Saving Harper

I panicked.

I looked at the window in the bathroom. Wala kami sa second floor but there may be quite a long way down since there are a few steps going up sa bahay ni tatay. Shit! How am I doing this? I opened the window and looked down.

OMG anak, kaya ba natin to? I think it was a 9 to 10-foot drop. Or maybe madilim lang kaya feeling ko it's a long way down?

Right on time someone knocked softly on the door. "Harper!" I could hear ate Tiff hiss from the other side. Relief washed over me dahil may tutulong na sakin maka labas. I unlocked the door and she hurried inside and handed me my phone. "Nakalimutan mo to sa labas, ohmygod muntik pa tong makita ni Xavier kasi tinawagan ka nya! Buti nalang naka silent. Yung bag mo nasa sofa pa ni tatay! I couldn't get it kasi makikita ako ni Xavier. Buti nalang din wala kang dalang kotse." "Ohmygod how am I going to get out ate?" Her eyes diverted to the opened window.

"Harper! Were you just planning to jump?!" Lumapit din sya sa bintana to check the way down. "Mom and dad will kill me pero if ayaw mong harapin si Xavier, I'll help you. Matatalon mo ba yan? Tangina Xavier will kill me after akong patayin nila mommy for doing this or mauuna si Xavier na pumatay saakin."

I rolled my eyes. "Wala syang karapatang patayin ka. Kylie remember?"

"Okay sagot mo naman ako." I joined her sa window.

"I think if I lowered myself naman, kaya na?" We were both looking down, measuring the drop.

"Shit bilisan natin baka masabi nila mommy na nandito ka. Pero I think they won't naman. They'll probably think I'll hide you." It made me panic once more. Ahhhhhkkkkk. Maybe I should just hide. Pero saan??? "Bakit ang aga nyang umuwi???" "Ewan ko dun! Dapat next week pa sya e. Di pa tayo nakakapractice!"

"Forget about practicing ate, you can help me nalang na tumakas because I can't face him right now."

Tiff nodded and took my hand, inalalayan nya ko para makaupo sa ledge nung window which thank god was low and I swung one of my legs outside the window. Thank god din na naoopen yung screen door.

"Wait Harper, sure ka na ba talaga dito? And how are you getting home? Do you want me to drive you?"

"Paano? Tatalon ka din? No na I can just book a grab. Mag tataka pa yung kapatid mo bakit bigla kang nawala. Tama na yung isa lang magbubuwis ng buhay saatin dito." I think they have enough trees around their property para pwede akong magtago if Xavier suddenly gets out of tatay's house papunta sa kanila or sa kotse nya. Oh no baka puntahan nya ko sa condo!

"Wait." Kumapit ako ng mas mahigpit kay Tiff, di ako sure kung dahil may sasabihin pa talaga ako or kinakabahan lang akong tumalon. "If he decides to come to my condo, pigilan mo sya, please." Tiff nodded urgently. "Okay Harper, on three then you jump ha." She told me.

"Tangina do I jump on three or after three?" I panicked again. Jusko Harper, tatalon ka lang e.

"Uhhh ikaw ba? Ikaw tatalon e don't ask me!" Nakakahawa ang panic ko kasi dalawa na kami ngayon.

"After three nalang." We started counting ng sabay. "One... Two..." I prepared to swing my other leg sa labas ng window. Ahhhhhhhh!!! Kaya ko ba to??? Too late.

The door swung open.

"What the hell are you doing??" Gulat kaming nakatingin kay Xavier na equally gulat. "Harper tangina bumaba ka nga dyan please?!" Dumagdag na si Xavier ng listahan na nagpapanic dito sa bathroom na to.

Horrified looks were suddenly painted sa mukha nila tita, tito, tatay and lalu na sa mukha ni Xavier sa nahuli nilang ginagawa namin ni Tiff. Xavier hurriedly crossed the room papunta sakin and I pointed to him. "Dyan ka lang! Don't come near me tatalon talaga ako." He stopped mid-step and stayed where he was.

Ngayon hindi ko na alam gagawin ko. I just want to run away. Jump, Harper! Kahit alam kong hindi din malayo yung mararating ko pag tumalon ako. Xavier can easily jump after me. And if I jump, there's an 80% chance na masesprain lang ako when I land. Hindi din ako makakatakbo!

Naunahan nako ni tito as I was momentarily lost in my thoughts over what I should do, he was the one who approached Tiff and me and he took my hands from her. "Anak, please go down from there. You can't jump." He stressed the word 'can't' to remind me why. I gave in and inalalayan nya ko pababa.

Ayokong tignan si Xavier, who was partially being covered from my sight by tito, kasi I can feel his struggle. He wanted to be the one to help me down. Well he's not touching me.

"Harper..." Xavier started as tito, Tiff and I passed him.

"No." I said flatly, giving him my answer to whatever he wants from me. He instead followed us palabas ng cr. Gusto ko na tumakbo paalis.

"Teka, Harper please." Xavier followed me. Humarap ako to tell him I don't want to do this right now.

He suddenly looked down at my belly. Ngayon nya lang napansin because he was so focused on my whole jumping drama. Nanlaki yung mata nya and he quickly walked towards me probably to give me a hug to celebrate this discovery for him but I backed away. No.

Natigilan sya and I could see the pain in his eyes dahil sa ginawa kong pag layo.

Yes Xavier, ganito din yung ginawa mo saakin. You stepped back and it was really painful.

"It's not yours." I blurted out without even thinking about it. Ay wow tangina Harper, WTF are you doing???? Mapapanindigan mo ba yang pinagsasasabi mo???

Kumunot yung noo ni Xavier. "Anong sinasabi mo Harper, of course I'm the father." Naiiyak ako at how sure he was about it.

"Sure na sure ka masyado. Bahala kang mag isip nyan." I turned around and walked to get my bag.

"Alam kong anak ko yan. Harper, please." I could feel Xavier following me. Anak. Shit Harper don't make this complicated and harapin mo nalang sya.

I stopped and took a deep breath. Hinarap ko sya.

"Yes it's yours Xavier. What else do you want me to say?" I glared at him.

"Please baby I know you're mad pero madami tayong kailangan pag usapan. I'm really really sorry. Let's just talk." He took another step towards me and napaatras nanaman ako.

I don't know when it happened, pero nawala na bigla yung family ni Xavier leaving the two of us nalang.

"Saan ka sorry Xavier?" I wanted to hear it.

"I'm so sorry dahil iniwan kita and with the way that I left you. The letter is stupid and dapat nag usap tayo ng maayos so you could have heard it from me. Hindi ko masabi sayo seeing how you were so sad about missing your flight. Naduwag ako, mahina ako, and I know it's stupid. I'm really, really, really sorry baby."

"Stop calling me baby. Mahiya ka naman." Nagtaka sya don. Ay wow. So now he doesn't want to come clean about his ex-ex-girlfriend?? Bakit dahil wala na sya sa Seattle? Or dahil akala kasi nya hindi ko pa alam??

"Let's drop all the pretense Xavier, I think you owe me the truth." Bagsakan na to.

"Hindi ko alam sinasabi mo Harper. What truth? I'll give you anything, alam mo naman yon. And if you're talking about "deserve" I also deserved to know about our baby before everyone else. Masakit din for me na parang ako yung nahuli sa balita. Na ako yung huli mong inisip na sabihan. Pero dahil alam kong galit ka pa sakin, wala akong karapatan na mag demand ng kahit ano sayo ngayon except sana kausapin mo lang ako please." It was difficult seeing him like this kasi naiiyak na sya. Galit ka pa, Harper umayos ka. I reminded myself.

Okay since related naman yung dalawang bagay na yon, I'll tell him straight. "Ikaw yung una kong sasabihan Xavier. I went to Seattle to tell you when I found out about the baby." I said quietly. Bigla syang napatingin sakin with a confused look. I can't believe I had to relive this over and over, sana huli na to. Mas masakit lang dahil I just saw Kylie recently.

"I was there. I looked for you. Then I saw you with her." I couldn't help it, naluha nako. Mas masakit pala sabihin pag kaharap ko na sya.

"What? Sinong her? Wala naman..." He trailed na parang bigla na nyang naisip. "You were there when I met with Kylie. Teka bakit hindi ka nalang lumapit saakin?"

"Tangina bakit? So you could introduce me to your girlfriend?!" Inirapan ko sya.

"Huh anong girlfriend? Hindi ko sya girlfriend Harper. I told you na makikipag usap ako sakanya kasi humihingi sya ng closure."

"Closure my ass. At kelan mo sinabi saakin? I still have your messages and not a single one of them contained anything about your model girlfriend." Ay medyo nadulas ka don na hindi ka pa nagbubura ng messages nya. "Harper, I wrote you hundreds of emails since the day I started calling you and you rejected my call. Wala ka bang nabasa kahit isa don? Did you delete them sa sobrang galit? But I won't blame you if you did. Alam kong wala akong karapatan." He wasn't mad. He was stressed and desperate. "Baby, there's nothing going on between me and Kylie. Matagal ng tapos yun and that's what I told her nung nagkita kami. Ikaw lang yung mahal ko. Maniwala ka please." Ikaw lang yung mahal ko. I knew this would be hard, facing him again. Kasi konti nalang bibigay nako. Makakalimutan ko na lahat ng nangyari. Patatawarin ko na sya.

"I can't..." Yun lang nasabi ko. I swallowed hard parang nastuck sa lalamunan ko yung galit ko. If I remain here, bibigay ako. And I can't do that to myself. "I can't do this right now Xavier." "Nagmamakaawa ako please Harper, say you believe me." To my horror, lumuhod si Xavier sa harap ko.

"I just saw her and she was talking to you on the phone." Naiyak nako lalo. Bakit hindi ko masabi na 'How can I believe you?' kahit gusto ko? Bakit? Kasi he never lied to me at alam ko yun.

Pero naisip ko din na the truth is not always enough. Mahal na mahal ko sya and sinasabi nya sakin na ngayon na mahal nya ko, but it doesn't erase the fact na nasaktan nya ko.

"What can I do to make you believe na wala na talaga para saakin si Kylie? Kahit ano, I'll do it, please Harper." Di ko sya matignan.

"The thing is, I believe you Xavier." Inamin ko na. "But I don't think I can trust you anymore. Not because of your ex, pero dahil sinaktan mo ko. At galit na galit ako sayo dahil don. Dati I could never imagine saying it to you seriously, but I hate you right now Xavier." I almost whispered as tears poured from my eyes dahil mas lalu akong nasasaktan sa sinasabi ko.

Napaupo sya sa sahig as if it was a blow to him. Di ko sya gustong saktan, pero his honesty deserves mine, and that was what I was feeling.

I hated him for breaking my heart.

I hated him because I still love him despite of that.

*****

I woke up recalling everything that happened last night sa bahay ni tatay. OMG Xavier is back and alam na nya na may anak kami. Paano ko sya iiwasan?

Gusto mo ba talaga Harper? Shut up, subconscious!

As I was saying, paano ko iiwasan si Xavier? I think it's easy enough, he doesn't work in Carte anymore, di ko na sya assistant, and definitely di ko na sya boyfriend. Ay teka, he never was. Dati I wasn't too bitter pag naiisip ko yun, pero ngayon iritang irita ako whenever I'm reminded of that.

Sa sobrang nag drama ako kagabi di na namin napagusapan what will happen now. How could we civilly address the fact na magkaka anak kami. We'll talk about it some other time. And I should ask if he wants to come with me to find out about the gender of our baby.

I cringed. It was a very couple-y thing to do. Basta he won't hold my hand, we're good.

I stretched and planned out my day sa utak ko. My family were coming over for dinner so I could tell them so maybe I could get a mani-pedi and maybe a facial. Kakaiba din yung pregnancy glow, but sa lahat ng stress ko kagabi I think I deserve it. Then I have to go back to receive the food I pre-ordered for the dinner. I told myself I should really learn how to cook but I've never got around to doing it. Pag labas naman ng baby ko hindi pa naman makaka kain yun ng adobo so may years pa ko para mag aral. And Xavier knows how to cook so pwedeng sya na magluto.

Ay.

Erase that. Enough about Xavier. Ayoko pa syang isipin this early in the morning.

I opened the door to get breakfast and for a while I thought wala ako sa condo ko. There was a massive decorated christmas tree in my living room. What the? Natakot akong lumabas. I should definitely get a baseball bat for my protection. Saan ka naman nakakita ng magnanakaw na nag tayo at nag decorate pa ng christmas tree Harper?

I slowly got out and sumilip ako around. I saw Xavier getting juice sa ref. Napatakbo ako pabalik sa kwarto ko. Not to hide, but I don't want him to see me in my silk short set. Wala na syang karapatan na makita akong ganito. Talaga lang Harper.

Why is he even here???? I remembered I stupidly gave him keys to my condo before. Ugggh masyado akong in love sa kanya non.

Dati yon.

Talaga lang Harper. Again, shut up subconscious!

I took a deep breath and got out after putting on my robe.

"What the hell are you doing here???" I frowned at the smiling Xavier. I ignored the fact that I still think he fits in well here. Maybe I should fucking move elsewhere.

"Good morning, mommy." He beamed. Mas lalu akong sumimangot.

"You didn't answer me." Pumamewang ako. Natatakot parin akong lumapit sa kanya so I kept our 3-meter distance. I could clearly see he's preparing food.

"Syempre, pinagluluto kita ng breakfast." I raised my eyebrow. "Sorry, pinagluto ko ng breakfast yung baby natin." He smiled.

Harper, ignore how your heart just pounded over "baby natin". Focus. I don't get it. Halos itaboy ko na sya kagabi what makes him think he could just suddenly go here??

I looked at the christmas tree that was not exactly hard to miss sa sobrang laki. Di ko na kailangang itanong sa kanya.

"Christmas is a really big event sa Arnaiz side, as in big deal sya, and I want lahat ng future Arnaiz masanay don." He stressed on the word "lahat" and "future" while looking at me in his usual amused expression. I hope hindi nya ko sinasama dun sa "future" Arnaiz na yan. His amused expression was something I really missed, with his look, his smell, his touch... STOP HARPER! Buti nalang I was giving him a sour expression so it hid my thoughts. Umirap ulit ako. Fine, I'll keep the damn tree.

"You'll love it, baby." He told me and naglakad sya palapit sakin. For once, hindi ako umatras, but he still kept his distance.

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"Again, don't call me baby." I retorted.

"You'll love it, baby." He repeated but he addressed it sa tyan ko. Nagmukha pa kong asumera. He winked at me and nilagay nya yung niluto nyang pagkain sa table.

Kunyari di ako gutom pero sinilip ko yung pagkain na niluto nya. Waffles, eggs, bacon, and sausages. Shit gutom na gutom pala ako. Anak, not helping yang katakawan mo ha. Wag kang masanay na nandito yung tatay mo. Di ko alam kung sinasabi ko yun sa anak ko or sa sarili ko.

"Harper, eat. Wag mong ginugutom yung baby natin." He passed me. Lumayo sya saakin because he knows di ako kakain ng nandun sya. True enough, the table was set only for one.

"Excuse me hindi ko ginugutom yung anak natin." Masungit kong sinabi sa kanya but it wasn't entirely true dahil bago ko malaman na buntis ako, I wasn't eating.

"Franco told me di ka daw kumakain dati." He said it so casually but I detected a certain tone when he said Franco's name. Tangina naalala ko nanaman yung inis ko over the fact na si Franco tinatawagan nya pero ako hindi. Pero kahit inis ako, gutom ako and sobrang bango nung pagkain, I couldn't let it go to waste.

"Before I knew I was pregnant no." I sat down. Xavier just leaned in the counter and kumuha sya ng bacon and took a bite. Ahhh kakain din pala sya but from a distance.

"Anong plano natin Xavier?" I asked him as I started to eat. Since nandito naman na sya, might as well talk about our situation.

"Wow, 'natin'" A smiled played on his lips pero hindi sya tumingin sakin. Uggghhhh. Eto na sya.

"What are YOUR plans Xavier?" I corrected.

He mumbled something to himself. Tangina bahala sya. I just resumed eating. Kung ayaw nyang pag usapan to, it's fine with me.

"Plano kong maging mabuting tatay sa baby natin." He said. "Napaka general naman non." I rolled my eyes at my food.

"I'm not going back to Seattle if yan ang tinatanong mo talaga, Harper." He licked his lips. Tangina! Masyado nyang feel na feel na gusto kong nandito sya.

"Wag kang feelingero Xavier. And you're not doing that." He finally frowned.

"I want to spend my every day with our baby."

"He or she will get a better future if you get to finish your master's degree." I told him one of my weapons against his absurd idea of staying here na sinabi na din ni Franco na gagawin ni Xavier. "Ano?" He leaned in my direction.

Bigla ba syang nabibingi??? He moved a step towards me as I repeated what I said.

"I can continue my master's here. Tatawag ako sa UST mamaya." Okay fuck di ko naisip yon.

"UST vs. University of Washington? Comeon, Xavier. Really?" Not that I'm favoring UW, but I just want him to go back there.

"Ano?" He took another step still eating from his plate na hawak nya. Hindi naman mahina yung boses ko! Sisigawan ko na to kung yun ang gusto nya. I impatiently repeated what I said.

"Mas gusto mo ba na mag UP ako? Di ako kakampi sa basketball nyo." Ugggh.

"Honestly, wala akong pakielam where you want to study." I made a face. Then I instantly realized my mistake! I just fucking let go of my argument!!! TANGA!

"Ano?" He took another step. Isang metro nalang yung pagitan namin.

"Umupo ka na nga lang dito!" I said annoyed. He smiled triumphantly.

"Wag kang ngumiti dyan kasi gagawin talaga kitang bingi." I said indignantly. Ignore the fact na natuwa ka sa ginawa nya para makalapit sayo, Harper. Marupok. But di naman ako ngumiti! I'm not giving him that satisfaction. I still hate him. Pero hanggang kelan?

Forever.

"I'll still finish my master's, pero dito nalang din. Wag ka na makipag talo since sabi mo na din naman you don't care where I'll study." I wanted to erase his smug smile.

"Bumalik ka na don, kasi narinig mo naman pala yung sinabi ko." I pointed to where he was standing bago ko sya pinaupo. Natawa sya. "I'm not joking Xavier." I said devoid of any emotions aside from hate.

"Okay, sorry. Pero seriously, I want to be a father sa anak natin. Please. Gusto mo ba lumuhod pa ko? Kaso baka hindi mo gusto yung itatanong ko pag lumuhod ako." I made a face pero kinabahan ako ng slight sa pinagsasasabi nya. Ayokong ioverthink pero sana di na sya magsasabi ng mga ganun! Then again, he's Xavier. Ganito na sya bago ko pa sya nakilala.

"Walang luluhod!" I quickly said.

"Sure ka na dyan?"

I groaned. Annoying.

"Can you just eat in silence???" I just said. I'm glad sumunod sya sa sinabi ko.

"So what do you want to do today, mommy?" He asked as he took my plate para mag ligpit.

"Don't call me mommy." I said flatly. 'Mommy' was actually growing on me. Shut up Harper baka masabi mo pa yan out loud!

"Bakit naman? Baby." He pointed at my belly. "Daddy." He pointed at himself. "Mommy." He finally pointed at me. I wore an annoyed look. Ugggh nakakapagod syang kasama!

"You should leave, Xavier." I said as I stood up. Parang gusto ko nalang palang matulog. "My family is coming over."

Napalingon sya sakin. Yeah, di nya alam na ok na kami ng pamilya ko. He waited for me to tell him kung anong meron. "I'm telling them that I'm pregnant over dinner."

He smiled. "Then we should do it together. I think that's the proper way since I'm the father." Oh no way.

I shook my head. "No, I can do it myself."

"I'm the father, Harper. I want to do this with you. Please afford me this chance." He pleaded. Tangina bakit ba di ko sya matanggihan pag ganito???

"Unless si Franco yung gusto mong kasama?" He frowned and napasimangot din ako. Anong pinagsasasabi nito??? Ahhhhh. Kala nya may thing kami ni Franco???? I laughed deep inside.

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"Busy sya." Take that! Pero I'm so sorry, Franco and Liv.

"Then lucky me." He shrugged at my non-denial.

"Okay fine, if you're staying to wait for them, pupunta lang ako sa mall to pamper myself. Stay here and mag linis ka." I tested him.

Pero syempre, dahil sya si Xavier, "Sure. Ano pang gusto mo? Do you want me to cook?" he smiled again dahil napapayag nya ko. Uggghhhh why is he winning on this kahit na ako yung dapat na nananalo dito???

"No I already ordered food. Abangan mo nalang and bayaran mo if you want." I shrugged then pumasok nako sa kwarto to take a shower not waiting kung may sasabihin pa sya. Now I really need that pampering.

"OHMYGOD ATE!!!!!" Hilda screamed excitedly as she almost jumped from her chair to run to me and hug me. Kakasabi ko lang na I'm pregnant. My mom and dad were beaming and Holly smiled next to her boyfriend na I also invited to the dinner.

Tumayo ako so she can give me a hug then sumunod yung mom ko. They also congratulated Xavier beside me. Ugggh, he was milking it too much. Masyado syang masaya!

Pero masaya naman talaga. My mom was in tears. "Harper, this is the best news!" She hugged me again tightly.

"Congrats, Architect!" My dad surprisingly hugged Xavier. Umirap ako sa itsura ni Xavier na mukhang nanalo sa basketball and sya yung nagpa panalo.

After all the congratulations, na by the way I'm glad Holly just shook Xavier's hand as Leo also did after her, we got back to eating.

"So kids what's the plan?" My dad addressed us. "Are you staying here Xavier or Harper is moving to Seattle?" I stiffened in my seat. Alam ko naman na itatanong nila to, parents ko pa. I just imagined it was going to be asked to me alone. Wala sa plano kong nasa tabi ko si Xavier for all of this.

"Babalik muna ako tito dito sa Pilipinas. I'm looking to just continue studying sa UST nalang or sa UP." If he thinks throwing UP in the mix is going to butter me up, think again Xavier.

"That's a great idea. I thought you're going to whisk Harper away from us. I need to see my apo. In fact, why don't you let Holly deliver your baby?" My mom said and I made a face at that. "No offense Holly, pero awkward." Buti nalang she didn't get offended. "And he won't be whisking me anywhere at any time." I added sharply.

"This is a nice condo, but you might think of moving once you have the baby already. May property tayo na malapit sa bahay, you can have that. Sainyo din naman mapupunta yon." My dad offered.

"Actually tito, may bahay na ko, we could just move there kung kelan man gusto ni Harper." Xavier spoke up. Ay wow. Bakit hindi nya to sinasabi saakin???? And why the fuck is he acting like we're still together???

Nagawa na namin yung whole fake girlfriend and fake boyfriend thing, so ayoko na non. I'm already way past that. Ay wow, ang taas, Harper.

"You should move in together dun sa bahay if ready naman na. Kailangan mong masanay sa place, Harper." Ugggh is he talking about nesting? Is that even true? Well malay ko ba hindi naman ako doctor. Is that even scientific?? "And you should practice." Hilda giggled. I rolled my eyes.

"Sana anak there will be wedding bells soon." My mom smiled widely at Xavier and me. For all I know pinaplano na ni mommy yung kasal na yun sa utak nya ngayon.

"Sana nga tita." Xavier said and nabuga ko yung iniinom kong tubig. Tinapakan ko sya sa ilalim ng mesa as I wiped my mouth with tissue.

"No. There won't be a wedding. Ever." I said frostily glaring at Xavier.

"Or no wedding. Very liberal naman yung mga bata ngayon, mom. If Harper and Xavier doesn't believe in marriage, we'll support it." My dad consoled my mom about not seeing another wedding ng anak nila. They are construing this very differently.

"No, I mean I'm not marrying Xavier. Ever."

Naguluhan silang lahat sa sinasabi ko and napasimangot si Xavier. Wala kang karapatang sumimangot dyan.

"We're not together anymore." I said plainly.

"What?!" Holly was the one who reacted violently. I didn't even know she'll be this affected over that. Nagulat din ng sobra sila Hilda and Nick. A lot of frowns in this table because of their shock and confusion.

Did they seriously think I'll be with Xavier forever? Pinaglaban mo kasi sya sa pamilya mo. You should have known by then. And ikaw din naman once upon a time you believed in that.

Until the next lifetime, right?

"He can't marry me kasi may girlfriend na syang iba." I seethed. Naiinis nako on how Xavier confidently assumed na papayag akong pakasalan ko sya. Yeah, sa sobrang galit ko, I was willing to feed him to the wolves.

Galit was an understatement. I didn't know how long my dad was talking to Xavier inside my room. I heard raised voices kanina, well my dad was raising his voice. Dapat sasama ako, but my dad wanted to talk to Xavier alone. Man to man daw. If hindi ganitong sitwasyon, matatawa ako over it.

My mom was sitting next to me holding my hand habang hinihintay namin silang matapos mag usap. "Mom sorry, it's not true." I said full of guilt. Jusko Harper, what have you done???

"What?"

"I lied. Xavier doesn't have a girlfriend. Nasabi ko lang yon because I was so mad at him." I came clean.

"You better tell your dad, kasi mukhang hinaharap lang ni Xavier yung galit ng tatay mo. Poor boy."

"Ate omg. Pumunta ka na don. Sinasabon lang ni dad si kuya Xavier." Hilda pleaded.

I stood up and hurriedly opened my bedroom door. Tahimik lang sila and Xavier looked like a kid that was lectured by the principal. Hindi nga sya lumaban at all.

"Dad, I need to talk to you alone." My dad nodded and tumayo si Xavier to walk out. I'll apologize to him later sa kagagahang ginawa ko.

"Dad, it wasn't true. Wala syang girlfriend. But we're not together anymore." I hugged my father.

"Yes, he told me everything." My dad sighed. Parang tatay who found out na yung anak pala nya yung unang nanulak sa playground.

"I'm sorry. I was just so mad at what he did. Pati ba yun sinabi nya?"

"Everything hija. Di ako natutuwa sa kanya. But you're going to be parents soon, so you both need to sort this out. Di ko alam kung galit ka sa ginawa nya or galit ka because you still love him kahit ganon yung nangyari."

I guess my dad still knows me. I really don't want to answer him. Mahal ko pa si Xavier and I gave him everything but look where it got me.

"Love is hard. But being parents is harder so you need to talk about what your child needs. Kaya nyong maging magulang together and kahit hindi kayo mag kasama. Pero kailangan nyo parin pag usapan yon. Sort out your issues. I have nothing against Xavier, Harper, but make sure he deserves you." My dad kissed my forehead.

"I'm sorry dad. Di ko alam if the hormones are making me super crazy lang." I apologized and smiled guiltily.

"Oh trust me, your mom went way crazier when she was pregnant with you. Galit na kagad sya naglalakad pa lang ako." My dad chuckled.

Hormones lang ba talaga to? Or di ko pa talaga kayang mapatawad si Xavier?