Lumaki akong parating pangalawa ni Venus. My family always compares me to her just because she's elegant and more woman-like than me. I'm more on the opposite side but they can't underestimate me because I'm also good at class and Galaxy who's my best friend.
They often told me that why did Galaxy choose me as his best friend kung nandito naman daw si Venus eh mas bagay daw sila. They are perfect for each other. I didn't doubt that kasi totoo naman , even me, is always rooting for them, not until Venus broke Galaxy.
I was always left alone kasi si Mercury at ang mga pinsan kong sina Venus and Neptune lamang ang parating napapansin ng pamilya namin. The only family who accepts me is Tita Rachel's, Venus' Mom's side of the family, the Vazques Family. Who thinks that Venus isn't part of them. I felt bad for her that's why I'm always silent when there are gatherings in the Vazques Family.
I'm thankful that The Father brought Galaxy to me, who also needs someone who will understand him. And not long after we became the best of friends and a family we are longing to have and feel.
"No—kung gusto mo ikaw nalang. You are married maiisip nila na nabuntis ka ni Will-", Venus cut me off. I'm now dressed and we decided to talk at the veranda of my condo to feel the fresh air. Fresh air makisama ka naman kahit ngayon lang bawas bawas stress na rin...
"William will be planning to divorce me anytime soon ...", I raised my eyebrow at her, kaya nga! Tinignan ko siya ng may nanlilisik na mga mata. But all she did is to look at her feet.
"Kaya nga! Bakit ka pa pumatol kay Mercury kung kasal naman na kayo ni William!", I couldn't help but shout. She's stressing me. I couldn't believe it, early in the morning! She faced me teary eyed.
"Huwag mo akong iyakan, Venus! Convince your husband about that if he really loves you then he'll accept the baby even if his not from him.", She looked away at hinimas niya ang kaniyang tiyan. Napabuntong hininga ako. Nalilito sa kung anong gagawin.
"But hindi siya tanga para panagutan ang batang hindi naman sa kaniya.", Tumango naman ako. Nagkatinginan kami.
"You're right but he loves you at hindi mo naman siguro sinabi na si Mercury ang ama, ano?", Tinitigan niya ako. I looked at her eyebrows raised. Pa suspense pa.
"No. I just told him that I'm pregnant and he's not the father." Nang sabihin niya 'yon napabuntong hininga ako. My gosh 'yon lang pala. Magsasalita na sana ako ng naunahan ako ng pamilyar na tinig. Natigilan kami at napasulyap sa likod namin kung nasaan ang lalaking dalawang linggo ko ng hindi nakikita. He looks worn out.
"Then tell him it's just a prank— Mercury's?—I'm thrilled.", sinabi niya kay Venus na walang reaksiyon hindi man lang kumukurap sinang-ayonan ko naman ang sinabi niya. Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Venus nagpalipat lipat ang tingin sa aming dalawa.
"I can't believe you! You want me to lie to my husband? I now understand why you two became best friends! Mga red flags!", She raised her voice at us.
"Mas red flag ka!—cheater!", I shouted at her.
How. Dare. This. Bitch
"Immatures.", napailing lang si Lax at umalis pagkatapos magpaalam na pupunta sa kwarto ko. I know he'll clean up and sleep. Once again I was left with Venus. Nandoon pa rin ang gulat niyang reaksiyon. Ngumiwi siya sa akin at inismiran ko naman siya. Ang sungit ni buntis.
"Oh, Is that a compliment? Ba't gulat ka ngayon? Uso naman 'yon ngayon and FYI you have no choice, okay? Sundin mo nalang 'yong sinabi ni Lax.", napailing naman siya and she pleadingly looked at me.
"Please—Galaxy's here, you can talk about it."
"Gaga ka ba? Pinapalaki mo lang ang problema." I rolled my eyes and looked at the city which is overlooking from my condo's veranda.
"Mercury knows na may nangyari sa amin.", She caught my attention. Akala ko lasing sila?
"Hindi kayo lasing noon like tinulak lang kayo ng black label ganoon at walang maalala kinabukasan?", hindi siya makapaniwalang tumingin sa akin.
"Please, I'm serious. We made love—", napaubo ako. Napatingin siya sa akin and rolled her eyes before continuing.
"—bago ang kasal namin ni William and we also planned to elope. Everything was already planned pero hindi nangyari kasi may dumating na babae.", I listened to her this time tahimik lang ako.
"The woman is the one who I asked a favor—which is pinabulaan niya like she's the ex kuno— na ipagbili ang bahay ni Mercury last year kasi nag-away kami but she blackmailed us na kung itutuloy namin ang balak sasabihin niya sa lahat.", Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa sinabi. That's supposed a secret, right?
"The woman, what's her name? Baka pwede pang kausapin."
"Her name's Chelo.", Napahinga ako ng malalim.
Bakit ba ang landi ni Mercury?
"And I want you to help me to leave the country kasi mas magkakagulo lang kung malalaman ni Mercury na nagbunga ang nangyari sa amin hanggang sa lumabas na si baby and both of you and Galaxy will-", I raised my hand to stop her.
"You mean ibibigay mo sa amin na parang laruan ang anak niyo?", hindi ako makapaniwala ganoong ganoon lang?
"I'll get the baby pag okay na lahat-", I stopped her once again!
"You'll think that we will give the baby back to you pagkatapos mo siya ibigay sa amin?", she looked at me hopeless hindi alam ang gagawin. Me too hindi ko na rin alam ang gagawin.
"It's okay. I understand. Mercury's gone now and I'm only looking forward to my divorce." I looked at her. I know my face is now laced with disappointments. She looked down at her feet katulad kanina. She always does that if she feels guilty or anxious.
"You'll run away from all of this? Ibibigay mo sa akin ang anak mo at iiwan siya katulad ng pag-iwan mo sa asawa mo at kakambal ko ngayon? You're selfish. Parang ginawa mo na rin sa anak mo ang ginawa ng mga totoong magulang mo sa 'yo. You don't want to disappoint our family kaya 'yon lang ang naisip mong gawin? Ngayon na nakita mo na ang totoong mga magulang mo? You'll left just like that?", She went silent.
"Please, I already lost myself. Ayokong madamay ang anak ko. Gusto kong pagbalik ko may ipaglalaban na ako. Wala akong trabaho ngayon hindi ko siya mabubuhay. Please, Earth. Kahit isang taon lang makasama ko lang ang anak ko bago ako umalis.", she kept on crying and I can't do anything to stop her. She already decided.
"Pwede mo naman kasi siyang buhayin sa ibang bansa tutulungan ka namin. Hindi mo siya kailangang iwanan." Lumapit ako sa kaniya.
"Hindi pa ako ready mag baby sit. You know how I hate kids! Except kung anak ko siya.", she rolled her eyes.
"Arte mo. Please seryoso ako." , nanahimik nalang ako at tumango.
Being in this kind of situation is hard for her. Kung sisihin ko siya ngayon dahil sa ginawa niya wala pa ring mangyayari...
"I can't—I can't. Ayokong malaman nilang may anak ako kay Mercury at pag kumalat man 'yon mapupunta sa kahihiyan ang pamilya na kumupkop sa akin at ang anak ko. Ang anak ko, Earth.", maybe I can help her. And pagdumating ang time na kailangan niya ulit ako tutulungan ko pa rin siya. Sila dapat ni Mercury ang magkasama rito, eh.
"Fine. I'll help you. After you give birth you can run away from everything but please come back. We'll wait for you and expect me to give your baby back na kilala ka as her true mother hindi ko ipagkakait sa iyo 'yon.", She broke down after I said that. Dito ko lang siya matutulungan because I know there are many more problems that she'll need to face after this.
And this time I'm with her.
"Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much, Earth..."