This is the last chapter before the epilogue of Found you, Cinderella. Thank you for reaching this far, celestials!! (☆^ー^☆)

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Her

I knew I was pregnant.

And I also knew Rony had a hunch about it but he remained quiet. He didn't want to stress me out.

The shot I made when I was still starting has waned off. Hindi na gumana iyon kaya dapat dadalawin ako, ang kaso, hindi na ako nadatnan and I knew it's because of my previous session with Erikson. I don't even know what to feel about it. Sometimes, I would feel happy that a life is blossoming inside my womb, but sometimes I would broke down into tears knowing my baby won't be safe from this world's wrath. Especially from Henry's.

And now, I'm breaking down into tears with the thought that my baby won't be able to have a father.

He didn't even stiffen. He didn't blink nor move. He just stands there, staring at me as if I said something funny. It didn't take him off-guard. He was quiet as if he really didn't care he has a child inside my womb.

"Erik-"

"Then run."

My eyes widened. "W-What?"

"Run away with your child." His eyes didn't falter, he still looked at me as if he didn't give a fuck about what I said.

"Your?!" Tumaas ang boses ko. "This is your child too, Erikson!"

Nagtaas siya ng kilay. "I didn't want that child."

Doon ako napuno. I slapped him on the cheeks that it reddened. My palms sting but it was worth it although the heaviness still sits in my heart.

"Tangina mo! Wala naman akong ginawang masama sa 'yo 'di ba? I was in a coma, Erikson! I was stuck in the hospital for a year! Pumunta ako sa militarya kasi kapag pupuntahan kita, tangina alam kong papatayin ako ni Henry! Paano kita mapoprotektahan no'n?! Kailangan kong magpanggap para lang mapalapit ako sa 'yo! Kontenti na ako, eh! Kontento na akong napoprotektahan ka pero ikaw itong gumawa ng paraan para mangyari ang lahat ng 'to! Ngayong may anak na tayo, iiwan mo nalang ako sa ere?! Ganoon nalang iyon?! Masaya ka ba na natikman mo na ako?!" I was panting when I finished my words. Doon pa ako nakakuha ng reaksyon mula sa kaniya.

His lips trembled, it was a fraction of second. The desperation, the fleeting sadness but he schooled it back to his unaffected face, I was taken off-guard.

"Kasalanan mo na iyon. Kung sana tumakas ka noong nagising ka, eh 'di sana hindi ka umiiyak ngayon dito."

"Tama ka." I managed to say. "Masyado kang bobo para maging ama ng dinadala kong bata."

"Eh 'di umalis ka."

Hindi ko na kinaya. My chest constricted and my breathing became shallower second by second. I part my lips and tried to breathe but the pain was too much, it's affecting me physically. Napahawak ako sa dingding nang maramdaman ang pagdidilim ng paligid. I heard his silent curse before he held my elbow but I pushed him away.

"S-Stay away!" I shouted and turned my back on him.

He cursed but it was in a hushed tone. Hindi ko siya pinansin at nanghihinang naglakad palayo. My hands were holding the bricked wall as I try to balance myself. I feel a little dizzy and my stomach felt like it wanted to flip.

"Ci!" It was Jericho who saw me.

I was thankfuk he was there. Kaagad niya akong inilalayan at pinaupo sa kung saan. He brought a bottled water and made me drink. Hindi ko alam kung ilang minuto ko nagawang pakalmahin ang sarili ngunit nanigas ako nang marinig ang pagsimula ng seremonyas ng kasal nila.

Jericho stiffened beside me. Nagulat ako nang mapagtantong nakaupo kami sa loob ng simbahan!

"S-Sorry! Akala ko hindi pa magsisimula! Wala kasing upuan sa labas!" He reasoned out.

Great! Now I have to witness their fucking union!

The door in the entrance was now close. As much as I wanted to stand and walk out, I can't. Masyadong nanginginig ang tuhod ko at wala akong lakas para tumakbo. My hands were shaking and my body was trembling.

And then slowly... too slowly, the door opened and a bride came in.

My heart wrenched as I looked at the man standing in front of the aile. He was not looking at the bride but at me. Our eyes met and he didn't even move, his eyes remained on me as the music played.

Jericho held my trembling hands. I turned to him and he gave me an assuring smile.

"Umalis na tayo?" He whispered.

All of the guest's attention were on the bride and I bet if they look at the groom's way, they'd notice where his eyes are staring. And I want that. I want everyone to fucking know he didn't want the bride but me! Call me toxic but I don't care!

Umiling ako kay Jericho at ibinalik ang tingin kay Erikson. His brows were furrowed as he eyed both our hands. Hinawakan ko ang kamay ni Jericho habang nakatitig sa kaniya kaya umigting ang panga niya. I leaned close to Jericho, he avoided his eyes as his fist clenched in anger.

Doon ko lang napansin. Hindi ako tumingin sa babae kaya hindi ko nakilala kung sino ang bride. I expected it to be Ana.

But it's not! It's fucking Drizzy! Nasaan si Ana?!

Drizzy was smiling wide as she walk down the aile with a bouquet of flower in her hand. A veil was covering her face, she was wearing a grandiose gown that its length reached the door even though she already reached Erikson. Masyadong mahaba ang damit niya kaya hindi ko mapigilang ihiling na sana'y matapilok siya. 

The music faded as they both face each other. Jericho's hold on me tightened but it didn't lessen the blow. I feel so small and so fucking used. Kita ko ang pagsulyap ni Erikson sa banda ko pero hindi ako nagawang pakalmahin noon.

Everyone went hush and I closed my eyes, holding Jericho tight, signaling him that I need to go. He must've understood it that he stood.

I was about to stand—

"Mama?" A child's voice echoed in the silent church.

Murmurs break and I stiffened from my seat. Nanlaki ang mata ko nang binalingan ang pamilyar na boses.

"M-Mama! B-Bakit ka nandiyan?" Sigaw ng bata sabay takbo papalapit kay Drizzy.

Princess! It was Princess!

My eyes widened. Drizzy's eyes widened as well and her body stiffened. Napatayo si Henry na nakaupo sa unahang bangko kasabay ni Madona na halatang gulat.

"Palabasin niyo ang batang 'yan!" Sigaw ni Madona nang biglaang umingay ang simbahan.

"Mama! Kinasal ka na kay Papa!" Umiyak si Princess.

"Madona! Anong ibig-sabihin nito?!" Henry's shout boomed.

"Drizzela!" Si Madona sa babaeng nakatayo sa harap ni Erikson.

"H-Hindi ko siya kilala!" Si Drizzy.

"Tumahimik ka, Drizzela! Ikinasal tayo!" Nagulat ako nang biglaang nagpakita si Rony at kaagad na inialsa ang umiiyak na Princess.

"He's lying, M-Ma! Palabasin niyo sila!" Nagpa-panic na sabi ni Drizzy.

"Nagsisinungaling ang kapatid ko! Ikinasal na sila ni Rony! I was their witness!" Biglaang tumayo si Ana kaya nagkagulo ang nanonood. I stiffened.

"Ana!" Sigaw ni Drizzy sa kapatid.

"Kinasal ka na, Drizzy! Tama na ang panloloko mo kay Rony! Kahit na hindi mo tanggap si Rony, hindi ka niya niloko! Hindi siya katulad mo!"

"Madona! Ilayo mo ang anak mo sa manloloko mong anak!" Si Henry.

"Drizzela!" Madona stride near a shaking Drizzy, she harshly grabbed her arm, she cried.

"M-Ma—"

"Hindi ba't sinabi ko sa 'yong layuan mo ang pulubing 'yan?!"

"Nilayuan ko nga!"

"Pero nagpakasal ka naman!" Malakas niyang sinampal ang pisngi nito dahilan para matumba ito sa sahig at humagulhol.

A commotion from outside made a lot of people panic. Binalingan ko ang labas at nagulat nang biglaang dinagsa ng pulis ang simbahan. Guests shouted and ducked, Henry barked an order but a police approached him all of a sudden with a warranty slapped in front of his face.

"Henry Martin, you're under arrested for murder. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used in a court of law." The chief harshly grabbed both his hands and cuffed it.

"Anong pinagsasabi niyo?! Wala akong pinatay na tao!"

"There's an evidence that you killed Luther Dela Vega."

My body froze and I feel like a bomb was dropped in front of me.

Luther Dela Vega...

My father.

Henry killed him?!

Kaagad na binalingan ni Henry si Erikson na walang emosyong nakatingin sa ama.

"Hendrik, walang-hiya ka! Pinatay ko siya para wala nang alaala iyong bruhitang iyon sa 'yo pero tintraydor mo ako?! Ginawa ko ito lahat para—" The police harshly dragged him out of the church.

"Ang asawa ko—"

"Kasandra Martin, you're under arrest for poisoning Albert Garcia's son. You have the right to remain silent."

Albert's son? Real... son? Why would she poison him?

Nagkabuhol-buhol ang nasa utak ko. Wala sa sarili akong napatayo at naglakad paalis. Everything was too much. I didn't know how to handle the emotional shock and stress at the same time.

"Ci—"

A loud bang from behind made me stiffen. Jericho's loud shout vanishes in thin air as panic and shout vibrate inside the church. The bang was close to me. It was as if the trigger was meant for me. Hindi ako nakagalaw, wala akong lakas para lingunin kung sino man ang nasa likod ko.

I met Henry's cold and bloody eyes. He was holding a gun aiming at me before the police officer snatched it off his hand. It was too late even without the blood in my body. I knew it was too late.

Dahan-dahan kong nilingon ang likod ko sa kabila nang nanginginig na katawan. I froze in my place as the people surround a lifeless Erikson lying on the ground. A bullet was in his chest, his eyes were close and his mouth were full of blood. My eyes blurred and I stepped back. Ambulance echoed from afar, tension and panic was palpable but I didn't move. I couldn't.

Hindi ako natamaan pero pakiramdam ko nabaril ako. My vision went in complete black as my body slowly lost its balance. My eyes fluttered close and my lids felt so heavy. I heard a loud thud before everything went black.

Please... please let Erikson survive...

I woke up with a news that wrecked my world.

"Erikson might not wake up."

When Angelo delivered that news without mercy, I broke down into pieces I know I couldn't fix on my own.

It's been months. Fucking months and he's still inside the intensive care unit. The baby inside me is slowly growing but its father hasn't woken up.

I didn't even know how the baby survived with all my breakdowns. Mavrik, Jericho, Angelo, Rony, and Princess was with me throughout my journey but I still feel empty and alone.

Nabalitaan ko nalang isang araw na namatay raw si Kasandra. Mavrik told me it was Henry who killed Kasandra and after that, he killed himself. Wala akong naramdaman noong nabalitaan ko ang balita. All I felt was the numbness inside me.

They don't deserve death. Death seemed like their easy way out. I'm sure they'll rot in hell, that's what they deserve.

"Ayos ka lang ba, Ci?" Tinabihan ako ni Jericho sa balcony pero hindi ko siya binalingan. Nanatili akong nakatulala sa kawalan.

I was holding my stomach as I stared at the wide front yard. It was peaceful yet my mind was in chaos.

"Remember when I told you Jericho is not my real name?" He asked quietly.

Tanging tango ang naging sagot ko. Nanatili ang kamay sa sinapupunan.

"Cedrik. Cedrik's my real name."

My hold on my stomach halt as my lips part. Kaagad kong binalingan si Jericho na nakangiti sa akin ngayon. I blinked and blinked.

Cedrik... Albert's real son?

"I thought Kasan—"

"She did. When I was a child. Akala niya namatay ako. I hid by being with them. She was dumb enough to notice it." He chuckled.

"Pero... bakit—"

He sighed. "I was Hendrik's half-brother."

"Oh." I straightened my back.

"We had the same mom."

Hindi ako nakapagsalita. "Did you..."

"Bago ko lang nalaman... noong umalis ka at nakausap ko si Papa."

I sighed and nodded. For a moment, silence enveloped us. Hindi ko alam kung anong sasabihin ko.

"Henry loved our mom to the point of obsession. Kasandra didn't like it. Kaya noong nalaman niyang anak ako ng babaeng kinamumuhian niya, gusto niya akong patayin. While Erikson on the other hand... she cannot kill him because he's Henry's only heir. At least she can manipulate Erikson or that's what she thought."

I sighed. Jealousy is dangerous. It might be harmless in some cases but it can lead to destruction.

Nang gumabi na ay nagpaalam si Jericho na papasok siya sa loob. However I wanted to take my baby for a walk. Papalubog na ang araw kaya maganda ang tanawin, gusto ko itong damhin at pagmasdan.

I never realized how I became dependent on Erikson too much that when he broke my heart, it almost ruined me completely. I had a lot of breakdowns because of me. All because... I let myself be dependent on someone.

Now that I'm carrying a life with me, I realize my purpose in this life is not for someone else but for me. Hindi dapat ako nakadepende sa ibang tao dahil hindi tayo nakakasiguro kung kailan sila mawawala sa buhay natin. I should learn how to stand for myself... now that a life is blooming inside me.

A rustle made me stop. I halt from walking and was about to turn around but a sudden force made me shriek. Before I could scream, a cloth was already wrapped around my face before everything went black.

It didn't take long for me to gain consciousness. My head was a little bit dizzy and I immediately held my stomach to protect my baby. Kaagad kong idinilat ang mata ko at napagtantong nasa abandonado akong bahay. The floor was full of dirt and the cottage looked like it had been through storm. There was no ceiling and the wall had cracks on it. The setting gave me creeps but the humming sound made it ten times more crazier.

The tune of the hum sounded like straight out of horror movie. It was a mixture of grief and anger, notes that can hit you in the guts, tone that could make you shiver in the nuts.

Nakatali ang dalawa kong kamay sa harapan ko at kahit ano pang pilit ko na alisin ito ay mas lalo lang humihigpit ito. My feet was binded as well and I'm having a hard time moving.

Tumigil ang tunog ng ugong niya kaya nanigas ako sa kinatatayuan ko. The person was wearing a cloak around them so I could barely make out their gender. I had a hunch it's a girl from the way she hum.

"Gising ka na!"

I freeze.

The sound.

The voice.

It sounded like—

"Elena?" Gulat kong tanong.

The middle aged woman turned to me and smiled at me forcefully. She didn't look pleased by my presence. Dahan-dahan niya akong nilapitan kaya napausog ako.

She chuckled and crouched in front of me. "Naalala mo ba noong binigay ko sa iyo iyong nawawala mong sapatos sa gubat, hija?"

My eyes widened and my lips part. That was our first meeting!

"Hindi mo ba tatanungin kung bakit ako nando'n?"

Hindi ako nagsalita. Mainly because I was too shock to process her words.

"Curious lang ako noong una kung sino ba itong babaeng kinababaliwan ng anak ko."

I gasped, she chuckled. She was... Erikson and... Jericho's mom?

"Tapos nakita kita. I saw a potential. Sabi ko..." Natulala siya sa kawalan. "Ah... itong babaeng 'to, mukhang matapang. Mapoprotektahan niya ang anak ko."

All of a sudden, she snapped and glared at me. "Wala naman akong problema sa 'yo kaya pinagsilbihan kita sa loob ng anim na taon dahil sinabi ni Albert na poprotektahan mo ang anak ko!" Bulyaw niya kaya napaigik ako.

"Sinu—"

"Sinubukan?! Kaya ako nanatiling katulong nila kahit na lihim akong binababoy ng ama niya para sa anak ko! Tapos dahil lang sa 'yo mamamatay siya?! Ikaw ang dapat pumoprotekta sa kaniya pero ikaw ang dahilan kung bakit hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin nagigising ang anak ko!" She went hysterical and my first reaction was to protect my baby.

"Hindi ko—"

"Pinatay ko iyong dalawang iyon sa kulungan." She chuckled like a madwoman.

What...

So Henry... really didn't kill himself? It was Elena who manipulated his death like it was a suicide? Like what... Henry did to my death.

Should I be grateful? No. I will never be grateful! Someone's demise doesn't make my past any less painful. It happened and all I could do is to move on and let fate do its karma. So if she wants me to be thankful, I wouldn't be.

"Pero nabalik ba no'n ang anak ko?! Hindi! Dahil sa 'yo, nag-aagaw buhay ang anak ko! Dahil—"

A loud bang made Elena stop and a bunch of man in black went inside carrying a gun with them. Hindi ako nakagalaw, ni hindi ako nakaramdam ng takot sa kabila ng dami ng taong nakaitim at nakamaskara. Elena shouted when they captured her and dragged her away from me but I remained in my position.

If... Erikson doesn't wake up. Will it be my fault?

A familiar man crouched in front of me. Nag-angat ako ng tingin at nakita ko ang pamilyar na kulay asul niyang mga mata. He was looking at me with his usual stern and snob face.

"Umalis na tayo." Aniya at inialok sa akin ang kamay niya.

"Anong pangalan mo?" Wala sa sarili kong tanong, nakalimutan kung sino ba siya. Hindi ko pa rin tinatanggap ang kamay niya.

"Adam."

"Adam..." Sabi ka sa kawalan at nag-angat ng tingin sa kaniya. "May lugar ka ba na alam kung saan pwede magtago?"

Maybe I'm a coward. Ayaw kong sisihin ang sarili kung sakaling... hindi na nga gumising si Erikson. This is all my fault and I want to hide from it. To run away.

I told myself I wouldn't hide any longer. That I would stop hiding myself inside a box, that I wouldn't be that unused shoe in a shelf. I thought... everything would someday fit perfectly in my life.

I guess I was wrong.