Chapter 42
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"Relax, Xochi, you're stressing yourself. Take a deep breath, okay? Nothing bad is gonna happen." Ate Kisha calmed me down. It's been almost four weeks since I last showed myself in public other than shooting and after the wrap-up of my latest projects that went well, I stopped showing myself in public or even posting updates about me on social media platforms.
After the supposed runaway I did on my debut as a Sanbanez, the Valmoridas caught up to me. Both sides of families, excluding the Montergos; were seriously circling around a table in a room after the said party. The reason why Zak didn't get a chance to speak to me is that it also still bothers me to remember the look on his face and his expression when he looked down on my tummy.
I'm stressing over here, kasi ngayon ako kakausapin, about my relationship with Zak, but here I am trying my best to avoid them as I can.
"Relax ka muna, Xochi. Bawal sayo mastress, remember that your mood can affect the baby in your womb." She reminded me na naging dahilan ng pagbuntong hininga ko.
"Yes...." I trailed off and massaged my temple.
Nasa kusina si Ate Kisha, naghuhugas ng plating pinagkainan namin.
"If you're not ready to talk with them yet, I can do it for you, naman, and besides, they won't do anything stupid to make you lose contact with them." She explained at lumingon sa akin habang pinupunasan ang basang kamay gamit ang tuwalya na nakasabit sa refrigerator.
"Thank Ate, I will. You are right, I won't stress myself with this matter any further." Ngumiti ako at sinubo ang isang kutsarang peanut butter.
The issues between me being a Sanbanez subsided, but another issue arose. The wild fans, who were detective wanna be dug up some information and found out about Tamora. Nakakatawa lang dahil kahit sila sa tingin ay pumatol si Zak sa akin dahil kamukha ko siya— well tama sila but my bathers says otherwise, they said na alam ko na kamukha ko ex ni Zak— my cousin, kaya I took the chance to use him and climb the industry using Zak.
Parang wala na raw akong pinagkaibahan sa iba na gagwin lahat makaakyat sa tuktok, even seducing someone high and mighty.
"I think they're still outside." A voice so deep commented, I looked back and saw Trevor holding a plastic of groceries kakapasok niya lang. When he mentioned the were they're naintindihan namin agad iyon.
Trevor and I are technically neighbors now, isang linggo na rin simula ng lumipat kami ng apartment, and the previous one was packed with paparazzi, fans and bashers. Some were even fighting physically. It was a good thing that Felicity recommended this one kaya nakalipat kami agad.
"Where's Felicity?" Ate Kisha asked, Trevor looked at her and sighed. "She's stalling some paparazzis. On the way here, we noticed someone following us." Paliwanag nito ag ibinaba ang groceries sa lamesa.
"As much as I want to be the bait, but she said that I can't... for my reputation." He added that made me look down.
His right, everything about us, a public figure is being controlled... the way we act, speak, and almost everything. If they want us to be perfect, we shall be perfect— that's how everything is going behind the backstage, we were like puppets being paid off by the love we received, being paid for to act— but this is my dream, my mom's dream. But one mistake can ruin everything, even the slightest things, that sometimes it feels somehow... suffocating.
"I'll just take some air." I said in a low voice and left the room. I walked towards the door and took the keys on the table near it.
"Where are you going?" Ate Kisha asked, natataranta; she immediately ran towards me and gently grabbed my arm.
"I'll just drive around—" she did not let me finish talking.
"What if they spotted you? You know how your name is in flame right now. Even your silhouette can be posted by the paparazzi." Her eyebrows met.
"I know, I'll be careful. I just think I need some time off, you know the reason." I looked down at my tummy and placed my warm hand as I gently caressed it.
I heard her sigh in defeat. "Fine, but please be careful... be back before the sun sets."
Tanging tango lamang ang isinagot ko, and she gave me a cap, a mask, a sunglass, and a jacket in all black. I wore the things she gave me, and I tried my best not to catch anyone's attention. Sa isang daanan ako lumabas, where celebrities mostly use to go outside if they ever run into paparazzi. This is one of perks of this building. It is known that a celebrity owns this, yet the owner is still unknown. All I know is that mostly celebrities stay here for this type of perk.
I checked the surroundings before I drove away. Hindi ko alam kung saan ako tutungo. I keep on maneuvering the car without any word. Until I saw a restaurant that caught my eyes called Margarita.
"What a fancy name, I guess the owner is a woman..." I said, then shrugged that thought away.
I parked my car on the side of the parking lot, not getting any attention. I removed my cap, mask, and jacket; bago pa man ako bumaba ay inayos ko muna mukha ko, matapos ay bumaba ako. I walked towards the glass door entrance, I saw a red star on it, indicating that this restaurant that I just stopped by out of boredom— I guess was a three michelin star restaurant.
"Good morning, Ma'am." A man greeted me wearing a suit of a somehow like a butler.
I just nodded and smiled, then continued to look around.
Elegance is the best way to describe this restaurant. The whole place is painted with white, but with a hint gold and the green plants that make the place more elegant and peaceful. And to add the elegance of the place, there were also paintings of different places hanging on the walls to fill the white walls, as if a canvas that got painted on.
I smiled when I got in and took a deep breath. Inhaling the peace and ambiance of elegance I found in Margarita. The music was soothing as if lullaby— a song by Mozart. I'm not good with music but this is one of the songs that I sometimes listen to though I forgot the title.
I started walking around, it's a good thing I got in without reservations. Nang makahanap ng upuan na bakante ay saka naman ako napahinto. Not so far away from me was a person whom I was trying to avoid and get my mind off, but fate was a little prankster; with him sitting at the same table was his sister— Xoana.
She looks, dejected— her hair that was let loose was messy, really messy, her eyes were shaky as well as her body, and her lips were also quivering as if she was on the point of bawling out. She ran her fingers through her hair and that's when our eyes met, napatigil siya, and her eyes remained on mine dahilan ng paglingon ni Zak sa akin.
I blinked thrice before Zak could even react agad na akong tumalikod.
"Why are they here?" I asked myself in a low tone lakad takbo ang ginawa ko hanggang sa makalabas ako ng restaurant.
When I was about to reach my car a warm hand gently grabbed my wrist which made me turn and face the person that chased after me.
"X-Xochi." His voice broke when he called my name.
Pinagmasdan ko siya, he looks like he didn't get a lot of sleep because of the eyebags under his eyes, kahit ang buhok niya ay medyo magulo rin.
"Let go," I whispered but I ordered firmly.
He shook his head. "Love, please. Give me a chance to explain. Please, let's talk."
Did he just fucking left his sister instead who looks dejected just to chase after me? Is he stupid?!
"Talk about what?" I asked acting fool.
"Let's talk about us, please let me fix my mistakes...." He trailed off and he was begging. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry— I-I can't just live without you." He added, but my face was blank.
"You know what, Zak? The biggest regret and mistake that I made was signing that damn contract..." I started, I looked down avoiding his eyes. "And loving you in the process, and knowing that all of those were just an affection projected to me." I calmly said but deep inside I was breaking.
I heard him sob but I didn't bulge.
"I love you— I really do."
I bit my lips, trying to contain my tears, I looked up and our eyes met. "I wanna go now."
I was shocked when he kneeled with his two knees, crying and begging for me to listen. I looked around shocked, fearing some paparazzi might taken a picture of us.
"Stand up," I ordered.
He shook his head and tightened his grip on my clothes. I wanna cussed, but I shouldn't. I gestured for him to stand up and we both walked towards my car and then we went inside. He sat on the driver's seat
"Drive." Utos ko, and passes him the car key.
He obliged and started to maneuver the car away from Margarita, a few minutes later he parked the car somewhere near a park— again. We remained silent, no one dared to speak up, until he broke it.
"I don't know where to start." He started, pero ang tingin ko ay nasa labas ng kotse. "You... you indeed reminded me of her, the woman whom I promised to spend my whole life with— Tamora. Your smiles, your laughter, and your eyes that pierces right through me, I honestly thought she was you— but one day I just realized your uniqueness and my foolishness. I-I just loved the way you acted, your determination, your eyes that really differ from hers, and your personality that made me fall. I was a fool to offer you the contract instead of denying the photos that circulated that night— I thought that it was for our family's name but all along it was also my heart and desire that played a huge part— I chose to dance with the fire. I didn't know when and where I saw you different from her, all I know is that I've already fallen from you— God knows how I'm so damn in love with you." He stopped, I flinched when I felt his hand on my cheeks. He was wiping the tears that were falling that I failed to notice.
"You know how heartbroken I was when I found out about her? You know how fucking hurt I was when I found out that you see her in me pero hindi galing sayong bibig kundi galing sa ibang tao— it pains me to hear about your love story, it pains me to hear that the way you treated me is the same as her, it pains me to hear her name being called out every day while mine isn't being acknowledged, and most especially it pains me to know that the woman you love is my cousin all along. I also wanted to be loved like her, I envy her because I never felt that kind of love, and knowing that it wasn't for me made me furious... it made me question worth." I bit my lip, pero pinigilan niya ko.
"I'm sorry, Love. I'm really sorry." He looked down and sobbed echoed inside the car. "I'll do anything just for you to forgive me, to get you back. Please, give me a chance."
I opened the car door to take fresh air, ignoring if someone sees us. I looked back to see his face anf was about to speak when I felt my stomach hurt. I looked down and saw my clothes get wet. I started to breathe vigorously.
"I-I think I'm going into labor...." I squinted my eyes when I felt the excruciating pain.
"W-What do you mean? Love, are you okay?" He panicked yet confusingly asked. He placed both of his hands on my face to check my state.
"H-Hospital." I stuttered, I tried so hard for that to come out of my mouth.
Hindi ko na gaano nakita reaksiyon niya, my eyes were blurry, and sweat was flowing all over my body— all I know is that the car was moving faster.
I screamed in pain, and my ears were ringing, which made me grit my teeth.
"Hang on, Love." Iyon lamang ang narinig ko, until I felt myself float.
Everything was fast. All I can remember was screaming in pain in a room. Tears and sweat were fresh and gripping on someone's hand.
I opened my eyes at bumungad sa akin ang puting ceiling.
Am I Dead?
"Call the doctor, immediately! Tell them she's awake!" I heard a familiar woman's voice.
When my eyes adjusted to the light, my eyes immediately widened in shock. Imagine seeing a lot of people in one room and realizing how enormous my room was to fit all of these people.
Magsasalita sana ako but nothing came out expect a groan in pain. Naramdaman ko na lamang ang malambot at mainit na kamay na umalalay sa akin para makaupo sa pagkakahiga, then someone passing me a glass of water and helping me drink on it. May nag-adjust na rin ng hinihigaan ko.
"How can you not—" A voice that irks me was cut off by someone.
"Gustavo! Stop it, it's not the right time for your scolding. Look at your daughter."
Ohh it was Tita Claudette.
"W-Where's my baby?" Natatarantang tanong ko, I looked around.
"Relax, Xochi. Deep breaths, your child is safe. He is in the incubator." Kuya Livan explained. Tears started to fall from my eyes.
"Thanks, god! My child is safe." I hugged myself and sighed in relief. Nang huminahon ay tinitigan ko ang mga taong naupo sa loob.
"W-Why are you all here?" I asked, I slightly coughed that made my eyes close and when I opened it nagulat ako ng lahat sila ay nakatayo na agad sa akin but when they realized it ay agad silang umupo sa puwesto nila kanina.
A bang from the door made my head turned to it's direction. Iniluwa nito si Zak, he was panting and nakasuit pa siya. When our eyes met, agad na nanubig ang kanyang mga mata.
He ran towards me and hugged me gently while crying and ignoring the eyes inside the room.
"I-I thought I lost you completely." He cried. If I'm correct, this is the second or third time that I've seen him cry.
Without thinking I hugged him back, and he rested his chin on my shoulder. For the second time, the door opened that caught my attention and this time it was Ate Kisha with a nurse and a glass where you place a baby.
Zak broke our hug and also looked where I was looking. It was Ate Kisha.
Her eyes widen, and tears started to fall she immediately ran towards me for a hug. Zak gave some space for Ate Kisha to hug me.
"You, dimwit. You should have told me." She cried.
I laughed. "Don't blame me."
Nanatili kami sa ganoong posisyon, ignoring the three families in my room.
"Would you like to see your baby?"