JILL'S P.O.V

"Oh ano na? Sabihin mo na, bilis!"

Paglabas ko ng room, mukha kaagad ni Belle ang bumungad sa harap ko pati narin ang nakakarindi niyang boses. Tinakpan ko ng bahagya ang aking tenga habang nagpatuloy sa paglakad at hindi siya pinansin. Nagsisisi tuloy ako kung bakit ko pa naisipang ipaalam sa kanya kung sino ang ama ni CJ.

"Ay! Hindi ako pinansin! Kainis!" sinamaan ko siya ng tingin dahil sa lakas ng kanyang boses.

"Kakalabas ko lang kaya sa room. Pwede bang pumunta muna tayo sa garden at huwag kang atat diyan." walang siyang nagawa kun'di ang tumango.

Sabay kaming nagtungo sa garden at naghanap ng bench na mauupuan. Inilibot ko ang aking paningin sa buong paligid. Namangha ako sa aking mga nakita. Mas lalong dumami ang bulaklak at mas naging kulay berde ang buong paligid. Naisipan yata ng dean na pagandahin ang garden dito na siyang kinatuwa naman namin. May mga dinagdag silang iba't-ibang uri ng mga halaman't bulaklak. Ang iba ay bago sa aking paningin kaya hindi ko matukoy ang mga pangalan. Narinig ko ang pagsinghap nitong aking katabi. But before I know it, kumaripas na siya ng takbo at hinabol ang mga paru-parong payapang nagsisiliparan.

"Butterfly! Waaah!" tili niya sabay pilit na inaabot ang mga paru-parong lumipad ng mataas dahil sa paghabol niya.

Natatawa ako habang siya ay pinagmasdan. Nababaliw na nga ng tuluyan ang kaibigan ko. Kaunti nalang maisipan ko na talaga siyang dalhin sa mental hospital. Nakakamangha ang dami ng nga paru-paro. Siguro ay dinagdagan ng paaralan ang mga paru-paro dito. Mas patutuonan na ito ng pansin dahil mas dumami ang dapat aalagaang pananim. Sa palagay ko'y maghi-hire muli ang paaralan ng mga bagong hardinero.

Napailing na lamang ako sa naisip. Mga mayayaman nga naman.

Hinila ko si Belle na abala parin sa kakatingin sa mga paru-paro. Naghanap ako ng bakanteng bench na maaari naming upuan. Nang makaupo na kami ay hindi nagsalita si Belle at tinitigan lang ako.

"Belle, kilala mo naman si Tyrone. Hindi ba?" pagsisimula ko habang kinukuha ang libro ko sa bag.

Magrereview kasi ako ngayon para sa ispang subject ko bukas. Nang makuha ko ito'y nagbuklat-buklat pa ako at hinanap ang pahina ng kailangan kong pag-aralan.

"Oo, kilala ko siya siyempre. Ang gwapo kaya ni Tyrone at Kenneth. Idol ko rin kaya si Tyrone. Oh Tapos? 'wag mong sabihing siya ang ama ni CJ..." napatigil siya sa pagsalita at nanlalaki ang mga matang tiningnan ako.

"Wait... Siya ang ama ni CJ?!" tinampal ko siya ng mahina gamit ang hawak kong libro.

"Do you really need to shout?"

Nahihiyang yumuko ako para mas lalong matabunan ang aking mukha ng bangs ko. Dahil kasi sa lakas ng boses niya ay nagsilingunan ang ibang mga nakatambay rin dito sa garden sa dereksyon namin. Napatakip siya bigla ng kanyang bibig. Napansin yata niya ang katangahang ginawa. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin pero nag-iwas lamang siya ng tingin.

"Paanong..." I figure out that she can't find the right words to say. I started explaining and didn't give her the chance to speak again.

I let out a heavy breath and look at her eyes intently.

"It was five years ago when I first met him. My classmates invited me in a bar hopping and me being innocent and just want to fit, I didn't contemplated. I immidiately go with them because I thought they're my friends. They dressed up with their best outfits while I'm only wearing my baggy jeans and tee shirt. That alone, proved that I'm an outcast. Sa unang bar na pinuntahan namin, they offered me a drink. At first I hesitated but they kept on pushing me to drink, so I accepted it. It's just a one glass anyway. Little did I know, they put something in my drink causing me to feel something weird. I excused myself to the restroom. But on my way I bumped into Tyrone, and I forgot the rest that happened." mahabang katahimikan ang dumaan pagkatapos kong ipaliwanag ang pangyayari.

It was five years ago, but the events that day was engraved on my mind. Even though some are vague, I still remember it. That day was a blessing because CJ was then given to me. I am still young and naive that time but bearing CJ urged me to be strong. Anyway, It never come to my mind abborting the child.

"So...that's what...happend." parang wala sa isip na usal niya.

I sweetly smiled at her as realization hit her.

...

After giving Belle an explanation, we parted ways and bid our good byes. Thankfully Belle did not make it that hard for me. Though she's still a little bit confused she accepted my explanation without any questions asked.

Hence, I feel that a hundred pounds of weight was lifted upon my chest. After that not so long talk with her, I can now breathe without anything to think.

While standing near the school waiting for the driver, Luke assigned to me I notice a newly opened shop nearby. It was a cake shop and I heard from Belle that their cakes are really delicious. I can help but chuckle silently as I remember our conversation last week when she told me about the cake. She explained the taste of their cake and how delicious it is in almost a thousand word.

I don't really believe her knowing how much she loves food and almost everything is delicious to her. But, after seeing the shop I decided to look and have a taste of their cakes. I want to gift CJ a chocolate cake if the cake will be good just like how Belle describe it. Today's their exams day and I want to gift his hardworks with a cake.

I look at my watch to check the time. Thirty minutes pa before ako susunduin ng driver. Kaya imbes na maghintay at manatili ako dito mas mabuting aliwin ko muna ang aking sarili.

Napangiti ako dahil sa naisip. I heard from Tyrone the other day how much hardwork and effort he inserted in studying just to make me proud with his test results. Sinabihan ko ngang magiging proud parin ako sa kanya kahit ano pang numero ang nakasulat sa test paper niya. His will and efforts alone made me so proud of him.

As I enter the shop, I was greeted by an unfamiliar atmosphere. The atmosphere inside was different from the café where I once work in. But even with the difference both still had their similarity which is how comfortable the atmosphere was. The shop's interior was cozy and the smell was warm. There are some lighting that added to the warm vibe of the shop. Napangiti ako ng palihim at nagtungo sa counter. Iginala ko ang aking paningin sa mga cake na nakadisplay sa loob ng salaming lalagyan. Lahat sila ay mukhang masasarap but there's only one cake I am looking for. A chocolate cake.

There are many types of cake and after I spotted the cake I smiled triumphantly. Just as I was about to call the person incharge I saw a lady coming to my way. She was wearing a hat with a little veil on it making it hard to see her face.

My back ran cold after having a full glimpse of her face. She stopped just in front of me. She look at me for a while with a slight smile on her lips and turned her head to the girl on the counter.

"Please get a slice of strawberry cake and a creame coffee for me, thank you." she then turned towards me after spoking to the girl. "How 'bout you, ija? Do you want to order anything?"

"Ano po, chocolate cake po sana. Gusto ko sanang tikman."kiming ngumiti rin ako pabalik sa kanya. I almost stumbled my words. Buti nalang napigilan ko cause it'll be embarassing.

"Heard that? Include it to my orders. And ija, what do you want to drink?"

"Same nalang po." after ordering she ushered me to the nearest table. Sumunod agad ako at tuwid na tuwid ang likod na umupo. My body was very stiff because of the woman seated right in front of me.

After our last talk, hindi na yun nasundan ang pagkikita namin. Ngayon pa lang ulit and still, I am not comfortable with her new attitude. The chance she give me was a ray of hope but I actually don't know where to start. I mean, I need to prove to her that I am not a bad person and taking advantage of my status as CJ's mother was not on my mind.

I know that being CJ's mother and the person who raised him for five years has an advantage. I know that I can ask whatever I want from them because they owe me of raising their grandson and they can give me my desires. Wealth, fame and more. I can even demand marraige from Tyrone because of the fact that I am his son's mother.

But I won't. Because just after seeing how happy my son is with them made me feel contented and satisfied. All I want in this life is seeing the smile that's plastered on my son's face. Not just temporarily but permanently.