CHAPTER 5

Third Person’s point of View

Kinabukasan, nag-rush ulit siya sa malapit na pharmacy para bumili ng pregnancy test. Pagdating pa lang, para siyang contestant sa question and answer segment—ang dami niyang tanong sa pharmacist.

“Sure kayo, tama yung paggamit ko? Hindi ba dapat mas yung mas mahal ang bilhin ko? Baka naman fake ‘yung mura?”

The pharmacist chuckled, reassuring her. “Ma’am, tama naman po ang paggamit n’yo. Kahit anong brand, reliable po.”

Pag-uwi, she locked herself in the bathroom. One test. Positive. Another. Positive pa rin. Clear. Bold. Dalawang linya.

“Wow, congrats, Solene Cruz. May sarili ka nang koleksyon. Pregnancy Test Edition: All Positive.”

Hanggang sa nagamit na niya lahat. Nakahilera sa sink, parang art installation ng pagkataranta niya.

Her knees wobbled, hands trembling. “Hindi puwede. Baka expired lang? Or worse… marketing strategy lang ng manufacturer ‘to para mapabili ako ng sampung piraso.”

Then her phone rang. Mr. CEO.

Automatic na bumaba ang daliri niya to decline the call. “Seriously? Hindi ba siya busy? Ako nga, nasa kalagitnaan ng world-ending crisis tapos manggugulo pa siya?” she grumbled, scratching her head kahit hindi naman makati.

Buzz. Mr. CEO calling.

“Kung gusto mong maging clingy, mag-subscribe ka sa Spotify, hindi sa buhay ko!” she hissed, pressing decline harder.

Hours later, she found herself sitting in the clinic waiting room. Around her were glowing moms-to-be, hawak kamay ng mga supportive husbands. Ayah sat stiffly, arms crossed, feeling like the odd one out. “Sila glowing, ako mukhang intern na hindi pa nakaka-overtime pay.”

Her phone buzzed again. Mr. CEO calling.

Napairap siya, pinindot ang decline, sabay bulong: “Persistent talaga. Sweet kung hindi nakakairita. Para kang lamok—walang oras, basta nangangagat.”

Finally, her name was called. She walked in, heart pounding.

The doctor smiled warmly after glancing at the results. “Miss Cruz, congratulations. You’re about six weeks pregnant.”

Ayah blinked, her throat dry. “Six weeks? Hindi ba pwedeng… clerical error? Baka misprint lang po, Doktora?”

The doctor chuckled softly. “No mistake. You’re definitely pregnant.”

Her phone buzzed again in her bag. She pressed a shaky hand against it, eyes burning. “So hindi pala ‘to prank. At hindi na rin ito factory defect. Oh my God, too na ‘to.”

Matapos kang maglaho na parang bula noon, nag-focus na lang ako sa career ko. Akala ko tuluyan ka nang lumayo. Pero ngayon, lilitaw ka na parang fungi—kabute kung saan-saan sumusulpot. Napakamalas ko namang tao.

I was once disowned by my parents dahil kakaiba ang takbo ng pag-iisip ko sa kanila. Akala ko noon, at least, I was supposed to not have a broke family of my own. Pero mas malala pa pala ’tong sa akin.

She let out a shaky laugh, half-hysterical, half-bitter. “Great job, Mr. CEO. Nag-iwan ka ng souvenir. At guess what? Lifetime subscription siya.”

Walking out of the clinic, the Manila sun too bright and the traffic too loud, her phone kept buzzing with Dave’s name flashing nonstop.

But all she could think was, “This is real. This is happening.”

Mula sa clinic, hindi na umuwi si Ayah. Mahigpit ang hawak niya sa envelope na may medical report, parang iyon ang pinaka-delikadong bagay na nahawakan niya sa buong buhay niya. Bawat hakbang niya papunta sa opisina, mabigat. Parang may buhanging nakadikit sa talampakan na ayaw kumalas.

Pagdating sa CEO’s floor, bahagya pa siyang nag-atubili. Gusto niyang umatras, pero naisip niya ang tawag ni Dave—paulit-ulit, halos arawin siya. Ayaw na niyang tumakas. This time, he needed to face her.

Binuksan niya ang pinto ng walang abiso.

Dave was at his desk, phone in hand, halatang may tatawagan. Napalingon siya agad, at nang makita si Ayah, dahan-dahang nag-curve ang bibig nito sa isang smirk. “Well, look who finally decided to—”

“I’m tired of declining your calls,” Ayah cut him off, her tone sharp, steady kahit nanginginig siya sa loob. “Kaya heto na ako—pinuntahan na kita.”

Napatingin si Dave sa cellphone niya, then back at her, amused. “That’s dramatic. You could’ve just answered, Solene.”

“Hindi ako nagpa-clinic check-up para makipag-small talk sa’yo,” she shot back.

Dahan-dahang bumaba ang tingin ni Ayah sa mesa. Maingat niyang nilapag doon ang maliit na kahon. The pregnancy test. Positive.

The smugness on Dave’s face faltered. The smirk thinned, replaced by a stiff, careful expression.

“Ayah…” he started, voice low.

“Dalawang linya. Apat na test. Plus this.” Kinuha niya ang medical report sa envelope at inihagis sa mesa. “It’s official, Mr. CEO. Ikaw ang ama.”

Dave leaned back slowly, forcing a chuckle. “You’re telling me na ako agad? What if—”

Her glare cut through him like glass. “Sabihin mong hindi sa’yo, and I swear, lalabas ako ngayon din at isisigaw ko sa buong building kung sinong nadisgrasya ng golden boy CEO nila. Sinadya mo ba ‘to? Kasi okay na buhay ko mula noong mawala ka.”

For a moment, tahimik. The air was heavy.

Dave’s jaw tightened. “No, you don’t know what you’re doing.”

“No, Dave,” Ayah’s voice cracked, but her eyes stayed locked on his, “Alam na alam ko. Hindi ako magpapagamit o mananahimik na lang ulit. I won’t be your dirty secret forever.”

Lumapit si Dave, iniikot ang mesa hanggang halos kaharap na niya si Ayah. Matalim ang tingin, pero halatang naguguluhan. “So what do you want? Name it, Solene. A recognition? A name? Security?”

Ayah swallowed hard. “Yes. Kahit hindi na sa akin. Kahit para sa bata na lang. Kaso sa totoo lang, ayoko sa’yo. Besides, I can resign as early as now.”

He raked a hand through his hair, pacing the floor like a trapped man. “Damn it… Ayah, you don’t understand. My image—my bachelor status—it’s leverage. This is my only way to save my father’s company. Daphne, the investors, lahat sila—”

“So ano ako, side dish sa buffet mo?”

Dave stopped pacing. His eyes were darker now, sharper, as if making a decision. “No. You’re not. Fine… we get married.”

Ayah blinked, stunned.

“A contract or a secret marriage,” he said firmly, as if saying it out loud made it real. “To the world, nothing changes. I’m still untouchable. Pero privately… ikaw ang asawa ko. Secured. Protected.”

Ayah let out a shaky laugh, half-bitter, half-sarcastic. “Wow. That’s some promotion. From mistress to hidden wife.”

Dave’s eyes didn’t waver. “This isn’t a promotion, Solene. It's survival for both of us.”

Huminga siya nang malalim, as if he was laying down his last card. “Kung gusto mong secured ang baby, at kung gusto ko namang mag-stay afloat ang kompanya… we need each other. To be able to provide, and to protect you—kailangan nating magtulungan. Kung hindi… pareho tayong pupulutin sa laylayan.”

Ayah’s lips trembled, her fists curling at her sides. Ang daming alaala ang kumalabog sa isip niya—paano siya iniwan noon, paano siya nagtangkang buuin muli ang sarili, paano siya muling binulabog ng taong ito.

She wanted to scream, to tell him no. Pero paano? Nasa tiyan niya na ang ebidensya. A life she didn’t plan, a future she wasn’t ready for. And the only thing standing between her and complete ruin… was the man she swore never to trust again.

Her voice came out tight, almost bitter. “Fine. I’ll agree. But let me make one thing clear, Dave…” She raised her chin, forcing her gaze to meet his. “This is not love. This is for security. For survival. Dahil ayaw ko nang magtiwala ulit sa’yo.”

For a moment, tahimik lang si Dave, his jaw clenched, his eyes unreadable. Then he gave a small, humorless smile. “That’s all I’m asking.”

And with that, Dave also has a very special feeling. Feeling niya, nagtagumpay na siyang makuha muli siya ayah. He needs to act, but he’s the happiest man in this world. Now that he has a growing bean with Ayah, he’s one and only true love.

Then a sudden knock disrupted the both of them.

“Babe? Why is the door locked? Is something wrong?” Daphne’s voice drifted through the door, soft but suspicious.

Ayah froze, every muscle tensing. Dave cursed under his breath.

Agad niyang pinahid ang luha sa pisngi, pilit na nag-compose ng sarili. Pagbukas niya ng pinto, nandoon si Daphne—sophisticated, poised, parang laging handa para sa magazine cover.

Ayah bowed slightly, her tone apologetic. “I’m sorry, Ms. Wilson. Business issue lang. I upset Mr. Del Valle. Hindi na mauulit.”

Daphne’s eyes flicked between her and Dave, curiosity dancing, pero hindi siya nagtanong. She only gave a small smile.

Ayah stepped out quickly, forcing her legs to move kahit nanginginig.

Sa hallway, she exhaled shakily. “Great. From pregnancy reveal to cover-up actress. Best Supporting Liar goes to me.”

Then her gaze flicked back at Daphne, who had walked gracefully into Dave’s office. “And of course, si Miss Universe Investor pa talaga. The future Mrs. CEO—kung hindi lang ako nauna mag-produce ng… souvenir.”

She bit her lip, half-angry, half-hysterical. “Kung aurahan lang, panalo siya. Pero kung sa surprise package? Sorry, girl. Ako ang winner.”

But even with the joke, her chest was heavy. She had just saved the man who once again turned her simple life upside down.