forward attitude are similar to his but the difference is her determination and genuine intention.

"Your dad likes that Samañiego and berating her brother for not being man enough para harapin ka. At kung di ko lang alam na sa lalaki ka lang magkakagusto aalukin ko ang batang yon na sya na lang managot sa kasalanan ng kapatid nya at ipakasal kayong dalawa."

"Ma!"

"What? She is beautiful woman, kind, attintive and caring person! Isa pa balita ko NBSB pa sya ah!"

I can't believe this!

"Ma you can't say that it's so unbecoming!"

Natawa na lang sya sa sabi ko.

"I'm telling you anak good catch ang batang yon."

"Mahiya naman po kayo ma. Isa pa she is too young for me."

"Naku Noreen, anak, kailan ka pa natutong mahiya and age doesn't matter in the name of love. Kaya kung maiinlove ka sa batang yon wag mo ng pakawalan pa, if you need to tie her up gawin mo!"

I am not hearing this to my own step mom!