Aftermath of Vengeance

Chapter 37

For a split second before the collision to the huge tree, she hugged her stomach and crouched a bit, intending to protect it from any harm. Kasunod no'n ay ang malakas na pagbangga niya at nawalan na siya ng malay.

Priscilla stopped driving and got out of the car. She smiled triumphantly when she saw the wrecked car. But her smile faded when she heard her son's voice.

"Daneliya! Oh my God! Daneliya!" sigaw ni Evans habang tumatakbo palapit sa sirang sasakyan. Puno ng sakit at takot ang boses nito at pilit na binuksan ang pinto ng kotse. "Daneliya! Wake up!" he cried when he saw the bloody situation.

Nawala ang emosyon sa mukha ni Priscilla. "Let's go Anthony, she's dead. Kung hindi pa, ilang minuto na lang, mamamatay na rin siya."

Hinila nito palabas si Daneliya at niyakap nang mahigpit saka nilingon ang ina niya.

"No, she is not dead. Let's save her, Mom. Mamamatay ako kapag nawala siya sa akin! Magpapakamatay ako!" mariin nitong sigaw habang umiiyak.

Priscilla gritted her teeth. "Fool," she uttered in the air as she watched her son cry like a baby.

She drove the car fastly. Nasa backseat si Evans habang yakap si Daneliya.

Maswerteng may nadaanan agad silang hospital at agad naasikaso ang dalaga. When she arrived at the emergency room, she was barely alive. Nagpantay pa ang gunit nito sa monitor kaya sinubukan siyang i-revive. And it might with the help of a miracle, Daneliya was revived.

Nilapatan ng lunas si Daneliya ngunit agad ding nagpasundo si Evans sa isang malaking hospital para mabigyan ito nang mas magandang atensyon ng medikal. Priscilla watched all of that happen. At kahit ano pang galit niya at gustuhin man na tuluyang mamatay si Daneliya ay hindi niya magawan iyon ng paraan dahil nakita niya kanina ang sobrang takot ng anak niya. She has never seen him cry like that. And Priscilla Alejandro is scared that her son would really kill himself if Daneliya would die.

Pagdating sa mas malaking hospital ay muling pinalapatan ni Evans ng lunas si Daneliya. But later on, she was announced as comatose because of a really bad head injury.

"Give it up, Evans. She is not waking up. Malabo na 'yan. She is already in a comatose state," Priscilla coldly said.

Tumayo si Evans at hinarap siya. "This is your fault, Mom. I told you not to shoot but you still did. Alam mo kung gaano kahalaga sa akin si Daneliya but you still tried to kill her!" mariin na sigaw nito sa kaniya.

"Because she is good for nothing! Hindi siya nararapat sayo!"

He glared at her with teary eyes. "Good for nothing or you are threatened because Garett really loves her?" gigil nitong saad sa kaniya. Akmang magsasalita si Priscilla ngunit hindi iyon natuloy. Galit na galit si Evans sa kaniya. "Kapag natuluyan si Daneliya, I will really forget that you are my mother and I will never ever let you be happy in life. Don't ever forget that, Mom," he uttered the last word with so much anger.

"Kayo po ang guardian ni Daneliya Alejandro?" tanong ng doctor.

Agad nilingon ni Evans ang doctor. "I am her husband."

Tumango ito. "You didn't mention that she is pregnant. Fortunately, the fetus is alive. But I am telling you now that this could cause complications both to the mother and the baby. Let us just hope that the mother will wake up soon so she can proceed with a healthy pregnancy. If you have any questions about this, don't hesitate to ask me," saad nito bago siya tinanguan at umalis na sa harap niya.

Hindi na nakapagsalita si Evans. Kahit si Priscilla ay natulala. Of course they immediately know who the father is. It is none other than Garett Adamson.

"If Daneliya stays in a comatose state and the baby survives, I will keep him," pagbasag ni Priscilla sa katahimikan.

Marahas na nilingon ni Evans ang ina niya. "What?"

Priscilla looked at him. "You know that I have been wanting another baby since then pero hindi na ako magkaanak. And I will feel better knowing that I will take care of Garett's child. Kakalimutan ko na anak 'yon ng babae na 'yon. Then magagawan ko ng paraan at magkabalikan kami ni Garett... We are going to be a family!" saad nito sa kaniya.

Evans clenched his jaw. "No. I will have that baby medically terminated. Mahihirapan lang ang katawan ni Daneliya dahil imbes gumaling siya ay aagawan siya ng baby sa sinapupunan niya."

Napatayo si Priscilla. "And what? Once Daneliya woke up and she learned that you had the doctor remove her child from her, she will loathe you for the rest of your life. Mas lalo siyang hindi mapapasayo, anak!"

Natahimik si Garett. Kinuyom niya ang kamao kapag kuwan ay napasuntok sa pader. Nabigla si Priscilla at napaatras saka nanahimik na lang, hinayaan na muna na kumalma ang anak.

"Think about it, Evans."

Nang kumalma na si Evans kahit papaano ay muling nag-usap ang mag-ina. Nasa kwarto sila kung saan naroon si Daneliya at maraming nakakabit na kung anu-ano sa katawan niya.

Evans was staring at Daneliya while Priscilla was staring at her covered stomach.

Sa isip ni Evans ay hinihiling niya na maging na si Daneliya. Pero galit na galit din siya dahil hindi niya matanggap na nabuntis ang pinakamamahal niya ng lalakeng kinasusuklaman niya.

Priscilla touched Daneliya's still flat stomach. 'May kwenta ka naman pala. Mabuti na lang hindi ka natuluyan. I just hope that you stay alive until you give birth to your child then from then, you can go and die,' aniya sa isip. 'Don't worry, I will take care of your baby. It will be mine and Garett's baby, we will start our own family.'

They were both looking at Daneliya, talking to her through their mind but with different thoughts, wishes, and agenda.

"Payag na ako. You will keep the baby once it is ready to be removed from her. They might be able to remove it from her through CS, right?" ani Evans.

Napalingon si Priscilla sa anak niya at napangiti. "R-really? That is a good decision, some. Of course, that is why they will do." Hinawakan niya sa braso ang anak. "Then you can start your own family with her once she wakes up without taking care of her child with another man. While me, your mom is happy."

Tumango si Evans. "Kapag nagising na siya, we can just say that the baby didn't survive the crash. I know after that, she will stay with me. She promised me that she will get back with me. Pumayag na siya na pupunta kaming ibang bansa at magsisimula ulit kami ro'n," saad nito.

Priscilla wants to roll her eyes but since she needs something from her son, hindi niya na ito kinontra.

"Once you have the baby, don't ever show it to me. Huwag na huwag mong hahayaan na magtagpo ang landas nila ni Daneliya. And if you are able to get back with Garett, huwag din nating hahayaan na magkita pa sila ulit. Magiging masaya tayo sa kaniya kaniya nating buhay. They are not meant together. Daneliya is for me..." dagdag ni Evans saka hinawakan ang kamay ni Daneliya at hinaplos-haplos iyon.

Priscilla smirked. It is all planned. Malinaw at maayos ng nakaplano ang lahat.

But their plan didn't go well when in the fourth month of her pregnancy, two months after the accident, Daneliya woke up. Hinang-hina pa rin ito, hindi makausap ngunit may consciousness na ito.

Pinanood ni Evans na nagkagulo ang nurse sa pag-check ng vitals nito pati ang consciousness nito. He was happy but pissed off.

Lumabas siya ng kwarto at tinawagan ang Mommy niya.

"Evans? Why did you call?"

Through gritted teeth, he spoke. "Daneliya is awake," mariin niyang saad.

"What!?" Halos mapasigaw si Priscilla.

"Damn it. Hindi masusunod ang plano natin. Dapat pinatanggal ko na lang pala talaga ang baby na 'yon sa tiyan niya!" iritado nitong sinabi.

Ilang weeks pa itong nasa vegetative state at hindi makausap. But she is responding when they check her. Hanggang sa makapagsalita na ito at nakakagalaw na katulad ng pag-upo at paglinga.

"Tu... big," she said that came out as a whisper.

Agad naman tumayo si Evans at inalalayan ito para makainom ng tubig. Titig na titig siya kay Daneliya habang umiinom ito.

"How are you feeling? Kumusta ka?" he asked her gently.

Nang tumigil na ito sa pag-inom ay tinitigan lang siya nito. "Sino ka?" she asked.

Napakurap si Evans. "What?"

Luminga ito sa paligid. Pinagmasdan nito ang kamay na maraming mga nakakabit. Nilingon din nito ang mga apparatus sa paligid niya.

"Hospital..." Daneliya said. Kumunot ang noo nito. "Ano ang hospital?"

Hindi nakasagot si Evans at natulala lang dito. Then he suddenly stood and called for a doctor.

Ineksamin agad ng doctor ang lagay ni Daneliya. Kinausap-kausap din nito ang dalaga. After a while, the doctor talked to Evans.

"What happened to her? She seemed like she was in a daze or something..." lito niyang saad.

Ang doctor ay pinagmasdan ang hawak niyang chart saka tinignan si Evans. "Mr. Alejandro, your wife has amnesia. It seems like she can't remember anything. For now, under observation natin siya. Pwedeng short term lang ito at unti-unti ring babalik ang mga alaala niya at pwede ring long term. Ibig sabihin, tatagal ng ilang buwan o taon na wala siyang alaala. Or worse, hindi na babalik ang lahat ng memories niya mula pagkabata hanggang bago ang aksidente. It is like, she will start her new life with new memories."

Evans processed all those words. Halos tulala siyang pumasok sa kwarto ni Daneliya kung saan tahimik lang ito at tulala. Umupo siya sa tabi ng babae saka hinawakan niya ang kamay nito. Dahan-dahang nag-angat ng tingin sa kaniya si Daneliya.

"May masakit ba sayo?" Evans asked.

Daneliya shook her head. "Wala. Sino ka? Totoo na ang sinabi ng doctor na asawa kita?" marahan nitong tanong.

Unti-unting gumuhit ang ngiti sa labi ni Evans. Imbes malungkot sa magiging mahirap na sitwasyon ni Daneliya ay masaya siya. He will take advantage of this. He will grab this opportunity to start over with her. At ngayon, literal na magsisimula sila sa simula.

"Yes, I am your husband. Can't you remember me, babe?" he asked with a fake sad expression

Dahil sa kalooban niya ay nagkakaroon ng selebrasyon. Nagpapasalamat pa siya ngayon sa nangyaring aksidente rito. Now, he doesn't have to force himself to her. Dahil wala na sa alaala nito si Garett. Kaniyang-kaniya na si Daneliya.

Umiling ito. "Wala akong maalala. Sabi ng doctor, dahil iyon sa aksidente." Bumaba ang tingin ng babae sa tiyan niya na may kalakihan na. She is already five months pregnant. "At sinabi niya rin sa akin na buntis ako, na may anak tayo rito," dagdag nito na tila iniintindi ang lahat ng sinabi sa kaniya nh doctor kanina.

Evans immediately nodded. Hinawakan niya ang kamay ni Daneliya na nakapatong sa umbok ng tiyan ng babae.

"You're right. This is our baby. At aalamin natin ang gender niya kapag sinabi ng doctor na pwede na."

Tumango si Daneliya saka tumingin muli kay Evans. Titig na titig ito sa kaniya na tila pilit nitong inaalala siya ngunit wala itong mahanap. Napahawak sa noo si Daneliya kaya agad niya itong inalo.

"Hindi talaga kita maalala. Sorry..."

Evans smiles and kisses her forehead. "It is okay. The important thing now is you are getting better. Huwag mong pilitin ang sarili mong makaalala. Hayaan mo na ang nakaraan. Ang mahalaga ay ang ngayon. Magkasama na tayo ngayon at hindi na tayo maghihiwalay pa. We will have a very happy life, babe. With our baby," he said with so much happiness.

Nang tulog na si Daneliya ay lumabas siya ng kwarto. Eksaktong dumating si Priscilla.

"Why did you tell me to come here?" tanong nito. "Na-comatose ba siya ulit?" Tila hopeful pa nitong saad.

Evans was smiling. "May rason kung bakit hindi natupad ang plano natin, Mom. Better things are happening."

"What? Why?" Kunot ang noo na tanong nito sa kaniya.

"Daneliya doesn't remember anything. Wala na siyang alaala. It only means one thing. I can start over with her. Nagsimula na ako. Nagpakilala ako bilang asawa niya," Evans said happily.

Lalong lumalit ang kunot ng noo ni Priscilla. "She has an amnesia? Wow. Totoo pala 'yon. But then, how about the baby? We can make a story about it. What if we tell her that is just a surrogate mother or—"

Mariin na umiling si Evans. "No, Mom. I will claim that child as mine. Anak namin siya ni Daneliya."

Priscilla's eyes widened. "What!? Nababaliw ka na ba?" tanong nito.

What happened to their agreement? Akala niya ay ayaw nito sa baby dahil anak nga iyon ni Garett. But it seems like nagbago ang lahat.

Evans smiled happily. "I'll forget everything about the past, too. Ang mahalaga, nasa akin si Daneliya. And that child is mine, Mom. Mag-ina ko sila." Naging seryoso ang tingin nito sa kaniya. "And you will not do anything to ruin that. Get it, Mom?" Mariin nitong tanong.

Priscilla gritted her teeth. Akala niya ay mapapasakaniya na ang bata. Hindi siya kumibo at sumulyap sa pinto ng kwarto ni Daneliya sa hospital na 'yon.

Sana pala ay namatay na lang talaga ito kung hindi niya rin naman pala mapapakinabangan ito!