Single Lady Series

Chapter 22

I tried to talk to Ivan, but after so many trials, I failed. Ayaw niya akong kausapin at kahit tingin, di niya magawa sa akin.

The news flashed in every corner of the campus. The bullies are back. Palagi akong nakakatanggap ng pang-iinsulto mula sakanila. They even laugh at me kapag nakikita nila ako.

My friends are mad at Ivan. JD, Ivan’s friend tried to talk to him pero in the end nag-away lang sila.

I want to hear his reasons. I want to talk to him and ask him everything I wanted to ask. Para ng puputok yung ulo ko sa sobrang dami kong iniisip. Ang daming tanong sa utak ko.

Krisha you should eat… your mom ask me what happened to you. Hindi ko naman masabi sakanya dahil alam kong wala silang alam sa relasyon niyo ni Ivan. Antony said to me. He’s always at my side. He didn’t leave me unless Trixie needs him. We often visit Trixie in the hospital because Antony doesn’t allow me to go home on my own.

Ayaw kasi ni Antony na iwan ako dahil baka daw kung anong mangyari sa akin. Well, nothing happened to me but, most of the time, I cry a lot.

There are times that when I’m alone at my room, I always cry. Hindi ko naman pinaparinig sa kahit na sino sa bahay dahil ayokong magtaka sila sa kung anong nangyayari sa akin.

Hayaan mo muna ako Antony. I’m tired and sick, I just want to rest. I said to him.

Nasa clinic ako ngayon dahil muntikan na akong mahimatay dahil sa gutom. I can’t eat properly in our house. Hindi ko kasi kayang harapin sila mama ng namumugto ang mata ko kaya umiiwas ako sakanila. Luckily, Jai has concealer. I used it sometimes if I need to hide my puffy eyes.

You’re tired and sick because you forgot how to take care of yourself because of him! Galit naman akong lumingon kay Antony.

Alam mo naman pala eh…Alam mo? bakit hindi mo na lang puntahan si Trixie dahil mas muka naman siyang mamamatay kumpara sa akin! I shouted at him.

Mababakas naman sa muka ni Antony ang gulat dahil sa sinabi ko sakanya.

What did you say?

I said, go to Trixie because she needs you more! Pag-uulit ko sa sinabi ko.

I know it’s not right to say those words to Antony because he’s doing everything for Trixie to be fine. Pero wala ako sa wisyo ngayon marinig ang mga sintemyento niya sa akin. I just wanted him to leave that’s why I said that.

I’m doing my best to understand you Krisha… I warned you before, I told you that he’s no good for you but what did you say to me? You love him? Nabubusog ka ba ng pesteng pagmamahal na yan ngayon ha? Naiinis na sabi sa akin ni Antony.

Alam ko na nagpipigil lang si Antony ngayon. One time, when he saw Ivan together with Lorry, sinugod niya ito at sinuntok sa muka. Buti na lang at nandyan ang mga kaibigan naman at napigilan sila.

Hindi ko rin maharap ang mga kaibigan ko ngayon. Nakakasama ko man sila pero hindi nila ako makausap. I’m ashamed because of what happened to me, just like Antony, they warned me not just once but multiple times.

I just looked at Antony without showing any reaction. Just leave me alone Antony. Maybe I can’t handle myself right now but I promise you, aayusin ko ang sarili ko…basta pabayaan niyo muna ako ngayon.

Antony just sigh at me. He knows that he can’t do anything about me.

Okay…If that’s what you want then, I’m giving the space you need. Just don’t forget that we’re always here for you Krisha…wag mong pabayaan ang sarili mo. He said with full of concerns before he leave.

Humiga na lamang ako sa higaan ng clinic at nagpahinga. I need to clear my mind. And in order for that to happened, I need to talk to him. Kung ano man ang rason niya ay tatanggapin ko.

Nakapikit pa rin ako ng marinig ko ang boses ng isang babae sa katabi kong higaan.

Are you okay Lorry? You look pale… ang hirap talaga ng first trimester ng pagbubuntis. Ani ng nurse kay Lorry.

Napabalikwas naman ako dahil sa narinig ko. Buntis si Lorry?

Buti na lamang ay may telang namamagitan sa amin dalawa kaya naman ay kahit ilapit ko ang sarili ko ay hindi nila ako makikitang nakikinig sakanila.

I’m just lucky that Ivan is always beside me. Hindi niya ako pinapabayaan at ang baby. Ani ni Lorry sa nurse.

Para namang sumabog ang utak ko sa narinig ko sakanila. Lorry is pregnant right now and Ivan is the father? Kaya ba hiniwalayan niya ako dahil nakabuntis siya habang kami pa?

Well, I can see that Ivan really cares for your welfare and to the baby also. Inabisuhan niya kaya ako na icheck ka palagi!

I know that it’s too early for us to have this kind of blessing pero alam ko na kakayanin namin pareho ni Ivan lahat ng to.

Sige na Lorry, maiwan na muna kita at may kukuhanin pa ako.

Nang marinig ko ang pag-alis ng nurse ay binuksan ko ang nakaharang na tela sa amin at tumingin ako kay Lorry na ngayon ay nakaupo sa higaan.

So you’re pregnant. I said to her.

Lorry faced me with a smirk in her face. Umayos siya ng upo sa kama bago ako sagutin.

Yeah…And you know? Ivan is the father. She said to me with giggles. I’m sorry about what happened to you and him. Alam ko naman kung gaano mo siya kamahal, but sadly, hindi ka niya mahal. He didn’t even impregnate you!

I know Ivan loved me, Lorry. I said to her, justifying that Ivan really loves me. Hiniwalayan niya lang ako dahil kailangan ka niyang panagutan. I know that he doesn’t like you! I shouted at her.

It’s not true that Ivan didn’t loved me. For months that we’ve been together, I can feel it… I can feel that he really loves me. He just respect me kaya kahit gusto niya na may mangyari samin minsan, pinipigilan niya ang sarili niya.

But what happened Krisha? Nothing happened to you pero samin meron. She said to me, still with a smirked plastered in her face. You know, if he doesn’t love me, he will not own me, Krisha.

No! you’re saying this just to hurt me. You’re playing with us. Gusto mo siya kaya ginamit mo ang kahinaan niya!

Lorry stood up and walked to me. Kung laro lang to, bakit di ka niya kausapin ngayon at magpaliwanag sayo? Admit it Krisha, you just can’t accept the fact that he’s mine now. She said to me before she leave.

Para akong nabuhusan ng malamig na tubig ng marinig ko lahat ng sinabi sa akin ni Lorry. It hurt me seeing her happy because she’s now the new girlfriend of my ex.

One of my questions is now answered. What I need to do now is to talk to Ivan. I really need to clarify things for me to move on.

The revelation made my decision to move on. Wala akong laban sa batang nasa sinapupunan ni Lorry. If pursuing Ivan means hurting the baby inside Lorry’s body, I’d rather not pursue him anymore.

The baby open my mind that Ivan is not mine anymore nor Lorry, it’s more like on the baby.

Kahit na medyo nahihilo pa ay pumunta na ako ng room. When I entered the room, I saw my friends looking at me. I even saw Lorry who’s smirking at me and Ivan with his serious face.

Iniwas ko na lamang ang tingin ko sakanila at pumunta sa upuan ko. Naiiyak na naman ako. Paano ko kakayanin ang isa pang taon kasama sila?

Krisha dapat nagpahinga ka muna! Look at your face, ang putla mo pa din. Exagerated na sabi sa akin ni Jai.

Oo nga krisha, baka mamaya mahimatay ka na naman. Nag-aalalang sabi naman ni Jess.

They are all worried to me right now. Madalas na kahit di ko sila kausapin ay parati pa rin silang nasa tabi ko. Nahihiya ko sakanila pero kahit na anong pilit ko na wag muna nila akong pansinin, di pa rin nila ako iniwan. They are the true friends I have right now.

Guys… I started. They all looked at me, waiting for me to talk. I guess I know the reason now. Naiiyak kong sabi sakanila.

What reason? Tanong ni Jai.

The reason why Ivan broke up with me…I said. Nag-antay muna ako ng ilang minuto at kinalma ang sarili bago ako magsalita. Lorry is pregnant with Ivan’s baby. I said to them at hindi ko na napigilan na umiyak.

Gulat naman nila akong tinignan na para bang pinoproseso lahat ng sinabi ko sakanila.

When I looked at my friend, they looked furious, especially Jai. Umaktong tatayo si Jai at susugurin si Lorry pero pinigilan ito ni Khris.

You’re not going to do reckless things to Lorry, Jai! Pyok said with finality. Pero mukang ayaw magpaawat ni Jai at sumugod siya kay Lorry para sampalin.

Malandi ka talagang babae ka! Porket hindi mo makuha sa santong dasalan, dinaan mo na lang sa santong paspasan? Gigil na sabi ni Jai kay Lorry.

Hindi naman kaagad nakareact ni Lorry sa ginawa sakanya ni Jai. Hawak pa rin niya ang pisnge na ngayon ay namumula na.

Jai, stop what you’re doing, she’s pregnant! Sabi ni Khris habang pilit na nilalayo si Jai kay Lorry.

I heard the gasp of my classmates. Mukang ngayon lang nila nalaman na buntis si Lorry.

Everyone looked at Lorry with disgusted face. Iba sa mga kaklase ko ay pinagbubulungan na siya.

Is it true Lorry? Her friend Gladys Asked her. Oh my God! You offer your body to Ivan, just to have him? I can’t believe that I have a snake friend!

Hindi naman na nakapagsalita pa si Lorry at nanatili itong hawak ang tiyan.

Tama na Jai, hayaan mo na sila. Baka mapahamak pa ang bata sa sinapupunan ni Lorry. I said to them.

Lumingon naman ang lahat sa akin ng magsalita ako. Even Lorry looked at me.

Sinugod niya ako at sinubukang sampalin pero sinalag agad ito ni Jai.

Are you happy now? Pinagkalat mo pa talaga sa lahat na buntis ako! Paano kung mapahamak ang baby ko? Ha! Lorry said with a teary eyes.

Pinakalma at nilayo naman ni Ivan si Lorry. Hinarap niya ako ng may seryosong muka.

Stop pestering my unborn child, Krisha! If something happened between Lorry and my baby, hindi ko alam kung anong magagawa ko sayo! Saad niya bago muling balikan ang umiiyak na Lorry.

Matapos ng klase ay lumabas kami ng room at pumunta sa field. Everyone in the campus is eying my friends especially me.

Isang grupo ng babae ang lumapit sa amin. They are one of the supporters of Lorry or should I say, alagad?

Krisha we heard what happened…All along we thought Lorry is just a b***h but, oh my gosh, she’s a slut! Sabi ng isang babae.

Yesha is right, Krisha! We never thought that she can even offer her body to Ivan so just she can woo him. Sabi naman ng isang babae na katabi ng unang nagsalita.

Don’t worry girl, we got your back. From now on, we’re officially friends and officially hater of Lorry the slut!

Matapos ng pag-uusap ay may iilan pang lumapit sa akin. They are telling me how they’re disgusted by Lorry’s action. They even told me that we are friends now.

Just wow! I never imagined that all the student in this campus will be my friend in instant because of Lorry’s pregnancy.

I got the sympathy of everyone. Yung iba nalungkot dahil sa paghihiwalay namin ni Ivan, yung iba naman galit kay Lorry dahil inagaw nito sakin si Ivan.

Everyone wants to become your friend Krisha. Even those people who bullied you before, nagmumukang mabait dahil naaawa kuno sila sayo! Jai said the roll her eyes.

Atleast Krisha got everyones sympathy right? Edi ngayon wala ng lalapit na bully sakanya. Ani naman ni Jess

Sabagay. Pero Krisha, paano mo nalaman na buntis si Lorry? Tanong ni Jai.

I heard her talking to the nurse. Her voice looks so happy as she stated how lucky she is to have a baby. I said to them.

Eh ano ng plano mo ngayon? You now know the reason…nag aalalang tanong sa akin ni Khris.

I don’t know, but I’ve decided to talk to Ivan. I need to talk to him to clarify things for me to move on.

You don’t need to talk to him Krisha! Didn’t you see what he did to you? Pinagtanggol niya si Lorry sa harap ng klase kanina! Jai shouted to me. I can’t believe that after what he did to you, may balak ka pang kausapin siya.

I really need this. Kailangan ko ito para na rin siguro sa closure. Hindi ko naman siya pipilitin na makipagbalikan sakin, all I want is to talk to him to settle everything for us to move on.

It’s good that you planned to move on. Mas makakabuti yon sayo. And I agree with your decision Krisha. Malumanay na sabi sa akin ni Khris.

Khris is the one who can understand me more. She already experienced this kind of heartbreak with the same person. Maybe I should talk to her one-on-one, one of this days. I guess, she can help me deal with moving on.

What do you thing will happen to Lorry? I mean, for all I know, the school doesn’t allow this kind of issue in our campus. Nag-aalalang sabi ni Jess.

Kahit ako ay napaisip din kung anong mangyayari sakanya. Now that her popularity sank, will she still study hear at the campus?

We don’t know. But there is only probably one thing that they can do. It’s either she stop studying here or go abroad to finish her studies. Ani Khris.

We are at the classroom again. Napansin ko na lumayo na sakanya ng tuluyan ang mga kaibigan niya at si Ivan na lang ang nag-iisang kasama at kakampi niya.

She’s now looking at me with her bloodshot eye. I just looked away.

She should be careful all the time. Ang alam ko kapag buntis ay dapat na hindi siya ma-stress. For her to have a good pregnancy, she should have a good environment. And I suggest na pumunta na lang sila ng ibang bansa.

Hindi sa gusto ko silang malayo sa akin at mas makapag move on ako pero with her situation and the her bad image in our school, hindi talaga sakanya makakabuti ang manatili pa dito.

Kinabukasan ay may iilan pa rin na lumalapit sa akin. Some of them are sorry for what they did to me before and admitted that they just want to noticed by Lorry.

When I’m about to enter our room, I saw a bunch of students, they were pulling Lorry’s hand.

Lorry is crying and begging the students to stop what they are doing to her. I looked around and see that everyone is just watching them like nobody wants to meddle in the scene.

Kung magpapatuloy ang paghila nila kay Lorry, maaaring makaapekto ito sa bata.

Without any second thoughs, pinuntahan ko si Lorry.

What are you doing to the pregnant women? I shouted at them.

Nakuha ko naman ang mga presensya nila at natigil sa paghila kay Lorry.

Krisha, you should be happy with what we are doing to her! Hindi ba dapat lang sakanya yan? Ani ng isang babae na hila-hila pa rin ang kamay ni Lorry.

I looked at them full of courage to save Lorry. Stop what you’re doing with her. Kalmado kong sabi. She did something to me but the baby inside her did nothing. So stop what you’re doing o kakasuhan ko kayo ng harassment. I said to them.

Nakita ko naman na iyak parin ng iyak si Lorry. Nasan ba kasi si Ivan? He should be always by her side!

Binitawan naman nila si Lorry at umalis. I guess they are scared that they might be imprison because of harassment.

Pinuntahan ko kaagad si Lorry at inalalayan ito. I tried to lift her but she just pushed me away.

I don’t need your help! She said to me. Sa tingin mo, ibibigay ko sayo si Ivan dahil lang tinulungan mo ako? Pwes nagkakamali ka dahil akin lang si Ivan...Akin lang siya at hindi siya magiging sayo kahit kailan! She shouted at me.

When she tried to stand up, I saw a blood flowing from her skirt. Gulat ko naman siyang tinignan.

Lorry… your baby. I said to her habang tinuturo ang ang dugo na nasa binti niya.

She cried a lot when she saw the blood. Lahat ng tao ay nakatingin na samin.

When I’m about to help her again, someone pushed me. Dirediresto akong plumakda sa lupa.

What did you do to her! Ivan shouted at me.

Hindi naman ako makasagot dahil sa takot sa nangyari kay Lorry.

I told you to stop pestering us. May diin niyang sabi sa akin.

I-Ivan, tutulungan mo m-muna si Lorry. Y-yung b-baby baka malaglag. Nangingid ang boses kong saad kay Ivan.

Ivan carried Lorry and headed to the clinic. Marami pa ring tao na nakatingin at nanonood sa nangyari.

Bumalik lamang ang ulirat ko ng may kamay na humila sa akin at tinulungan akong tumayo. It was my friends.

I told them what happened and tell them how scared I am right now for Lorry and the baby’s condition.

Nasa room kami ngayon ay pilit na pinapakalma ako nila Khris. They told me that it’s not my fault, that I should not be scared because Lorry and the baby will be fine.

Habang nag-uusap kami, nagulat kami sa galabog ng pintuan. Ivan entered the room with his anger face. Nang makita niya ako ay agad niya akong nilapitan at hinawakan sa kwelyo.

Ivan stop! My friends shouted at her.

Hindi naman ako makapagsalita dahil sa sobrang higpit ng pagkakahawak niya sa kwelyo ng damit ko.

Ivan stop what you’re doing! Mapapatay mo si Krisha sa ginagawa mo! Sigaw ni Khris sakanya.

Gigil na tumingin sa akin si Ivan. I never see him before like this. Iba ang galit na nakikita ko sa muka niya ngayon.

Anong ginawa mo kay Lorry ha? Alam mo bang kung hindi ko naihatid si Lorry sa clinic, wala na ang baby! Galit na sigaw sa akin ni Ivan.

Still, hindi pa rin ako makapagsalita at nauubusan na ng hininga dahil sa pagkakaipit ng leeg ko.

My friends now are pushing him away from me but they can’t do anything.

A fist landed on Ivan’s face. Lahat ng tao ay nagulat dahil sa pagsuntok sakanya ni Antony.

Hinang-hina naman akong hawak ang leeg ko at naupo sa upuan.

Dahil sa patuloy pag suntok ni Antony kay Ivan ay tumulong na ang mga kaklase ko na awatin ito.

Bakit na nakikialam ka ha! Alam mo ba kung anong ginawa ng babae na yan kay Lorry ha? Sigaw ni Ivan kay Antony.

I know what happened to Lorry, Ivan! Kita ko kung paano tulungan ni Krisha si Lorry sa mga estudyanteng ng ha-harrass sakanya kanina!

I saw how shocked Ivan was when Antony told him that I helped Lorry earlier.

He looked at me at wala ng nasabi. Mukang hindi niya alam ang totoong nangyari kanina kaya ako ang sinisisi niya sa nangyari kay Lorry.

Ilang sandali pa ay tumayo siya at pinahid ang dugo na nasa gilid ng labi niya. He just looked at me before he leave the room.