Chapter 5 Twins

• I woke up soaked in sweat, struggling to catch my breath. My stomach hurt so much, like something sharp was stabbing me. I looked at the clock—it was only 3 AM. I grabbed my stomach as the pain got worse, spreading all over and even to my back. What’s going on? Why does it hurt this bad?
• I tried to get up and reach for my phone on the table, but the pain worsened. It felt as if I was being repeatedly punched in the gut, forcing me to curl up in agony.
• Every second that passed felt like pure torture, as if I were being slowly torn apart by the pain. I started feeling dizzy, with a wave of nausea washing over me.
• Determined, I forced myself to stand. I screamed, hoping it would somehow lessen the unbearable pain.
• I heard faint noises outside my apartment—there were still people around. Help, I need help!
• I forced myself to walk toward the door, rushing as I felt that any moment now, I might lose consciousness—my vision was already starting to blur.
• Is this because of the alcohol? Gosh, this is the first time I’ve felt this!
• When I grabbed the doorknob, I used it for support to keep myself from collapsing. Then, I gathered all the strength I had left to turn it.
• The shock was evident on the faces of the people outside my apartment when they saw my pale and twisted expression.
• "H-help..." I managed to say before everything went dark.
• ***
• I couldn’t open my eyes. My eyelids felt impossibly heavy. I could hear the beeping of monitors, voices talking nearby, and the faint sound of wheels rolling across the floor—probably stretchers. Where am I?
• When I finally managed to open my eyes, a white ceiling greeted me. There were also curtains surrounding my bed, enclosing me in a small space.
• The curtain opened, and a woman dressed in white stepped inside. She looked like she was in her early 30s.
• “You’re awake,” she said with a smile.
• She checked the equipment connected to me while jotting something down on the chart in her hands.
• “What happened to me?” I asked hoarsely. My voice felt dry and scratchy. The doctor turned her attention to me. “I remember passing out.”
• “Yes, you passed out, Miss…?”
• “Amelia.”
• “Yes, Miss Amelia. You passed out, and a group of strangers brought you here. Are you aware of your body’s condition?”
• “Probably because of alcohol. How long have I been unconscious?”
• I caught a flicker of disappointment on her face. She didn’t seem happy with my answer. What’s it to her if I drink?
• “Yes, Miss Amelia. Alcohol is part of the reason. You’ve been unconscious for a short while, and we ran some tests. It turns out… you’re pregnant.”
• “Pregnant?! What?!”
• “Yes, you’re pregnant… with twins.”
• Twins?!
• “No, no, no, doc. That can’t be.” I shook my head repeatedly.
• “We’re here to help you through this, and we’ll discuss what needs to be done next. For now, you need to rest.”
• I tried to sit up, but she gently stopped me.
• “Calm down, Miss Amelia. Stressing yourself won’t help your babies. And from now on, you must stop drinking alcohol. You’re lucky your babies are safe, but alcohol is strictly off-limits during pregnancy.”
• Feeling weak, I sank back into the bed. This can’t be happening! I could barely figure out how to live on my own, and now there were two more lives I’d have to care for? I felt tears welling up. And before I knew it, they were falling. Hormones! This must be hormones!
• “I’ll let you rest for now, Miss Amelia. I’ll come back later to check on you,” the doctor said before leaving the room.
• She didn’t get a single response from me.
• My mind was racing. What am I supposed to do now? How will I support them? And how am I going to pay for this hospital stay?!
• Then a memory hit me—the guy I had a one-night stand with. This is his fault!
• Gosh, so annoying!
• An hour later, the doctor returned.
• “How are you, Ms. Amelia?”
• “Does anyone feel better when they’re in the hospital?” I snapped.
• She smiled, which only annoyed me more.
• “Well, people go to the hospital so they can feel better,” she replied with a shrug.
• I glared at her.
• “Yeah, sure, but is that even applicable to me? Do I look like I feel better after being brought here? Not everyone who comes to the hospital feels better. Some suffer even more!”
• “Okay, chill. That must be your hormones talking,” she said, shaking her head with an annoying grin.
• Is she testing my patience?!
• “Anyway… how much is my bill here?” I hesitantly asked while clearing my throat, which made her chuckle softly.
• “Why are you laughing?!” Seriously, what is up with her?!
• “I’m sorry. But don’t worry about your expenses. It’s already been paid.”
• Paid? By who? I’m so confused. Was it my parents? Did they find out I’m here?
• “By who?”
• “Sorry, that’s confidential.”
• “Gosh, you’re so annoying!”
• “I know,” she said with a smirk. “Just wait here for a while. As requested, we’ll transfer you to a private room.”
• Her phone rang right then, and she held up a hand to stop me just as I was about to say something. She’s so annoying!
• It must really be my parents. I thought we didn’t have money? And now they have the audacity to request a private room? Where would they even get the money? Are they planning to sell me off again?! No way!
• “Yeah, yes. It’s her. She’s really here. Don’t worry, okay? She’s fine,” I overheard the doctor say on her call.
• Is she stupid? Does she not realize I can hear her?
• I need to get out of here before my parents show up. Or worse—what if it’s that old billionaire who did this?!
• ***
• I made sure there were no nurses or doctors around before I sneaked out of the room. I had already changed my clothes, so there shouldn’t be any problems.
• I feel like I’ve just run a thousand miles—every step out of the hospital leaves me gasping for air like I’m having an asthma attack.
• “Hey!” someone shouted.
• I glanced back and saw the doctor from earlier.
• “Sh*t,” I cursed under my breath, quickening my pace. I almost forgot about the pain I was feeling.
• I only exhaled in relief once I got into a taxi, but I was still panting. My chest was rising and falling as I tried to catch my breath.
• I smirked. You’ll never catch me. I’ve been sneaking out for years just to go to parties, and my parents never caught me—not even the bodyguards they hired to track me down. I’m Amelia Hayes, after all.
• ***
• I returned to my apartment.
• Gosh, the smell of alcohol is still all over my place, and I feel like puking. Without realizing it, my hand instinctively rested on my stomach. Oh gosh, I almost forgot that I’m pregnant.
• I quickly packed my things. I need to find a new place to stay before they find me here.
• ***
• I headed to the bus terminal. I didn’t know where to go, so I just boarded the first bus I saw leaving.
• I slept through the entire trip. By the time I woke up, we were already at the terminal.
• I had no idea where I was or where I should go. I just kept walking aimlessly, irritated by the noise around me. Adding to my discomfort was the strong smell in the air, making me feel nauseous.
• “Fresh fish, ma’am? Still fresh,” a man said while smiling at me.
• What the h*ll am I supposed to do with the fish he's selling? Gosh, if you're going to sell something, at least know your target market.
• I continued walking until I was far from that place.
• “Excuse me,” I called out to a taxi driver.
• “Good afternoon, ma’am. Where to?” he asked with a friendly smile.
• “Just take me to any hotel.”
• That sounded wrong, but I didn’t care. He didn’t seem to have any bad intentions. He better not, though, because I won’t hesitate to punch him. He looks like he’s around my dad’s age.
• I miss Dad—and Mom, too. But I can’t forgive them yet.
• “Are you a tourist here, ma’am?” the driver asked while smiling.
• His friendly approach made me respond. “Kinda. I’m looking for a place to stay. Like… a budget-friendly one,” I replied hesitantly.
• “Oh, perfect! My wife and I rent out apartments, and we happen to have three available right now,” he said cheerfully.
• He reminds me of Tatay Ernie, my favorite driver.
• “Sure,” I smiled back. “What’s your name, by the way?”
• “They call me Manong Rico,” he answered happily. “And you, miss?”
• “Lia. You can call me Lia.”
• “This one, hija, is just the right size for you. It’s good for two people, but I’ll give you a discount,” Manong Rico’s wife said with a warm smile.
• She told me her name is Aurora, but she prefers to be called Manang Aurora. Both of them are good-looking, and they seem perfect for each other.
• “I like it. I’ll take it.”
• They handed me some papers to sign before giving me the keys.
• “If you need anything or just want someone to talk to, feel free to come downstairs, okay? There’s plenty of space there—we can have coffee,” Manang Aurora offered with a kind smile.
• “Sure. I’d love that!” I replied with a smile.
• ***
• I've been locked in my room for three days now. I don’t have the energy to go out. And even if I wanted to, I have no money left. On top of that, drinking is off-limits now.
• I instinctively touched my stomach, feeling a wave of pity—not just for myself, but for the babies growing inside me. Gosh, Lia. How could I have been so stupid to let this happen? Why do I have to suffer?!
• I reached for the ultrasound photo the doctor gave me after I woke up. I couldn’t help but cry as I stared at it. They look so tiny right now, but soon they’ll grow, and with that comes endless needs. I wiped my tears. I’m sorry. Some people say having a baby is a gift, but you are the gifts I never wanted! When you two are born, I’ll have you adopted!
• I can’t let myself stay trapped in this kind of life. I don’t deserve this. Maybe destiny is messing with me. Fine, if it wants to play, then let’s play—and I’ll make sure to win this game!
• The next day, I went down to see Manang Aurora. This building doesn’t have an elevator, but it’s only three floors, so it wasn’t too much of a struggle.
• “Hi,” I greeted her as she laughed at something on her phone.
• “Lia! It’s so nice to see you here,” she said, looking excited. I just nodded in response.
• “Come, sit down. Here’s some juice and a sandwich,” she said, setting the food in front of me.
• She started talking about all kinds of things, and I just listened.
• A while later, someone arrived, carrying a bundle of newspapers. He placed them on the table in front of us.
• Manang Aurora stood up and handed him payment.
• “What’s this?” I asked.
• “Oh, these are newspapers we’ll use for wrapping the tinapa we sell.”
• I don’t know what tinapa is, but something in the newspapers caught my attention.
• “Is it okay if I borrow one of these?”
• “Of course! Don’t be shy.”
• I thanked her and grabbed one.
• “‘Hiring: Personal Assistant. Sinclair Corporation,’” I read aloud from one of the ads.
• “Are you looking for a job, hija?” Manang Aurora asked, and I nodded. “Ah, Sinclair is a good company. They pay well. You should give it a shot.”
• And that’s exactly what I did.
• Now, I don’t even know how I got hired. I mean, I’ll admit I didn’t put any relevant experience on my résumé—because I didn’t have any! So why did they choose me?
• But why am I even questioning it? The h*ck, I’m Amelia Hayes, from one of the elite families. They just made the right decision in choosing me.
• ***
• One month into working at Sinclair Corporation, and I still haven’t met the CEO—my boss—because he’s been on a business trip. As much as I’d like to be happy about it, I just can’t. It’s been a whole month of showing up to work only to do absolutely nothing. Am I even going to get paid?!
• “Lia?” a familiar voice called out.
• “Dad?” A mix of emotions rushed through me—happiness, anxiety, fear.
• “Lia!” Mom cried out, her voice trembling with emotion.
• She rushed toward me and grabbed my hand.
• “Come on, let’s go home. Mr. Thompson is still willing to forgive you and continue the wedding,” Mom said, but I pulled my hand away from hers.
• “No!” I shouted. She didn’t agree with Dad’s plan before, but now she’s into it. What did I expect? She’s the one who helped plan all the wedding details in the first place. Traitor!
• “Lia! Stop being stubborn. Stop making me mad!” Dad said, his face red with anger. This was the first time I’d ever seen him so furious and shouting at me.
• He stepped closer and grabbed my arm.
• “Dad! Stop! You’re hurting me!” Oh gosh, why am I the only one on this floor?!
• Should I tell them I’m pregnant? But what if they tell me to get rid of the twins? No way! I’d rather give them up for adoption than do something terrible!
• I was losing hope as Dad dragged me toward the elevator.
• The doors opened, and there he was—a pair of sharp, piercing eyes glaring at us, especially at Dad.
• A man stepped out of the elevator, his dark hair perfectly styled and his entire presence oozing power and confidence. His eyes burned with intensity, and his commanding aura was overwhelming.
• “Let her go,” he said, his deep, authoritative voice leaving no room for argument. “And don’t you dare touch the mother of my child ever again!”