THE BOSS WANTS A BABY

Brie's POV   I'm Brie Fara Gomez; a 19 year old girl who lives alone. Namatay ang mama ko four years ago. And my father is the only one supporting me; by giving money and some stuffs and then, wala na. Ni hindi ko na nga uli nakita pa ang mukha niya. Basta may darating nalang na kung ano man sa bahay ko na galing sa kanya. Good thing at mayaman siya.   As much as I want to spend time with him, I never got the chance. And support? Is it even appropriate? I was only seven years old when he left. He left his wife and child for him to marry the woman he ever loved. He is an American by the way, and he's in Chicago living peacefully with his other family.   Anyways, I'm on my way to the canteen of Greenfield University, where I am studying, and definitely the best and most expensive school here in town. It's my first year in college and so far college is being good to me.   "Brie! Let's go there! May nag-aaway!" My friend appeared from behind, pulling my arm. But damn! Ano'ng problema ni Faye? She's crazy enough to drag me there at a fight.   She’s Faye Sebastian. She's my best friend since senior high. And she's currently dragging me away from the canteen to obviously accompany her watch the fight.   "Wait Faye!" I said and pulled my arm. "Alam mong takot ako sa away tapos hihikitin mo 'ko doon?" I am a bit pissed. Kung hindi ko lang siya kaibigan nasapak ko siya.   She rolled her eyes. "Brie please. Zac is there." She smiled.   Oh Zac again!   I wanted to groan but I stopped myself. Like, girl, I do not care about your Zac.   "Come on." She just said and again pulled me. I had no choice but to let her. Wala na 'kong magagawa. When it comes to that great Zac Mendoza, she's unstable. Why? Simply because she really likes that guy.   Nang makaabot kami sa mini park, may mga security guards na. Naawat na rin si Zac at yung kaaway niya na kung sino mang kampon din ni satanas. About that Zac, sikat talaga ang lalaking ‘yon. I don't know if it's about him being gorgeous or because he is that filthy rich.   "Mr. Mendoza and you, dean’s office." A teacher angrily said to them.   “If I were the teacher, nabatukan ko pa silang dalawa.” I whispered to Faye.   "Brie! Ang gwapo talaga ni Zac!" Faye said and giggled.   I raised an eyebrow. "Maybe you should start visiting a psychiatrist, or better yet, an asylum."   She looked me with her eyes wide open and frowned. "Ang sama mo ha! Hmp. Sige na. Tara na."   Nagsimula na siyang maglakad kaya naman sumunod na rin ako. I failed to go to the canteen because of her and she has the audacity to leave me?   "Wala daw yung prof natin. So it means wala na tayong klase. Maybe I should ride you home." She said and looked back at me.   "Thank you but I can't. I might want to stop at a meat shop to buy some goods to cook." I softly said to her.   I would love to hop in her car instead of taking a cab but I am ashamed the meat shop is out of her way.   She nodded. "Okay. Bye sweetie." She headed to the parking lot and I started to walk on the opposite direction.   Mabuti nalang sanay ako sa gawaing bahay, hindi sana ako mabubuhay mag-isa. Good think sinanay ako ni mommy maging independent.   Hmm... I have a lonely world.         …         After buying some pork and other ingredients at a meat shop, I directly went home. Transporting was never easy but I have no other choices. And yeah, I need to cook for my lunch. Nakakasawa ang de lata at instant noodles.   I wanted to slam myself on the couch but I need to  prepare what I will cook. Just when I put the groceries on the counter, my phone started ringing. My dad is calling.   I answered the call and heaved a sigh.   ["Sweetie hi! Where are you?"] He cheerfully greeted.   "I'm home dad. Why?"   Every time I talk to him, I remind myself to try to act excited, but I fail every time.   ["I saw a nice dress here and I bought it for you. Just wait okay?"]   "Yes dad."   ["Good bye baby. I love you."]   "Bye."   Then I ended a call.   Tell me I'm rude but I just really hate him for leaving us. I blame him every time my heart twinges for father-daughter songs and movies.   I went to my room to change clothes. Kailan ba kasi naging maginhawa and klima sa Pilipinas ‘di ba?   Actually, dad bought this small house for me; enough for me. It is not spcious, and that is better. Nakakatamad din maglinis at tumira sa bahay na mag-isa ka lang din namang nakatira.  Mabuti nga at kumpleto na rin ang mga kagamitan dito nang lumipat ako.   I heard a car honking from the outside at kasabay non ang sigaw ng best friend ko. I went by the window to confirm and I am damn right.   So I hurriedly opened the gate and let her car come in. Only if I am good at driving, may sasakyan na rin sana ako.   "Why? Come in." I said to her when she came out of her car.   "Hmm. I'm sorry. My maid left and I don't know how to cook. I don't even want to buy foods that's why I'm here. “I know you cook well." She said while giggling and went in.   She did not even let me utter a word.   Well, her parents are abroad. Mag-isa siya sa condo unit niya at may katulong. Mayaman eh. Spoiled pa. Puro utos lang siya sa maid niya but I cannot say that she is lazy.   "Wow! Whatever it is that you will do with that pork, I am excited for it. Cook now!" She said like a kid and ran to my room.   Babaeng yun. Feel at home talaga siya dito eh. She's like a sister anyway, so I do not mind at all kahit pa dito siya tumira.   I started cooking since me myself is hungry already.         …         "Brie! Bilisan mo naman! Curious na 'ko!" Pagtataranta na naman ni Faye habang hinihila ang braso ko. Kasi naman, nakarinig lang kami ng tilian, nagmadali na siya. Palibhasa chismosa at mahilig sa gwapo. And she is obviously hoping na nandoon ang Zac niya.   "Wait Faye, I can't find my phone." I told her and continue to find my phone in my side bag. Please, it cannot be left in my house. “God thank you.”   Agad akong tumakbo papunta kay Faye nang mahanap ko. Babaeng ‘yon talaga. Iniwan pa ‘ko.   Ano bang meron dito sa harap ng principal's office at nagtitilian sila kanina? Oo kanina. Wala na ngayon eh.   "Sayang Brie. Hindi ko nakita. Baka si Zac yun eh." Faye said with disappointment.   Oh God. Please help my friend.   "Oo. 'Pag gulo talaga, asahan mong si Zac." I sarcastically said. "Pupunta ako sandali sa cashier." Paalam ko sa kanya.   "Okay. I'll attend my class." She said with her usual jolly tone.   Ngumiti nalang ako sa kanya at nagsimula nang maglakad.   Nakaktamad yung pabalik balik sa cashier kapag magbabayad. Bakit kasi hindi nalang bayaran ng buo ng tatay ko yung fees ‘di ba? Ugh! It frustrates me! Ayoko sa lahat yung nakikipagsiksikan.   "Yu-Rhi you gotta help me!"   Ano ‘yon?   I stopped on track when I heard that intriguing noise. Napatingin agad ako sa mini park malapit sa parking lot at tama ako, doon galing yung voice. It sounds familiar.   Agad kong nakilala yung isang lalake and well, it is Zac Mendoza. May kausap siyang isang lalaki na nakatalikod sa direction ko. He's wearing a black swaeter, jeans and black tennis shoes. I can say that he has a well-built body.   What am I thinking?!   May mga lalaking nakaitim rin na nakapaligid sa kanila. Their bodyguards?   "There's nothing I can do." Sagot nung lalaki kay Zac. Obviously, the guy is getting pissed.   "God damn it Yu-Rhi! Use your connections! Dad's gonna kill me." Zac said in frustration.   Eavesdropping is not my thing but I don't know why I'm here, listening. Maybe para may-chika ako sa kaibigan ko.   "Look, we've done it hundreds of times. Kaya nga hindi ka nakakatapos ng college dahil sa kalokohan mong lantad." The guy said to Zac.   "Wow! Para namang hindi ka loko loko. You're a f*****g mafia boss!"   Oh my God!   Agad agad akong tumalikod at nagsimulang maglakad papalayo doon when I heard of that mafia. I do not know much about that thing but I know na mga violent ang tong kasali doon. Damn! Baka mapansin nila ako at ipapatay. Okay I am overthinking. Pero takot ako sa away! Ayoko ng gulo. It makes me remember something bad in my life.   Just when luck is on my side, I accidentally kicked the garbage bin and that made a noise. It hurt my foot but I got worried more when they all looked at me.   "Hey! What are you doing there?!" Tanong sa 'kin ni Zac.   Okay. Nakakatakot yung tono niya. Nanginginig ako sa takot pero ayokong ipahalata.   Napatingin naman ako sa lalaking kausap ni Zac kanina and God! He's handsome as hell! I almost groaned to myself because of his jaw dropping facial features.   He smiled at me and I saw his perfect teeth and a dimple. God lead not into temptations!   "Who are you?" He asked.   The other guys went near me. Am I supposed to run?   "Answer the boss miss." One of the guys told me.   "Brie." I said with a low voice.   The boss went near me with a smirk.   Oh God! He's perfect. He has this perfect nose and golden brown eyes. Add the thin lips and his deep dimple on his left cheek. He's tall though. He towers over me.   "Brie what?" He asked.   "Brie Gomez." I answered.   He went nearer and I'm about to step backward but then he held my waist! "Hmm. Brie Gomez... I WANT A BABY."         …