A Chance of Forever

Kabanata 1

Alberto looked at his eldest son with confusion. Ano naman ang gagawin ng anak niya? Lorenzo never bother to do anything before.

“Pardon?” Bakit hindi ito pabor sa engagement ng kapatid nito at ni Rachell?

“What are you doing?” he mouthed as he clenched his fist under the table.

“I said I don’t agree with the engagement, father,” ulit ni Lorenzo at pinantayan ang tingin ng ama.

“Louisa, what is happening?” asked Rachell’s father. Maging si Louisa ay hindi alam ang gagawin ng anak. Her eyes went to Levine and saw him just looking at the play like he anticipated this.

“I’ve known Rachell before you arrange her with Levine—”

“Just go straight to the point!” sigaw ni Alberto. Masama ang kutob niya sa gagawin ng anak.

“She’s pregnant with my child.”

Gasp and disbelief can be seen through people’s reactions. What the hell? The eldest brother impregnated the youngest brother’s fiancee? Wow! The drama today is very unexpected.

Rachell gritted her teeth. Kita niya ang mapanghusgang mga mata ng naroroon pati na ang disappointment at galit ng parents niya. Napayuko siya. She never wants this!

“What did you say?” Rachell’s mom asked again. How dare he?! Sinira ni Lorenzo ang gabi nila pati na ang potential na business nito.

“You got this, Rachell,” bulong ni Levine sa katabing dalaga. She nodded and deeply sighed.

-----

Isang malutong na sampal ang nakuha ni Rachell galing sa ina nang tinapos agad nila ang engagement party. Inaasahan na iyon ni Rachell pero ang akala niya ay hindi ito magagawa ng magulang. Ni hindi niya naranasan ang mapagbuhatn ng kamay, ngayon lang. Ang sakit! Hindi lang sa natamong sampal kundi sa katotohanang para lang s’yang investment ng magulang para pakinabangan sa negosyo nito. They can sell off their daughter without batting an eye.

“Mama...” Nanubig ang kanyang mga mata dala ng sakit. Gustong-gusto talaga siya nitong ipakasal. Ngayon sure na siya na hindi nito iniisip ang kapakanan niya. She wanted to be free!

“How dare you do this, Rachell!? This is embarrassing! You put our family into shame!” galit na sigaw ng kanyang ama.

Lorenzo stepped forward and help Rachell to stand still. Ayaw n’yang makita na nasasaktan ito dahil napaka-fragile nito kapag nakikita niya ang sakit nito sa mga mata.

“I will take responsibility,” sambit niya ng mahinahon kaya napabaling ang pamilya sa kanya. As to Alberto, he was also disappointed by this eldest son of him.

“No. She will have an abortion,” mariing sagot ng ina ni Rachell, making the others eyed her in disbelief. Ano pa kaya ang nararamdaman ni Rachell? Ganito pala talaga ang mga ito. Anak din naman siya pero bakit ganito ang turing nito sa kanya? Kung mabubuntis ba siya ganito ang magiging trato ng parents niya? Rachell felt broken.

“Why do you need to abort the child?” singit ni Louisa. Nakakunot ang noo nito nang tumingin sa mukha ng nanay ni Rachell. Pareho silang ina pero magkaiba ang mindset nila.

“We will think about this, Alberto. Sobra na ang kahihiyan na nakuha namin ngayon lalo pa d’yan sa anak mo. Let’s go.”

Umiling si Rachell na tila ba ayaw sumama sa magulang. Alam na alam niya na once na sumama siya ay maghihirap siya sa kamay nito and worst ay ipadala siya sa malayo at doon ulit i-arrange ng kasal. Her parents will think of ways to get benefits in using her.

-----

“You’re such a disgrace, Rachell! How could you do that?!”

“I expect more of you but it turns out you’re... ugh! I can’t even say it!”

“Look what your embarrassment brought us?!”

Nakayuko lamang si Rachell habang pinapakinggan ang insulto at galit ng mga magulang. Ang sakit sa dibdib at sa sarili niya. Buong buhay niya ginawa niya ang lahat ng gusto nito pero ang mga bagay na gusto niya ay hindi.

Biglang sumingit ang nanay ni Rachell, "Hon, Lorenzo is also a good option. May benefits pa din tayo sa business nila no matter who our daughter would marry. And you know that Lorenzo holds the biggest shares in their company."

“Yes, he holds the biggest share but did you know that Levine almost had a share with their family business as well as the biggest companies in Asia? Pero dahil sa kalapastanganan ng anak mo makakakuha na sana tayo ng pwesto sa kanya!”

“Ouch!” Biglang napatingin si Rachell nang marinig ang daing ng kanyang ina. She saw Maeve who bumped into her mom.

“I'm sorry’ paumanhin nito at nag-wink sa kanya.

“Watch where you’re going, young lady. Maganda ka pa naman sayang kung hindi mo makita ang nasa harap mo.”

“Precisely. Kaya nabangga kita dahil wala akong nakitang maganda sa’yo,” Maeve refuted back. Rachell hold her laughter. Maeve is really brave and never backs out in argument.

“Aba't—” naputol ang sasabihin nito ng biglang nawalan ng kuryente.

Someone dragged Rachell pero hindi siya natakot dahil alam niya kung sino ito.

“Lorenzo,” she murmured softly.

“Hmm. Let’s get you out of here.”

Dumating sila sa likod kung saan nakaabang si Levine at ang isang sasakyan. Pumasok ang mga ito at ilang sandali pa ay dumating din si Maeve na abot mata ang ngiti. Ang satisfying makita ang panic sa mata ng magulang ni Rachell.

“Are you okay, Rachell?” tanong ni Levine. Hindi naman katulad ng ibang babae si Rachell. Mabait ito at maalalahanin. Noong pinagkasundo sila ay itinuring niya lang itong kapatid. His heart was owned now by a fiery woman.

"I want to leave here," sagot nito. Maeve smiled and glanced at Lorenzo who just rolled his eyes at her.

"Let's go to the airport, then."

Umandar na ang kotse kasama ang magkakaibigan. It was an unexpected friendship created. Sayang nga at wala si Lilac at Diego. When the car stopped at the airport, saba sabay silang bumaba ng van para ihatid si Rachell.

“Thank you. I'm very thankful on what you did.” Nagkaroon siya ng lakas at nagkaroon ng kaibigan. The people who helped her smile at her genuinely and she cast her gaze at Lorenzo and walked up to him, reaching his face, Rachelle tiptoed and kissed his cheeks.

“Thank you, Lorenzo.”

“My pleasure," blankong sagot nito pero sa loob ay kinakabahan siya dahil sa halik na ‘yon.

"I'm leaving." Bago pa man makalayo si Rachell sa mga iyon ay isang kamay ang humawak sa kanya. She was startled and looked up, unexpectedly seeing Lorenzo by her side.

"W-what?"

"I'm coming with you. You're pregnant, remember?"

"What?!"

“But it’s just an act. You don’t need to do this. I owe you too much!”

Inagaw ni Lorenzo ang luggage nito.

“It’s my decision, lady. You can’t make me change my decision. Let’s go.”