The Babymaker

Chapter Twelve

“Negative”

It’s been a month and now I’m facing Doc Jenna. She’s also the doctor who checks me up the first time I arrived here. It’s embarrassing that time, she pushes something inside my private part that time. Even she’s also a woman, every time I remember that I felt embarrass. It has ticklish feeling because of its cold feeling and she’s swirling it around.

“N-negative? I’m not pregnant?” I asked in surprised. I held my belly. There’s no life inside me. Nanay Lydia always telling me to be careful because I might be pregnant already. They said first trimester is dangerous.

Doc Jenna fixed her things then nodded at me. She took a deep breath and faced me.

“Renz and Isabel are both good friends of mine. I’m not in favor also with this but I think this is much better than having a mistress eh? I know Renz how much he wanted a child.” What is she trying to say? “You’re healthy, maybe you’re not fertile when you both did it.”

“There’s not child inside me?” I stupidly blurted out.

She laughed and I felt really stupid. “You’re not pregnant and there’s not child inside you.” She gleefully answered.

Nice one, Apple. You really made yourself stupid.

I’m actually nervous, what will happen than?

“H-how will…. Madam Celia will be mad at me. What will happen to the money and help they gave me? They might ask me to pay it back because I’m not pregnant. Doc.. m-my cousin..” I felt like crying already. I don’t know what to do. What will happen to me if they ask me to pay it back already? And they will stop helping Maya, I know she’s not that well already, she needs therapy and maintenance. I don’t dare try to contact them, I might just miss them so much. But the last time Granny Celia visited me, she told me that Maya is doing well already but it will never be enough if the Monteverde will stop helping us already.

“Woah. Don’t cry, Apple. I didn’t say that you have a problem and you will not get pregnant. All I just said that you’re not pregnant.” Huh? But how will I?

I tried stopping my tears but I can’t help sniffing. “How will I get pregnant if I’m not?”

She looked at me with a dead serious face. Did I say something wrong? But just a few seconds she starts to laugh. My forehead creased.  “I don’t know if you’re dense or just innocent. Jo is right, you’re a funny a person.” I don’t understand her but one thing is clear to me. Jonas told her I’m funny because he always makes fun of me. Speaking of Jonas, he said he will visit me on the next days. It’s been a while since the last time I saw him.

She noticed that I am confused so she stopped laughing and cleared her throat. “Look Apple, ok. As of now, you’re not pregnant. What you should do to get pregnant?”

My forehead creased more while thinking and when I realized something… my eyes grew wider in shock.

“Yes. You need to do it again…” she cleared her throat. “With Renz”

It means…. I swallowed hard not once but twice... we need to do it again?

~

“Nay, Pepito and I will go to the market already.” I said to Nanay while walking out of the house. I met Pepito when I walk around the place. There’s also a lot of houses around it just happened the rest house of Monteverde has a wide terrain. No neighborhood nearby.

“Ok. You take care. Get back home before dark. I will just cook dinner because Jonas might arrive today.” Nanay Lydia reminds.

I just nodded. I don’t know that today Jonas will visit Batangas, I will have some accompany not that I don’t like Nanay Lydia it just felt different to have someone as crazy as Jonas at home.

“Let’s go Pepito”

I ride a tricycle owned by Pepito’s parents to go to the market in the main town. It’s a little bit far from the rest house. I volunteered to do the groceries in the market because Nanay Lydia always forbids me in doing some works or chores around the house because of my condition but now that the result is out I force Nanay to allow me. Our stock is almost empty and Nanay send he will cook the favorite food of Jonas for today.

When I went out of the tricycle, I notice the sky is dark even it’s only 4pm in the afternoon. “It’s going to rain.”

Pepito nodded. “We’ll just go fast in buying our needs so we can go back before the rain pours.”

I agreed. I started buying our stocks or needs in the house while Pepito is following me. He’s also the one carrying everything. Almost everyone we passing by knew him. Some of them were even teasing him. I just shook my head and ignore it. I grew up in province and the routine here is not new to me anymore.

After an hour I finished buying our needs, the skies were really dark already. It’s seems like the rain is coming.”

We quickly went back to the parking where Pepito left his tricycle, I was about to enter the tricycle when I notice some fruits on the other side. I forgot to buy some fruits.

“I’ll just buy some fruits over there, Pepito.” I put all the items I already bought inside the tricycle and quickly cross the street that I didn’t notice the coming vehicle. A loud horn and scream of Pepito were all I heard. I froze in the middle of the street while staring at the vehicle coming. I closed my eyes when the beam of the lights strikes my eyes. Just a little bit and the car will hit me already.

I waited that I will be flew in the air and my broken bones and body will hurt but a minute pass I didn’t felt anything. Oh my ghad. Am I dead already?

I heard a loud slam and a familiar voice reach my ears.

God. Am I in heaven already?

“What the fvck is that!” or in hell?

I opened my eyes then I see an inch away the car from me. I almost got hit! I almost die!

“Apol! Are you ok?” I felt Pepito come to me.

I nodded at him then looked at the guy who just came out from his car. I was greeted by his usual face, forehead creased, knotted eyebrows, dark eyes with dead emotion yet curious and clenched jaw. It’s been more than a month the last time I saw that face. What’s new? Nothing, he’s still angry.

“What’s wrong with you? Why are you just crossing the street without looking around?” he yelled at me.

I looked down. People are looking at us already.

“Sorry sir, Apol didn’t notice that—“

“And who are you?” he bark at Pepito. Why he’s always mad? Why is he here anyway? Is he with Jonas? Where is he?

Pepito looked shock that’s why I decided to speak up already. “S-sorry Sir Renz. I-I just saw the fruits and I forgot to look around before I cross the street.” I can’t help but to stutter with my words when talking with him.

“You know him, Apol?” he whispered on me.

I just lightly nod at him. “My boss” I quietly apologize for the action of him and slightly smiled. He just nodded.

He raised his eyebrow on me. “What are you doing here? This is far from the rest house.” Then looked at Pepito like he’s reminding him that he asked him who is he. Really Monteverde?

I gulped first. “I volunteered to do the groceries because Nanay Lydia is busy. And t-this is Pepito, he is a tricycle driver from the main road. He is my service here in the market.” He’s just staring at me.

“Buy the fruits and let’s go home.” That’s all he said and went back to his car. I just nodded in air and go to the fruit stand.

I smiled at the vendor and picked the fruits I wanted. My favorite apple will not be out of the list. What’s Renz favorite fruit anyway? Jonas like grapes, he doesn’t like apples. I can’t help but to smile when I remembered what he said before.

“You’re my only favorite mansanas.”

Jerk!

He’s really good at flirting with girls.

When I turned around I was surprised to see Renz in front of me, I thought he already left.

“Hmm… d-do you have any fruits that you preferred s-sir?”

He shook his head. “I think that’s enough. Let’s go.” He walked to his car that parked near the fruit stand.

“I-I’m with Pepito, Sir.” I looked around. Where is he?

He looked back at me with his usual creased forehead. “I let him go first. You will ride with me.” He went close to me and get the bag of fruits from my hand. I just left dumbfounded while following him with my sight. What?

“Let’s go!” he yelled again.

And I just find myself smiling out of nowhere.

I don’t know why there’s something weird I’m feeling right now. It’s like I felt him again. I feel the Renz I felt that night. The Renz which is not mad or angry at me but the Renz which is gentle with his every moves.

I slapped my forehead and quickly follow him.

What am I thinking?

I opened the backseat and about to sit when he looked at me. “What do you think of me, your driver? Sit here in front.” Even I’m in hesitant, I sit in the front. What a handsome driver he is then.

I’m surprised when I heard a loud sound from the roof the car. Oh my! It’s raining already, it’s suddenly pours. The rain is heavy and the raindrops were huge. It just a few minutes when the rain pours yet the whole road is wet already. Pepito might be really wet already.

“Be thankful I saw you if not you’re wet by now.” I looked at Renz. He’s right. I just nodded in agreement. I’m just worried about Pepito.

I fixed my seatbelt. I can’t lock it. It’s embarrassing, I don’t know how to use it. I have ride on a car before but I’m always at the backseat which has no seat belt or no need to use.

“Let me.” I was surprised when he fixed my seatbelt. I quickly pulled my hands off when I felt his warm hands. This is irritating! The flashback of what happened between us the night occurs. Oh no!

I closed my eyes tight.

Renz drive the car slowly and carefully because of the heavy rain. It didn’t stop it even gets heavier. Then I remembered Jonas, he’s not here. He’s alone in this car. Did he go first or last?

I cleared my throat and took the courage to ask him. “W-where’s Jonas, Sir? Did he go first?” With all my strength I asked him since its really quiet and I don’t like it. It gives me time to think… to think a lot of things. I can’t help thinking something I should not be thinking and Doc Jenna even mentioned that we need to do it again. Oh Geez!

Stop thinking already, Apple. Please! What you are thinking is not good. I told myself.

His forehead creased, he just took a glimpsed at me and looked back at the road. I even saw his jaw clenched. “No. He’s not coming today.”

“Ahh.” It’s the only word I can say and silence envelop between us on the whole trip back to the rest house.