The Babymaker

Chapter Three

“Bye” I bid goodbye near the counter of the resto bar where I am working. I just finished my shift.

“Take care” one of my workmate said. I just smile and nod at her.

It’s already eleven in the evening, I took a deep breath. I looked up on the sky while walking on my way home. There are a lot of stars. When I was a kid, they said stars are the dead people, they become stars after dying.

Mom, Dad. Are you watching me right now?

I just took another deep breath.

“Penny for your thoughts.” From looking up to sky I gaze down to the person who walked along with me.

“Why you’re here?” I asked and stopped walking.

He smiled at me, his usual playful grin. This jerk! “Why am I not allowed to walk on here? Are you the owner of this place Mansanas?” I shook my head. You can’t really talk to him properly.

I started walking faster to left him behind.

“Wait up Mansanas.” He held my arms to stop me from walking. I am used at him calling me Mansanas but I hate it. I don’t like it but he’s a good friend of mine.

I glared at him. “What?”

“I’ll drive you home.” I smiled. He’s been talking nonsense, this is what I wanted to hear.

“I’ve been waiting for that. Where’s your old ragged car huh?” I teased him. I’ve been friend to Jonas but he never mentioned he was a Monteverde and now I feel slightly awkward with him. How would I know that this crazy man I’ve been joking around is a Monteverde?  And he always brings a old ragged Volkwagen Beetle. He’s trying to have a low-profile.

He pointed a black Toyota, I’m not familiar with. Woah! He changed his car.

I raised my left eyebrow. “Where’s Yoyo?” he named his old ragged car, Yoyo.

He smiled. “Resting. We will use Ace for today.” I shook my head laughing. He’s really crazy naming his cars.

I don’t feel like riding that car, I might taint it with dirt.

I started walking again and he called me again, “Mansanas.” I faced him and smiled… a bitter smile.

“I know why you’re here…” I started and he stopped following me. He’s staring in my eyes like he’s reading my soul. “….but I won’t change my mind, Jonas.”

I don’t know what he was thinking. I’m staring at his eyes, trying to read him but I can’t. His eyes were blank. “I have money. How much do you need?” My smile turned much bitter for what he said.

“I don’t need your money.” I said in a low voice yet firmly. I quickly stopped the tricycle* passing by and hopped on.

I didn’t look back but I’m sure he remained standing in the streets.

Be strong, Apple. You will not cry. You will not cry. Don’t. I keep chanting that in my head.

Just a few moments I already stopped the tricycle because I’m avoiding Jonas, I have spent my money paying the tricycle driver. I’m just walking my way home.

I sullenly paid twenty pesos to the driver. I walked in the small alley between the two houses in the main street to get in the house of my Uncle. It’s dark when I reached the house. Where are they?

I have spare key so I can enter the house and I saw a note in the table. I read it.

We’re going to the hospital for the schedule of Maya’s operation. We will back tomorrow. You take care of the house.

I returned the note in the table. I felt sad, that’s so fast. They didn’t really asked me how to I feel about it. I know even Uncle trying to defend to Auntie, he’s happy about it. Maya will be operated soon. She will be fine soon.

Hayy. But for Maya’s operation, I will do everything.

The question is can I actually do it? I sat in one of the old wooden chair and rubbed my head. This is actually immorality. I’ll make a child with the person I don’t know. Thanks God, it’s not actually Jonas. That will be so awkward, we’re friends and I want us to remain friend but I don’t know if he can still accept me as a friend now. Madam Celia told me he has another grandchild, the son of Mr. Carlito.

Why didn’t he just go and marry someone? They are rich I know a lot of woman will be after him and Auntie said, he’s handsome. He doesn’t want commitment? That’s the problem with rich people.

I remember before, I asked Jonas why he doesn’t have any girlfriend and he always just flirt around with women. And yes, he’s definitely a womanizer. He simply said he doesn’t want any commitment. Jerk.

I slowly caressed my tummy. I will carry a child in my womb for nine months, and then I will just it away?

*Tricycle – a three wheeled public vehicle in Philippines