CHAPTER 2

Aniah’s POV

“Manang who brought me home last night?” I heard Inah’s voice while I am walking toward our kitchen. It’s nearing 12 noon and she only wakes up?

“Your friends. The one with long and curly hair and the one with short hair.” Manang said. I stopped my track when I am close enough to hear their conversation.

“Oh, my head is still spinning manang. What should I do?” It seems like manang did not spill the tea. Inah is unaware that I am home already. 

“Why did you get yourself drunk Inah? You know that it’s bad for you. You’re still young.” I can hear the strictness of Manang’s voice. 

“It’s nothing manang.” I did not expect that she’ll hide the reason behind her escapade last night. I am most likely to do that. She’s very open when it comes to what she feels, she’s more comfortable sharing and expressing her emotions.

Maybe it’s time to get inside the picture. 

“Let’s talk after you eat Inah.” I know Inah’s shocked by my presence. 

“When did you get home?” She was startled and it seems like she can’t do it properly. 

“Yesterday. You’re not here that’s why you don’t know. You were so drunk!” I left them hanging. 

I was reading a magazine when I hear Inah’s footsteps. 

“Care to explain Inah?” I exclaimed. 
“I’m sorry..” She started to sob right after. I am just asking her to explain and now she’s crying. I am not doing anything yet, for her to cry. I know that she’s guilty that’s why.

“Stop crying because I am just asking you. Tell me why you went to the bar. Stop crying because I am getting annoyed already.” I am getting pissed, really. I am not in the mood to tolerate her and her actions. 

“I want to forget my problems.” She answered while still sobbing. 

“Did you forget your problems after getting drunk? No! You did not! You just created another one!” I am really pissed at this moment. I want to pull her hair and maybe she’ll give me a better answer. She stayed quiet for a few seconds before speaking again.

“I do have a big problem.” She stated.

“I also have a big problem Inah, and that’s you. We all have our own big problems and getting drunk is not the solution.” She did not move nor speak.

“Even though you’re eighteen already, it’s not enough for you to always go to the bars. You don’t know what kind of persons you’re going to mingle with inside the bar.” It’s true. It’s dangerous inside a bar, especially since Inah is innocent looking. I am afraid that boys will hit on her and will make her cry. I don’t want that to happen.

“Can you please at least hear me out before everything that you’re going to say?” She slowly said. Okay, I will let her explain. 

“My problem is bigger than you have imagined. I am sure. This will change my life forever… or maybe it changed my life already. My world literally turned upside down when I found out. I cannot believe it myself. I felt like I was dreaming and I hope I am really dreaming but I am here in reality.” I hope it’s not what I am thinking. I hope it’s not. I feel like my world will also be put upside down if it’s what I am thinking right now.

“I am full of regrets now because I know that you will be disappointed, as well as mom and dad. They really have a high expectations for me and I just ruined it with one snap. If I can snap to bring back the time, I will not have second thoughts to snap right now.” She slowed down to breathe properly, she is still crying. I already have a hint but I hope it’s not. My eyes also start to water, and my heart starts to race.

“I don’t know what to do. I don’t know how will I accept the fact about my situation right now but I cannot do anything just to accept it. I am really sorry but I am pregnant.” She started to sob again. 

I feel numb after I heard the word pregnant. Did I hear it right? Maybe no. 

“You’re what?” I need to ask her again. Maybe I did not hear it properly. Or maybe I just don’t want to hear the truth. 

“I am pregnant.” That’s when I feel the bomb in front of me.

“Are you sure you’re sane now? Maybe you’re still drunk. Maybe it’s because of a hangover and you are hallucinating that you are pregnant.” Maybe she is pranking me right now. 

“No. I am serious. And I hope I am just drunk right now, I hope I am just hallucinating, I hope I am just dreaming. But it’s all true, I am not lying. I hope I am!” 

My tears start to fall, my breathing became hard, my heart beats louder than usual, and I cannot feel anything. I feel empty.

I was shocked to hell. I was speechless for a few minutes before finally asking her.

“How? What happened?” It took me a while to have the courage to ask her that. 

“I get drunk.” I harshly comb my hair before letting out a deep sigh.

‘You get what? You g–get drunk?” I cannot believe her reason. You can be drunk and still care for yourself, you can get drunk but you’re still aware of what is happening, you can be drunk but you can stay sane. 

“I don’t know. I get drunk and it happened.” Like what? It happened?! It seems like it was a normal thing for her to do. Like for fuck’s sake.

“You know that this is a big ruckus and this can be a big controversy, not only to you, to our parents, to me, to our businesses but also for your future. That is something that will definitely be a part of everyone’s topic in every circle.” That’s what I am thinking about. I know that our parents will be mad.

“But what can I do about it? Should I abort it?” 

“What the fuck Inah?! Abort?!” I never thought about it. Abort?!

“But how? I don’t know how to take care of a child. I don’t know how to be a mom. I don’t know. I don’t know what to do.” I don’t know how to. Even though I am her older sister, I don’t have any experience in taking care of someone too. Inah grew up with a nanny, and even though we are close to each other I never experienced taking care of her.

“I don’t know how too. What can I do to help you? I don’t know where to start. Should we call the father? Should we talk about your marriage? Should we tell our parents now?” I am on the verge of crying. What did I do in my past life for this to happen to me now? I am literally anxious right now.

“I don’t know how to call him. I don’t know him personally, I don’t know his full name.’ For fuck’s sake. 

“What?! How?! Are you that drunk to forget to ask about his name? Can you tell me that you know his face at least?” 

“I can’t remember his face clearly. But I know he is studying in Heiberg. I remember that he is wearing his uniform that night.” As far as I know, it is not allowed inside the bar. 

“Heiberg? The all-boys university?” I asked. I know that’s a university around the area. An engineering university. 

“Yes. He is wearing a white long sleeve and the necktie from that university so I am sure that he is from that university.” Okay, she is confident enough with that information but how can that help me, or us, to find that man?

“Okay, can you give me more information? At least one piece of useful information please?” This is getting worse. 

“He has a tattoo beside his left hand, near his watch. And his friends called him Ababa before leaving.” What name is that? ABABA?

“Is that even a name? Or maybe he is Indian or something?” If he is Indian it will be easier because we can easily classify him among others because of his features. Indians are really moreno handsomes.

“I don’t know.” This will be difficult, I thought this will be easy if I have the information from her. She got some information but it will not make our situation easier.

“How about his friends? Can you recall how they look?” I am hoping that she can.

“I don’t know. I can’t recall anything.” How am I supposed to help her with this information?

“Are you drugged that day? Are you high or something?” I am hoping that she was drugged that night so that we can at least file a case.

“No, I am not.” I know that she is telling the truth. But there is something inside me that hoping that she is lying now, that she is just pranking me. I hope she is not really pregnant.

“I am very sorry, I’m sorry I disappoint you. And I know for sure that our parents will be disappointed in me too. I am such a disappointment and a disgrace to our family.” I want to tell her that no matter how heavy her sin is, the black sheep of the family will be always me. No matter how hard I thrive in life, I will always be the disappointment in this family. 

“Stop saying that Inah. There’s always a reason for everything. You just need to look on the good side, on the brighter side. Maybe it is God’s plan for you to be independent, to be more mature, and to be more disciplined. Or maybe this is God’s way for our parents to spend more time with you. No one really knows what is God’s plan so just go with the flow Inah and let things happen.” That’s the only thing I can advise her right now. Like I don't have anything in mind now, I cannot function properly, to be honest. 

“Thank you. Can I ask for a favor?” I cannot say no to her, it will always be her over me. I just nodded and waited for her to say what is her favor to ask.

“Can you hide this? Can you please not tell anyone even mom and dad? Let’s keep this between us, is that okay? Please? I am not yet ready to face them.”I am also not yet ready to face them and I think I will never be ready to face them. There is something inside me that made me think that once our parents find out about Inah’s pregnancy, they will put the blame on me. I don’t know but I feel it that way.

“I will try my best Inah. I will do what I can.” I will do what I can even though I know that it will definitely hurt me.