Apollo's Crib: A Sinister Fate

EP.41

"What's wrong with mom? Why is she acting this way? Did something happen when we're away?" usisa ni Austin sa personal nurse ng ina. Naabutan kasi nila si Sinica na inaapoy ng lagnat at labis silang nag-aalala sa kalagayan ng ginang. Hindi ito pwedeng ma-stress dahil sa hindi pa ito lubusang magaling.

"I'm sorry young master, but she just suddenly like that when Crystal left, I think they had a misunderstanding." sagot ng nurse.

Napamaang si Austin sa narinig. Ano ang maaaring pagtalunan ng dalawa? Wala naman siyang maisip na pweedeng ikagalit ng ina, maliban na lang kung nalaman nito ang relasyon nila ni Crystal.

"Can I talk to you for a while, young master?" tawag sa kanya ni Laura na kanina pa pala nakikinig sa kanila. Sumunod siya sa ginang nang maglakad ito palabas ng kwarto ng ina.

"About what?" aniya.

"About Crystal, I didn't intend to listen of what they are talking about, but your mom is totally furious at that time. I got scared with what will happen to her, so I hid in the closet and I accidentallyg heard their conversation."

"What did you hear? Why did mom got upset?" mabilis niyang tanong.

"Your mom found out about your relationship with her and she is asking her to leave."

"W-what?! That's unbelievable!"

"But, that's true. Your mom paid her a hefty amount just to run away from you."

"Did she accept it?"

"She did. But she apologized and..."

"And what?"

"She begged your mom not to push her away because she is pregnant. And you are the baby's daddy." ani Laura. Namumutla pa ang ginang ng sabihin nito ang narinig mula sa mga amo.

"Crystal is pregnant?" gulantang na wika ni Austin. Samut-saring emosyon ang nanahan sa kanyang dibdib at hindi siya makapaniwala sa narinig. Totoo ba na magiging tatay na siya?

"Yes, and if you run right now. You can still stop her from leaving you. Your mom threatened her that she will ruin her entire career if she stays."

Dahil sa narinig ay wala na siyang inaksayang panahon. Mabilis siyang sumakay sa elevator at nang makarating sa lobby ay tumakbo siya ng mabilis papalabas. Hindi niya makapa sa bulsa ang susi ng sasakyan niya kailangan niyang sumakay sa taxi. Ngunit sa kasamaang palad ay rush hour noon at punuan ang bus at taxi.

Namataan ng binata ang u-bike na nakaparada sa may park. Hindi na siya nagdalawang-isip na iyon ang gamitin para puntahan ang kasintahan. Mabilis ang ginawa niyang pagpedal sa bisekleta sa pangamba na hindi na niya maabutan ang kasintahan.

"Crystal! Are you here? Please come out! I know everything, and I know what my mom did to you. Please, let's talk about this, don't leave me!" malakas na tawag ni Austin nang makarating sa apartment na inuupahan ng dalaga.

"What are you doing? Stop being a nuisance here! Leave my family alone if you don't want me to call cops!" babala sa kanya ng kapatid ni Crystal. Ito ang humarap sa kanya nang gabing iyon, pinilit niyang silipin ang dalaga ngunit hindi niya ito makita.

"Crystal, please talk to me! I know how you felt bad and threatened, but I am here! I'm begging you please, let's think things over. My mom must be so shocked when she found out about us. She will change for sure, and if not, you don't have to worry because I won't leave you alone. I will help you no matter what, and if one day I needed to choose between you and my family, I'll definitely choose you!" pagsusumamamo ng binata.

"Excuse me, but out of respect with me, my sister and my whole neighborhood. Please leave now, you are disturbing our peaceful night. My sister isn't here, she left and I don't know where." ani Anton.

"No! I believe she's still there, please talk to me Crystal. We're having a baby, right? Please don't do this to me." pagsusumamo ng binata.

Ngunit kahit anong sabihin ni Austin ay para lamang itong tuyong dahon na inilipad ng hangin papalayo. Hindi siya hinarap ni Crystal kahit ano pang pakiusap ang gawin niya. Laglag ang balikat na naglakad ang binata papalayo. Kung hindi man niya nakumbinsi ang dalaga ay titiyakin niya na magagawa niyang kumbinsihina ng ina na tanggapin sila lalo na at magkaka-apo na ito sa kanya.

"He just left, you can come out now," ani ng kapatid ni Crstal nang tuluyan nitong isara ang dahon ng pinto.

Lumabas ang dalaga mula sa pinagtataguan nito at lulugo-lugong naupo sa sofa.

"I'm sorry if you have to do that for me," hinging paumanhin ng dalaga.

"No, it's okay. But, care to share what's this all about? You are pregnant, is it true?"

"We had a secret relationship and his mom found out about it. I don't know how, but it just happened."

"And his mom told you to leave her son alone, am I right?" anito.

"Yeah, she gave me money to start anew. She doesn't want me to be a part of her family."

"And you haven't answer my question yet, are you pregnant with his son?" ulit na tanong ng kapatid.

Umiling ang dalaga. "No, I'm not pregnant at all. I just told that I am expecting because I thought I could pacify her anger, but I was wrong." amin ng dalaga.

"Oh my God! What did you do? I'm pretty sure their family is a mess right now because they are thinking that you're really carrying Austin's son!"

"I don't know! Maybe I really need to run away. Hide somewhere he cannot find. I don't know how I can face him knowing I gave him false hope." problemadong wika ng dalaga.

"Have you talk about his dad? Maybe he can help you,"

"Apollo Cheng? You mean, you want me to talk to him? Are you insane? How can I talk to him about this?" bulalas na sagot ng dalaga.

"Did I hear it right? Did you say, Apollo Cheng?" ulit ni Anton sa sinabing pangalan ng kapatid.

"Yes, he is Austin's father." ulit ng dalaga.

Natutop ni Anton ang kanyang bibig sa pagkabigla. Bakit hindi niya nakilala ang anak ni Apollo? Bakit hindi niya kaagad napansin ang malaking resemblance ni Apollo sa nobyo ng kanyang kapatid.

Kung si Austin ang anak ni Apollo, ibig sabihin natuhog nilang magkapatid ang ama? At kung sakaling magkatuluyan ang kanyang kapatid at ang anak ni Apollo ay mas lalo siyang mapapalapit sa kasintahan. Malaking oportunidad iyon para sa kanya para lalong mapalapit kay Apollo.

"Are you going to leave just like that?" ani Anton.

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"So what if you're not pregnant? You can be pregnant if you want to be pregnant."

"What are you trying to say?" naguguluhang yanong ng dalaga.

"Don't leave your boyfriend alone, since you started this thing. Stay and make it real this time. Austin seems to be so inlove with you, and I bet, he won't stop until both of you ended up together." ani Anton, habang nakaplaster ang tusong ngiti sa mga labi.