TATLONG LINGGO na ang lumipas pagkatapos nang una niyang makita ang paglabas ng babaeng tila naubusan ng tela kung manamit mula sa opisina ni Luscious. Pagkatapos nito ay ilang beses pa iyong nasundan. Iba-iba ang babaeng pumapasok sa opisina nito ngunit pare-parehong mukhang walang delikadesa. That's how she calls them.
Sa tuwing tinatanong niya ang mga ito kung may appointment ba sa kaniyang magaling na amo ay tinataasan lamang siya ng kilay. Basta na lang ring pumapasok ito sa opisina ni Luscious nang hindi man lamang siya pinapansin.
Angel tsked.
Sa tatlong linggong nakalipas ay mas nakita niya ang pagbabago ni Luscious. Pagbabago ba o ganito talaga ang ugali nito?
He became grumpy! Halos araw-araw itong sumisigaw! Sinisinghalan ang halos lahat ng empleyadong pumapasok sa opisina nito. Kung hindi naman ay tatanggalin niya amg mga ito sa trabaho nang basta-basta.
Kagaya na lang sa araw na ito...
Her boss growled. "Don't give m
Natigilan siyang muli sa tanong nito. Buntis ba siya?She started to count the days after her last period. Then, her lips parted when a realization dawned on her."Oh my God, gaga. Magkasunod lang tayo lagi ng period at dapat no'ng nakaraan pa 'yon!"Kusa silang nagkatitigan ni Jasmine. Their faces both blanched.Her period was already two weeks late. Gano'n rin halos ang kaniyang kaibigan."Oh my God. Oh my God!"Hindi niya alam kung anong iisipin at mararamdaman sa mga oras na iyon. Does this means, she's pregnant? Buntis siya?"We need to be sure first," Angel said, stuttering. Naging malikot ang kaniyang mata."May pregnancy test kits ako.""Then we'll both do it tomorrow. Mas effective daw 'yon kapag sa umaga."Jasmine nodded looking just fine, thWala sa loob na dinama niya ang kaniyang sinapupunan. Aasa na ba siyang magkaka-anak siya? Yes, Angel wanted to have a baby so bad, but she
"PARATING NA raw si Joy," Jasmine said, as she descended the stairs.Angel was staring out the balcony in a trance when her friend spoke, pulling her from her reverie.She sighed.Ngayon niya na malalaman kung buntis siya— sila ng kaibigan niyang si Jasmine. Though she's excited, there's still something inside her, causing her to chicken out. Her sweaty plams felt so cold."I'm nervous as hell," Jasmine whispered out of nowhere, standing on her side.He let out a short laugh. "I feel you." Nanatiling nakatingin siya sa kawalan."Nagsabi ka ba sa boss mong hindi ka papasok?"She nodded. "Yep," Angel replied popping the 'p'.They both turned their heads, when the door clicked open and close. They instantly knew it's Joy. And they were not wrong.Nakangiti nilang sinalubong ang kaibigan na first time in the history atang hindi late."What's up mga, gaga?" Joy beamed at them making her chuckle.
Joy clasped her hands and smiled at them brightly. "This calls for a celebration!" she said in a singsing cheerful voice, yet still raspy from crying. "Ano speechless?" natatawang tanong nito nang hindi sila sumagot ni Jasmine.Pakiramdam niya ay nasa alapaap pa rin siya. Hindi pa rin siya nakakaget over. And not like she wanted to. Because Angel knew that she will never— like ever!"Celebration? Should we visit a doctor first?" Angel laughed inwardly."Of course we should! Tara na, bilis!" Excitement was evident on Joy's face."Saglit naman. Magayos muna kaya tayo," natatawang wika ni Jasmine."Huwag na! Kailangan niyo nang magpacheck-up para sa mga magiging pamangkin ko," reklamo ni Joy sa kanila."Nakapan-tulog pa kami, gaga!"Joy just rolled her eyeballs at what she said."Fine, magbihis na kayo." Joy sighed in surrender, and crossed her arms impatiently before shooing them.Napailing na lamang siya bago
LUSCIOUS KEPT on pacing back and forth, when his phone rang. Mabilis pa sa gidlat niya itong sinagot. Iisa lang naman ang inaasahan niyang tatawag sa kaniya sa araw na iyon."Galv." His tone was deep and low."I emailed you all the information you asked me for," Galvin paused, "I'm also done checking all the places she had been yesterday. Cortez's Hospitals Main, she visited Dra. Evangeline Virador, an oby gynecologist, before going to the mall with her friends—""I already know that." His jaw tightened." I'm not saying thank you for this f*cker." Thank yous are the same as f*ck yous in their circle that's why. "I'll wire you the money later.""Hmm, music to my ears. But still, f*ck you.""Yeah, yeah, sure." He shrugged and even waved his hand dismissively like Galvin could see him."But I'm not done yet, Duncan." Galvin sighed. "She's having a baby." He tsked and en
"Might!"Lalong naginit ang kaniyang ulo nang bumungad sa kaniya ang boses ng babaeng hindi niya kailanman gusto pang makita.He turned around to face Leslie who was grinning from ear to ear like a stupid Cheshire cat. She was beaming. And the sight irritated him even more.His eyes remained cold and unnerving. "What?" Luscious snapped at the woman who he considered as a friend before."I'm here to visit you." Leslie jumped like a child, and even hooked hi arm. "Here, I bought something for you."His eyebrows furrowed. Bumaba ang tingin niya sa hawak nitong paperbag. "You don't have to do that," he grunted, trying to get a grip of his wearing thin patience.Bagamat batid nito ang kaniyang inis ay nanatiling nakangiti ang dalagang tila walang pakialam."Of course, I do. I'm your fiancee. It's me taking care of you." Leslie squeezed his arm coquettishl
IGINALA NI Angel ang mata sa kaniyang bagong biling bahay. Minabuti niya nang lumipat rito dahil medyo nasisikipan na rin siya sa kanilang unit na magkakaibigan. Kailangan niya rin ng isang kwarto para sa magiging anak kung abutin man siya ng panganganak dito sa Pilipinas. Hanggang ngayon kasi ay naguguluhan pa rin and dalaga kung babalik pa ba siya ng Singapore. Mukang mamamalagi na rin kasi ang kaniyang mga kaibigan dito sa bansa. Joy was with her husband, while Jasmine seems to do well in working things out with Kaj. Mabuti na rin iyon lalo pa at magkakaanak na ito. Jasmine will soon have her own family with Kaj. And Joy will also be like that in no time, especially that she's with her husband. Pero siya, hindi niya alam. Masyadong malabo para sa kaniyang magkaroon ng isang buong pamilya. She has her baby now, and he or she will be her family. Hindi na siya aasa pang magkakaroon siya ng pamilya kasama ang ama ng kaniyang dinadala. Tila iyon suntok sa buwan.
*FLASHBACK*"Slow the f*cking down Jas!" sigaw niya sa kaibigang nasa kalsada ang atensyon."Gaga, umaatras pa 'yong isang kotse, Ja!" Joy grunted in fear.But instead of slowing down like what she wanted her dear friend to do, Jasmine even stepped on the gas! Pakiramdam niya ay nasa fast and furious ang kanilang takbo!Her breathing hitched, as she silently prayed inside her pretty head.Lord, sorry for cussing too much. Maluha-luha niyang bulong sa sarili.Mariin niyang ipinikit ang mga mata habang ang kamay ay magkadaop na tila nagdarasal.*END OF FLASHBACK*Ito, buhay pa naman sila hanggang ngayon. Humihinga at buo pa naman. Walang nabaling kahit anong buto kahit pa pakiramdam niya noon ay naririnig niya na ang pagawit ng kanilang mga anghel dela guardia."#NearDeathExperience. That's all thanks to Ja
NAGHAIN SINA Angel at Joy para sa kanilang pananghalian. Malapad ang kaniyang ngiting sumandok ng bulalo na niluto para sa kaniya ng kaibigan.Pagkatapos nilang magdasal ay nagkaniya kaniya sila ng paghahain ng sariling pagkain.Nanubig ang bagang ni Angel sa amoy ng bagong lutong bulalo sa kaniyang mangkok. God, she just ate three sandwiches but she's feeling hungry again!Heaven...Her eyes squeezed shut when she tasted the soup. Mukang bulalo na ang kaniyang magiging paborito. Ilang taon na rin naman siyang naadik sa sinigang. She giggled.Magana ring kumakain sa kaniyang tabi si Jasmine na tila walang pakealam sa paligid. Nakakamay lang ito. Si Joy naman ay parang wala sa sarili habang kumakain. Her friend was just digging her own food in daze.She just shrugged. Baka may malalim lang itong iniisip."Ja, nasabi mo na ba kay Kaj?" Tanong ni Joy