TITLE: Alluring Desire on Motherhood
AUTHOR: Pinkiyangxx
PROLOGUE
Celestine’s POV.
“Being one of the young Billionares of today’s world, and a business owner of a well-known clothing brand for women, you seems to have accomplish a lot at your age, Miss Celestine.” I was listening to the interviewer in silence, while she was speaking.
“Yes, I guess we can say that,” I agreed to her as I gave her a curt nod.
Today, I was being interviewed exclusively by Met Magazine, one of the pretigious print media in the Philippines. It was both honour and pride that I was given the privilege to be featured in their newest edition for this year.
This is a great oppotunity for my image and for the exposure of my clothing line, that’s why I immediately said ‘Yes’ for this interview. Not to mention that the interviewer is also a good friend of mine in college. Phoebe is the editor in chief of Met Magazine.
“Now that we are down to the last question of this interview, let me read to you the most intriguing question that the neitizen would like you to answer,” saad niya tapos ay tumango na lamang ako at ngumiti. “Celestine Amor Guezon, after all of the things you have accomplished in life, when are you planning to settle down?”
Natawa ako ng malakas nang madinig ko ang huling katanungan niya. “Is that what you guys wanted to know?”
“Yes. Definately. A hundred percent,” Phoebe answered directly.
“I’m not planning to settle down, honey. That’s my answer,” I said confidently as I leaned my back against the swivel chair.
Phoebe gave me a bewildered look on her face. Obviously, she was surprised after hearing my answer. “S-so does that mean that you are not considering on having a kid?” she asked while lifting her brows at me.
Bakas ko ang gulat at pagkabigla sa expresyon ng kanyang pagmumukha, dahil ni minsan ay hindi ko nakwento sa kanya ang plano ko tungkol sa pagpapamilya. Phoebe and I were close friends and I understand why she is giving me a surprised look right now.
“Of course I am. I never said that I’m not going to have a kid,” sagot ko sa kanya.
“I wanted to be a mother. But I don’t want to be a wife,” I added.
******
“I wanted to be a mother. But I don’t want to be a wife.” Nadinig kong pagsasalita ni Sachzna tapos ay isinarado iyong librong hawak niya at humarap kay Phoebe. “Iyon ang sinagot ni Tin sa tanong mo kahapon?”
“Oo, girl. Naloka kaming lahat sa naging sagot nyang kaibigan mo,” sagot naman ni Phoebe habang nakatutok pa din sa kanyang telepono.
“Ano namang klaseng drama iyon, Tin? Paano ka naman magiging isang ina, kung hindi ka muna magiging asawa?” pagtatanong naman sa akin ni Sachzna, noong ako naman iyong lingunin niya.
We were sitting comfortably on the waiting bench, while wearing a pair of pink hospital gown and cute slippers. We all together visited the hospital on a Saturday morning, to have our annual physical check up.
“What? I still made sense,” I answered in a low rumble of voice.
“Of course not! Paano mo naman gagawing magkaanak nang hindi nag-aasawa? Makikipag-one night stand ka ba?” Sachzna asked me in a twitched lips.
“You’re gross, Sachzna! One-night stand is not my thing. There are plenty of ways for it to be possible, okay? Like…” I placed my thumb underneath my chin, obviously I’m into a deep thinking.
“Like what?” she asked again in a frowning face.
“Like… like adoption. Yeah, that’s right! I believe in the beauty of adoption anyway. At saka, bakit ba ang big deal sa inyo iyong naging sagot ko?” kunot noong pagtatanong ko sa kanilang dalawa.
“Because it’s weird!” sabay pa silang sumagot.
“Weird? I don’t think my logic here is weird. Okay, let me clear this out, getting married and having kids are separate things. You can get married without wanting to have a kid. Also, you can have a kid without wanting to get married. I don’t think there’s a problem with that. Actually, girls your situations are more problematic than mine,” saad ko tapos ay itinuro si Sachzna. “Ikaw, although you are ready to commit and but Sean has commitment issues. How long are you still planning to settle on being his fuck buddy?”
Natahimik ang kaninang madaldal na si Sachzna nang biglang mapunta sa kanya iyong spotlight.
“And you.” Itinuro ko naman si Phoebe, na ngayon ay nananahimik na dahil alam niyang hindi ko din siya palulusutin sa usapan. “How long are you planning on being just a mistress? Do you really believe in Arthuro’s promise on divorcing his wife and marry you?”
Napayuko si Phoebe sabay nagbuntong hininga at hindi din nakapagsalita. They both became silent because they knew that I was right. I crossed my legs and took a sip of my favorite ice coffe like a queen sitting on her throne comfortably.
I put down my drink on the side table and looked back at them. “This is why I don’t want to be in a relationship and get married. Boys are piece of shit. It’s either you’re a fuck buddy or a mistress. They will never be ready for commitment and cheating is part of their goddamn nature. So, as a motherfucking queen, there’s no way I’m going to take their shits and dramas.”
“Miss Guezon?” Naudlot ang pag-uusap naming tatlo nang madinig kong tawagin na ng nurse iyong pangalan ko. “You may come in na po for your laboratory test,” the nurse said and she smiled at me.
I rose from my seat and smoothed the wrinkles on my hospital gown. “So, for the love of God. Girls, you have to consider dropping those guys on your lives. I know you’re better off alone. For Christ’s sake. Don’t settle for less. You both deserve better,” saad ko sa kanila tapos ay nagkatitigan lang iyong dalawa.
******
Nang matapos ko ang laboratory test ay naupo ako sa harap ng doktor, habang inaayos ko ang gown na suot ko. Nagtaka ako nang mapansin kong tahimik lamang siya habang magkasalubong ang mga kilay niyang binabasa ang dokumento ko.
“Is there a problem, doc?” I asked her in a low rumble of voice.
After few moments of scanning through my data, she looked at me in a concerned look on her face. “Iha, you’re still single right?”
“Yeah, I am. Why?” I asked.
“When are you planning on having kids?” she said a she folds her arms against her chest and leaned towards the table.
“I still don’t know when. I haven’t think of it yet because I am too focused on my career,” I answered.
“But do you want to have kids?”
“Of course, I do. I also wanted to have kids on my own, pero wala pa sa palano ko iyon ngayon,” seryosong sagot ko sa doktor.
Nadinig ko siyang huminga ng malalim tapos ay tumitig ng seryoso sa aking mga mata. “Honestly, Celestine. If you really wanted to have a kid, you better do it now or you will be sorry later. You are actually running out of time,” aniya.
“S-sorry, I’m not quite following. What do you mean?” I gave her a puzzled facial expression.
“You are diagnosed with premature menopause, Celestine,” the doctor said with dead seriousness.
My jaw dropped in a split second and I was too stunned to speak. I felt that my tongue became too thick to formulate a verbal response and my knees weakened like soft noodles after what I have discovered.
ITUTULOY…
******
CHAPTER 1
Celestine’s POV.
“Tin… you will be experiencing a premature menopause for the coming months. You cannot get pregnant anymore once you’ve reached your menopausal period,” the doctor explained to me in a soft, monotone voice.
“M-menopause?! Is this some kind of prank? I’m still in my late twenties, doc! I’m young and healthy! How is that even possible?” I asked her in a frowning face. Obviously, I’m not totally buying what she just said.
Pakiramdam ko ay tila ba humiwalay mula sa katawan ko iyong aking kaluluwa, matapos ang nakakagulat na balita niya sa akin. How can I make myself believe that I’ll be in my menopausal period already, when I am still not in my fourties?
The doctor took a deep breath and said, “I totally understand that you got suprised, which is why you are reacting that way. But please… Celestine, you should calm down for sec-”
“Doc, how am I supposed to calm myself?! You’re basically telling me na mas mauuna pa akong mag-menopause kaysa sa nanay ko. Are you aware that you’re scaring all the shits out of me now?” Nakakunot ang aking noo habang malaki pa rin ang pagkakadilat ng mga mata ko dahil sa sobrang pagkagulat.
“Studies have shown that about one in a thousand women reach menopause before the age of thirty. Teens and even women in their twenties can still be diagnosed with premature menopause,” pagpapaliwanag niya sa akin.
“Fuck! Why do I have to be that one in a thousand women?” I said in an excruciating tone of voice.
“Tin, I know this is insane but you have to accept things the way it is. After running through some tests, I could conclude that your ovaries will spontaneously stop functioning before you reach the age of forty. In addition to that, you will be needing to undergo hormone therapy in reducing risk to illness like osteoporosis and cardiovascular diseases,” aniya na ngayon ay seryosong nakatitig sa magkabilang mga mata ko.
Nang unti-unti ng magsink sa loob ng utak ko na talagang hindi nga nagbibiro ang doktor ay nakaramdam na lamang ako ng biglaang paghapdi ng aking mga mata. “D-doc, this is so unfair. I… I also wanted to get pregnant and be a mother someday. How am I supposed to do that now? I’m not married… and I’m also not in a relationship with someone in the present.”
“You can still get pregnant prior to your menopausal period, Celestine. Thanks to Science, it is possible to conceive on your own with the help of assisted reproductive technology like an IVF,” she said.
“IVF?”
“Yes, IVF. In Vitro Fertilization. It is a medical procedure wherein your egg prior to your menopausal period, will be fertilized by a sperm inside a laboratory. You don’t have to be with someone for you to be pregnant in today’s technology,” aniya tapos ay hinawakan niya iyong kamay kong nakapatong sa lamesa.
“With your alluring desire on motherhood, you just need a sperm, honey,” she added.
******
The next morning…
I was awaken by the sweet aroma of freshly baked pies and brewed coffee that wafted across my room. I sat up and rubbed my eyes.
“Oh, you’re finally awake, sweetheart. Come outside. I prepared you a breakfast,” saad ng aking ina na ngayon ay nakangiting nakatayo sa may pintuan ng kuwarto ko.
I rose from the bed and strolled towards the kitchen, wearing a robe. “Mom, how many times I should told you that you can’t just barged into my apartment?” I complained as I sat down on one of the stool in my counter kitchen.
“What if I slept with a man in my place and we’re both naked? That would be awfully embarrassing. You should really stop coming over here without giving me a heads up,” dagdag ko pa.
Inilapag niya sa counter iyong pie and coffee na hinanda niya, tapos ay tumayong nakapamewang sa harap ko. “Don’t be silly, honey. You never brought a man to your apartment. Posible pa atang maghalo ang Pacific at Indian Ocean, kaysa sa malaman kong nagkaboyfriend ka na,” panunuksong sabi niya tapos ay mahinang natawa.
I rolled my eyes as I held my cup. “Don’t get your hopes up. There’s no freaking way I will be seeing someone again. Men are just trash and I don’t need them in my life,” I said then took a sip on my coffee.
“Oh, boy. This is getting out of hand. But no worries. I’ve got you, honey,” saad niya tapos ay may brown envelope siyang inilatag sa harap ko.
Kunot noo ko naman itong binuksan. “Mom! You are not setting me up with these bunch of guys again!” iritadong sigaw ko sa kanya nang makita ko na ang bio data ng iba’t ibang mga kalalakihan.
“Come on, Tin! It will be fun. They’re all good boys with good credentials. Not all men are trash, honey. I am even a witness to the last boy on the list,” she said with a lopsided grin on her face.
I abruptly scanned to the last page to know whom she was referring to. “You’re not going to set me up with Radjie. Are you?”
“What? I’ll be the happiest mother on earth once you got him as my son-in-law,” she giggled.
“Mom, there’s no freaking way it will going to happen. Not even in your wildest dream.”
“Why not? Radjie is good guy. He is a walking green flag and he is everyone’s ideal man,” aniya.
“Ma, matalik kaming magkaibigan ni Radjie, okay? Hanggang doon lang lang iyon. So, please! Enough with this stuff. I want to eat my breakfast peacefully,” I said with dead seriousness after dumping the envelope in the trash bin.
She sighed heavily. “Too bad. He has set of good genes pa naman.”
Nang sabihin niya iyon ay pasimple kong sinulayapan uli ang picture ni Radjie sa bio data na ngayon ay nasa basurahan na. She’s right. Radjie is both good-looking and a young bachelor that is financially stable on his own. Sino ba namang babae ang hindi magkakagusto sa gaya niya?
I shook my head. “What the fuck was that? No way. We’re just friends.” Para akong tanga nang kausapin ko ang aking sarili.
******
“Tin, why did drink so much? Oh, Good Lord. You had three bottles of Brandy already?” Nadinig ko ang boses ni Radjie na ngayon ay kadarating lang ng aking apartment, matapos ko siyang tawagan na puntahan ako.
Sumasakit na ang ulo ko sa sobrang dami na ng nainom kong alak. Unti-unti na ding nagdidilim ang paningin ko at pakiramdam ko’y umiikot ang buong mundo ko.
“Radjieee! You’re hereee!” Para akong batang tuwang tuwa nang tumayo ako mula sa pagkamasalampak ko sa sahig ng sala at lumundag sa katawan niya para yakapin siya. “Sabi ko na, eh. Hindi mo din ako matitiis at pupuntahan mo din ako dito. Pff! Who needs a boyfriend, when I already have you?” I giggled as I point my finger on him.
Although I am always perceive as an independent woman with strong personality, aaminin kong tumitiklop at lumalambot ako sa tuwing makakasama ko ang boy best friend kong si Radjie. Nagiging sobrang isip bata ako sa tuwing nasa tabi ko siya at siya lang ang nag-iisang lalaking hinahayaan kong i-baby ako.
Mahigpit niya akong hinawakan sa bewang ko upang di ako matumba. Binigyan niya ako ng seryosong titig sa kanyang mga mata bago siya nagsalita. “Why did you drink alone? Hindi mo ba kasama sina Sachzna at Phoebe?”
I rolled my eyes when he mentioned those two bitches to me. I withdraw my body from his tight hug and tossed myself on the couch. “You’re ruining my evening by mentioning their names. Those bitches. They ditched me over some useless guys,” sagot ko sa kanya.
Inabot ko naman iyong pang-apat na bote ko ng Brandy. “Good thing that you’re now here. Sit beside me and I’ll pour you a dri-” I was about to pour him a drink, when he suddenly snatch the bottle away from me.
I looked up to him with irritation. He sat beside me and loosened up his necktie. “You are not finishing this bottle, Celestine Amor,” Radjie said in his low, sexy tone of voice.
Hindi ko alam pero iba talaga ang tama sa akin sa tuwing babanggitin niya ang first and second name ko. Fuck! Why do I find it sexy and attractive?
He put down the bottle on the coffee table then pulled his sleeves until it reaches his elbow. “Halika na’t ihahatid na kita sa kuwarto m-” He wasn’t able to finish his sentence when I suddenly pulled him closer to me by grabbing his necktie.
Radjie’s eyes widen in surprise while I gave him an intimate look into my face. “Sleep with me tonight, Radjie Michael Suarez.”
ITUTULOY…
AUTHOR’S NOTE:
Sa mga gustong bumasa ng karugtong ng kwentong ito, i-message na lang po ako sa official facebook account ko. Search niyo lang “Iyang Writes” sa facebook, tapos message niyo ako nang mabigyan ko kayo ng karugtong. See yah!