82: Dramatic preggy

SAM'S POV

I popped the last piece of chocolate cake into my mouth and again, I savored the pleasure of its sweetness it gives me.

Hmmm... I didn't know there's a Café like this existed in this area.. they sure served a tasty pastries here. Well, it's not that I've been to any Café these past few days. Higit isang buwan rin naman akong nakakulong lang sa bahay at ngayon lang uli ako nakalabas mula sa lugar na'yon.

Letting out a satisfied sigh, I leaned my back against my seat and then stroked my now bloated tummy. Not with baby but with five sliced of sweet cakes.

Ngayong busog na'ko, I think I have to resume my mission now. Nakasama ko na uli si Suzy, now it's time to move on for my next stop today.

Allan Grand.

Matagal-tagal ko naring hindi nakakausap ito. He might have new informations for me now about my case kaya kailangan ko itong makausap man lang.

Eager to do that now, I quickly searched for Suzy outside. And when I spotted her having a serious talk in her phone outside, tatayo na sana ako mula sa kinauupuan ko but I paused when  two new customers strode inside the Café.

And with the way the man was protectively holding the woman's back, mukhang mag-asawa ang dalawang 'to lalo na't may mga magkamukhang suot na singsing ang mga ito.

A newly married couple perhaps.

Hindi ko alam kung anong nakain ko but I just stayed seated on my seat habang parang tangang nakamasid lang sa mag-asawang 'yon na ngayo'y papalapit na sa cashier.

"Hello ma'am, sir! Welcome to our Café. Ano pong order natin ma'am, sir?" The woman greeted as she gave them her practiced smile.

"Carrot cake and a mango juice for my pregnant wife please.."

Pagkarinig sa tugong yon ng lalaki, I can't help but stared at the smiling woman beside him na ngayo'y hinipo-hipo na ang munting umbok sa tyan nito na ngayon ko lang napansin dahil sa suot nitong maluwag na damit.

She's pregnant like me. And she was smiling too brightly now. Too bright that it made me envy her.

Of course, dahil may asawa ito at hindi magulo ang buhay nito.

Unlike me. I'm pregnant pero hindi naman kasal sa ama ng dinadala ko. At isa pa, malayong-malayo sa lalaking 'to ang magiging ama ng anak ko.

That conniving bastard! Kapag nandito yon, tyak hinding-hindi yon oorder ng maraming cake para sa'kin kahit na buntis pa'ko because his cents was just too precious to be spent with useless things like this.

At tyak hindi yon sasama rito dahil wala namang ibang ginawa 'yon kundi ikulong lang ako sa bahay niya and barred me from doing anything.

A complete opposite of this man here.  So opposite that it made me want to cry now.

"Mom, look. She's crying."

When I heard that little voice from my left, I glanced at that way and came the woman in her early thirties seated on the table na malapit lang sa'kin kasama ang isang batang babae sa katabing upuan nito while looking at my way.

Walang duda.. ako ang tinutukoy ng batang 'yon lalo na't naramdaman ko ng may mga butil na naman ngayon ng luhang tumulo sa mga pisngi ko.

Oh shit! Hindi ko man lang napansin ito until now. Mukhang nababaliw na yata ako.

Embarrassed with it, I quickly wiped those tears from my eyes and then apologetically smiled at them who were looking at me with worried look.

"Wag nyo na'kong pansinin. Okay lang ako."

Kahit na isang dalagang buntis na ako.

When my mind added that, hindi ko na napigilang mapaiyak na naman dahil dun. Making the two looked so alarmed now with my state.

At hindi ko na nga napigilan ang sarili ko. Mas lalo pang dumami ang mga luhang dumaloy sa mga pisngi ko ngayon and I don't bloody know why I was being like this! I think I had lose control of my tears now. Hindi pa naman ako nababaliw pero bakit nagkakaganito ako??

When the woman was about to get up from her seat para lapitan sana ako, I quickly motioned her not to bother.

"Okay lang talaga ako. I'm just practicing my acting part for our drama scene tomorrow. You know... I'm an actress at hindi nyo ko kilala kasi baguhan palang ako." Nakangiting palusot ko while giving her a dismissal wave of my hand kahit na panay pa rin ang tulo ng lintik na mga luha ko.

The woman must've been so confused with me now dahil parang hindi na nito alam kung anong gagawin nito. Kung tatayo ba ito at damayan ako rito o tumawag na ito sa mental hospital para damputin na'ko rito. The other customers inside were starting to give me a confused glances as well.

"Sam? Anong nangyari sa'yo??"

Suzy's voice interrupted me from my dramatic thoughts nang bigla nalang nyang itanong 'yon sa harapan ko, not even noticing her coming back inside. Siguro bumalik ito rito dahil nagtataka na ito kung bakit natagalan ako rito.

Bitbit na nito ngayon ang pang-itaas na uniform nito and she was in her purple shirt right now. Puno ng pag-aalala ang mukha nito ngayon as she sat down at the seat beside me.

"May problema ba? Ba't umiiyak ka ngayon?"

Embarrassed with her, I quickly wiped all those tears from my eyes and sniffed like a damn baby being rescued by her mom.

"Wala. Pinaiiyak lang ako ng isang gago ngayon. And for now, wala akong ibang gustong gawin ngayon but give that bastard a lesson that he would never forget. You know, like castrating his balls and throw it to the Lion's den?"

That made her looked at me with puzzled look, looking at me like I had gone out of my mind dahil sa mga kalokohang pinagsasabi ko ngayon.

"Bastard? Si Mr. Del Fuero ba ang tinutukoy mo?"

I just nodded at her then wiped those tears that had escaped from my eyes again.

"Okay ka lang ba ngayon? May problema ba kayo? Why don't we talk about it now? Para naman gumaan yang pakiramdam mo.."

"No. Mas malala pa 'to sa problema at hindi gagaan ang pakiramdam ko hangga't hindi ko man lang nauupakan ang gagong 'yon."

Mas lalo pang kumunot ang noo nito ngayon dahil dun, looking more confused with me.

"Upakan? And why would you do that? Ano bang ginawa niya sa'yo?"

That question made me sniffed again, being reminded with the fact na binuntis ako ng gagong 'yon and the fact na hindi ko man lang alam kung pananagutan ba nya ko!

"Well, binuntis niya lang naman ako ng manlolokong 'yon, Suzy kaya wag kang mag-alala. I'm fine. I'm absolutely fine but I'd be more than fine kung mababaog ko man lang sana ng tuluyan ang gagong 'yon..."

At the mention of that, a shocked gasp instantly came out from her while gaping at me with wide eyes. As if I had admitted that I'm actually a man and I've got balls like Batman's kaya dapat na siyang kabahan.

"Y-You're pregnant????"

I groaned in disapproval when she had exclaimed that in a rather loud voice, dahilan para magsilingunan sa gawi namin ang ibang customers na malapit-lapit lang sa'min. Lalo na ang mag-asawang kapapasok lang dito.

"Please don't freak out like I had said I've got balls with me, Suz! You're embarrassing me.." Agad na saway ko rito, causing her to clamp his mouth with her hand and looked at me apologetically.

"I'm sorry. Nabigla lang ako." Agad na bulong nito sa'kin with an apologetic look.

But since she had piqued the other customers' attention now, wala na'kong ibang nagawa kundi tumayo na sa kinauupuan ko sabay hila sa kamay nya, ignoring the prying eyes following us.

"Sam, talaga bang buntis ka? You're not just fooling around now, are you?" She queried with low voice, excitement was visible in her voice habang hila-hila ko ito patungo sa kahera.

"Joking isn't my habit, Suz. Lalo na sa bagay na'to." Sagot ko na sa kanya pagkarating sa counter.

"Kung ganun nga, edi mas lalong kailangan mong bumalik sa bahay ni Cameron. Kailangan niyang malaman ito. Na magkakaanak na kayo!"

"No. Mababaog ko lang ng tuluyan ang gagong 'yon kapag nakita ko uli 'yon. I'm not going back to that house and to that bastard. Not ever." I answered with firm voice, leaving no space for any argument about it sabay tuyo ng tuluyan ng mga mata ko.

I didn't heard her uttered an answer beside me, I just felt her tugged my hand as I scanned through the food stall.

Ignoring her, agad na'kong umorder ng iba pang flavors ng cake, ignoring the other displayed food specially that disgusting carrot cake na inorder ng mag-asawang 'yon kanina.

Call me jealous pero talagang hindi ko lang gusto ang taste ng buntis na'yon.

I quickly made my order. Three sets of orders exactly. One for Suzy, and two food packs for me. Of course, dalawa na kami ngayong lumalamon sa loob ng katawan ko so it had to be double.

"S-Sam...?"

"Hmm?" Tanging sagot ko rito when she called out my name, not even glancing at her way.

"Sam..." tawag nya uli sa'kin, now tugging my hand in a rather forceful way. Na para bang hindi ito mapalagay ngayon sa tabi ko.

"What? Naiihi ka ba? Punta ka muna sa CR. Sa labas nalang kita hihintayin." I answered, still not glancing at her as my eyes were just glued to the sweet cakes before me.

I felt her let go of my hand but she didn't leave my side anyway.

Ignoring her again, agad na'kong nag-abot ng pera sa kahera for my payment but I frowned when a hand with a black master card suddenly appeared in my view, blocking my hand na mag-aabot sana ng bayad sa kahera.

"Anong-----"

"I'll pay for her order."

My head quickly snapped to my right pagkarinig ko sa pamilyar na boses na'yon sa tabi ko. And I groaned in disapproval when I was greeted with another bastard.

Kung minamalas ka nga naman ano..

"He was the reason why I kept calling you, Sam." Suzy whispered against my ears, now finally understanding why she kept on tugging my hand awhile ago dahil gusto niyang malaman ko na may isang gago na namang sumulpot ngayon para bwesetin ako.

"What are you doing here, Enriquez? Hanggang dito ba naman sinusundan mo ko?" Malamig ko ng tanong sa kanya sabay tampal sa kamay nito to make way for my hand at ng makapagbayad na'ko sa parang nalilitong kahera dahil sa pagsulpot ng damuhong na'to.

Matagal-tagal ko naring hindi nakikita ito kahit na halos araw-araw itong nagpupumilit pumasok sa loob ng bahay ni Cameron these past few weeks.

"Let's just say na tiyempo lang na nakita kitang lumabas kanina sa bahay ng tarantadong Cameron na'yon and yes, I've followed you through here to talk to you. You know that's what I've been trying to do these past few weeks but you've unfortunately paid no heed of it."

That made my brow shot up at the hear of him, sounding like he was giving me a sermon now dahil sa hindi ko pagharap dito.

"Excuse me? I didn't remember anything na kailangan nating pag-usapan lalake kaya walang dahilan para mag-usap tayo ngayon."

"No, we have, Samantha. A lot." Matigas na tugon nito, emphasizing the last words.

At sa ikinabigla ko, bigla nalang nyang hinawakan ng mahigpit ang kamay kong may hawak na pera before he held out his card to the confused cashier.

"I'll pay for her order, miss. Take this now." Demanding na utos pa nito sa kahera which leaves the poor woman to have no choice but take his card and then swiped it in at the terminal machine.

An action which made me glared up at him as I tried to get my hand off of his tight hold. Pero sa ikinainis ko pa lalo, hindi ko man lang matanggal ang kamay ko mula sa mahigpit na pagkakahawak nya.

"Enriquez!" timping bulyaw ko rito, stopping myself to punch him right then and there dahil maiging nakatingin sa'min ang kahera at iba pang staffs na nandun ngayon, looking so confused with us.

To my utter annoyance, he just grunted saka tinanggap ang card niya nang ibinalik na ito ng babae.

Talagang may problema sa utak ang taong 'to! Walang pinagkaiba sa kaibigan nitong manloloko!

"Ano ba talagang kailangan mo sa'kin ngayon huh? If you're here para sa kaso ng mama mo, well, sorry dahil hindi ko na naasikaso ang tungkol sa kasong 'yon dahil kung hindi mo pa rin alam, matagal akong naging baog----"

Shit! Napapamura nalang ako nang bigla ko nalang masambit ang letseng salitang 'yon, dahilan para lumingon ito sa gawi ko habang kunot ang noo.

"I mean, baldado. Baldado at hindi baog. Kaya naman mabuti pang umalis kana rito." Agad na bawi ko rito trying to make a straight face.

Pero kahit na naguguluhan parin itong nakatingin sa'kin ngayon, he had answered me anyway.

"No. I wasn't here to talk about that case, Samantha. It's about something else. It's about your identity."

Mas lalo pang lumalim ang pagkakakunot ng noo ko at the mention of that kahit na gusto ko ng sitahin ito for calling me with my first name!

"Anong----"

"Eto na po 'yong mga order nyo ma'am. Enjoy at balik po kayo uli!"

That cheerful voice of the cashier made me snapped my lips shut sabay tanggap sa iniaabot nitong mga paperbags na may lamang mga pagkain.

But before my hands could even touch it,  he suddenly snatched that from the cashier's hand sabay hila sa isang kamay ko, dahilan para mataranta na'ko lalo na ng hilahin na nya'ko palabas sa lugar na'yon. Alam kong tarantang nakasunod lang sa'min si Suzy ngayon, probably hindi alam ang gagawin para tulungan ako.

"Enriquez! Bitawan mo'ko ngayon din!" Asik ko na sa kanya while trying to take my hand from his vise grip at ng makalayo na'ko sa taong 'to.

Dahil baliw na talaga ito!

"We just need to talk, Samantha. Masyado ka ng binubulag ng tarantadong Cameron na'yon and it had to be stopped now.."

"Huh! Talk? Hindi tayo close sa isa't-isa kaya wala tayong dapat pag-usapan, Enriquez! And F.Y.I, hindi ako binubulag ng gagong 'yon dahil sa panloloko yon magaling!" I sarcastically answered with a scoff habang pilit ba pinipigilan itong mahila ako papunta sa kung saan nito balak dalhin ako.

He didn't answered. Tuloy-tuloy lang ito sa kahihila sa'kin, making me feel more annoyed with him now.

Some prying eyes were now giving us an interesting looks habang hila-hila pa rin nya'ko. Lalo na ang naguguluhang kahera kanina na syang nagbigay ng mga orders ko.

"Enriquez! Talagang malilintikan ka sa'kin kapag hindi mo pa'ko bibitawan ngayon din! Alam kong hindi ka naparito para kausapin ako kundi nandito ka ngayon para bwesetin ako so release me now!" Asik ko na rito in between with gritted teeth, controlling my voice not to shout at him.

"No. We need to talk but not here."

"Sabi ng wala tayong dapat---"

My mouth snapped shut when he suddenly whirled around sabay bitaw ng kamay ko pagkalabas na pagkalabas namin ng Café na'yon.

"May kailangan kang malaman." Diretsang saad nito pagkaharap sa'kin, now looking too serious.

"What? Ano naman kaya ang dapat kong malaman sa'yo ngayon aber? Sasabihin mo na naman bang mamamatay tao si Cameron para magtrabaho ako sa'yo?"Maanghang ko ng sagot rito while resting my hands over my hips.

Pero parang hindi man lang ito apektado sa tono ng boses ko ngayon, his face just stayed stoic while staring at me. Too stoic that it made me frowmed at him, wondering what had gotten on him to behave like this now.

Because he might be plotting something now para lokohin ako. Alam kong kilala nya ang manlolokong Ricky Vista na'yon so it was possible na magkakuntsaba ang mga ito.

I should be careful---

"It's about your father. Your biological father, Samantha."

At the mention of that, bigla nalang akong napatigil sa kinatatayuan ko as I stared at him now with held breath. Surprised with that matter being brought up in a sudden.

"W-What about him? Anong nalalaman mo tungkol sa kanya?" Agad ko ng tanong sa kanya without even blinking my eyes at him, now being piqued with it.

Hindi ko alam na ito pala ang ibig nyang sabihin na tungkol sa pagkatao ko.

"Marami akong alam tungkol sa pagkatao niya. Ang gusto kong itanong sa'yo ngayon, do you want to meet him?"

He doesn't seem like he was just fooling on me now pero dahil baka ginogoodtime lang nya'ko ngayon and he was just using my father para lokohin ako, I chose to just ignore it kahit na gustong-gusto ko ng maniwala sa kanya.

"You can't fool me, Enriquez. Ano na naman bang binabalak mong gawin ngayon huh? Balak mo na naman bang----"

"I'm serious. Even Cameron knows about this pero tinatago niya lang sa'yo. Masyado na niyang pinatatagal ito kaya ako na mismo ang nagsasabi sa'yo ngayon nito."

At the mention of his name, mas lalo pa'kong natitigilan ngayon while looking up at him with puzzled look.

"Y-You're lying. Cameron would never do that." Atleast not again. Not in that matter dahil alam nya kung ga'no ko kagustong mabuo ang pagkatao ko.

"Cameron won't keep a secret from me."

"Mukhang masyadong malaki ang tiwala mo sa kanya, Samantha. Pero sigurado kabang wala syang tinatago sa'yo? Matagal ka ring hindi nakalabas ng bahay nya. Are you certain nothing happened in that span of time?"

Ayokong makinig sa kanya but I can't just resist that strong urge now to give it a thought.

Yeah. Hindi nga lang ba ako niloloko uli ng gagong 'yon? Afterall, he had made me believe na baog ito at ngayon, nabuntis na nya'ko dahil naniwala agad ako rito.

I narrowed my eyes at him, trying to study him under my scrutiny.

I know how to read someone's mind but this time, I can't detect any deception in his eyes. Dahilan para magsimula na'kong kabahan ngayon dahil sa posibilidad na totoo nga ang mga sinasabi nito. Pero dahil ayokong magpaloko uli, I straightened my back saka tinanong ito.

"Papa'no mo nalamang hinahanap ko ang tunay kong ama? Pinaimbestigahan mo ba'ko para lang gamitin yan ngayon----"

"Sinabi sa'kin ng tunay mong ina, Samantha. At the same day you've get yourself into an accident."

That got me frowned at him more at that piece of news habang litong-litong nakatingin sa kanya.

And when he senses my confusions, nagsalita narin uli ito.

"Kung nagtataka ka kung bakit alam ko ang tungkol sa paghahanap mo sa kanya, gusto kong malaman mo that I was there at that time na aminin sa'yo ni Ms. Romero kung sino ang tunay mong mga magulang. I've overheard your conversation in that cemetery by coincidence kaya alam ko. Nakausap ko ang nanay mo after you left there at dun ko nalaman kung sino ang tunay mong ama."

Hearing all those words from him, I can't help but just stayed muted habang maigi lang akong nakatitig sa kanya, still trying to weigh his words kung nagsasabi nga ba talaga ito ng totoo.

He said Cameron knows about this..

So does this mean, he already know who my father is pero hindi nya man lang sinabi 'yon sa'kin at Kailangan ko pa talagang marinig yon mula sa taong 'to? Sa mismong taong kinaiinisan nya?

Pero kailangan ko bang paniwalaan ang taong 'to? O kailangan kong tanungin mismo si Cameron tungkol rito?

And what if matagal na nga nyang alam 'to, Sam? What would you do?

That thought made my head started to ache now. So confused with what to do and at the same, nervous with what I would hear from him later.

"Alam kong naguguluhan ka pa ngayon, Samantha and I am not pressuring you to believe me now but atleast, think about it. I can always go with you kung gusto mo ng makilala ang tunay mong ama."

I just remained silent, not having a tidbit of idea kung anong gagawin at isasagot ko sa kanya. At siguro, alam nyang hindi ko pa sya masasagot sa ngayon because I had heard him let out a deep sigh before he talked again.

"Please think about it. You know where to find me kapag nakapagdesisyon kana. Your father was dying to see you. I'll go ahead now." paalam na lamang nya sa'kin. Then with that, I saw him from the corner of my eyes handed the paperbags to Suzy before he took his leave. Leaving me rooted on my feet with my mind still befuddled with those informations he had disclosed.