The worst thing about being lied to is knowing you weren't worth the truth.

ROZOVSKY HEIRS SERIES 11 | BEAUTIFUL TROUBLE

PROLOGUE

MASHA

I couldn't contain my happiness while I was looking at the two red lines.

Two red lines.

Unconsciously, I held on my flat belly. I couldn't feel anything in there yet but the excitement that surged my heart was something. Of course, this was something.

I am fucking pregnant.

Immediately, I thought about my dad. Definitely he would go berserk when he finds out about this but...

I held my head up high and took a deep breath.

I am going to keep this baby.

Mine and Noah's baby.

Dad couldn't do anything about this. Even Mom. Even my brothers. I am going to talk to Noah. I would tell him that we should get married. We love each other and now were having our baby.

My smile went from ear to ear when I looked at the two red lines on the pregnancy test again. Was Noah going to be excited about this? Who would have thought that I would end up with Noah? Dinadaan-daanan ko lang siya dati sa bahay namin kapag pinupuntahan niya si Peyton. Tinutukso ko pa si Peyton sa kanya. Damn destiny. Nakakainis mag-joke.

Nakakainis na nakakakilig.

I giggled when I thought about Noah. I stood up from the toilet bowl and fixed myself. I put the pregnancy test kit inside my pocket and went out from the bathroom. I looked around and suddenly, Noah's apartment became so beautiful to me. Kinakainisan ko itong apartment niya. Hindi naman kasi ako sanay na tumira sa maliit na lugar na ganito. This was a typical bachelor's pad. Although this was bigger than the other apartments around our block, still, I wanted us to stay in a bigger place. Like a real house. With so many rooms inside, vast lawn so our kids could run and play outside.

Gosh. Our kids. What if I am conceiving for twins? This was so exciting. I wanted a boy and a girl too. Parang kami ni Daci. We grew up so close together. There were no secrets between us... except these days that I was with Noah. I couldn't tell him that I was having an affair with the bodyguard my parents tasked to protect me.

All right. Today was special day for Noah and I. I needed to prepare for something good. I am going to cook something special for him even if I didn't know how to cook. Usually, it was Noah who always cook for me. He was a good cook. And I am going to buy us rings. Uso na naman na ang babaeng nagpo-propose. Gagawin ko iyon at sigurado akong hindi na siya makakatanggi kapag isinuot ko na ang singsing sa daliri niya.

Pinatungan ko ng trench coat ang suot kong jeans at sleeveless top tapos ay naglagay ng scarf sa leeg. It was cold here in San Francisco. Although hindi nag-i-snow, nanunuot pa rin sa buto ang lamig. Umuusok nga ang bibig ko. Nag-book ako ng Uber at nagpahatid sa Tiffany and Co. Pagdating doon ay nagpatulong ako sa attendant kung ano ang bagay na singsing kay Noah. I am sure he would want a simple white gold ring. With those little diamond all over. May ipinakita sa akin at nagustuhan ko agad. I bought it. I also bought an engagement ring for me. Kung wala siyang singsing na ibibigay sa akin, okay lang. Ako na ang magpo-provide basta sabihin lang niya na magpapakasal kami.

I secured the ring and put it inside my pocket. Next, I went to Costco to buy the things that I would need for my preparation. Kumpleto dito ang lahat kaya dito na ako pumunta. Nagtutulak ako ng pushcart at nasa meat section nang maramdaman kong may humawak sa braso ko. Agad akong napalingon at muntik pang mapatalon sa gulat.

"Hi, Masha baby." Ngiting-ngiti ang lalaking gumawa noon.

Napaikot ako ng mata. "Damn it, Reed. You scared me."

"Do I scare you now? When we were making out at Molly's you were not scared of me." Umangat pa ang kilay niya.

"Maybe you forgot what my bodyguard did to you that night. And please, stop saying that we made out. You took advantage of me. You got me drunk and you took advantage of it. Good thing my bodyguard was there to save me." Lumayo pa ako sa kanya. "Umalis ka na nga."

"Bakit? Kasi kayo na ng bodyguard mo? Does your father know about it?" Ngising aso sa akin si Reed.

Pakiramdam ko ay nalulon ko ang dila sa sinabi niya. How did he know about it? Noah and I were careful. Nobody knew about our affair.

"Wala kaming relasyon ng bodyguard ko, ano ka ba? Pati ba naman dito sa America uso ang tsismis? Tapos galing pa sa'yo kalalaki mong tao." Inirapan ko pa siya at itinulak ko na ang pushcart na nasa harapan ko para makalayo na sa kanya.

"You want to see proof?" Umangat pa ang kilay ni Reed.

"Fuck you, Reed. Get lost." Tinabig ko pa siya at naglakad na palayo.

"Come on, Masha. Just take a look at my proof. I want to show you this first. But if you're not interested, I could send this to your father and I am sure he would be very much interested in this."

Napahinto ako sa paglakad at nilingon si Reed. Nakangisi siya sa akin at ipinapakita ang hawak na telepono. Ang sama ng tingin ko sa kanya at inilang hakbang ko lang siya. Inagaw ko ang teleponong hawak niya at nagpipindot hanggang sa makita ko ang isang folder na may pangalang "Masha my Babe."

Muli ay sinamaan ko siya ng tingin bago muling ibinalik ang tingin sa hawak kong telepono. Nang makita ko ang mga litratong naroon sa folder, pakiramdam ko ay nanlamig ako. Nag-uumpisang manginig ang buong katawan ko habang sige ang pagba-browse doon. Those were my photos. Mine and Noah's photos.

This was taken when the two of us had a date at Lake Tahoe. I told him I wanted to see snow and he brought me there. There were photos when we were getting in the car, going out. Photos when we made a stopover at a gas station. We were so sweet. Kissing. Hugging. This was like taken by a paparazzi.

"What the fuck is this?" Ang sama ng tingin ko kay Reed.

Ngumisi siya. "Nothing. Well, you know I like you but you said you want someone else. At first, I thought you were just saying that to ditch me. I need to know that there was really someone else. That there was a man who exists that you really want. So, I decided to follow you. And I couldn't believe what I saw. Does your father know about this?" Nang-aasar pang sabi niya. "The ever-loyal bodyguard and his precious daughter. Kissing. Hugging and for sure, fucking each other."

"Fuck you, Reed." Pinagdi-delete ko ang mga litratong naroon at ibinalik ang telepono sa kanya.

"I am not stupid, Masha. Even if you deleted that, I have copies. And ano ba ang problema kung boyfriend mo ang bodyguard mo? Kung malaman ng Daddy mo? Ayaw mo noon, magiging legal na kayo. Actually, my dad is having a meeting with your dad right at this moment. I could tell my dad to-"

"Shut up!" tumaas na ang boses ko at napatingin ako sa paligid. Nakita kong may ibang mga tao doon na napatingin na sa lugar ko.

"Or, I could shut my mouth if you are going to do what I want." Kumindat pa siya. "Madali lang naman. Marry me."

"Are you fucking crazy? Umalis ka na nga." Pagtataboy ko sa kanya.

"I am going to give you until tomorrow to decide, Masha. You know my number. Call me." Sumenyas pa ng tumatawag si Reed bago naglakad paalis. Ang sama ng tingin ko sa lalaking iyon habang palayo at napabuga ako ng hangin.

Kinuha ko ang telepono ko at sinubukan kong tawagan si Noah. Nasaan ba ang lalaking iyon? Kaninang-kanina ko pa hindi nakikita. Nag-text lang kanina na maagang aalis dahil may lalakarin tapos hindi na nag-report sa akin. Hindi man lang mag-text kung nasaan na o kung ano ang ginagawa. Ngayon ay naiinis na ako. Alam kong naiinis ako dahil nai-stress ako.

Lalong nadadagdagan ang inis ko nang hindi sumasagot sa tawag ko si Noah. Panay lang ang ring ng telepono niya. Napabuga ako ng hangin at ibinalik sa bag ko ang telepono. Iniwan ko na ang mga pinamali ko at pinabayaan na lang ang pushcart doon. Nawalan na ako ng gana.

Muli akong nag-book ng Uber at habang naghihintay ay muli akong naka-receive ng text galing kay Reed. Grabe talagang mambuwisit ang isang ito. Ayaw ko na sanang sagutin pero may attachment kasi ang message niya.

Nang buksan ko iyon ay litrato ng isang babae. Sino 'to?

Does your lover / bodyguard tell you that he has a girlfriend?

Napalunok ako at hindi maialis ang tingin sa litrato ng babaeng ipinadala ni Reed. The woman in the picture looked familiar. I knew I had seen her somewhere.

You want to know her name? Iyon ang sunod na message ni Reed.

Nanginginig ang kamay ko habang nagta-type ng reply sa kanya. I said, you get lost. Stay away from me.

I'll tell it anyway. Ang bilis ng reply ni Reed. Her name is Serena Worthington. That's his girlfriend for years already.

Agad na namuo ang luha sa mga mata ko habang nakatingin sa litrato ng babae. I knew it. Her face was familiar. I saw her before.

She was the woman who brought home Noah when he got drunk one night. But he said they were over. He said, he was single.

If you want to know more, I am just one click away.

Sunod-sunod na smiley emoticon pa ang message sa akin ni Reed.

Nang dumating ang Uber na pinabook ko ay para akong nawawala sa sarili. Nagpahatid ako sa apartment ni Noah habang sige ako tawag sa kanya. Bakit hindi niya sinasagot ang tawag ko?

Nang makarating ako sa apartment ay sige pa rin ako pindot sa telepono. Tawag at text pero walang reply. What the fuck was going on? Nalaman na ba ni Daddy ang affair namin ni Noah?

Mom.

Si Mom ang makakatulong sa akin. Kahit lagi kaming nag-aaway ni Mommy, I am sure she would understand if I tell her about Noah.

I was about to dial Mom's number when someone rang the doorbell. I immediately went there and opened the door expecting Noah to be there.

But to my surprise, it was not Noah. I stepped back because I was not prepared to meet face to face the woman, I knew Noah got involved with before.

This was the woman in the photo that Reed sent me.

This was Serena Worthington.

"Hi." The woman was all smile at me. Looking at me from head to foot then peaked at my back. "Is Noah there?"

I was stunned when she even pushed me aside and went inside the apartment without being invited in.

"Where's Noah?" Muli pang tanong ng babae.

"He's not here. Please get out." Isinenyas ko ang pinto para lumabas na siya.

Tinaasan ako ng kilay ng babae. "I remember you. You are his job. Masha, right? The toxic, spoiled brat daughter of his boss?"

Naningkit ang mata ko sa babae. "I am not toxic. I am not spoiled brat. And who the hell are you?"

Ngumiti sa akin ang babae pero nakakainis ang ngiting iyon. Bakit? Akala niya matatakot ako sa kanya. Kahit mas malaki siya sa akin, mas malaki ang boobs niya, mas matanda siya sa akin, hindi ko siya uurungan. Aral akong makipagbugbugan kay Kuya Danny at Daci.

"Oh, my bad. I am so sorry." Napabuga ito ng hangin at muling ngumiti sa akin. "It's the hormones," kunwa ay nagpaypay pa ng kamay ang babae sa sarili. "I am having a hard time with this conception."

Conception? I knew I heard that word before. That was about pregnancy. Bigla na ang kabog ng dibdib ko.

"Can I sit?" Paalam pa niya sa akin at umupo na rin kahit hindi naman ako umu-oo. "Where the hell is Noah. I have been calling him dozens of times."

"What do you need?" Napalunok na ako. Ang excitement na nararamdaman ko kanina ay napalitan ng matinding kaba. Tingin ko ay may hindi maganda ang hatid ng pagdating ng babaeng ito dito.

"I need to talk to Noah. He needs to know what is going on."

Napatikhim ako. "A-and what is going on?"

Alanganin siyang tumingin sa akin. "I don't think you need to know about it. It's between us. Girlfriend and boyfriend."

Nagtagis ang bagang ko. I am Noah's girlfriend. We already professed our love to each other. Gusto kong isigaw iyon pero kinagat ko na lang ang dila ko.

"But anyway, since you wanted to know what is going on. I'll tell you," lumapad ang ngiti ng babae. "I am pregnant. Noah is going to be a father."

Wala akong reaction na nakatingin lang sa kanya. Habang ang sinabi niya ay paulit-ulit sa isip ko.

I am pregnant. Noah is going to be a father.

"I am so excited to tell him about this because this is what he wanted ever since we got back together. Finally. Noah would marry me."

Pakiramdam ko ay nabibingi ako. Nanlalamig at nanginginig ang buong katawan. Nahihilo din ako. Nagdidilim ang paningin ko pero pinilit kong maging matatag. Pinilit kong ngumiti sa babaeng nasa harap ko. Hindi ako magpapakita ng kahit anong emosyon.

"G-Good. T-that's good news. Congratulations." Isang pilit na ngiti muli ang ibinigay ko sa kanya at naipagpasalamat kong tumutunog ang telepono ko. Dali-dali akong lumabas pero hindi ko sinagot iyon. Lumakad ako nang lumakad para mapalayo sa lugar na iyon. Para mapalayo sa napakasakit na katotohanan na nalaman ko.

Nang tingnan ko ang telepono ay si Reed pa rin ang tumatawag sa akin. Ni-reject ko ang call. Si Noah ang tinatawagan ko ulit pero katulad kanina, hindi niya sinasagot ang tawag ko.

Mayamaya ay naka-receive ako ng text. Galing kay Noah.

Your Dad wants you to go home. Someone is going to pick you up. Don't wait for me.

Hindi ko mapigil ang luhang nag-uunahang maglandas sa pisngi ko. Sinubukan kong tawagan uli si Noah pero hindi niya sinasagot ang tawag ko. Goddamn him. He was a fucking asshole. That was it? Ganoon na lang iyon? Was that his break-up line for me?

Kinuha ko sa bulsa ang binili kong singsing para sa kanya.

I was a fool to believe his lies.

I was a fool to give my love to him. I was a fool for trusting him.

Just like everyone else, he used me. Lied to me.

But for what was worth, I got my baby.

And I am going to keep this and he would never knew about this ever.  

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