Slept with a Stranger

Chapter 3

Claire

Tumunog ang alarm clock na sinet ko, hudyat na kailangan ko ng bumangon. Babangon palang ako ng parang biglang tumaob ang sikmura ko. Dumiretso agad ako sa banyo, right, it's been what? six weeks?

Nasuka ako at halos yakapin ko na ang inidoro. This must be the 'morning sickness', I've read an article na normal daw ang morning sickness sa six weeks pregnant, but I still don't like it dahil parang lalabas na ang stomach ko kakasuka.

Nanghihina akong tumayo at naghilamos bago muling bumalik sa kama, I feel so weak that I just want sleep the whole day. Madalas din akong maihi kaya naiirrita ako kapag kailangan kong tumayo nang paulit-ulit lalo na sa madaling araw.

Napagpasiyahan kong hindi na muna pumasok at mag email na lang sa CEO.

Ayokong takasan ang trabaho ko kaya ise-send ko pa rin ang schedule niya ngayong araw kahit pa wala ako ron.

Lumabas agad ako ng kwarto para ipaalam kay Tiffany ang kalagayan ko.

"Oh? Bakit di ka pa bihis? baka nakakalimutan mong sekretarya ka ng CEO!" pagtataray niya, kunyari bitter.

Nagsusuklay siya sa harap ng vanity mirror niya, diretso naman akong humiga sa kama niya. It really looks inviting.

Sinundan niya ako ng tingin. "Masama pakiramdam ko Tiff, sumuka na naman ako ng marami, 'di nalang muna siguro ako papasok," sabi ko habang nakapikit sa kama niya.

"Hala, morning sickness na 'yan! Sige 'wag kana muna pumasok at magpahinga ka," bawi niya.

Tumango ako.

"Bakit kase hindi ka nalang mag resign?" she asked out of nowhere.

Napabangon ako, "Why, can't I work just because I'm pregnant? ngayon lang naman siguro mahirap kase simula palang," paliwanag ko. Kilangan kong mag-ipon, I don't want to end up borrowing money kay Tiffany. Nakakahiya.

"Hmm. 'kay," sagot niya at ipinagpatuloy ang pag-aayos. Paalis na sana pero bumalik pa para bilinan pa ako, "Call me kung may nangyari sayo dito okay?" sabi niya.

I nodded and smiled.

"Oo na! Layas na! And bilhan mo ako ng peach mango pie tsaka fries and float pag-uwi mo, bayaran na lang kita later, take care!" Now I'm craving, I'm glad I have Tiffany, hindi naman ako makalabas na masama ang nararamdaman.

"Sure thing for my inaanak," masiglang sabi niya at tuluyan nang umalis.

Nanghihina akong lumipat sa kama ko, muntik ko nang makalimutan na mag e-email nga pala ako.

I started composing an email. I almost said 'po' but realized that it's unprofessional kahit pa I just wanted to sound nice. I've heard madalas siyang magtanggal ng secretary for all different reasons kaya nababahala ako na baka tanggalin niya rin ako dahil sa walang pasabi kong absent.

Bahagya kong hinaplos ang tiyan kong hindi pa halata. "Hi Baby, I'm your mommy. I love you forever and for always, stay strong okay? Kapit ka lang, siguro naman hindi ganon ka sungit yung daddy mo para tanggalin ako diba?" Kinilig ako sa ideyang tatawagin ako ng baby na 'mommy' at siya na 'daddy'. I know I shouldn't put my hopes up. I'm just picturing it, there's nothing wrong with that.

Sa isang banda, nakakalungkot din isipin na hindi niya matatanggap ang anak ko. Simple lang, dahil hindi naman niya ako girlfriend or what, at kung matanggap man niya ang anak ko bilang anak niya, siguradong kukunin lang niya para ilayo sa'kin.

Ganoon naman ang siste palagi, nangyari na rin iyon sa ilang mayayaman na businessman na naibalita, iyon nga ay artista pa ang nabuntis ako pa kaya na secretary lang?

I love this child even before I knew him... or her, kaya hindi ako papayag na basta na lang siyang kuhanin sa'kin.

Troy

She's fifteen minutes late, and counting.

I glanced at her desk one more time. Damn, I'm so out of focus. Why can't she just be here and stay seated so that I won't have to worry.

Worry? F*ck off, Troy. Get a hold of yourself.

I arranged the papers according to importance which was supposed to be her job, where the hell is she?

I waited patiently, maybe she was stuck in the traffic or something. I can definitely understand that.

But for how long?

I busied myself to divert my attention but noticed that it's been hours and she's so late.

It's already 8:30 for pete's sake, and she's supposed to be here at 6:00am! The h*ll?

Now my mind's debating whether I'm like this because I'm concerned or frustrated because there's so much to do in here.

"F*ck"

Then I remembered, her friend is also working here. Goodness, Claire.

"Yes, I apologize. My secretary will email you the details. Thank you."

I personally canceled all my meetings and appointments just for this unprofessional matter. I went straight to the office where her friend is assigned.

I was about to knock when I remembered that I am the CEO of this company so I don't have to, but in the end, I still do it because even though my position is higher that doesn't excuse me to be an ass. I'm f*cking growing.

The moment I entered the room, all of them halted. I just ignored them and just went straight to my business.

"Ms. Martinez." I called.

I noticed her shock, maybe she thinks that I will get mad at her because of talking to her office-mates during office hour.

If I caught them doing that some other time, I'll be mad but that's not my purpose why I'm here.

"Sir," she replied. I believe she knows why I'm here.

"Follow me," I said then walked out of the room.

"Where is she?" I asked the moment we stepped outside. She looked clueless for a second.

"Ortega."

Her eyes widened but immediately smiled. "Ahm, Sir did you check your email po? I assume she'll notify you that she's not feeling well and that she'll be absent for today" she explained.

So she's sick. I'm sick too. In the head.

I nodded, "Thanks." "Can you give me her address?" I asked once again. This is inappropriate for a boss to visit his sick secretary but for some reason, I feel like I have to be there.

She looks hesitant so I assured her that it was just out of concern and I won't do anything to her friend, so she eventually gave it to me.

Claire

Nahihilo pa rin ako at nananatiling nakakulong sa kwarto ko. Nakakain na ako kanina ng fried rice na may itlog hindi ko nga lang nagustuhan iyong amoy ng corned beef kaya nasuka ako. Feeling ko humihina ako sa tuwing sumusuka ako.

Ano ba ang gusto ng baby na 'to? Ange selan naman, ganito ba kapag anak mayaman? Pasensya na anak, hindi ko afford ang steak.

Bigla akong nakaramdam ng uhaw, but after drinking I heard knocks. I can't remember inviting anyone especially in my condition. Baka deliver na naman ng order ni Tiffany.

I didn't bother fixing anything aside from my hair, nakakahiya naman sa kung sino man iyon kung makitang magulo ang buhok ko. Binuksan ko agad ang pinto at laking gulat ko ng makita ko kung sino ang nasa harapan ko.

He eyed me from head to toe, I was about to asked him why he's here when I remembered I'm only wearing a thin nightgown! What the heck. Of all people?

"Uhh." I wanted to ask why he's here but words didn't come out off of me, I was shocked and frozen.

"Miss Ortega, you're absent," bungad niya, stating the obvious.

I almost rolled my eyes, I saw him glanced at my cleavage which I immediately covered.

Sinaman ko siya ng tingin, and he just smirked! Ang pilyo!

He smells so nice and I want to hug him for it but of course, I didn't. He raised a plastic bag full of foods I craved for, I almost really hug him for it.

"Excuse me," Sabi niya habang nakangisi at dirediretsong pumasok sa loob.

Ako naman ay napatunganga na lang sa inasta niya. What is he doing here, really?

Baby, your Dad is so confusing. No, more like unpredictable.