Chapter Five

[Enna's POV]

"YOU'RE now legally bound as husband and wife," sabi ni Tito Gretch after we'd signed the papers. The ceremony only took us ten minutes. Si Mikey narin ang ginawa naming witness and the other was one of the mansion's househelp. Tito Gretch also told us na siya nadaw ang bahala sa registration ng wedding namin at sa mga requirements na hindi namin na comply before the ceremony. Easy peasy lang daw kunin ang mga iyon because he had connections naman.

Tiningnan ko ang paper na pareho naming may name.

Jared Mikholai Fernandez Montero

Adrienna Tiongson Gachalian

Nakakatuwa. Ang sosyal ng name ng hubby ko.

Officially, I am now Adrienna Gachalian Montero. Not that bad. Tunog rich parin.

"Oh ayan, mag asawa na kayo. After this, meet the parents na," sabi ni Mikey at binalingan si Mikho who was entirely silent the whole time pero he was cooperative naman. "Kailangan mong samahan si Enna sa parents niya ngayon, Mikho."

Napatitig si Mikho sa'kin. His eyes bared unwillingness at mukhang anytime he will lose his patience. He seemed irritated na. "I need to get back to the seminary before my superiors will find out that I left without their permission. Just give me some time to think this through," he said.

"You need to meet Enna's parents now. Ano ba dapat ang ginagawa ng lalaking nakabuntis? At ngayon ka pa talaga mag iisip na kasal na kayo?" Mikey put a hand on his right hip.

"Mikey hayaan muna natin siya. We know where to find him naman," sabi ko pero pinanlakihan ako ng mata ni Mikey.

"Anong hayaan? Hindi pwede! You will bring him to your parents now, Enna!" matigas na sabi niya.

"You've already forced me to marry her. I'm not even sure if she was really pregnant. Kaunting panahon lang ang hinihingi ko. I have things to consider first. Just give me some time. Hindi ko naman tatakasan ang responsibilidad ko." He put a hand to massage his temple and sighed exasperatedly.

"Amega?Sa'n na yung sampung test kit? Ipakita mo sa kanya para maniwala siya," said Mikey.

"It's all in the coffee shop's comfort room," I told him.

"Look, you have my number. Pwede niyo akong tawagan kung kailan niyo gusto. Kailangan ko lang talagang bumalik ngayon sa seminaryo," Mikho said with impatience in his voice and looked at  me with begging eyes. "Please, Enna. I will talk to your parents if that's what you're afraid about. I just need to settle a few things right now."

I pursed my lips and nodded. "Sige na nga."

"Anong sige na nga, Enna?" Kontra ni Mikey at pinaningkitan si Mikho."Mahirap na at baka bigla ka nalang mag-eloped. At ano bang plano mo kay Adrienna? Wala ka bang ni katiting na concern sa magiging anak mo? Pinakasalan mo lang siya kasi na blackmail ka namin, ganun? Aba, hindi naman yata pwede 'yan. You go with her and meet her parents or else," binalingan niya si Tito Gretch who was busy with some papers in his study table. "Tito Gretch will pull off his connections para ipahuli ka ngayon for grounds of rape and abduction. Pwede naming ipawalang bisa ang kasal niyo kasi hindi pa naman ito naka register. Ipapalabas namin na isa ka talagang rapist. Right, Tito?"

Nag-angat ng mukha si Tito Gretch at tumango. "Pwede," he smiled and winked towards Mikho at binalik na ang atensiyon sa mga papers.

"I have no plans of running away," he shook his head at inihilamos niya ang mga kamay sa mukha.

"Then you go with her and meet her parents. Take it or leave it!" pilit ni Mikey.

"I can't believe this," Mikho answered as if talking to himself and stood up from his seat. He looked at me with helplessness in his eyes and then he gazed back at Mikey. "I'll be outside," kalmado parin niyang sabi kahit mukhang sobrang irritated na talaga siya and then he stormed out of the study.

"Mikey ano ba talaga ang plano mo? You are so harsh to him na!" I yelled at him when Mikho was already out.

"Pwede ba, Enna? I'm doing you a very good favor. Kailangan mo siya para hindi matuloy ang kasal niyo ni Ashton!"

Napakagat labi ako bago sinagot si Mikey. "I don't know if it's a good option na dalhin ko siya sa parents ko ngayon para ipakilalang husband ko, Mikey. Kilala mo si Papa. What if he will really disown me? Pa'no na ako? Or worst what if he will kill, Mikho?"

My hands were starting to shake na. Everything seemed to dawn on me now. What if this won't work according to Mikey's plan? I'm afraid that Papa will do the worst. Kawawa naman si Mikho. I don't want him to be a poor casualty of my own mess.

Papa has always been tyrannical. Ang boses lang niya ang batas sa pamamahay namin. Even Mama had no voice over him. Nakakatakot kasing magalit si Papa. Noong kinasal si Ate at the age of twenty even against her will ay wala siyang nagawa. She was arranged to be married to the eldest son of the Yutengcos only for the sole intent of merging each of the family's businesses and for Papa to earn political ties. The Yutengcos are known families of politicians and obtaining connections from them would make it easier for Papa to extend our businesses.

Since nung kinasal si Ate ay para narin siyang nakakulong kasi she couldn't do the things that she usually do. She was always right beside Kuya Hugh, helping him out with the family business and supporting his left and right campaigns. Tatlong beses na kasi na na re-elect ang asawa niya as governor sa province nila. Like my mom, para lang rin siyang puppet na sunod sa gusto ng asawa niya.

And like any old rich Chinese family, I was destined to be in the same shoe as my mother and my sister.

I just hope that Mikey's plan will work para hindi ako matulad sa kanila. I don't want to be a muted wife and live under the shadow of my husband. Everything that matters to our family is business at ayokong magpatakbo ng business na hindi ko naman feel. At lalong ayokong matali sa asawang hindi ko rin feel!

"A father will always be a father. Let's just hope that your Papa will understand. Hindi pa nga natin nagagawa. At wala ng choice ang papa mo kundi tanggapin ang nangyari kasi buntis kana at isa pa kasal kana. Legally married kana, Amega. Let's try this option first. If he will disown you, then be it," he raised a brow to me. "Mas gugustuhin mo naman siguro na makasama si Mikho kaysa kay Ashton, diba? At isa pa, siya ang daddy ng baby mo. Pwede mo naman siyang pakisamahan. Malay mo, mag click pala kayo? If hindi, then tell me dahil tatawagan ko lang itong si Tito Gretch para ipawalang bisa ang kasal niyo. Easy as that, Amega," he rolled his eyeballs.

I couldn't imagine myself with Ashton and I never dared to imagine myself with him. Just the thought of kissing him felt so gross already. With Mikho naman...well...uhm...may nangyari naman na sa amin. I even let him touch me in my most intimate parts panga, diba? Kung minsan nga nag po-popped out nalang bigla sa isip ko yung night na may nangyari sa'min even if I don't want to intentionally think about it. And it's kinda quirky kasi none of the memories I had with him, like his touch, felt gross at all. I wanted to thud at myself nga kasi I could clearly recall myself moaning while he was touching me.

"What if our option will fail, Mikey? Pa'no ako mabubuhay. Do you think Mikho can sustain my needs? Pa'no ang monthly visit ko sa derma at sa parlor? How about my blogs and vlogs? Kailangan ko ng mga bagong outfits every now and then for my updates. How am I going to live a pauper like lifestyle? I don't think I can live with a life like that, Mikey," napa pout kong sabi.

Mikey gasped and flipped his bangs. "Seriously? Iyan pa ang naiisip mo? Bakit kaya hindi mo isipin iyang sanggol sa sinapupunan mo?! Ang arte nito. Saka mo na isipin iyang kaartihan mo kapag nakausap niyo na ang Papa mo," he waved his hand as if to shoo me away. "Sundan mo na iyong asawa mo sa labas. Start your wifely duty now! Lambingin mo para lumamig ang ulo. Dali na!" Hinila niya ako para tumayo and he harshly pushed me to the door. "Go! Huwag mo lang masyadong galingan kasi baka mamaya warak na naman iyang kittycat mo!"

Muntik nang mabangga yung face ko sa door ng study sa lakas ng pagkakatulak sa akin ni Mikey. Agad ko namang nailagay ang mga kamay ko sa belly ko to secure my baby inside. Wala narin akong nagawa. Lumabas ako para puntahan si Mikho.Naabutan ko siyang nakatayo sa may garage at may kausap sa phone. Pinagmasdan ko muna ang kabuoan niya. He was really a hottie even with his worned out clothes. Actually, his clothes didn't even make him look less appealing. Mayroon talagang tao na kahit anong damit ipasuot ay okay lang. Kahit siguro ilagay mo siya sa crowd ng mga lalaki na puro nakaporma ay mapapansin mo parin siya.

Pa'no kaya siya if ever magsasama na kami? Is he sweet kaya? Caring? Loving? Understanding? Magiging supportive husband kaya siya? Will he let me do the things kaya na gusto ko? Will he listen to me kaya kapag need ko ng kausap like Mikey? Iko-comfort niya kaya ako if madi-depress ako?

Hindi pa ako handang maging mommy pero wala na akong magagawa. At ewan ko pero nafi-feel ko naman na Mikho is a responsible guy. And I'm kind of lucky pa kasi he's a hottie!

I haven't noticed that a giggle pala came out of my mouth and it was too late for me to cover my mouth kasi napalingon na siya sakin. I bit my lips nalang to suppress my giggle and played with my hands while his compelling deep-seated brown eyes were directed on me. He had a serious look habang nakikipag usap sa kung sinumang kausap niya sa phone.

"Salamat, P're. Hindi ko pa alam...Importante lang...Yeah...No...I'll tell you when I'll get there...Kahit ngayon lang. Si Manong Ted lang," Napalunok siya at napatango. "Salamat... I need to drop this call now..Yeah...Bye," he dropped the phone and wiped off the droplet of sweats from his forehead habang nakatitig parin sa'kin.

"Enna..." he softly muttered that sent a ticklish current in my nape all the way to my spine. Siguro my cheeks right now were as red as tomatoes din. I don't know but he was the only man who could make my name sound like an endearment. At ang sosyal sosyal talagang pakinggan ng name ko pag-galing sa kanya. "I'm sorry about earlier. I was just a bit shocked. This whole thing hasn't sink into me, still," he sincerely told me na may halong pag- aalala sa boses niya. "Have you had yourself checked?"

Napailing ako. "I just found out kanina lang. I tried about ten pregnancy test kit and they all came out positive."

He nodded his head. "I want to make sure that you're really pregnant. Would you mind going to the doctor now? Gusto kong makasigurong maayos kayo ng bata. Pagkatapos nating magpa check up ay saka na natin pupuntahan ang mga magulang mo. I'll tell this whole thing myself."

"Talaga? You will talk to my Papa?" I said almost cheerfully.

Napabuntong hininga siya. "I guess I have to," he sighed.

Nginitian ko siya. He was not that hard naman pala to convince. And I don't know but I kind of trust him.

He was a total stranger pero feel ko talaga siya. At parang feel ko narin siyang maging hubby!

AFTER about fifteen minutes ay tumigil ako sa tapat ng isang Polyclinic. Kagaya kanina tahimik lang si Mikho. I could still feel his tension kasi every now and then parin siyang napapabuntong hininga. And he was sweating kahit malamig naman ang sasakyan.

I grabbed my cute sponge bob tissue box and took a few paper from the inside at inabot ko ang noo niya para punasan ang pawis niya. He seems too preoccupied parin kasi.

He turned his head and looked at me. Bigla tuloy nanginig yung hands ko.

"I-im just wiping your s-sweat," I said shakily and withdrew my hand immediately.

"Thanks," he said at bumaba ng tingin niya sa suot ko. "Don't you have any decent clothes?"

Napatingin ako sa suot ko. "What's wrong with my clothes? Decent naman 'to ah," sabi ko. Natatakpan naman ang dapat matakpan sa katawan ko.

"I don't understand women these days," sabi niyang napailing. "Never mind. Halika na," he said and I nodded my head.

Sabay kaming bumaba kay Moley. Hinintay niya muna ako and he made me walk first while he was right behind me. Pumasok kami sa loob ng clinic and we were greeted by a middle-aged woman at the reception. Mikho told her that we need to see an OB-Gyne doctor. The old woman referred us to a male doctor kasi yung isang female doctor daw nila maraming pasyente.

"We won't see a male doctor. Babae lang po, Ma'am," tanggi ni Mikho.

"I'm sorry, Sir. Pero maraming pasyente si Doktora Galvez. Kung gusto niyo talagang magpa-check up sa kanya maghintay kayo."

"How long will it take for us to wait?" asked Mikho.

"Siguro mga more or less three hours," sagot niya.

"Yung male doctor nalang kaya? It will be the same lang naman, diba?" I turned to Mikho at tumungin rin siya sa akin. His eyes narrowing with dissaproval.

"You won't see a male doctor. We'll look for another clinic," he said sternly.

"Wala ng ibang clinic na open ngayon. Past five na. Magpa appointment nalang kayo ngayon para hindi na kayo maghintay bukas," said the lady.

"Yung male doctor nalang kasi. Wala namang malice yun because--"

"She needs to be seen by an OB female doctor now. Maghahanap nalang po kami ng iba pang clinic. Pasensiya na po sa abala. Maraming salamat," he politely told to the old woman and turned to me and basta nalang inabot yung kamay ko sa ibabaw ng counter. "You will have a female OB-Gyne. Halika na, "sabi niya at wala na akong nagawa nang hilahin niya ako palabas.

I was trying to contain an escaping giggle while he was holding my hand on our way to the parking lot. His hand felt soothing and warm against mine. And his arm looks so inviting. Parang gusto ko tuloy ibaon ang mukha ko doon. How does it feel like kaya to be cuddled inside his powerful looking arms?

I bit my bottom lip at the thought.

"Give me your car key. Ako na ang magmamaneho," untag niya sa'kin at binitawan ang kamay ko ng matapat na kami kay Moley.

I fished out the key inside my sling bag and handed it to him. He open the car door pa nga for me before he slid into the driver's seat.

"Buckle up," he told me before starting the ignition.

I did as told and straightened from my seat habang kagat kagat parin ang bottom lip ko. I never thought that being married to this man is kinda exciting pala!

[Mikho's POV]

TEN minutes was all that took me to sign the damn papers. It only took me just a short fraction of time to bury all that I've worked hard for and engage myself in this marriage of uncertainty. It was like sailing a ship without exactly knowing where. Hindi ko alam kung anong nakain ko ngayon. I should have her checked first bago sana ako pumayag na magpakasal.

Whatever that will come out now ay wala na akong magagawa. I can't undo the deed dahil kasal na kami. We're legally married by law and in the eyes of God. Higit kaninuman, walang ibang pwedeng sisihin kundi ang sarili ko. I deserved this after what I did. God wouldn't want to taint the ordination with a sinner like me.

The only thing that concerns me now is my parents. I don't know how will I be able to bring this up to them, most especially my mother. She expects too much from me. Dad will surely be devastated but I knew that he will eventually understand. Ang isa pa sa pino-problema ko ay wala akong trabaho. I don't have savings that could last my baby and my wife a lifetime. I've stopped accepting allowances from my parents since my fifth year in the seminary. The money that I have now was the savings that I had since I was a student and some were from my previous summer jobs.

"I'm done peeing po!"

I took a sigh and turned to Enna who had just come out from the comfort room. Fortunately, I was able to find a clinic that was still open until six pm na wala masyadong pasyente.

"Mahiga kana sa examination table, dear. Tanggalin mo narin ang underwear mo," sabi ng doktor.

"P-po? Lahat po ng underwear ko? M-may ipapasok po ba kayo sa k-kitty ko?" she asked nervously.

"Yung panty mo lang. We'll do a transvaginal ultrasound," the doctor smiled at me. "Nakakatuwa talaga pag may mga newly wedded couple at first time maging parents. Why won't you help your wife? Samahan mo na siya sa loob para makita mo rin ang baby mo."

I felt as if there were loads of sweat that came out of my pores. I cleared my throat and wiped off the sweats from my forehead.

"Samahan mo na ang asawa mo para mawala ang kaba niya. Sabihan mo nalang ako if ready na siya."

I swallowed as if to get rid of the invisible lump in my throat and gazed at Enna. She was fidgeting her shaking hands. It was obvious that she was afraid and I am too. Hindi ko alam kung anong ipapasok sa pagkababae niya. I hope it wouldn't hurt that much. Tumayo ako at lumapit sa kanya.

"Mikho..." she said shakily.

"It'll be okay," I told her soothingly at pilit na tinago ang kaba ko. I put a hand in the small of her waist at inalalayan siyang pumasok sa loob ng examination table na natatabingan lang ng kurtina.

"Tanggalin mo na ang panty mo," sabi ko matapos kong maisara ang kurtina.

"B-baka masakit..."

"It won't hurt that much, dear. I assure you, your husband is way way larger than the probe," sagot ng doktor.

She pursed her lips and breathed out.

"You have to do this, Enna," I gave her an encouraging look and turned away. I don't think I have any right at all to peek at her privates even if she was already my wife. Hanggang ngayon hindi ko parin alam kung pa'no ko nagawa sa kanya iyong ginawa ko nung gabing may nangyari sa'min.

"Done na ako," she said and I heard her climb up of the table. Humarap ako para tulungan siyang mahiga. I took a blanket from a small tray beside the table and covered her with it.

"Akin na ang panty mo," sabi ko ng maayos na ang pagkakahiga niya.

She turned her head to me, giving me a frightened look before bringing out her panty from the side of the bed. I took it and slid it inside the pocket of my pants, then I called her doctor.

I caressed her head to try to pacify her while the doctor was inserting an apparatus inside her.

"Dahan dahan lang po..." she bit her lower lip and closed her eyes.

Napabuntong hininga ako at inabot ang nanginginig niyang kamay. She tilted her head and held my hand tightly. She might be still in trauma because of her laceration.

"Nakikita niyo itong itim na sac? Enclosed here is your baby. Hindi niyo pa siya makikita ngayon kasi isang buwan palang siya. By the seventh week, you will begin to see his or her tiny features. Bumalik nalang kayo dito after three weeks for follow up. Congratulations!" the doctor smiled and took off the thing from her and handed me the small printed black and white picture of our baby.

I was dumbfounded while looking at the photo. I thought I have already dealt with the shock of the pregnancy and the marriage thing earlier. This, probably, is what they call the aftershock.

I felt like being struck by an earthquake and a super typhoon combined. Everything that I thought of earlier came crashing in again.

My parents. My soon-to-be ordination. The plans that I've shaped up for almost a decade. There were a lot of things that I have to deal with now at hindi ko alam kung paano ko silang lahat iisa-isahin. This whole thing was entirely not even part of the plan.

I gasped and combed my fingers through my head when I heard Enna's voice.

"Mikho, mahapdi yung kitty ko..."