Ivy's POV

Months after his death, I thought I lost everything. It was painful yet I was able to moved on. I finally freed my self from his love.

I looked at door when someone entered. I smile genuinely when I saw a woman wearing a nurse suit carrying a baby on her arms.

"Ma'am, eto na po ang baby nyo."

Itinabi nya sa'kin ang anak ko at umalis na. As soon as she left my room, I carry my baby and held her little hand. My tears flow im my eyes while looking at her. Nawala mam sa'kin ang lalaking pinaka-mamahal ko, meron namang pumalit na bagong pagmamahal ag kasiyahan sa buhay 'ko. Nilaro-laro ko siya at gayon na lamang ang sigla ng puso ko ng ngumiti ang kaniyang labi.

"Hawak mo na ang puso ko, mahal ko. Pangako kong iingatan, aalagaan at gagabayan ka hanggang sa iyong paglaki, aking anak." Nakangiting bulong ko sa kaniya at hinalikan siya sa noo.

Nakangiti pa rin ako habang nilalaro siya nang bumukas muli ang pinto ng silid at pumasok si Yas.

"Ivy.." She greeted me and smiled softly.

"Hey."

"Haluh! Ang cute ng baby mo, Ivs!" Nakangiting sabi ni Denise at lumapit siya sa amin.

"I brought foods for us!" She giggled.

She took off the JUNK FOOD!? CHOCOLATE! BEER!?! and other non-nutritious food from her paper bags.

"GAGA!" Sinigawan sya ni Yas sabay batok.

"Arak ko naman? Bakit ba?!" Inis na sabi ni Denise.

"Because the foods you brought here are non nutritious!" Yas yelled at her.

"Tss. These foods are for us, not for the baby." Maarteng sabi ni Denise at umirap bago ulit ituon ang pansin sa pag-aayos ng mga pagkaing binili nya.

"Gaga ka talaga! Bawal yan kay Ivy, makakasama rin yan sa baby nya!"

"And how would it affects the baby, huh?!"

"Breast feed." Simpleng sagot ni Yas.

"Umm, Yas nasaan ba si Raphael?" Tanong ni Denise.

Bigla namang napatigil si Yas bago sumagot.

May minor problem sya sa business ng family nya, out of fown eh. Gusto akong isama pero nagpz-iwan na lang ako."

Napatango na lang kami.

Denise scratch her head when she realized what she brought, she looked at me with an apologetic look and awkward smile. I just smiled back and shook my head.

"Anyways, what is your baby's name, Ivs?" Nakangiting tanong ni Yas at naupo sa railing ng bed. I smiled.

"Mikaela Jasper Villaroel."

"What a nice name for such an amazing gift!" Nakangitimg sabi ni Denise at lumapit sa amin at naupo sa kabilang railing.

I shift my gaze on Yas and Denise.. I smile remembering how they've help me overcome my struggle brought by Elvin's death back then.

The day he left, was the day I lost my mind. I'm barely living and anxious those days. I even forgot I wax carrying a baby inside my womb. Yas, Denise and even Raphael keeps calling me hundred time in a day just to check on me but I keep ignoring their message...

I was alone.. inside our bedroom.. in my house..

house.

I kept my struggle alone.. I grieved for him.. I was so depressed.. I always skip meals.. Until the day I thought of suicide attempts... zi grabbed the knife in the kitchen.. I was ready to stab my self but then our house front dood was forcefully open..

"Oh Gods!"

"Ivy!"

"What the hell!?!"

I looked to see who shouts behind me.

Yas, Denise and Raphael.

They all ran towards me  except Raphael. I didn't notice that Denice took the knife from my hands. Hinawakan ni Yas ang balikat ko at sapilitang iniharap sa kanya. Hinawakan nya ang magkabilang pisnge ko at pinatingin sa mga mata nya pero hindi nya magawa dahil nakayuko ako at napabuntong hininga na lang sita.

"What were you thinking!?!

"Y-Yas.. I've lost him.. I-I want to forget hi--

"And do you think killing your own life will solve your misery!!"

"I no longer want to live since the day he le--

"Denise!" Sigaw ni Yas.

Isang malakas na sampal ang ginawad sa'kin ni Denise. Naramdaman ko ang paglapit nya sa'kin. She held my cheeks and forced me to looked at her to see her tears starting to fell from her eyes.

"Ivy ano ba?! Dahil sa kanya nagkaka-ganito ka? Making your lifd miserable will only cause you more struggles! I know he's the love
of your life pero Ivy! May bata dyan sa sinapupunan mo! Mag-papakamatay ka? Paano yang magiging anak mo? Hahayaan mo na lang ba siyang huwag makita ang mundo!? Hahayaan mo bang mawala ka kasama ang walang kamuang-muang na bata sz sinapupunan mo na nabuo sa pagmamahalan nyo ni Elvin!?!"

Shoot! That slaps me hard.. My tears starts to flow beneathe my eyes as I realized what I have done to my self and to my baby. I cried.

"S-sorry... sorry.. sorry.."

Niyakap ako ni Denise at Yas hanggang sa maramdaman ko ang matinding pagod. Fucked! Now I realize where my stupidity brought me.

"Ivy? Ivy? Hey!"

"Fucked! babe get the car! I'll carry her!"

"On it!"

"Please Ivy, hold on!"

Dinig kong sigaw nilang tatlo bago tuluyang sakupin ng dilim ang aking paningin.. Nagising ako sa puting silid at iginayak ko ang aking mga mata.

"Gosh, Good thing you're awake, you've been sleeping there for three whole days! You made us worry!"

Nakita ko si Denise na may nag-aalalang wangis. Pero hindi yon ang iniisip ko.. Ang baby ko!

"Y-yung baby ko? Is she safe?"

Maya-maya pa ay biglang may pumasok na doctor.

"Doc, kamusta po ang baby ko?" Nag-aalala kong tanong.

"We've run some tests to see the baby's health. And it was a luck that she survived. Your baby hold as tight as she can and I advice that you should eat nutritious foods for the babg as a sigm of gratitude of her action to stay alive, even at your barely living days." Ngumiti ang doctor at umalis.

I sighed in relief. I looked at my womb and touch it gently..

"I'm sorry baby.. I promise mommy will fight.. for you.." I wisphered..

"Huy!" I was brought back to present when I heard Yas voice. "Anyare sayo? Nagka-anak ka lang nabaliw ka na!"

Hindi ko na namalayang buhat na pala ni Denise ang anak ko nang walang paalam pero hinayaan ko na lang. Ngumiti ako sa kanila.

"Wala naman. I'm just happy you both are my best friends. I'm thankful kaso nangyari kayo sa'kin. Kung wala kayo, baka hindi ko na nakyanan ang nangyari sa kanya."

"Sus! Ito naman nagdrama pa! Group hug nga tayo!"

Ibinigay sa'kin ni Denise ang anak ko at niyakap nila akong dalawa.. Nang maggabi ay ipinabuya ko muna sa nursery ang anak ko at kasama kong natulog sa kwarto sina Yas.

I thought.. I thought that's the end of my struggles.. I thought I will have a better life... but the day after that.. was my greatest fear.. my dearest baby is missing...

To be continued...