CHAPTER 01

TWO RED LINES.

I blinked faster than usual. My heartbeat seems to join the rhythm. Hindi ko matanggal ang aking tingin sa hawak ko. I can feel my hands shaking and sweating.

Napapikit ako nang mariin habang pilit na hinahalukay sa aking isipan kung saan nagsimula ang lahat ng ito.

Damn! This can't be!

I didn't notice a soft knock on the bathroom door from outside. I still couldn't let go of what I was holding, and I suddenly looked up just as the small tears that had been clinging at the corner of my eyes fell.

"Blythe, ang tagal mo na d'yan. Please come out, kinakabahan na ako sa 'yo!" Oh damn! I almost forgot that my best friend is here.

Hindi ko na namalayan ang oras at sa kung ilang minuto na akong nalagi rito sa banyo. Ayaw pa rin talaga magsink-in sa utak ang katotohanang pinapakita sa akin ng test kit.

"Hey! Please say something. Ano, okay ka lang ba d'yan?" Hindi na rin nito nilubayan ang pagkatok sa pintuan ng banyo. "Do I need to call a doctor na ba?"

Doon na ako natauhan sa huling sinabi niya. With my present situation, I must see a doctor that specializes in my condition to ensure my safety and to know what to do and avoid.

With trembling knees, I managed to stand up and mend myself. I brushed away my tears and went to the sink, letting the cold water wake me up to this unforeseen twist to my life. I placed the Urine HCG Test on the edge of the sink, which my best friend had bought for me before coming here.

Matapos kong basain ang aking mukha ay agad akong kumuha ng ilang piraso ng facial tissue para ipampunas. Hanggang ngayon ay tila pakiramdam ko na nasa isang panaginip ako. Isang magandang panaginip sana kung hindi lang mali ang tiyempo.

After I finished, I picked up the test kit and stowed it in the pocket of my warmer shorts. Paglabas ko, sinalubong agad ako ang nag-aalalang mukha ni Elisha.

Hindi ko magawang tumingin ng diretso sa kanya dahil na rin sa sobrang kahihiyan na nararamdaman ko ngayon. Mabilis akong nag-iwas at dumiretso sa kusina.

"Huy B, ano ba? Don’t make iwas to me!" Elisha raised her voice a bit.

Hinarap ko naman siya, "I'm not!"

Tinaasan lang niya ako ng kilay saka inilahad ang kamay niya sa akin. "Then answer me! Is it one or two?"

I glanced at her, and she still has this serious aura. Nag-aalangan naman akong ibigay ang gusto niya dahil natatakot ako sa magiging reaksiyon niya. Kalauna’y napabuntong-hininga na lang ako dahil hindi ko talaga kayang makipagmatigasan sa kanya kasi alam kong hindi ako mananalo.

Instead of answering, I fished out the test kit inside my pocket and shoved it towards her. I will let her decode the answer to her own question.

She's one of my best friends. We attended the same university, the Florence Design Academy, where I studied Interior Design with a Masters in Interior Architecture and Design while she studied Fine Arts with a major in Fashion.

Elisha is now a famous supermodel under IMG Model Agency and the owner of the top luxury make-up and fragrance brand called Glänzend.

"Oh my god..." Elisha's eyes got widened.

Ramdam ko yung pagkagulat niya dahil kahit ako kanina ganyan rin. Walang ibang salitang namutawi sa bibig niya kundi iyon lang. Hindi ko tuloy alam kung masaya ba siya o naiinis sa nalaman niya.

Sino ba naming hindi magugulat kung yung isang taong kilang-kilala mo na ni’ minsan hindi na dawit ang pangalan sa kung sinu-sinong lalaki ay magakakaroon ng ganitong pasabog sa buhay.

A No-Boyfriend-Since-Birth woman like me just got pregnant. How could that be possible, right? The heiress of Montreal Empire, the world-renowned Interior Design millionaire Bachelorette, is freaking pregnant.

My pregnancy would undoubtedly become the subject of controversy, mockery, and disgrace the moment it was announced in the media. Given the fact that no man was ever linked to me or even seen with me, it would shock everyone by unveiling that I am pregnant after being single for a long time.

Wala sa sariling napahilamos ako sa aking mukha. Nagsisimula na namang umalpas ang mga luha sa mata ko.

Fuck! Why am I so being emotional?

"Hey! Stop crying, I'm here for you…" Elisha rubbed her hands at my back. Giving me the comfort I needed the most.

Nilingon ko siya at mabilis na niyakap. Hindi ko inaasahan na sa kabila ng nalaman niya ay hindi nagbago ang tingin niya sa akin at hindi niya ako hinusgahan. Handa pa rin siyang damayan ako. Sa sitwasyon kong ito kung saan hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko ay laking pasalamat ko na meron akong tunay na kaibigan na sobrang maaasahan.

I can't take the humiliation of being called a terrible mother or a fucked up parent to my child.

"Ano na ang… ang g-gagawin ko ngayon?"

Sa totoo lang hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko. Kung saan ako magsisimula o kung paano ako magsisimula sa pagbubuntis ko.

I don't have any idea how to change a baby's diaper, the proper way to let him burp, or how to stop them crying if they are having tantrums.

How can I fulfill my parental responsibilities if I am unable to perform the most the basic obligation of motherhood? God! This is more frustrating than a few design revisions overnight.

"Calm yourself first," Elisha distance herself and sit in the next chair beside me. "Blythe, please listen to me. I know this is so hard to accept but please…do not abort the child."

Natigilan ako sa huling sinabi niya. Nagtama ang aming mga tingin at doon ko nakita ang seyosong tingin sa akin ng kaibigan ko.

I was raised in a strict and ethical family. Meron akong malaking takot sa Diyos. If I defy one sin before, having sex without getting married, I won’t dare to add another sin by killing an innocent child inside me. My conscience can’t take that.

Maaaring naguguluhan pa ako ngayon sa nangyayari sa akin pero kahit kalian hindi sumagi sa isip ko ang ipalaglag ang anak ko. Hindi niya kasalanan na nabuo siya, ang tanging kasalanan lang dito ay ang pagiging marupok ko na hinayaan kong ma-angkin ako ng isang estranghero.

"I will never do that! Never, E!"

Besides, the angel inside me has nothing to do with what happened to me a month ago.

Oh, God! I don't want to remember what happened that night. I don't want to remember anything from the time I was saved, when I got drunk and was stupid enough to let a stranger take me into a one-night pleasure that took away my innocence and later on, got me pregnant.

Most of all, I don’t want to remember him ─ his physique, his masculinity, his hotness…and his face.

My pregnancy's backstory is no longer up for talk. That particular page has already been buried on Satan's grave, and I have no plans to unearth it and look back at it.

Sisikapin kong mabigyan ng magandang buhay ang magiging anak ko kahit walang tatayong ama sa kanya. Gagawin ko ang lahat para hindi niya maramdamang may kulang sa kanya. I am willing to do everything, give everything and all the best in the world to make my baby feel loved.

Hinarap ko si Elisha. "I can raise my child alone. I will do everything to give nothing but the best to my child."

"I know. But how about your grandfather and si Bryce?" Nandoon ang nag- aalalangang tingin niya sa akin. “Hindi mo naman puwedeng itago to’ sa kanila ng habangbuhay.”

Suddenly, my family comes back to mind. My older brother and Abuelo are the only family I have left. Since our parents died in an accident, Grandpa was the only one who supported Kuya and me until we had our own names in the professions we lived.

While I am an Interior Designer and own the most successful design company in Asia and Europe, Bryce rose to prominence as a doctor and a bachelor as he own the largest, advance and best-equipped hospital in the world.

I'm also aware that my brother will be adversely affected by my situation, which may lead to our sibling breakup. He swore to our parent's grave that he would watch out for me and take care of me at all costs. That gave me the chills since I knew that Bryce would undoubtedly become a mad beast once he discover my pregnancy, the memoirs of that night, and my child's father.

"I will tell them about this, but not now…I’m not yet r-ready…" Hinaplos ko ang aking tiyan.

My baby bump is not yet visible, but I could feel this little wonder inside of me. I couldn't help but smile. Suddenly, all of my anxieties vanished and excitement overtook my heart. I wish my baby was proud of me, even though I am not proud of myself.

“It’s up to you B. But please worry no more, Bryce might get mad but he won’t hurt you physically or emotionally. Hindi ka niya matitiis dahil kapatid ka niya.” Elisha tried to comfort me again with his words.

Sana nga magdilang agnhel itong kaibigan ko. Sobrang hirap kasi kapag magkakaroon ng lama tang pagsasamahan naming magkapatid dahil lang sa pagbubuntis ko. Handa naman akong akuin ang pagkakamali ko oras na magharap kami nila Kuya at Lolo.

I just couldn't tell them right away because I was scared. I'm still not sure how to reassure them that they will not feel too much hurt and disappointment.

"And don't worry about what other people think about you and your pregnancy. You are a beautiful, successful, and wealthy woman who is capable of handling motherhood effortlessly. Besides, those mosang aren't going to provide for my future inaanak's basic needs or fulfill your parental duties. Their words are useless, from poop to puke."

Elisha has a valid argument. Being a public figure has its drawbacks, since paparazzi are always on the lookout for major scandals featuring you. Once they get a picture opportunity, they will fabricate stories about you that aren't validated and post them on social media. You will be shocked to learn that you are at the forefront of a humiliating scandal in a matter of seconds.

Her ability to deal with the paparazzi who were always after her is another reason why I find her extraordinary. She always puts on a classy bitch face and annoys them through her candid and snarky responses when they catch her at an event and ask her those underhanded questions.

How I wish I had her level of bravery and boldness. That is one quality I wish I had in order to avoid feeling uncomfortable and anxious around other people.

As for me, people are aware of how classy and calculative my words and actions are. I always make sure that my name will remain gold no matter what choices I make. Anything I say in public or to the media in general needs to be well-considered and succinct in order to avoid offending anyone's ego.

I got used to that kind of upbringing by my Grandpa. To maintain a favorable image, whatever we say and how we interact with others must have a positive impression on them, regardless of the situation.

Because a damage to your reputation can have a negative impact on your credibility, business, and name.

Suddenly, I felt Elisha's hands resting on mine. Her eyes were looking at me intently. Through it, I can see her eagerness─

"That baby was made in Italy, am I right?"