ANAIS

"Mommy, Daddy, I'm sorry..." Humihikbing sabi ko.

He brought his hand up and then there was a searing pain along the right side of my face. Mom gasped at what she saw. Dad gave me a solid slap across the face. My own father just slapped me. This was the first time I was ever hit by him. There was an initial shock. Ilang segundong walang gumalaw o nagsalita sa amin tatlo.

"I'm so sorry." The shock wore down and I cried even harder, apologizing over and over. I didn't mind the pain anymore. I knew the emotional pain I'd given them was way worse.

"Where did we go wrong?" Dad's voice was shaky but full of anger. "Nagkulang ba ako ng paalala? Tell me what did I do wrong in raising you?"

I shook my head, burying my face into my palms.

"Ginawa ko ang lahat para protektahan ka! I thought you were still my innocent baby girl." I could feel the pain in his voice. What broke my heart most was the quiver in his voice that told me that he could barely hold the tears. "Paano mo naatim na lokohin kami? Gaano katagal mo na kaming niloloko ng Mommy mo?"

"Daddy, hindi ko sinasadya." I shook my head.

"Don't even call me Dad. I am not your father anymore. You stopped being my daughter simula ng sumuway ka sa utos ko." His voice and expression hardened.

"No, Daddy..." I tried to hug him but he dodged. "Please, Daddy, forgive me."

"Huwag mo akong lapitan." He said in a cold, hard tone.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry..." Paulit-ulit na sabi ko. My legs gave in and I sank to the ground on my knees. I wrapped my arms around his waist but he yanked them away from him.

"Do you even understand the severity of what you've done? This is not a game, Anais." He said with tears in the corners of his eyes. I swear, that was the first time I'd ever seen my Dad in such vulnerable state. The strongest man I knew just shed a tear in front of me and I was the cause of those tears. I felt like my heart was being squeezed. It hurt so bad. "Kahit kailan hindi pumasok sa isip ko na magiging ina ka ng ganito kabata. I did everything to keep you innocent. Hindi mo alam kung gaano kasakit sa akin itong ginawa mo."

"Daddy..." I sniffled.

He took a step away from me before turning his back and walking away. Mom walked up to me and knelt down in front of me. I lifted my eyes up to her. Her eyes were puffy and red from crying. I just felt bad. I had hurt the two people that loved me the most.

"I'm sorry, Mommy..." Umiiyak na sabi ko.

She took in a deep breath, trying hard to keep her tears at bay. "We've all had a long day. Let's get you to bed."

I threw my arms around her and buried my face into her shoulder. Akala ko magagalit din siya sa akin katulad ni Daddy. She rubbed my back as I cried. I felt like a little girl again. It was like I was back in those days when I'd come running home and crying to her when I skin my knees.

"I didn't mean to hurt you and Dad." I murmured against her shoulder.

"I know and I want you to know that your Dad and I loves you no matter what. Nabigla lang yun." She gently said. Her words soothed me and lightened the heaviness I felt in my chest.

"Mommy, si Coco?" Nag-aalalang tanong ko. Dad dragged me back inside the house after beating him up with his rifle. He was all bloody and I didn't think he was concious anymore. He was left bleeding on the cold ground. I felt dread slowly creep down my nerves. Paano kung napatay siya ni Dad? Oh God!

"Your Dad's bodyguards took him home." Mom answered.

"Is he going to be okay?" I asked.

"I hope so, honey." She bit her bottom lip.

COCO

"Coco, anak..." I woke up with Ma stroking my hair. Her worried face was the first thing I saw when I opened my eyes. "How are you feeling?"

My whole face felt numb and I couldn't move it like someone had injected cement in it. Memories of what had happened at the Lavignes' came flooding right back into my mind. Tito Axel fired at me. I really thought I was going to die. I thought he was really going to shoot me when he shoved me to the ground with his rifle.

"Ma..." I groaned.

"What do you need?" Nag-aalalang tanong niya sa akin.

"Will he be okay, Doc?" I heard my Dad ask. I carefully turned my head to find him standing on the corner with a man in white coat.

"I've had a look at the CT scan, luckily wala naman internal injury. There's gashes on his skin at may mga namuong dugo sa mata ang pisngi niya pero maghihilom din yan. " The doctor answered.

"I can't feel my face." I mumbled.

The doctor turned his head to me. "We've given you painkiller. You were hit atleast three times with a heavy blunt object. Without painkiller, it'll be really painful."

"Coco." Lumapit sa akin si Dad at umupo sa gilid ng kama pagkalabas ng doktor. "Ano ba talaga ang nangyari? Hinatid ka ng mga securities ni Axel ng hindi man lang pinaliwanag sa amin kung ano ang nangyari sa'yo. Does he have anything to do with this?"

"I'm okay now, Dad. Don't worry about me." I said, avoiding his gaze.

"Answer me, Coco." He said in a more firm manner. "I will make sure whoever did this to you will pay."

"Dad, it's really nothing. Relax."

"How could you tell me to relax? You were given to us unconcious and bleeding. Masahol pa sa hayop ang ginawa sa'yo." Dad's jaw clenched.

"Dad..." I sighed. "Dad, okay na ako. Just let it go."

"Sa tingin mo mapapalampas ko ito? Have you seen yourself in the mirror? Akala nga namin ng Mommy mo kanina patay ka na nung dinala ka sa amin." He combed his fingers through his hair. "I already called the police to have this incident investigated. Nagpakuha na din ako ng medicolegal at magsasampa ako ng kaso sa kung sinuman ang may gawa sa'yo nito."

"Dad, don't get the police involved." I grunted.

"Who. Did. This. To. You?" He asked, each word biting and sharp. "Do not make me play the guessing game right now, Coco. I already have an idea. Gusto ko lang marinig mula sa'yo."

"Tito Axel..." I quietly said.

"I knew it, that fucker!" He cussed under his breath. His jaw tensed even tighter. He agitatedly walked back and forth the room "I'm going to fucking kill him! How could he do this to my son?"

"Will you calm down, Nick? We still don't know the whole story..." Mama said and turned her attention to me. "Bakit naman ginawa sa'yo ng Tito Axel mo ito? There must be a reason."

"Ma, Dad..." I looked at the two of them and then I swallowed. I didn't know how they'd react to the news I was about to break to them. "You're going to be grandparents."

"What?" They both looked at me. It was as though the whole world stopped spinning for a moment as the silence settled inside the room.

"Ano'ng ibig mong sabihin, Coco?" Mama's face shifted into something else.

"Anais is pregnant... with my kid. I got her pregnant..."


"Oh God!" Sinapo ni Mama ang ulo niya sa palad niya.

"YOU WHAT?!" Dad exclaimed, his eyes almost popped out of its sockets.

"We were going to tell you..." I quietly said.

"Do you even understand what you've done, Nicholas?" Mom asked, her voice shaking with anger and tears. "You haven't even gotten out of college? Ang babata niyo pa..."

"I'm sorry..." I felt guilty seeing my mother like this.

"Wait— How—" Dad let out an exhale, massaging his temples. "I thought you were gay..."

"Nick!" Mama's head snapped at him.

"I am not gay!" I exclaimed, my face crumpling.

"Oh my god, you two! Seryosohin niyo naman ito! Phoenix, nakabuntis ang anak mo! You're eighteen year old son got Axel's daughter pregnant!" Mama exploded like a volcano, looking like she wanted to pull the hair out of her head.

"I am taking this seriously. I was just shocked..." Dad shook his head as though still bewildered. "Okay, you're not gay. You got Anais pregnant. We're going to have a grandchild."

"Uh, yeah..." I answered.

"We have to talk to the Lavignes. Ayusin natin ito." Sabi ni Mama.

"Bakit tayo ang makikipag-ayos sa kanila? He almost killed my son, Cass! Just look at him! Look what that asshole did to my son! Ni hindi ko nga pinakakagat sa lamok ang mga anak ko. Alam kong mali ang ginawa ng anak natin pero hindi lang naman siya ang may kasalanan dito. It doesn't give him a free pass to hurt our Coco!"

"I'm his mother, Nick. Nanggaling sa akin yan pero intindihin mo din si Axel. Anais is younger than Coco at alam naman natin na sobrang protective niya sa bata. For the sake of the kids and our future grandchild, ayusin naman natin ito."

ANAIS

Dad treated me like I was invisible. I almost felt like I wasn't a part of the family anymore. Everytime I try to talk to him, he'd ignore me completely. He doesn't even look at me.I could feel the weight of the whole situation crushing me down. They say words are powerful beyond measure but why does his silence hurt me more? Sana nga nagalit na lang siya sa akin. Sana sinaktan niya na lang ako. Mas masakit kapag ganito. It made me feel like I wasn't even worth his anger.

I was scheduled to have my first checkup this weekend. Hindi pa din kami nagkakausap ni Coco simula ng malaman ni Dad. Minsan sinisilip ko siya sa bintana niya pero hindi ko naman siya nakikita. I texted Audrey the other day and she told me that Coco was okay now and he just needed to rest. I didn't know if she already knew about my pregnancy but we never talked about it.

"Sir, nasa labas po sina sir Nick at ma'am Cassie. Gusto daw po kayong makausap." Nena said while we were having our dinner. 

Dad suddenly stiffened to his seat. "Send them away."

"Axel." Mom gave him a sharp look and then turned to Nena. "Papasukin mo sila."

"Send them away!" Dad firmly said. 

"They have nothing to do with this, Axel." 

"They made that devil." He said, spitefully.

"Atticus naman. We need to talk to them. Kahit ano'ng iwas mo, it wouldn't change the fact that your daughter is pregnant. Kailangan mo nang tanggapin at harapin ito." Mom gently said.

Dad kept a stoic face. I just sat there in silence, feeling the heavy tension in the air.

"Sige na, Nena. Papasukin mo na sina Cassie." Mom said.

Nena left and after a few minutes, Tita Cassie and Tito Phoenix came in but I didn't expect to see Coco with them. His face was still black and blue and a bit puffy and one of his eyes was red like the veins in it had exploded. There were parts that were even covered with gauze. He was beaten badly.

Dad's frown grew even deeper when he saw Coco. He looked like he was ready to attack him but Mom held his hand and squeezed it as a subtle way to tell him to calm down. 

"What happened to your face, kuya Coco?" Asked Bryce.

"Honey, you're finished with your dinner naman na di ba? Go with your Yaya. Doon ka na muna sa room mo." Mom told Bryce.

"I want to stay."

"We're going to have adult conversation." She answered.

"Well why does ate Anais gets to stay? She's not an adult."

"Be a good girl and listen to Mommy. Nothing good ever happens to children who doesn't listen to their parents." Dad gave me a sideway glance as if those words were directed to me. 

Sumunod na si Bryce at sumama sa Yaya niya.

"We don't want any trouble. Nagpunta kami para makipag-ayos." Sabi ni Tita Cassie.

Mom smiled, she stood up and greeted the Cordovas. She gave Tita Cassie and Tito Phoenix a kiss on the cheek na parang walang nangyari. Like my Dad didn't almost kill their son. Tito Phoenix kept a flat expression but I could see that he wasn't trying hard to hide his real emotion.

"Why don't you all sit down. Nagdinner na ba kayo?" Mom asked.

They sat on the dining table. Coco sat on the chair across from mine. He gave me a smile and I smiled back at him. I wanted to ask how he was at kung okay na ba siya. But then I noticed Dad's eyes were on us, giving both of us a piercing glare. Nag-iwas agad ako ng tingin.

"We already had dinner. Nandito lang naman kami para makipag-usap sa inyo. We want to talk to you about the kids. Sinabi na sa amin ni Coco ang kalagayan ni Anais." Tita Cassie started.

"We're going to talk this out like civilized human beings. Unlike what your cave man husband did to my son." Tito Phoenix said, scowling at Dad. "Was it really necessary to hit my son with a fucking rifle?"

Dad's lips lifted into a smirk. "If I knew I could get away with killing your spawn, believe me, he'd be six feet under by now."

"Atticus!" Saway ni Mommy sa kanya.

"I'm just telling the truth, honey." He shrugged.

"Ah, the truth... You want the truth, Axel? Hindi lang ang anak ko ang may kasalanan dito. Whatever happened between them, your daughter wanted it too. Hindi lang ang anak ko ang nagpakasarap dito."

"Dad, stop!" Coco grumbled.

"Nick, yung bibig mo! Tumigil ka nga!" Tita Cassie scolded. 

Dad leaned over and drew his face closer to Tito Phoenix. "You want me to be honest, Nicholas de Jesus? Really honest? I do not appreciate your drug addict genes on my grandchild."

"Fuck you." Tito Phoenix hissed.

 "Hindi ba alam ng anak mo? Will they even respect you when they find out that the Dad they look up to now was a drug addict? I won't be surprised if your son heads down the same path you took. Oh and didn't you get Cassie pregnant when she was a minor too? Parehong-pareho nga talaga kayo ng anak mo, mapanamantala. Your son is just like you, a rapist, a scum, a shame, and a tumor of the whole humanity."

"You son of a bitch! Kanina pa ako nagtitimpi sa'yo." Tito Phoenix's fist landed on Dad's jaw. 

I shrieked. Nagkagulo-gulo na.

Dad answered with a punch until it turned into a full on fist fight. They fell on the ground, rolling and punching each other. Mom and Tita Cassie tried to pulled them away from each other. I stood in the corner, watching in horror, when Coco came up to me.

"My Dad..." I said, my voice squeaked with tears.

"They're both immature assholes." Coco shook his head.

Finally, the securities came in and they broke them away from each other. 

"I will fucking sue your son, Phoenix! Hindi ko man maibaon sa lupa yang anak mo, sisiguraduhin kong hihimas yan ng rehas." Dad roared angrily as his security held him back. "My daughter is a minor! She's sixteen! Statutory rape ang ginawa ng anak mo!" 

Nag-alalang nag-angat ako ng tingin kay Coco. He just sighed and shook his head. I pressed my lips together, trying hard not to laugh. I didn't know why I find this whole situation funny or maybe I just didn't know how I should react to this. It was just... weird. Nagkatinginan kami ni Coco. He just let out a half-supressed laugh. 

"Suit yourself, fucker! Kakasuhan din kita sa ginawa mo sa anak ko!" Tito Phoenix said. "I'd give all my wealth to see you behind bars."

"I'll make sure your son serves the maximum." 

"Stop it, you two! Para kayong mga bata!" Mom glowered at the two of them. 

"Hindi na kayo nahiya. Sa harap pa ng mga anak niyo kayo nagsabong. Nandito tayo para makipag-ayos but look what you did!" Sabi naman ni Tita Cassie. She wore an exasperrated look on her face and grabbed Tito Nick by his shirt collar, she then dragged him away. 

"What are you still doing here, you punk?" Dad growled as he looked at Coco. "Gusto mong dagdagan ko pa yang pasa sa mukha mo?"

"Stop it! Hindi ka ba talaga titigil?" Mom hit him on the chest.

"Robert, send this punk out and tell the guards to never let a Cordova set foot on my property." He commanded his security as he wiped the blood on the corner of his lips.

I slipped inside his room and saw him in bed. I just wanted to check on him and ask how he'd been. Tatlong araw na kasi kaming hindi nag-uusap. I had really missed this jerk. I sat on the egde of his bed and looked at his face.

I chuckled quietly. Dapat nga maawa ako sa kanya pero natatawa ako sa mukha niya. I couldn't help it.

His eyes fluttered open. "Anais?"

"You look like a grape." I snorted and touched his face. He flinched.

"You think this is funny? It still hurts like hell, I tell you." He sat up. "What are you doing here anyway? Hindi ba dapat nagpapahinga ka na?"

"I missed you." I wrapped my arms around his waist and rested my head on his chest. 

"I missed you too." He started stroking my hair. "Pero hindi ka na dapat tumatawid dito. Baka mahulog ka pa at mapaano pa si baby."

"I wish we're back to the way we were before. Things are getting complicated. Nag-aaway na nga si Tito at si Dad dahil sa atin." I felt a small tug on the corners of my lips that pulled them downwards. 

"I know things are hard right now but we'll get through this."

"Paano kung ipakulong ka ni Dad?" A sob escaped my throat.

"Then I'd have to serve my time in jail." He said, matter of factly.

"That doesn't scare you?" I asked, looking up at him.

"I've looked at death straight in the eye when your Dad pointed a gun at him. What could be worse than that?" He said. "I'll just make sure I don't drop the soap while I'm in the shower."

"Loko ka talaga." I chuckled a little. "Pero paano naman kung mag-sue nga si tito Phoenix sa ginawa ng Dad ko sa'yo?"

"He can't sue your dad without my consent. Ako ang sinaktan. I'm not going to sue your Tito Axel, I promise."

I sighed. "Sana hindi na nangyari itong baby. Hindi sana nagkakagulo ngayon."

"Shh, don't say that. We can't undo what's already done." There was a bite in his voice. "It's not the baby's fault. Don't blame it on the little one. It's not the baby's fault we have immature dads."

"Nakakapanghinayang lang. They used to be bestfriends and now..." I shook my head.

"Now we're like the Capulets and the Montagues." He snorted.

I couldn't help but laugh too. "Like Romeo and Juliet. Two young star-crossed bestfriends caught between feuding families."