3.

The moment I got discharge from the hospital, Zach insisted that I must live on his condominium. He wants to check me from time to time and he wants to make sure that I am safe.

As much as I wanted to disagree with him, wala akong nagawa. Afterall, he's going to be the father of this baby.

Zach couldn't hide his smile while he's driving. Mahahalata mo rin na ingat na ingat siya sa pagmamaneho.

I wish I could be happy just like him.

Nang makarating kami sa condominium ay maayos na ang lahat. Mula pagbaba sa sasakyan hanggang sa pagpasok sa condo ay nakaalalay siya sa'kin.

"You should rest now, ako na ang bahalang magluto. I'll cook your favorite food."

He said then he kissed my forehead. Matapos noon ay lumabas siya sa kwarto.

The moment he left, thoughts filled my mind. Ilang sandali ay nakareceive ako ng message galing kay Jacob.

From: Jacob

Is he really the father of your baby?

Humigpit ang hawak ko sa cellphone ko dahil sa binasa ko. D*mn, Zach is really the father of this baby.

To: Jacob

I think I need to gather more proof and evidence. Baka kasi mamaya nagkamali lang tayo.

Yeah, baka mamaya mali lang kami ng speculations. Baka mamaya he's not the only one who owns that kind of motorcycle.

Sh*t, I'm hoping na sana hindi siya dahil hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko kapag nalaman kong siya nga ang gumawa no'n. He had a great relationship with my parents kaya I doubt na gagawin niya 'yon.

At isa pa, I trust him.

"What are you thinking, baby?"

Halos lumundag ang puso ko sa gulat nang biglang magsalita si Zach. I spaced out. Ni hindi ko man lang naramdaman ang pagpasok niya.

"Don't stress yourself out. It's not good for you and for our little Zach."

I bit my lip dahil sa sinabi niya. Pakiramdam ko ay muling nanunubig na naman ang mga mata ko. Umiwas ako ng tingin sakan'ya bago nagsalita.

"How can you be sure that it's little Zach and not little Zaleah?"

Taas kilay kong tanong dito. I wanted to stay calm in front of him. Hanggat wala pang matibay na evidence na magtuturong siya talaga ang gumawa no'n kila mommy at daddy, I can't be too harsh to him.

"Well, I can sense it. You'll see that I'm right, baby."

Tapos ay kumindat pa siya sa'kin. Hinampas ko ang kan'yang balikat sabay tumawa. I heard him chuckled too.

"Let's eat, come on. Little Zach needs food too as well as my beautiful baby."

I bit my lip dahil sa sinabi niya pero agad ko ring inalis 'yon at saka tumayo. We both headed to the dining room.

"I have some important things to do. You don't have to work anymore, just stay here. I'll be back before lunch. There's fruits at the table and there's food at the fridge."

"You've said it for like a thousand times," natatawa kong sagot dito.

Mula pagmulat ng mata ko, sinasabi na ni Zach 'yan. And up until now na nagreready na siya sa pagpasok sa office ay patuloy pa rin siyang nagreremind sa'kin.

"Just please promise me, don't starve yourself."

"Yes."

"Don't stress yourself."

"Yes."

"Don't go out."

"You don't have to be worried about me, okay? I can handle myself, I promise. Now, be calm and prepare yourself, Zach."

Ngumisi naman siya sa'kin saka niyakap ako.

"I can't help myself but to feel worried about you. I promise, I'll be back as soon as possible."

Kumalas ako sa pagkakayakap at saka humarap sakan'ya, I gave him my sweetest smile.

"I love you, baby. Be safe."

"Yeah. Be safe too, Zach."

"No I love you too?"

"Not now, Zach." Then I laughed, he glared at me kaya naman lalo pa akong natawa. I stood up saka siya tinulak palabas ng pinto ng kwarto.

The moment I went back to the room, agad kong kinuha ang cellphone ko at tinawagan si Jacob. I wasn't ready to know the truth. No, scratch that, I'm afraid to know the truth.

Of course, I'm hoping that he's not the real culprit behind everything. I just hope it's not him because if it's really him then I don't know what to do.

I asked Jacob to meet me at the coffee shop beside this condominium para mabilis lang din akong makakabalik dito. Mabilis akong nagprepare at saka pumunta sa meeting place namin.

Ilang saglit pa ay dumating din naman agad si Jacob. Again, he's carrying some documents.

"I just doubt that it's him, Ramsay said na mafia boss ang gumawa no'n sa parents ko. Zach isn't a mafia boss."

"How can you be sure?"

"I just. You see, Zach and I had been together for almost 5 years. And I am aware that he's not associated with any mafia organization."

"How about his dad, do you really know him?"

"Of course! I've known him and he's the one handling the Bradford Group of Companies back then. But again, as far as I know, he's not involve in any mafia organization."

"But how would you defend this one?"

Tapos noon ay iniabot niya sa'kin ang folder na hawak niya. I immediately opened it. Pakiramdam ko ay muling nanubig ang mga mata ko.

It's about Yoshanai Organization – a mafia organization which is founded by Wilson Bradford – his dad.

And two years ago, the title of his dad has been transferred to his one and only son – Zachary Bradford.

So technically, Zach is now the mafia boss of Yoshanai.

I excused myself to him at saka dali-daling lumabas ng coffee shop. I headed back to the condominium at saka dumiretso sa room ni Zach. Actually, we're not sleeping together, tig-isang kwarto kami.

The moment na nakarating ako sa kwarto niya ay nagbuklat ako ng mga drawer niya. Wala namang kakaiba not until I went to his cabinet.

I opened that at bumungad sa'kin ang isang bagay. Dali-dali kong kinuha ang bagay na 'yon. Memories started flashing into my mind as tears started falling into my cheeks.

This is the necklace that I gave to my mom on her birthday. And she's always wearing this, this is her favorite jewelry because I was the one who gave this to her.

"I'm home. How's my baby and my little Zach?"

I didn't respond. Sa halip ay yumuko lang ako. My eyes are swollen. Magmula pa kanina ay hindi na matigil ang pag-iyak ko.

Sh*t nasa harap ko na ang mga ebidensya pero bakit ang hirap hirap pa ring paniwalaan?

No, hindi mahirap paniwalaan kundi mahirap tanggapin. It's indeed a hard to swallow pill for me.

Hindi matanggap ng sistema ko na siya ang nasa likod ng pagkamatay nila mommy at daddy.

The man I loved the most is the same person who k*lled my parents.

D*mn it, why this world is so cruel to me?

I thought, when Zach cheated on me and when my parents died that's the most painful thing in this world. But I was wrong, may mas isasakit pa pala 'yun.

"F*ck, why are you crying? Baby, tell me, why?"

Naramdaman ko na niyakap ako nang mahigpit ni Zach. D*mn, as much as I want to hug him, I can't.

"I think I just need some rest." I said coldly then I stood up, nagsimula na rin akong maglakad papuntang kwarto.

The moment I lay in my bed, agad kong niyakap ang isang unan at saka humagulgol. I am pregnant and the father of it is the k*ller of my own parents. How cool is that?

F*ck this f*cking world.

I am so f*cked up.

I felt my phone vibrated kaya naman agad kong kinuha 'yon. Jacob sent me a message. I was thinking kung babasahin ko ba 'yon o hindi, but I ended up reading it.

From: Jacob

Proofs and evidences are already saying it. Why don't you accept that he's the one behind the ass@ssination of your own parents? I know it's painful but it's the truth.

I didn't bother responding. Instead, I continued crying.

As I woke up, napansin kong nakaupo si Zach sa may kama. He's looking at me. He gave me his sweetest smile nang makita niya nagising ako.

"Your eyes are swollen. What happened?"

I didn't bother responding. Bagkus ay umiling lang ako. He caressed my hair tapos ay nagsalita.

"I cooked some food, you should eat up. It's not good to starve and stress yourself out."

I am currently at the dining room, he's watching me as I eat the foods. It's hard for me to swallow the food, para bang may bara sa lalamunan ko. I can't even say a word.

Maya-maya ay may nagdoorbell kaya naman dali-daling tumayo si Zach para pagbuksan 'yon. Out of instinct, I followed him but I tried my best para hindi niya mapansin 'yon. Isang lalaki ang naghihintay sa labas.

"What the hēll are you doing here? Didn't I tell you I'm busy," iritadong tanong ni Zach sa lalaki.

"Boss, nahuli na ang tauhan ni Jimenez."

"Good. I'll just go to our hideout. Make sure that he couldn't escape."

"Areglado, boss."

Matapos noon ay agad akong bumalik sa kinauupuan ko. I bit my lip trying to stop myself from crying. Damn, he's really a f*cking mafia boss.

What evidence I need to convince myself that he's indeed the real culprit behind my parents' de@th?

First, he owns that motorcycle.

Second, it's confirmed that he's a mafia boss.

Lastly, he has my mom's necklace.

It's crystal clear that he's the one responsible for my mom's de@th. Isa pa, nasa auction din siya.

F*ck, why did I ignore all those signs? Why did I approach him knowing that he could be the person that I'm going to kíll? F*ck. I really f*cked up in the first place.

If I didn't approach him in the auction, I wouldn't be pregnant. And it would be easier for me to do my task.

But why life is so cruel to me?

How could I kìll the man I loved the most? How could I kìll him if I already fell for him the second time around?