Just a One Night Stand.

CHAPTER 1

Aniah's POV

"I'm home!" I shouted as I entered our house. It's been a while.

"Iah!" Manang Saling welcomed me with a warm embrace. She's been our housemaid since I was a kid. She's like a mom to me already.

"Why you did not call? So that I can ask someone to fetch you at the airport." She asked me after the warm embrace.

"I will surprise my sister Manang. By the way, where is she? Where is Inah?" I asked. I am pulling my suitcases with me as I walk near our staircase.

"She left earlier. She did not say where she will go. Maybe she's with her friends." Manang answered like it was the usual thing that my sister does.

"Is she always with her friends?" I asked curiously.

"Lately, yes. Maybe she is getting bored here. She is always alone, your parents are always out of town and she's always left with us." She explained. I nodded and asked again.

"What time did she leave? Is she long gone before I came?" Maybe she will go home anytime soon.

"She left early in the morning darling," Manang said hesitantly.

"Oh! What a life she has!" I exclaimed. But maybe she deserves that, she needs to unwind sometimes. Most teenagers nowadays are always drained from schoolwork.

Manang assisted me up until my room. "Thank you, Manang!" She just smiled at me.

"Manang, I will sleep first because I still have jetlag. Wake me up as soon as Inah arrives or just wake me up if it's already dinner time." I want to sleep so badly. I am tired from the trip. I just go home here in the Philippines to unwind. I want to have a vacation, away from my work, away from my business, away from the stress. I hope this vacation will be worth it.

"Okay, I will just wake you up later. By the way, what do you want for dinner?" Manang never fails to ask me what I want for dinner. It's been years but the care Manang has for me is incomparable.

"I want pork adobo Manang. It's been a long time since I last tasted it. And of course, it is special because you're the one that will cook it for me!" I smiled after that. I really love Manang. I cannot imagine my life without Manang. I don't think I will grow into who I am today if not because of Manang.

"Okay, pork adobo it is." She smiled again before finally leaving me. I can still hear her footsteps when I closed the door.

I just put my suitcases inside my walk-in closet before finally jumping into my bed. "It's been a while my beddy bed!" I just put my handbag on my bedside table before settling in. I feel exhausted, really.

......

"Iah, ija, wake up. It's already dinner." I slowly open my eyes when I feel someone slightly tapping my legs. I want to close my eyes again and I feel like I don't want to eat because I want to sleep.

"Okay manang, I will just freshen up then I will go downstairs." I am still wiping my eyes as I answer manang. I am still sleepy. I feel manang stand-up and after a few seconds, she walks toward the door to leave me alone.

As I comb my hair I am thinking about things, I am thinking about Inah, and I am thinking about what happened after I left. I have a lot of questions and I hope Aninah will be patient enough to answer me. I hope she was already downstairs and waiting for me but manang did not say anything about Inah's presence. Where is she?

I will ask her about her studies. I know she's doing well but still, I want to ask her. She's always with the maids and I know she's feeling alone inside this house sometimes. I don't know how seldom our parents go here to bond with Inah or just to visit her. I know that they are busy but I hope they make time for Inah. I am already sorry for Inah because I leave for abroad right after I graduate. But I have my own reasons.

I walked directly to the dining area, no sign of Aninah. Is she still out?

"Manang, is Inah still not around?" I asked manang. She's the one who I always have a conversation with among the maids. Aside from she's been around since I was a little kid, our other helpers are assigned to the dirty kitchen or outside.

"She's not yet home Iah." She answered while pouring my glass with water. When I was in Inah's age I cannot stay this late outside. My parents are very strict with me, maybe because I am naturally hard-headed and I am always prone to danger and chaos. But to be honest, I always obeyed them, and even when I am living alone in college I am still following my curfew. I am just scared that they will say hurtful words again.

"Is she always like that?" I put some rice and adobo on my plate while waiting for manang to answer me. It's nearing 8 o'clock in the evening and she's still out there.

"Not really, but there is a time that she went home at around 4 am. I am not aware of where she went during that day. I did not ask her." 4 am? I'm sure that our parents are not aware of that but Inah doesn't need to worry because I will not tell our parents.

"Okay manang, I will just talk to her later. Why don't you eat with me manang?" I asked manang to eat with me, I am always eating alone abroad and now that I am here in the Philippines, I don't want that.

"Oh sorry, Iah but I can't eat with you. I am not allowed to eat fatty foods, aside from that I can't eat as much as I eat before. It's bad for my health and I need to observe my blood pressure." Oh! It seems like I don't have a choice but to eat alone.

"Okay manang, no worries. Maybe next time? If the food is good for your body." She laughed at me and leave me alone.

I missed being called ija and Iah. No one's calling me that abroad. And only manang calls me ija. Never in my life have my mom called me ija or Iah. It's always my full name, I don't know why.

I heard the doorbell ring so I asked one of our maids to look who is that. I wonder who's that, it's already late for visitors and I know manang did not order food online. We're not expecting anyone tonight so I wonder who's that?

I became irritated as soon as I saw who is it. "What the?! Where did you go?!" I shouted at Inah, she was with her friends and she was drunk. Inah did not respond, maybe because of drunkness.

"Uhm, we went to the bar, Inah asked us to go with her. We are hesitant at first but she badly wanted it. We're very sorry, we did not expect that she will be this drunk."One of Inah's friends explained. I don't care if she badly wanted it.

"Are you always out with her at the bar?" I don't know what the hell is happening with my sister. She was not like this when I left. I am already twenty-five years old and I can count how many times I went to the bar and then now Inah is fucking drunk in front of me. She's only eighteen for fuck's sake!

"Uh, no. It's just the second time around. We were at the bar last month and that's the first time." Her friend answered again.

"It's not because you're already allowed to go to the bar you'll abuse it. Now, you may go. It's already late. Thank you for taking care of my sister. By the way, I am Iah." I get Inah from their hold and assisted her to the couch.

"Manang please help Inah to clean herself. I'll just talk to her tomorrow." I am pissed right now, what a way to welcome me Aninah! Her welcome is very much appreciated!

Should I scold her? Tomorrow definitely!

It's supposed to be a vacation, not stresscation.

.....

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.

CHAPTER 3

Aniah's POV

How am I able to find the man with the nickname ABABA?

Should I ask each student from that University if they know who is that fucking ABABA? This will be hard.

This will be the start of OPERATION FIND MR. ABABA!

I did not waste my time so I immediately went to Heiberg University and tried my luck.

"Can you please allow me to enter? Can you? Only for a few minutes?" I pleadingly asked the guard. I am standing in front of this gate for maybe about fifteen minutes.

"You're not a student here madam. You cannot go inside." I can feel that the guard is getting pissed already, and that's what I want. Maybe if he gets so pissed or something he will finally allow me.

"You really can't go inside, madam. It is against the policy. I will be punished if I will allow you to enter the university. And why do you badly want to go inside Do you have a boyfriend inside?" I want to try to answer yes but there is a big possibility that he will still not allow me. And maybe if I said that he will suggest that I should just call or text him.

"No I don't have but I need to go inside. I have important matters to discuss with the director." I will try everything, I will try even the most impossible reason just to get inside. I need this thing to finish.

"Madam, do you have an appointment? I can see that you do not have one. Do not try to fool me. And if you really have an appointment with the director, call him or call his secretary, and for sure they will inform me to allow you to get in." Hayst. This guard is witty. It will be hard to fool this one.

"So I can't really go inside? Even just a tour, I can't?" Is this university that prestige?

"No madam. You really cannot go. And no you cannot have a tour inside." I can sense that this guard is already tired of talking to me but it's still hard to convince him.

"So? Do I need to enroll first so that I can go inside?" I asked. I cannot comprehend my thoughts. I hope I will not decide impulsively.

"Madam, mind if I tell you that this is an all-boys university? You are not allowed here, young lady." I rolled my eyes when he said the word, young lady.

I am slowly getting pissed too. Just one last try and if I will fail again I will already call it a day. For your information, it is very hot here. I don't know why maybe it's summer or maybe I am not just used to the weather here but it is so fucking hot right now!

I can feel the sweat on my forehead and I can imagine how stressed looking I am right now. Oh my gosh, this is not me! I did not expect that I will fucking experience this kind of thing, I never thought that I will beg someone just for me to enter this university.

I am aware that my brand is not yet really established here in the Philippines but at this moment there is hope that this guard knew me for who I am, sadly he does not know who am I.

"You really don't know me?" This is my last shot.

"I don't know you madam. You are not familiar either." Ouch, maybe I should go home now. This encounter really tested my patience. I did not expect that I will use my last card. And I thought, once I use my last card he will allow me to enter. But then how foolish I am to realize that if he knew me in the first place, he will not be this hard to e.

"Okay, thank you. I will go home for now. I will try my luck next time." And I will promise to myself that the next time I will go here, I will be allowed to go inside.

"Sure, madam. Try your luck next time madam!" The guard sighed. Maybe I am that stubborn for him to sigh that heavily. Maybe I am really naughty.

I walked toward my car and sighed heavily. This is not a good start.

"Fuck it! How am I able to find that Ababa?! I can't go inside that fucking university. And fudge that guard! It's so hard to please him!" I irritably shouted while driving. Up until I reached our house I was hissing and shouting. I freaking need to think of a way to get inside that university.

"Iah? What happened to you?" That's how manang, our maid, welcomed me.

"Arghh my plan did not work out!" I hissed before I started to go upstairs. The secret will stay between me and Inah, nothing will be known about this secret. I don't want to ruin our relationship.

"Iah, please calm down. You need to calm down. Your mom will be offended and disappointed once she hears you shouting like that." Manang shouted.

I did not answer. Is it really important to be elegant at all times? I grew up acting like a damn princess, I grew up acting like the prim and proper girl.

I'm in this situation and they are thinking about the way I talk and speak. I can't control my mouth or my voice. They can't do anything about the way I react to this kind of thing.

I stopped my track when I heard Inah call me from behind. "How was it?" That smooth and sweet voice, that's my mother's dream. The way she asked me it seems like everything's okay to her.

"Do I look like I'm okay? Do I look like I succeeded today Inah? Don't talk to me for a while Inah. I am not in the mood." She is used to this side of me. But sometimes she's just too stubborn.

" Easy. Just chill okay? Mind over emotion, remember?" Fuck! I want to scold her for doing this mess and she is acting as if nothing happened?! I need to find a solution for this mess, I know that our parents will scold me for this even though I am not the one who created this.

"Hey Aninah Cassandra! Be thankful that I love you so much and I am willing to do anything for you! Put this in your mind Inah! If I get pissed at you, I'm the one who will tell mom and dad about your pregnancy!" Even though I said that I can't do that.

"Hayst I am sorry okay? You just need to calm down." She hugged me and kissed me on my cheeks. What a way.

"Hey Inah, you are so obvious! You know that I can't get mad at you! I don't know why I spoiled you way back then!" Why do I need to show them that I am tough even though I am not?

"No, ate. Your niece needs you. And please don't be so hot-headed, especially when you're with other people. It's embarrassing."

Wow. Embarrassing really?!

"I am really like this Inah. They can't do anything about this attitude of mine. My mouth doesn't have a filter and I don't care about the words that will get out of my mouth." I said and moved away.

"Okay okay sure. But, thank you very much. I don't know if I should regret this baby inside me but you told me that this baby is a blessing. This will be your mini me!" She happily said and she even clapped her hands.

"Mini-me? No, just don't." I fake laughed then I walked away.

You really don't know what you are saying Inah. You don't know what I have experienced Inah.

I really want to voice out what I really feel but I can't. How long do I need to keep my feelings for myself? How long do I need to sacrifice for my sake?

When I entered my room I immediately lay on my bed. This day is very frustrating stressing, and tiring. I feel like I used all of my energy and I need to recharge for a moment.

We always have different perceptions, that's why I am afraid to tell my opinion. What if I told my opinion and then they don't like it and they are against it? The thing is that anything that I said is wrong in their opinion. It's never me over anyone.

Maybe I did have a rough childhood and teenage years. All the memories that I have with my parents are sad. I did not spend much time with my parents. They are so busy. They are also busy during Inah's days but I don't know why their treatment of me is not the same as Inah's.

Maybe I was a bad child? But as far as I remember I am an obedient kid. Even though there are instances that I am against their decision, I choose to stay quiet because I want to please them. Their decision is my life decision. Every decision is dependent on them, especially my mom.

They always say that moms know the best for their kids, that moms will always choose the best for you, and that they only think about your sake. I grew up with that mindset and I hope I will not regret that in the future, Though mom did not shower me the same love as she showered Inah, I hope she loves me even in the slightest way possible.

Let me put aside my personal problems first, Inah needs me and I need to help her. I need to think about a plan, I need to create one. I will not allow the kid to grow up without a dad, that will be definitely hard! I know that Inah can raise this kid alone and of course, I will help her but a daddy is different.

I need to think of something but my creative juices are not present today when I badly needed them the most. I stood up from my bed and grabbed my MacBook from my bedside table. Things must work out now, my time is very precious.

I searched Heiberg University and like what I expected, Heiberg is very secure. There is no other information that is related to the students on their site. Even the name of professors is not displayed on their site unlike on their universities. I know that it is for safety purposes but at this point in my life, I don't care about privacy and security. The facilities and events are the things that I found on their site. The students do not have any pictures displayed.

I need to think deeply. Think. Think. Think.

I lost track of time. I am unaware that it's already evening. Wow, no one called me for dinner. What is the use of the intercom? And is it hard to go upstairs to tell me that it is time to eat? Maybe they forgot that I am here. They are not used to my presence. I am not hungry anyway.

"If I cannot enter there as Iah maybe I can pretend to be someone else? That's an all-boys university and only males are allowed to enter. I will disguise myself as a man" I am not convinced about my decision but I think this is the only way. I cannot just announce there and find that Ababa boy. There is a big possibility that the boy will be scared of responsibility especially since he is still studying and he is from one of the prestigious universities here in the country.

"So? What would be my next step after that? I can't just go there without a plan." I gazed at my Macbook and thought again. What should I do next?

"I will disguise as a man then I will enroll at Heiberg University, then I will find Mr. Ababa. But before that, I will need fake documents to go inside and study there. Fake birth certificates and such but do I really need to go that far just to find that man? What if I get caught? Then they will bring me to the police then I will be in jail? Shit! No way!" Maybe if someone can hear or see me right now they will think that I am crazy for talking to myself but I think that is totally fine.

"Uhmm I will just finalize my decisions tomorrow. I already have my first step inside my mind and I think that is enough for the meantime. Slowly but surely." I whispered to myself before closing my Macbook and I went straight to the comfort room so that I can change my clothes and I can clean myself. I will just go with the flow and let things happen.

And I will disguise as a man? I don't know if that is exciting but I don't have a choice now.