to. What does this suppose to

Perplexity within me grew greater the moment I have realized they weren't aware that I have

odriguez na hindi ko naman masasagot dahil hi

s that

im. I never saw h

x years. I am sure I know everyone here. I

go po ba tay

e with his pair of eyes above t

forget?" Tumawa si Dr. Rodr

ate na parang nakunan ng nakagapos na kadena sa leeg dahil halata ang kaba nila

o hindi mo kilala ay dahil bago lang 'yon dito at bukas pa ang sh

retired. Nakakabilib. Siguro kapag gany

lbo rin siya dahil sabi niya ay nagsisimula na daw malagas ang mga buhok niya. Siya ang

ust notify you. Dr. Huevista, you can file a sick lea

rin siya ng ngiti at tumingin kina ate. Nagpasalamat silang dalawa

agkuha ni Turstin

niya si ate na naghi

w dalawa ni Adeline na i-feature sa magazine nila. They find you both an impre

anyan din ang galawan niya. Nakipaghiwalay ako sa kaniya dahil ayokong magkaanak. Wala sa plan

ont page!" With pride, he r

ing, " Dr. Adeline M

out of cringe. Co

love in his eyes, " And my one and only

ng 'Mariamonte' na middle name namin ni ate na ginag

part of this family," hinatak niya si ate papalapit

e at nagsimulang ma

g ngiti ko nang bigkasin

os and abhorrence. The memories keep rewinding themselves in th

hat the memories of mine with them alchemize as a sweet phobia with

ind just because of the word 'FAMILY'. The feeling it brings was something I

g?" With a genuine co

them both st

aired with noting

I stayed awake for too lo

d to rest. Tak

aginal agenesis, a rare disorder in which the vagina doesn't develop, and the womb may only develop partially or not at all. This deprives h

word 'family' keeps smooching my synapses and neu

Hindi ko ito pinansin at pinagpatuloy ang pagtaklob

n the strength I have lost and squandered. Yet an act of

ayo at napabalikw

las na hindi ko natuloy at

ta ko at hindi makapaniwala

e and diamond-shaped jawline with both of his hands beh

widened.

to hand you some flowers," he said

t noticed that he is wearing a cocktail attire: a white long-sleeved polo that he paired with

adong napansin ang Pompadour hair cut ni

vista?"

layang masyado na palang mahaba ang o

agad ko namang tinanggap pagkatapos ng mahaba

feeling. But when he arrived, a part of me wants to be with him; a

ag-abala ka pa. Hindi mo naman ak

rried about you, doc," his husky voice is making me me

call 91

your coat right now

doctor to not meet his res

isitor n-now," nauutal nitong saad pero

og na

bawat dulo ng hospital bed. Tumingin ako sa ka

atatakot k

lakad dahil sa unti-unting paglipat ng posisyon nito. Unti-unting nahulog ang mga gamit

control over. I laid my vision on him like my life depends on him. The lights

t siya sa akin at hinawa

akot ko sa as

ne! Ad

oses ni Embry at sa walang-t

a pagkakahiga. Napagtanto kong

g pumapasok sa isip ko na pan

og ng dibdib mo!" Natatarantang sa

t kamay niya sa da

lumilindol,

sa bandang gilid ko na nagsasaad ng bp

g napasigaw nang maki

4

coincidenc

ce while confusion parto

o think of this as a coincidence. Yet is

I lov

ba? O hindi kaya ma

k ako sa pagtingin sa multi-parameter na

ating niya dito," kinuha niya ang mga

ssary!" Hinila ko

rried. Especially that they have

ang m

she

," pagpu

kasabay ng pagbun

po sa gilid ng hospital bed

's not so bad,

head board at

w," I

lphonse Armani Balenciaga kasi hindi mo 'yon sineryoso. So what's t

their reputation and hers," napatitig ako sa bubong habang r

God. You're traumatized---oh. The p

e are both aware of what happened yet we kept it in fur

tingin namin sa pintuan. Isang babaeng nurse ang nilamon ng pinto na nakas

apunta ka ni Dr. Rodriguez sa laborat

napansin. Inayos niya ito at inilapit sa akin. Tumayo naman ako at inilalayan niya han

s pero mapilit ang nurse dahil trabaho raw niya

ate at Turstin na kasama si Dr. Rodriguez. Nilibot ko

ests results say that you're fine

te Camari. Even Embry is happy for them. She e

n kung bakit

cell donor now?" Wal

. Ako lang ang hindi nasisiyahan dito. Gagawin ko l

pregnant," nahihiyang saad ni ate habang hinahawakan ni Turstin an

their hearts. Their smiles lighten up the room yet caused me so much indignation. But I have agre

itself, "Who's the

er but excitement can be perceived in her smile

?" My jaw literally dropped as I

i at nag-thumbs up s

siya mula

uys have a negotiation rega

gg cell donor," I diverted my vi

to Embry again fas

didn't te

tis sa anak niyo ng ate Camari mo," tu

'na

ght extreme disg

pointed my finger at Camar

ion. "Yeah, fine, 'theirs," she pointed

abuti

l happen to this process or it'll be you who'll e

rig

ut of me and put it in a petri dish to fertilize with Turstin's sperm cells.

nd five embryos. I will be the one who'll choo

h of my children will be give

mbryo. After 9 to 12 days, we'll conduct a pregnancy test to know if it survived. If it didn't, we still ha

rest of the embryos?" K

oing to like what I'll say. Since Dr. Rodriguez

nanabik ni Embry na

ll be di