Unexpected Groom

----- JESTER WARREN calling. . . Kumawala ang isang malalim na buntonghininga mula sa aking mga labi. Here we are again. Isa lang naman ang posibleng dahilan kung bakit siya tatawag sa akin. Well, Jester and I have been friends for three years already. I met him at JW Med, Jester's hospital. Cardiac surgeon siya roon and I'm the anesthesiologist of the team. Matagal na akong may gusto kay Jester but I kept it to myself. Eveything changed when we did a 48-hour-surgery. The surgery was successful. Two days after that, our team celebrated. I didn't know what came into me. It was liquor talking, for sure. But that night, I confessed my feelings to him and gave him my consent to take me when I became sober, and that's how we became friends or should I say. . . fuckbuddies. Yep, that's the right term. Ako naman itong si tanga, suko nang suko sa kanya. I always make myself available for him, hoping he will love me back. Kahit alam kong imposible, kahit alam kong walang pag-asa, umaasa pa rin ako. May munting pait na gumuhit sa aking tiyan sa isipang iyon pero kaagad ko iyong ipinagsawalang-bahala. I ran my fingers through my hair as I answered his call. Pinikit ko ang aking mga mata. I could feel the back of my head sinking down the soft pillow. "Queency." Nagbigay sa akin ng kakaibang kilabot ang baritino at malalim niyang boses. I could hear his deep breathes on the other line. "I need you." Malungkot akong napangiti. Yep, mukhang ito lang talaga ang role ko sa buhay ni Jester. . . ang maging parausan niya. Nagmulat ako ng mga mata at napatingin sa orasan. It's already eleven in the evening. Umakto akong humihikab at talagang pinarinig ko 'yon sa kanya. "It's late, Jester. You should sleep," mahinahon kong saad. I heard him grunt on the other line. Although, I also want him, pero talagang gabi na. "I don't care. I want you here right now or else, I'm gonna pick another anesthesiologist to replace you." f**k. The devil took advantage of my weakness. I let out a sigh and nod my head. "In a minute." Agad kong binaba ang tawag. Putting on my night robe, lumabas ako sa aking unit at pagkatapos kong ma-lock ang pinto, agad akong pumunta sa elevator. I pressed the top floor. Yep, when I say 'in a minute', literal na in a minute lang talaga. We live in the same condominium. Nang makarating na ako sa tapat ng kanyang pinto, I raised my fist to knock pero bago pa lumapat ang aking kamao sa pinto, agad nang bumukas iyon. It was as if he sensed that I already arrived. That night, I confessed what I feel for him for the second time around. I asked him to love me back, but instead of doing so, he asked me to leave and even gave me a blank cheque for my 'service'. Of course, I didn't accept the cheque. That's the last straw. I went to another province of Cebu, not having any idea that I am carrying his child. "Mama, magkaka-daddy na ako next week?" Cyeen's voice woke me up from my reverie. I blinked my eyes and stared at his innocent ones. I smiled at my son and nodded my head. Ever since he learned that his playmates have a father, kinukulit niya na rin ako tungkol sa papa niya. Out of desperation, I registered at Marriage at First Sight, isang booth dito sa Bohol kung saan ililista mo ang mga qualities mo at ang qualities ng ideal partner mo. My gay friend recommended it to me after learning what Cyeen wanted. They contacted me yesterday, telling me that they already found a match and I don't need to pay any money kasi sagot na raw lahat ng groom. Hindi ko alam kung anong mararamdaman ko. I need to do this for Cyeen. "Yes, may papa na ako!" He exclaimed happily. Napangiti na lang ako. Pero sana pala'y hindi na lang ako nag-register do'n. Sana pala, mas lalo kong ipinaintindi kay Cyeen na hindi niya na kailangan ng ama dahil nandito naman ako. Kung sana, maibabalik ko lang ang lahat, hinding-hindi ako susuko kay Jester at hinding-hindi ako magre-register sa Marriage at First Sight. Seeing my groom was something I couldn't process. My unexpected groom was no other than Jester Warren, the father of my son.