WANTED: Sperm Donor

Chapter 24

I remained mum our entire trip home after that awful encounter with Stephanie in the tea shop. Galvin tried to open a conversation by asking how I feel which I answered with a short "fine." 

From that moment I want to be alone. Maraming tanong ngayon ang naglalaro sa isipan ko. Kahit hindi ko aminin pero nagkaroon ng impact ang mga sinabi ni Stephanie sa akin earlier. It's true. I'm the only daughter of Eduardo and Carina de Alonzo and yet I ended up getting myself pregnant without a husband or fiancee at least. Oh well, I have this so-called fiancee which he declared  a while ago but heck! Alam ko naman na hindi totoo 'yun. 

Napahawak ako sa sentido ko kasi nararamdaman ko ang pagsirit ng kirot paakyat. From my peripheral vision I saw Galvin glance at me. And he said I'm his wife!

Napalingon ako sa side niya sa isiping iyon.

"Why did you say that?" 

"Say the what?" He asked back calmly. 

"That I am your wife!"

"Whats wrong with that?" He asked. Still with calmness in his voice. His eyes on the road.

"We both knew its not true." I grunted.

"Look Claire. It was a mere statement. Don't make a big fuss out of it."

"How on earth do you think it was a mere statement?" Nanggagalaiti na ako. Naglabasan ang mga litid ko sa leeg at gusto kong magbuga ng apoy. "Ngayon dinagdagan mo pa lalo ang problema ko!" 

"Paano naman naging problema ang pagsabi kong asawa kita?" He asked staring back at me straight in the eyes this time. His were full of unnamed emotions. Medyo nagulat ako sa bahagyang pagtaas ng boses niya.  

"Because its ridiculous!" I yelled back. "This is ridiculous in the first place!" I exclaimed banging the dashboard with my right hand. Hearing him saying the word "asawa kita" sent chills down to my spine.

"Jesus!" He exclaimed. Kinabig niya ang manibela at huminto kami sa tabi ng kalsada. 

"What is wrong with you? Are you all right?" He asked me gently. Bigla siyang naging maamong tupa sa harapan ko. I was contemplating whether to look at him or not. He was about caress my hair when I motioned him to stop. I can't afford to be touched by him right now or else I'll break down. Ayaw kong mangyari yun. Napatigil siya sa akmang paghawak sa akin and I saw pain crossed his face in split seconds. 

"I want to go home." I replied not looking straight at him. Hindi na siya sumagot kaya napuno ng katahimikan ang loob ng kotse. He started the engine and drive home.

Nagmamadali akong bumaba sa sasakyan pagkaparada nito sa harap ng mansyon ko. Hindi ko na hinintay na pagbuksan niya pa ako ng pinto. Nakita ko si Betty na masayang nakaabang sa akin. 

"Magandang tanghali po Ma'am Cheska." Bati niya nang tumapat ako sa kanya.

"Don't disturb me. I want to sleep." Seryoso kong bilin sabay lakad ng mabilis papunta sa kwarto ko. Hindi ko na pinansin kung anuman man ang tumatakbo ngayon sa isipan niya. For sure iniisip noon na sinusumpong na naman ako ng kagandahang asal ko at ako na naman ang sisihin kung uuwi ang Sir niyang pogi. Hmp! Sumimangot ako.

I went straight inside my bedroom as fast as I could. I threw my flats away and lay down flat on my bed horizontally. Sa totoo lang mabigat ang dibdib ko. Parang may nakadagan na hindi ko maipaliwanag. I stared on my ceiling. Endless questions rained my head. Wala bang karapatang mabuntis ang isang babae kung walang asawa? 'Yun naman ang uso ngayon di ba? Ang iba nga anak nalang ng anak, wala ng kasalang nagaganap. Wala namang nag- question noon. Ni wala nga akong nabalitaan na may nagsampa ng kaso kasi hindi pinanagutan ng lalaki 'yung babae. Kung meron man, I think it wasn't the big deal. Why? Because millennials has their own world and set their own rules nowadays. Rules that even the parents can't disobey. Baliktad na nga ata ang mundo ngayon. Iba na ang klase ng mga kabataan na mayroon tayo.