CHAPTER 1

(Yvonne's Point Of View)

"Please, God. Please don't let this happen to me!" I prayed with a low tone of voice as I closed both of my eyes. I am now holding the pregnancy test that I used and once I open my eyes, I will see the result that could change my whole life. My hands are shaking and I could feel my heart beating really fast. Para ngang lalabas na ang puso ko sa dibdib ko dahil sa sobrang kaba.

It's been a month since I left the country and flew to England. Nakikitira ako sa isang apartment kasama ang kaibigan ko na nakatira dito. I went here in England to escape from Dexon who wants me to marry him because of what happened between us that night. Wala akong naisip na ibang paraan para pigilan siya sa desisyon niya kundi ang umalis sa bansa at taguan siya. I really hope that this is the right decision for the both of us.

The day before yesterday, I've been feeling nuisance and I didn't know why. Hindi ko maipaliwanag ang nararamdaman ko. Lagi akong nahihilo at nasusuka. It was very unusual for me to get sick at kahapon ay may isang bagay na pumasok sa isip ko. Ngayon, malalaman ko kung tama ba ang hinala ko.

Huminga muna ako nang malalim para pakalmahin ang sarili ko. Slowly, I opened my eyes half open to see the result and it widened because of what I saw.

Sa sobrang gulat ko ay nabitawan ko pa ang pt na hawak ko at napaupo sa sahig ng banyo. My hand trembled even more and I could feel warm tears escaping my eyes.

Two lines. It's positive! I am pregnant with my best friend's child!

Kinagat ko ang ibaba kong labi para pakalmahin ang sarili ko. I can't believe that I am now going to be a mother at age 23. At ang mas malala pa, matalik ko na kaibigan ang ama ng batang nasa sinapupunan ko. The father is Dexon, ang lalaking tinataguan ko ngayon!

Ano na ang gagawin ko? Paano ko 'to sasabihin sa kanya? I don't know what to do anymore! I am too anxious right now to think about anything good. Hindi nga ako makagawa ng sarili kong desisyon!

"Yvonne? Why am I hearing you sobbing?" I heard a knock from the door. It's Aliah, one of my closest friend. Siya ang kasama ko ngayon dito sa England.

With my hands shaking, I called out her name and told her to come in. She was confused and asked if I'm alright and her eyes circled when she saw me in the floor, shaking and crying.

"Yvonne! Ano ang nangyari saiyo!?" nag-aalala at nagmamadali siyang lumapit saakin para tulungan ako. I lifted my head to see her as I cried harder.

"Aliah! I-I'm pregnant! Buntis ako..." I replied.

I bursted in tears and what I said made her jaw dropped. Mas nanlaki ang mga mata niya nang marinig ang sinabi ko. Malulutong na mura ang lumabas mula sa bibig niya matapos no'n.

She was also panicking but she managed to calm herself for a moment to help me. Inalalayan niya akong tumayo at dinala ako sa kwarto ko. She comforted me while I was crying nonstop and it took me few minutes to calm down.

"Are you alright now, Yvonne?" tanong niya saakin nang kumalma ako.

I sniffed and nodded. Yakap-yakap ko ang tuhod ko habang nakayuko.

She sighed. "May I ask who's the father of the child? Ang walang hiyang ex mo na si Daniel ba? Naku! Ililibing ko talaga ng buhay iyong lalaking 'yon!" she asked with a serious tone of voice.

Mabilis akong umiling. "No. That jerk isn't the father."

Kahit sa dalawang taon naming pagsasama ni Daniel ay wala pang nangyari saamin kahit kailan. We do kissed each other multiple times pero hindi ko hinayaang may mangyari pang iba saamin dahil hindi pa ako handa. I always feel that my ex always wanted to do it with me, pero hindi pa ako handa kaya palagi ko siyang piniipigilan.

Mabuti na lang talaga ay hindi ko binigay sakanya noon ang gusto niya. I can still remember the time when I caught him making out with another girl so vividly. Sinabi niya pa na kasalanan ko kung bakit siya nagloko dahil hindi ko siya hinayaang galawin ako. Hindi pa sapat ang sampal na binigay ko sa kanya! Hindi din alam ng babaeng kaharutan niya na may girlfriend siya kaya pareho namin siyang sinampal nang paulit-ulit. He deserves it! Mabuti na lang ay iningatan ko ang virginity ko mula sa kanya!

But who would thought that I will lost my virginity to my bestfriend? At buntis pa ako ngayon?

"Huh? Then who?"

Huminga ako nang malalim at tumingin sa kanya. "Si Dexon..." I trailed off. "We were drunk that time."

Naging tahimik ang buong lugar matapos kong sabihin 'yon. I took a glance at her, she's still looked shocked that he couldn't even say a word. Sobrang nanlaki ang mga mata niya at parang malalaglag na sa sahig ang panga niya.

"D-Dexon?" She gulped. "Yvonne! S-Si Kuya Dexon ang ama ng dinadala mo!?" she screamed out loud, still can't believe what happened.

Yes. Alliah is Dexon's younger sister. Pero dahil magkaaway sila ngayon ng Kuya niya ay naglayas siya sa kanila at pumunta din dito sa England a year ago. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin alam ni Dexon na nandito ang kapatid niya. Ako lang ang may alam kung nasaan siya kaya dito ko naisipang magtago sa kanya. Aliah, Dexon, and Aliah's ex lover, Alex, are my only friends in this life at sa ngayon, si Aliah lang ang malalapitan ko para makapagtago kay Dexon. I can't trust Alex this time because I'm pretty sure that he will tell Dexon where I am if he's the one I asked for help.

"Oh my God! Tita na ako!" she exclaimed with enthusiasm.

"Tone down your voice!" I told her. "The reason why I came here is because I want to hide from him. Gusto niya kasi akong pakasalan dahil lang may nangyari saamin. We were drunk that time and we both know that what happened was a mistake! I appreciate that he wants to take responsibility but how can I let him do that when I know that it was my fault? Ako ang nang-akit sa kanya noong gabing iyon dahil wala ako sa tamang pag-iisip. He can also lost his job because of me,"

Alliah sighed after she heard my explanation. "Pero Yvonne, now that you know that you're pregnant, hindi ba dapat mo na talagang sabihin 'yan kay Kuya Dexon? He's always ready to marry you! At alam ko na mas importante ka sa kanya kaysa sa trabaho niya. May karapatan din si Kuya na malaman ang na may nabuo kayong dalawa!"

I took a deep breath. "How could I do that? Oo, alam ko na kaya niyang iwanan ang trabaho niya para saakin pero kasi... Nakita ko kung paano siya nagsikap para makamit ang pangarap niya at ngayong nagsisimula na siyang umangat, saka pa ba ako sasagabal sa pangarap niya? And he's also in love with another girl. Tatlong taon niya na rin gusto ang babaeng 'yon and I'm sure that he's deeply in love with her. I cannot marry a man who's in love with someone else at alam mo rin na kapatid na ang turing ko sa kanya..."

My eyes started to be teary again. Yumuko ako at tiningnan ang maliit kong tiyan.

"I can take care of this baby. I can love my child without Dexon. Pwede ko sabihin sa kanya ang lahat, pero hindi pa sa ngayon. Hindi ko pa kayang mag-isip ng tamang desisyon."

Isa akong anak na nabuo dahil sa pagkakamali. Yes, a one night stand. My mother and father unwantedly brought me to this world. Dahil nabuntis si Mommy saakin, napilitan silang magpakasal kahit hindi nila tunay na mahal ang isa't isa. Napalaki nga nila ako pero lumaki akong nakikita sila na palaging nag-aaway. Their marriage was unhappy and forced at palagi nila akong sinisisi kung bakit naging gano'n ang buhay nila. That is the reason why I grew up trying hard to make them proud of me, pero kahit kailan ay hindi ko nakuha ang atensyon nila. I was abandoned. Sa huli, naghiwalay rin sila at naiwan akong mag-isa. Tanging sustento lamang ang binibigay nila saakin, but I was never happy even if they gave me a lot of money to live my life.

Of course, gusto ko na may kilalaning ama ang anak ko pero natatakot ako na baka hindi din kami maging masaya. Natatakot ako na baka mangyari sa anak ko ang nangyari saakin. I don't want this child to feel the feelings I felt before.

Kaya ko sanang araling mahalin si Dexon. Pwede ko sana siyang pakasalan pero natatakot ako. I saw how he looked at the girl he loves. Maari niyang sabihin na kaya niyang kalimutan ang babaeng gusto niya ngayon at mahalin ako pero paano kung hindi niya magawa? Paano kung nagawa ko nga siyang mahalin at pakasalan pero hindi niya makalimutan ang babae na 'yon? Then the marriage will give us happiness, and our child will be affected.

So to avoid that happening, I will raise my child by my own. I am still young and still unemployed but I have enough money and I could always find a job later. Hahayaan ko si Dexon, then he could live his life with the girl he truly love.

"Are you sure about this, Yvonne?" tanong saakin ni Aliah.

"Yes, Aliah. This is what I want to do. Sobrang nahihirapan na ako magdesisyon kahit ngayon pa lang pero eto na lang ang naiisip kong tama. I don't want Dexon and my child to be unhappy kaya gagawin ko 'to. Can you keep this a secret?"

"Of course," She smiled genuinely. "Kung 'yan ang desisyon mo, susuportahan kita. You know that you can always count on me. At isa pa, alam mo naman na galit pa rin ako kay Kuya at wala na kaming connection ngayon kaya makakaasa ka na hindi makakarating sa kanya ang sekreto mo. He also have no idea that I am living in England so you can hide here as long as you want. Huwag ka din mag-alala dahil I will be always by your side! I will help you at sisiguraduhin kong ligtas ka hanggang sa maisilang mo ang baby mo na pamangkin ko!"

Napangiti na lang ako dahil sa sinabi niya. I know that Allliah loves children kaya sigurado ako na matutulungan niya ako sa anak ko.

"All right! Since you now know that you're pregnant, you need to have a proper checkup. Kailangan natin pumunta sa hospital! Maliligo at magbibihis lang ako at maghanda ka na rin dahil aalis na tayo!" she said and went to her room.

Nag-ayos muna ako bago pumunta sa sala. Alliah is still taking a bath kaya umupo muna ako sa sofa para hintayin siya. I turned on the TV and put it on a filipino channel. Gusto ko lang naman manood ng balita para kahit nasa England ako ngayon ay alam ko pa rin ang mga nangyayari sa Pinas.

I was expecting to hear news about politics, accidents or something like that pero namilog ang mga mata ko dahil sa nakita ko sa screen.

'Famous Actor Dexon Gutierrez is asking for everyone's help to find his fiancee!'

It's Dexon on the news! And my full name and picture is on the screen! What the hell? What the fvck is happening? Ano ba ang pumasok sa isip niya?

"I, Dexon Rodriguez, is asking for help of everyone to find my fiancee, Yvonne Delavin. I don't care about my reputation anymore. I can risk my career for her so I'm asking everyone to tell me if someone's sees her. Isang buwan ko na siyang sinusubukang hanapin but I still have no idea where she is. So please, if anyone know where she is, tell me and I can pay any price."

My jaw dropped wide seeing Dexon's desperate face on the screen. The fvck? The news that I'm pregnant is too shocking enough tapos dadagdag pa ito? Why is he telling the media that I'm his fiancee and that I'm missing? Why does he look desperate and restless?

What am I? A criminal with a huge bounty? Bakit niya ako pinapahanap sa lahat? I know that he's insane but I never thought that he could be insane enough to do this! I left because I want to protect his name but now he's doing this?

"Wah! Oh my God! Kuya is too bold!" impit na tili ni Aliah na kakalabas lang sa kwarto niya. "Maybe he's really in love with y--"

"Shut up, Aliah!" saway ko sa kanya pero himbis na tumahimik ay ngumisi lamang siya.

Hinilot ko ang ulo ko dahil sa sobrang stress. Oh goodness! Do I really have to go back to him? Talaga bang kailangan ko pakasalan si Dexon? The person I treat as my own brother?

This is frustrating!