Chapter 5: The Good News He Can't Know

Chapter 5: The Good News

On Asnawi's villa, Jasmine kept insisting that she would cook for Asnawi. The two nannys could only roll their eyes and let her.

"Parang naiirita na talaga ako Aya.” mahinang sabi nito sa kanyang katabi, di nya mapigilan ang lubos na pagkainis dito dahil sa ginawa nito sa kanyang alaga.

“Abay h'wag ka ngang maingay di yan at baka ika'y marinig.” Pagsiko nito sa kay Melba.

“Aba! Baka lasunin nya si ser!” bulong nito, halatang nais na nitong sumigaw.” Alam nya bang ayaw ni ser Asnawi ng manok?” Pagtawa nito. Tila alam nyang di kakainin ng kanilang amo ang niluto ng bago nitong kasintahan.

"Sshh!” Nanny Aya hissed and poke Nanny Melba's hips. Nanny Melba could only swing her hips to the side.

"What are you two whispering about?" Jasmine turned around and raised her eyebrows. She didn't notice that her long wavy hair was drenched into the pot.

Nanny Melba noticed it and controlled herself not to laugh. She immediately covered her mouth and looked at the ceiling suppressing his laughter.

"Ms. Chiao, your hair is on the soup." mahinahong sabi ni Manang Aya.

Jasmine saw that her hair was indeed boiling with the chicken soup she just cooked and started screaming!

“Ah!!” malakas na sigaw nito, sa sobrang lakas ay tila nage-echo ito sa buong palapag ng bahay.

Asnawi who was in his study room heard the loud noise and ran down to the kitchen. He saw Jasmine's wet hair and the awful smell of chicken soup.

He covered his nose tightly with his fingers, pinching it really hard.

Masuka-suka nyang tiniis ang masangsang na amoy ng niluluto.

"What was this all about?" he asked looking at the two helpers. His voice was in nasal tone.

"Young Master..." They bowed.

"The madam insisted to cook chicken soup for you, her hair accidentally dropped together with the pot." Nanny Aya said calmly.

Magaling mag-englis ang mga kasambahay ni Asnawi. Di lamang dahil mahigit sampung taon na itong nagtatrabaho para sa kanya ngunit naging requirement din nya ito upang kung sakaling may mga foreigner na bisita ay agad nilang maintindihan ang iuutos nito.

"Throw that soup away." he immediately said. The two helpers followed and carried the pot of soup outside.

"Awi! Look at my hair! It's already damaged." Jasmine cried. She kept on holding her wet hair.

 Right now Asnawi was really annoyed but he cannot shout and vent his anger since she was pregnant. It seems like all his patience for the past 24 years had been spent to this woman for a whole week.

"I'm allergic to poultry products." he said straightforwardly, as soon as he was leaving the kitchen and went back to his study room.

Jasmine was dumbfounded. Rage can be seen through her eyes as she saw Asnawi's retreating figure.

---

To Jerica she was ready to start a new life. She scrolled down job websites to earn money. Even though her family background can be calculated as zero. Her education was very good. She had always topped the class and graduated with flying colors in two courses-- one is arts and second is for business management.

She sent resumes and application letters to different companies. However, she ignored the company of Dragon Jewel Incorporation. The company founded by her ex-husband.

'Napaka-swerte nya naman kung mag-aaply ako sa kompanya nya,’ sabi nito sa sarili.

After sending emails, she was already sleepy so she crawled to her little bed. The warmth of her bed let her immediately close her eyes. She thought she could fall asleep real fast but her emotions betrayed her once again.

She tried to sleep that night but suppressed thoughts once again triggered her heart and she let out a silent cry again covering her face with the soft pillows.

She felt alone in this world. No one is on her side. She have nothing to inspire her to live. After uncomfortably changing positions, she had already fallen asleep with a heavy heart.

With a swollen face she woke up late next morning feeling dizzy. She felt really nauseous and kept vomiting water.

"May sakit ba'ko?" she asked putting her palm on her forehead.

Her eyes suddenly lit when weird  thoughts came to her mind. Isn't it like this in movies?

“Woy parang impossible naman na mangyari yun,” wika nito.

Ngunit di mapakali ito at tila ba ay nasisiyahan sa naiisip.

"It can't be..." she said to herself.

She immediately jumped in excitement.

'Wag mag-assume at baka masaktan ka lang ulit,' Pagpapa-alala nito sa sarili.

Yet she thought that she should not assume and that she could be disappointed later on. After all, it had been 5 years.

To her, being what she's thinking right now is impossible. This already happened through years of continuously hoping.

She went to the table wherein she put the test results last night.

Her hands were trembling.

As soon as she read the document, tears started to roll down her cheeks. She couldn't believe that God had really heard her prayers last night. Right now she has someone with her. A reason to continue life.

She was so happy that she cannot explain herself. She then remembered Asnawi.

 Her heart ache. Ano pang silbi ng magandang balitang ito kung wala na rin naman ang taong gusto nyang sabihan nito?

It was as if it was struck by dozens of tiny needles. Masakit man na kung kailan ang pinangarap nyang pamilya ay matutupad na ay saka naman ito pinaghiwalay ng tadhana.

 She hold her tummy and spoke "I'm sorry baby, mommy can't give you a dad but she will definitely take care of you and love you more than her life."

At that very morning, she had been smiling a lot and listed things that she should do in order to take care of the little angel inside her womb.

Her little apartment's mood was so positive that even the sun shined warmly as of it was smiling at her.

She scheduled for a prenatal check-up at a private clinic. Although Asnawi has given her  all the pleasures in life, Jerica was always noble and independent. She  would never sit in the villa and wait for Asnawi to come home; at least when they were still together.

She doesn't only rely on Asnawi, this attitude also made Asnawi love her more. All these years, she had too much savings right now that she could even afford to buy a villa. But right now, because she's having a baby she'll need to be on a budget to raise her child well.

She already decided. She will keep the baby on her own and not let it live with a heartless father. Asnawi is not allowed to know about this. I don't want him to get my baby away from me.

“Magkamatayan na,” she spoke. “Di nya makukuha ang batang ito.”

She was walking inside the private clinic when she saw a familiar figure.

Isn't that Asnawi?

---

Jerica hurriedly went inside the private room of her ob-gyne. She let out a sigh of relief.

Nakita sya ng kanyang doktor na tila hinahabol at balisa ito.

"Ms. Lee? Are you okay?" The doctor asked.

"Ah yes! I thought someone was following me that's why I rushed in." She lied, but the doctor seemed to believe her and pursed her lips.

"You're nervous aren't you?" the doctor asked flashing it's calm smile.

"I... I am. Is it that obvious?" Jerica released an awkward laugh but it didn't get to her eyes.

The doctor only nodded in response. This was not new to her. For the past years, anxious pregnant women including husbands are not a surprise at all. She was used to different reactions like it was normal in her profession.

The tests were performed including an ultrasound. A cold gel was placed into Jerica's abdomen. She could feel the cold gel and the device circling on her abdomen as the ob-gyne was tracing the baby inside her womb.

The ob-gyne made her look at the screen. It displayed white and dark images and she could hear huge thuds! The sound of her baby's heartbeat.

She couldn't believe what she is seeing right now. This... This had been their dream. To have a baby!

Reminiscing, her eyes were red and moist. Her heart was in pain but it was also full of joy. Seeing this scene the doctor immediately felt pity.

Having no one to accompany Jerica today it seems that the doctor hinted she was not in a good state.

"Congratulations Ms. Lee! You're already 15 weeks pregnant. Your baby is very healthy. His heartbeat is also normal." the doctor exclaimed happily, changing the atmosphere inside the private room.

"His? You mean?" she startled. Wiping the corner of her eyes, she took a few seconds before digesting the information.

Halos lumuwa ang mata nya. She was shocked. Gender reveal na agad?

The doctor could only nod her head.

After being able to realize this, she had cried. Maybe it was because of the hormones, but she was really happy right now. Who could hurt her now? She has already someone to make her even stronger.

 “Magiging mama na ako,” she said while holding back her tears.

God get rid of that man and gave me someone that would never hurt me and that I can call mine. I'm really grateful! I promise not to mess this up.

However, she didn't want Asnawi to know about this. With his wealth and connections, investigating would be easy. Ayaw nyang mangyari na pagnalaman ito ni Asnawi ay kukunin ito sa kanya. Alam nyang maaari nitong sabihin na mas mayroon syang kakayahang palakihin ito.

"Doc? Does your clinic provide the best security and privacy here? I mean if ever may magtanong about my pregnancy can you not tell them?"  She asked while smiling nervously, still wiping her tears.

"Of course we do Ms. Lee. We will never let our clients down. It will also affect the reputation of our clinic if we are not able to handle a piece of information properly." the doctor said as if it was to comfort her.

She nodded. Choosing this clinic was indeed good. They also called her a "client" which means this clinic took them as business people.

 After receiving few advice from the doctor, including vitamins,  supplements and prenatal reminders; she exited the hospital without any thoughts. She was only happy and excited that she kept smiling as she got out of the private clinic.

Not too distant from the room where Jerica was standing, Asnawi was standing impatiently waiting outside another room. His hands were on his pockets and he leaned the side of his head against the wall. He looked really cool from head to toe. His aura was cold yet his black suit fits his physique that female assistant nurses would drop their jaw just by looking at him. He was indeed handsome.

While waiting, his sharp eyes accidentally gazed at a familiar silhouette.

His heart pounded hard. He looked at the direction of the familiar figure and saw that it was her. It was Jerica smiling on her way to the exit. Her smile was so genuine that it went to her eyes.

"I wonder how she could smile like that,” he said at the back of his mind.

Didn't they just divorced? Had Jerica already found another man? How could this be possible they only got divorced a month ago. With these thoughts his face darkened. It was gloomy and cold. Have Jerica been fooling around behind his back?

He suddenly erased these thoughts. Shaking his head.

 How could he twist the truth and blame Jerica instead? In reality he was the one who fooled her and cheated on her.

That's right. She deserves to be happy.

But why does it feel like he just stabbed his heart as soon as he thought of this?

--

However another thought entered his mind.

Asnawi's eyebrows furrowed. Why would his ex-wife visit an ob-gyne? Was it for fertility check-up again?

No, that doesn't seem to be the answer. With Asnawi's IQ it would be an insult if that would be his final conclusion.

As soon as she was about to go to the room where Jerica was from, someone had snatched his arms and cling onto it.

"Awi! San ka punta?" Jasmine said softly, like a puppy begging for a walk.

 "You didn't even accompany me inside." Jasmine said pouting at him.

He didn't notice that Jasmine had already got out of the room. Accompanying her was not on his mind. What's important is the baby inside her.

He could only delay his plan right now. The answers to his questions could wait.

"Nothing. Let's go," he said as he walked fast to their car. His legs were really long that the pregnant Jasmine could only sprint in order to be with his pace.

"Drive,” he coldly said to his driver and rested his head on the car seat.

Inside the car Asnawi's thoughts flew very far. He didn't even bother looking at Jasmine who was on her left side. She kept clinging onto him but he didn't bother to care.

His gut keeps telling him something, it made him uncomfortable yet he doesn't exactly know the answer.