Cheat

"You've been wearing that for 3 days." He was about to wear the one pair of couple hoodies I gave.

"I'll wear it again, 'cause you're wearing it today," He said. It was a gift for him for our 2nd Anniversary.

"And I can still smell your scent here,"

"Let's go?" I held his hand, after wearing his hoodie. We walked together on our way home, but we saw a vendor and he's selling street foods.

"Do you eat those?" I asked him, he swallowed hard.

"Uhmm..." He scratches his head, while awkwardly smiling. I laughed at his reaction, I knew it. He's really a rich kid.

"I don't, but I wanna try..."

I pulled him in front of the tray of Kwek-Kwek, Fishball, Isaw, Squidball, Chicken Feet, etc.

"Try these," I gave him a stick of Kwek-Kwek, it has 3 pieces in one stick. It's also called Quail egg, but here in the Philippines, we call it Kwek-Kwek. Isaw is made from barbecued pig or chicken intestines. One of my favorites, especially when it is deep with vinegar that has onions and chili.

"What do you call this?" He asked while looking at those quail eggs.

"It's called Quail egg, also known as Kwek-Kwek." He nodded and started eating it.

"Hmm, it's good!"

I also took a stick and started eating. I made him try the Isaw and he seemed to really like it. He ate 4 sticks of it. We ate a lot, he literally tried everything. And he wanted to bring some home, he said that Abuelo may like it also.

We just spend more time eating together, before sending me home. He really makes sure that I'm home before he goes home, I don't know what's up with him, he looks chill but he looks like he's hiding something.

I want him to open up with me, but I feel like he's not just ready to share.

I feel like he's more than just I know, I want to know about him, like everything about him.

"M-Mom?"

I stepped forward to look at her. Shocked and scared is what I saw in her eyes while holding her tummy. My brows furrowed when I saw there's a tiny bump in her tummy. This is the first time I saw her not wearing a loose shirt, and she was wearing a not so fitted shirt, that's why the tiny bump became more noticeable

"Mom?" She looked at me, shocked and anxious.

She stayed silent, she turned pale and stood up, she walked briskly as if he didn't know where she was going.

"I didn't do anything..." She whispered. What's happening?

"Mom, what's wrong?" As if shocked by my question, he hurried over to me. He took my hand and squeezed it, "I d-didn't do anything ..." Shaking her head, her tears fell.

"Mom! What's wrong?" I started to panic when I saw how pale she was.

"Mom!" I shouted as she started to fall. Fortunately, I was holding her so she didn't fell that hard. I saw Dad running down the stairs and went to us. He looked mad but at the same time, concerned. Dad stayed silent for a while and looked at Mom painfully.

"Dad... what are you doing? Let's bring her to the hospital!" I can't hide the panic and nervousness in my voice.

He seemed surprised by what I said so he quickly got Mom in the car and took her to the Hospital.

"Congratulations! She's 12 weeks pregnant."

My mouth stayed half-open, am I going to have a sibling again? I smiled sweetly at the Doctor because of the good news, but everyone got shocked when Dad punched the wall.

"Fuck it! Fuck everyone!" He left and slammed the door.

The shock in my face earlier turned into shock because of Dad's reaction.

I don't know what to feel. Should I be happy or what? Everything's so confusing!

The Doctor was just looking at me, "Is your Mom stressed?" She started to ask.

"She has been drinking..." Dra. sighed and slowly shook her head.

"She almost lost the baby," My jaw dropped.

"I'm not aware that she's..." She didn't let me finish. "I almost didn't hear the heartbeat of the child, and the baby's too low... if she didn't take rest, she might lose the baby..." I looked at mom who's sleeping peacefully.

"She really needs a rest..." I nodded.

"I'll remind your parents later,"

"Thank you, Doc."

She gave some advice before leaving. I got up from sitting to get some food, but it led me to the door because I heard someone talking.

"My sister is... pregnant?" It was Aunty Amelia's voice. I was about to open the door but, "Did you tell Briana everything?" I heard the sound of my heartbeat.

"I can't..." It was Dad.

"She deserves to know everything. She's your Daughter, I tell you, she deserves to know..."

"I'm scared that it might lead us to the end of us..."

"You've met that end for a long time," I heard him sniffing.

"I love them, I can't lose them..." He said firmly even his voice broke.

"I still can't understand why she did that, we really loved each other."

"She still loves you," Aunty Amelia calmly said.

"Then why did she cheat?" My knee was almost numb from what I heard.

Tears fell.

Fucking tears again.

My Mom... I forcibly closed my eyes and shook my head. I don't want to think. I can't say the word.

Did she really do that?

"Why did she let that bastard impregnate her?"

My tears fell more. I was shaking.

Without hesitation, I opened the door. It revealed Dad and Aunty crying.

"Briana..." He was shocked and nervous. He tried to reach my hands but I didn't let him.

"It wasn't your child?" I asked weakly. He didn't answer. He covered his face from frustration.

"Dad! Please! Answer me..." I cried more. I want to know everything. Every single thing. I feel so left out, I feel like I'm the only one who didn't know the truth.

"Tell me the truth, please, I'm begging..."

"I can't..." He said, looking tired.

"Aunty... tell me," She let out a deep sigh and looked at me.

"Calm yourself first,"

"Amelia," Dad tried to stop her.

"I will tell her if you can't." We left Dad when she dragged me out of the hospital.

We went to the garden of the Hospital and seat in those vacant seats.

She was looking at me seriously, but then she went to me and gave me a hug. "Aunty..." I cried on her shoulders.

"Let it out, Hija. It must've been tough." She started caressing my hair.

"Is that true that... Mom cheated?"

"Yes."

I became even weaker.

Until I couldn't cry anymore.

Everything just feels so empty.

"Was it... Dad's child?"

She turned to me.

She slowly shook her head.

I smiled bitterly. Everything's fucked up now.

"Since when?"

"Since you're in 4th grade,"

I felt my heart break into pieces. How... how could she do that? How could she do that... for that long? How could her conscience handle that? How could she cheat?

"Why... Aunty?"

"I tried to stop her, understand her... but I just couldn't."

"I tried to find deeper reasons, but I couldn't." She let out a deep sigh. Looked at me with tired eyes, and smiled sadly at me.

"Can we stop right here, Aunty? I can't take it anymore..." I said, almost pleading. She nodded and gave me a smile.

My chest tightens every time I try to recall what I knew.

How about Dad? How did he endure pain? Mom has been cheating for years...

Mom has been cheating. Mom's pregnant, but Dad was not the father. I don't know what to do, I don't know what I should do.

I'm mad. I'm so fucking mad.

I wanted to blame Mom for everything that was happening, but my love for her still prevailed.

I still want to know the reason, even though I already know there will be no valid reason to cheat.

I still want a fucking explanation.

“Briana,” I heard someone call from behind. It was Dad. He gestured to Aunty Amelia, she smiled at me before leaving.

“How did you cope with the pain? How do you endure even when you are being deceived?”

“That’s how love can do…”

“You still call it 'love', even without respect?”

“I can even die for love,” He smiled at me. Do you know what hurt me more? He smiled genuinely.

“I’m willing to sacrifice everything for your Mom, for you, and your brother…”He wiped a tear on his left eye.

“I understand your Mom, Briana… I know your Mom well,”

“Do you still feel the love, Dad?”

“I do… I can feel it very well.” I closed my eyes in pain.

“I know the man,” My brows furrowed in confusion.

“He was my best friend,”

Best friend?

“What?!”

“How could your best friend do that—” I was cut off by the nurse.

“Sir, your wife has been crying and she was looking for you.” Dad nodded. He turned to me and gave me a smile.

“I’ll tell you everything. I’ll wait for the right time.” Then he left.

And I was dumbfounded here, confused.