The Babymaker

Chapter Two

Apple Riviera POV

Auntie and I were like playing tug of war in front of our house… or their house. I don’t know if I should call it as my home also because I’ve been living here for years yet I still don’t feel welcome by my Uncle’s wife.

“Auntie please.” We keep pulling each other, I keep pulling myself back while hugging the post of the house. Childish? Yes super. We already look stupid.

“Don’t start at me with that attitude, Apple. I will drag you if needed when I got pissed on you.” She warned me. Is what she doing right now is not yet dragging? I’m just holding very tight in this post and if I ever loss my hold I will forcefully drag just like a little girl holding her Barbie doll upside down.

My hand is already hurting. Why Aunt is such an sss woman? I almost loss my hold when my Uncle arrived. Oh my savior!

“Uncle. Uncle, please help, stop Aunt Matet.” I quickly shouted for help before I could loss my hold on the post. Uncle quickly runs in front of us.

“Matet, what are you doing to Apple?” Finally Auntie removed her grasped in my hand. It hurt so much. Her hold was really tight, I thought my bones were already broke.

“You Bartolome! Don’t you dare take sides of your niece. We need money and Apple is the answer with our problem.” My Auntie is always calling my Uncle with different names. And I remembered, he’s not my savior because he’s afraid of Auntie. I told you Aunt Matet is a an sss woman.

“But Matet, Apple is working already.” He argued while I keep nodding my head. I never go to college since they don’t have enough money and their daughter, Maya is sick so I decided to work to help them. Uncle help me to work in a bar as a waitress, ok? Not some kind of prostitute because he knew the owner.

“Apple’s income is not enough even ours, Maya needs to be operated already, Berting. If the Monteverde choose her, it’s a jackpot already.” The Clan of Monteverde is the richest in our place. Aunt is also working there as a maid and Uncle as a personal driver but most of the time they are not around. They are all staying in Manila. I don’t know them since the day Uncle adopted me, they rarely visit their mansion here.

“But Tita… if you want I can look for another job but just not that kind of work.” I pleaded.

“See Matet, Apple will just look for another job. Let’s not force her on this.” Uncle added on what I said. If my Auntie is wicked, I’m thankful for having a very kind Uncle even he’s afraid of my Aunt.

“I don’t know to the both of you, you teamed up once again. If something happened to my daughter, it’s because of the two of you.” She’s really mad and walked out on us.

I quickly felt guilty about it. I love Maya, I don’t have siblings and I already treat her like my younger sister. Maya has problem in her heart ever since. That’s why as she grow older her condition is getting worse and she already needs to be operated but we don’t have enough money. Aunt is just a maid in Monteverde’s mansion and Uncle is their personal driver but because they are not usually around, he part-time as construction worker. They are indulgence with the Monteverde because they already help them when Maya is still young. Why don’t they just ask for another help with the Monteverde anyway? Hayy Apple, of course it’s humiliating to ask for another help. Stupid.

But Maya….

I’ve been thinking when I felt Uncle Albert, this is his real name and not Berting or Bartolome, caressing my head. I looked up on him. He’s getting really dark, he’s working hard on daylight or night time just to saved money.

“Forget what your Aunt said, she’s just worried about Maya.” Uncle tried to comfort me. I easily felt guilty about everything even it’s not my fault, how about more on my family. They are my family, after my parents left me, they already keep me.

Auntie is right, if I accept the job she’s talking about, Maya will be operated right away.

What’s actually wrong for being a babymaker?

“Oh well, you’ll just carry a child in your womb for nine months, Apple.”

I remembered what Tita said, “Stop being fussy, Apple, you’re even lucky. Madam Celia’s grandson is handsome. Other than just someone from the street will touch you.” So that’s how life is? If you live in the streets you will just marry someone from the streets?

But what really stocked in my mind and keep rewinding, “If something happened to my daughter, it’s because of the two of you.”

What if something bad really happened to Maya if she doesn’t get operated right away?

Will my conscience be able to take if something bad will happen on Maya?

~

“Are you still a virgin?”

“Po*?” I almost choked myself of what I heard, I just sat here and that’s already the question of the old woman who’s according to Auntie is Madam Celia Monteverde. Madam Celia, even years older already stood proud and rich. I’ve been nervous because in front of me is Madam Celia and her son Mr. Carlito Monteverde and his wife, Mrs. Alea Monteverde. According to Auntie, their son is the one who in need of babymaker. I don’t know how their son looks like since he’s not around.

Am I actually hoping he’s handsome? Stupid!

But looking at the people in front of me, I believe he’s handsome. Mr. Carlito is really handsome even on his age right now, his body built is still muscular while his wife looks so young. How old is she anyway? How will I pass on their standard? A beautiful race runs in their blood. Why would they want a low profile to carry their grandchild?

Madam Celia laughed that made the couple creased their foreheads. “Is that mean, you’re still a virgin dear?”

I felt my whole face turned red in humiliation. I bowed my head and slightly nodded. Why they have to ask that? The sound of her laughter turned louder. What’s funny? I’m being laughed at.

“An 18 years old, virgin and applying for a babymaker, why?” I looked up at Mr. Carlito, his face was full of wonders while staring at me.

“Why are you even asking why, Carlito. Of course, this lady wants something from us. She’s a gold digger perhaps. For freaking sake! Mommy, this is really not right. First in foremost, I am totally against with this.” The beautiful wife of Mr. Carlito looks like she’s going to faint. She looked really hysterical from the calmed face she’s showing a while ago. That’s how little they look on us. I even feel tinier right now. A gold digger? Ha.

“Sshh… Quiet Alea” Madam Celia warned her to behave.

“I’m sorry, Mommy. I’m just… Ugh. Fine! What’s your name again?” I looked at her, she looks calm now but the worry in her face is still visible.

I was about to answer her when someone entered the room. We are currently in one room, the four of us, I don’t know what this room called. It’s full of books, a sofa, and a bit huge wooden table a little far away from us. Maybe some kind of office? Rich people have a lot of rooms while we, poor people, only have room for sleeps, living room, kitchen and comfort room. Sometimes, the living room becomes the bedroom already.

“Where have you been Jonas?” the Madam Celia asked the new person. Since my back facing the door, I don’t know who entered the room but Madam called him Jonas.

“Hello to you too, Grandma.” I looked back because the voice sounds familiar. Even his stand and body built was familiar to me. I stared on his face. My eyes grew bigger when everything sinks in my mind who’s the person who just arrived.

He’s also surprised a bit upon seeing me yet he still manages to smile.

“Mansanas*” I frowned on what he called me, he always called me like that.

“You know her Jo?” Mr. Carlito curiously asked him.

My eyeballs almost went out from its socket. Don’t tell he is the son of Mr. Carlito?

Oh no, no way! Not him, please.

*Po/Opo – is a tagalog word use to show respect to the person older than you

*Mansanas – is a tagalong word for Apple.