Slept with a Stranger

Chapter 4

Claire

Lumabas na ako nang makapagbihis ng plain white shirt at nakapag bra, naglagay din ako ng kaunting liptint dahil nakakahiyang humarap sakanya habang ang putla putla ko.

Nakita kong nakaupo siya sa kusina kaya naisip kong itanong kung anong gusto niya.

"U-hm. Anong gusto mo sir? Juice, coffee or water?" I asked, trying to sound casual kahit na kinakabahan ako at nahihiya.

Nilibot niya ang paningin sa apartment, lalo akong nanliit. Kung saakin ay sapat na 'to, alam kong tambakan lang nila ang ganitong lawak kung ikukumpara.

"You," he said without a glancing at my direction.

"Huh?" Did I heard it right?

He coughed. "Just water," sabi niya.

Ikinuha ko siya ng tubig. I suddenly felt comforted now that he's here kase may kasama ako, pero the fact na boss ko siya at siya ang ama ng anak ko ay medyo awkward on my part.

"Aren't you feeling unwell?" tanong niya. I'm still not feeling well pero parang hindi ko na rin napansin iyon dahil naiisip ko nalang ang presensya niya. My hand shakes uncontrollably when I lifted the glass, and accidentally dropped it.

Napakagat ako sa ibabang labi.

"Careful," he said at naramdaman kong lumapit siya sa gawi ko. Nataranta ako at sinubukang pulitin ang bubog. "Ouch." I felt the broken glass cut me and it bled.

"What...I told you be careful" malumanay niyang sabi at inalalayan akong tumayo.

Nanatili lang akong nakatingin sa daliri ko, my hand is shaking harder. Blood.

"Claire!" I heard him before I went unconscious.

Troy

I don't have any idea why she blacked out. Is it because she's sick? or she's shocked? We're here at my sister's hospital and I'm just waiting my sister while she checks on her.

"How is she?" I asked the moment my sister walks out of the emergency room. I can't help but panic, I am the last person she's with and I will blame myself if something happens to her. I shouldn't have ask her for a water knowing that she's sick and can barely stand. She's weak, obviously, why would she be absent if she can handle her fever? I'm so stupid.

"Is she your girlfriend? or your flavor of the month?" my sister asked, interrogating me.

She crossed her arms.

How is that question even related to my question?

"Flavor of the month? What do you think of me, a teenager?"

She glared ate me. "Answer my question!"

"Of course, not," I replied defensively. She's not my girlfriend, and I'm not planning to play her like the others.

"Jerk."

What's happening with this woman now? She looks ate me like she hates my existence and it feels like she's cursing me inside her head.

"What? I didn't do anything." I said. I really did nothing wrong, except from asking a glass of water.

"Then, tell me who is she? And please tell me that there's nothing happened between you two," she suspected. How did she know? am I that sexually active to assume that I bed every woman I'm with?

"She's my secretary, and so what if there is something happened between the two of us?" I answered avoiding her gaze. Damn, this conversation is uncomfortable. Imagine my Mom hearing these, she'll not be pleased.

"Damn you, isusumbong kita kila mommy!" she said and hit me in my arm.

When did my activities become big deal to them? I'm a healthy man, of course I have needs, I thought it's a general knowledge?

"When did my s*x life become a big deal?" I smirked.

She brushed her hair frustratedly, "She's Pregnant!" she said. Pregnant, who? Did I heard it right?

"You mean, Ortega? my secretary?" I asked, maybe she mistook her to some other patient.

"Yes, and she's six weeks pregnant, is the baby yours? Are you the father of her child?" she asked. First, Claire lost consciousness after breaking a glass, and now she's pregnant? Damn.

"I am" I answered without hesitation. I saw it. There's blood on the sheet, that's a proof right?

I breathed heavily. I don't know what to feel, she's pregnant, Im happy but confused at the same time. Everything happened so fast, she also just got accepted as my new secretary. I am more worried about her, seems like she's just starting to build her life and here she is, pregnant.

The night that we shared six weeks ago is the night I felt so different. I cannot say that I like her, I mean I barely know her but I can't deny that I am attracted.

My sister was shocked for a second but came back to her professional self again.

"So, what's your plan?" she asked breaking our silence. She looked worried, I know this news will give our Mom a headache.

"Im just going to protect her and my baby til' the baby was born" I replied. I may be not ready for this but so is she. I am going to take responsibility of my child.

"And after that, what will you do?" she looked at me with judgement. I know what she's thinking, and I'm not an ass.

Claire

Nagising ako sa isang hindi pamilyar na kwarto, nang nilibot ko ang mata ko napag-alaman kong nasa hospital ako. Paanovako nakarating dito? hindi ba nasa bahay lang ako nang dumating si sir Troy at... right.

Just when I began to remember what happened, the door suddenly opened and he entered.

"How are you?" he asked, worried. Or am I delusional? his eyes are just so careful like I am so fragile.

Nailang ako sa titig niya kaya napaiwas na ko ng tingin."O-Okay lang ako sir, salamat sa pagdala sa'kin dito." I already feel better, nahimatay lang naman ako dahil sa gulat pero hindi naman siguro kailangan pang tumagal ako rito. I tried to stand up but he stopped me.

"No, no. Just rest okay?" he said, nanliit ang mata ko. I feel weird with the way he's reacting.Naisip ko naman yung bill dito, I sighed. Mababawasan yung ipon ko!

"Hey, if you're thinking about the bill, it's fine. You don't have to pay," he said casually as if he reads me.

I am beyond embarrassed, dinalaw niya na nga ang sekretarya niyang may sakit at ngayon naman ay babayaran niya pa ang bill ko rito? malapit ko nang isipin na may gusto 'to sa'kin. Pero sa totoo lang, hindi ko naman kailangan ng sugar daddy. Natawa ako sa ideyang iyon pero pinili ko nalang na hindi magsalita.

"I think I can pay, may ipon naman ako sir," I said with pride. Since the moment I learned to be independent, I vowed to myself that I won't borrow as much as possible. Ayoko ring magkaroon ng utang na loob. Kahit nga kay Tiffany ay nahihiya ako, ayokong mag take advantage sa kabaitan ng mga tao sa'kin.

"Like what I said, you don't have to. My sister owns this hospital, and let's just say this is covered in your insurance." he insisted. Wala na akong nagawa, kahit pa hindi naman ako nagkasakit sa loob ng office ay inaako pa rin niya ang responsibilidad sa'kin bilang empleyado niya.

Ganoon sila kayaman, now I'm convinced na hindi talaga kami bagay. Napatango nalng ako at piniling magpahinga. Suddenly, a realization hits me. He's reacting this way because he learned I am pregnant, right? I knew there is something in the way he looks at me.

"Do you want something to eat?" He asked at umupo sa sofa katabi ng hospital bed. It looks small now that he's sitting there. The room I'm in actually looks expensive.

With his question, naisip ko tuloy bigla yung fries tsaka peach mango pie. Kakapalan ko na ang mukha ko dahil hindi lang naman ako ang manginginabang, pati naman ang baby.

"Pwedeng fries?" I asked hesitantly.

He nodded and smirked, "Sure, anything else?" he probed.

Since he's asking, "Two peach mango pie, and sundae" I said. Okay, I'm suddenly embarrassed.

Nakangiti pa rin siya sakin at parang hindi nagulat sa mga sinabi ko. Seriously? Bakit parang expected niya na marami akong kakainin?

"Okay, be right back" nakangiting sabi niya at umalis

Tumingin ako sa orasan. 11:15 na pala tanghali na kaya gutom na rin ako. Naisip ko lang, pwede naman niya iutos 'yung gusto kong kainin pero siya mismo 'yung bibili, I kind of feel good by that.

If I put what I feel into words, I must say, kinikilig ako. Napangiti naman ako at hinawakan ang tiyan ko.

Your daddy's sweet, baby.