Love Me or Hate Me

EPISODE 15

“Bye! See you next week! Take care!”
 
Kumaway na lang si Javi kina Alfred at Robi habang naglalakad ang dalawa papunta sa parking area ng college nila. Katatapos lang ng klase nila at Biyernes pa. The two lovers actually invited Javi to come with them, pero tumanggi na ang huli. Sinabihan na rin niya ang dalawa ng paghingi niya ng sorry kay Lio dahil sa nangyari noong huling beses na lumabas sila.
 
Dahil na rin sa perang ibinigay sa kanila ni Asa, bihira na lang magtrabaho nang full shift si Javi ngayon. Bumabawi naman siya sa restaurant kapag weekends, pero kung weekdays ay talagang ilang oras lang siya magtrabaho. Of course, kailangan niyang asikasuhin si Asa lalo pa ngayon na bantay na bantay ng nanay niya ang pag-aalaga rito. On some occasions na talagang busy si Javi, nanay na lang niya ang nagpupunta sa condo ni Asa. At least mas may alam ito tungkol sa pagbubuntis kaya matuturuan nito si Asa kung paano alagaan ang sarili niya.
 
Dumaan muna si Javi sa isang palengke para bumili ng mga prutas. Pagkarating naman niya sa lugar kung nasaan ang condo ni Asa ay dumaan din siya sa isang shop na nagbebenta ng halos lahat ng bagay na related sa pagbubuntis. Javi actually saw this shop a week ago, at ngayon na bagong sweldo rin siya ay naisipan na niyang mamili ng ilang bagay na magagamit ni Asa sa pagbubuntis niya.
 
Javi bought books and guides for pregnancy and child-rearing. Wala naman kasi siyang alam kung paano ang tamang pag-aalaga sa buntis. Habang tumitingin siya ng mga libro ay nabaling ang titig niya sa mga gamit na pang-sanggol na naka-display sa isang shelf.
 
“That’s quite a lot of books,” a lady told Javi as she approached him. “You’re an alpha, aren’t you? Are you a first-time dad? First-time parents always buy so much stuff.”
 
Javi smiled sheepishly. “Opo. I’m pitifully clueless about pregnancy and child-rearing, so I hope that these books will help me. Still, medyo wala po akong ideya kung alin ang pipiliin ko,” sagot niya.
 
“In that case, let me help you,” the lady said. “You look too young to be a parent.”
 
Javi just scratched the back of his head. “Salamat po.”
 
As the lady picked several books, Javi wandered towards the shelf that he saw earlier. He saw shoes, gloves, clothes, and other things that a baby might need. Masyado siyang nawili sa pagtingin kaya hindi niya namalayan na nasa tabi na niya ang babae kanina.
 
“Are you going to buy some of those, too?” she asked before handing over several books to Javi.
 
“Hindi pa po siguro ngayon. Medyo matagal pa naman po kasi bago dumating ang baby namin,” sagot ni Javi.
 
“Ilang buwan na bang buntis ang partner mo?” tanong ng babae.
 
“Tatlo po. He’s going into the fourth month of pregnancy already,” Javi replied.
 
“I see. You should buy your partner maternal clothes instead. Matagal pa naman pala bago siya manganak. We also have maternal clothes here for male omegas,” the lady suggested.
 
“Talaga po? I’ll check them po,” sagot ni Javi. The lady brought him to a corner of the shop dedicated for maternal clothing.
 
“Your partner is so lucky to have you,” sabi ng babae sa kanya habang abala siya sa pamimili ng mga damit na pwede kay Asa. “You’re dedicated and caring, and I’m sure he will remember everything that you’ve done for him. You’re going to be a great father to your child.”
 
Alanganin na lang na ngumiti si Javi. “Maraming salamat po,” sagot niya.
 
Matapos niyang makapamili ay dumiretso na siya sa condo ni Asa kung saan niya ito naabutan na nakahilata sa sofa, as usual. Agad naman niyang inilapag sa coffee table ang mga dala niya.
 
“Ano ‘yang mga dala mo?” tanong sa kanya ni Asa habang nakatitig sa mga dala nito.
 
“May dala ako ritong mga prutas. Do you want to eat some? I’ll just wash these,” tanong naman ni Javi.
 
“Fruits again? You’re always buying me fruits. I swear I’m going to turn into one if I eat any more of those. Are you even sure they’re fresh? Baka kung saan-saan mo lang ‘to nabili,” replied Asa.
 
“Don’t complain. Also, kilala ko ang nagbebenta niyan. They’re absolutely fresh and cheap. Your supermarkets always overprice everything,” Javi answered. “Besides, they’re not for you. They’re for the baby.”
 
Asa stared at him flatly. “For the baby? What do you want me to do, shove them up my—”
 
“HEY!”
 
Javi immediately covered Asa’s mouth with his hand, muffling whatever obscenity he was about to utter. He just stared at Asa irately as the latter slapped his hand away.
 
“The baby will hear you!” Javi told Asa indignantly. “Seriously, you should refrain from cursing so much. I don’t want the baby to grow up with such a rash, uncontrollable mouth.”
 
Asa just rolled his eyes.
 
“I also bought books about pregnancy and child-rearing,” dagdag pa ni Javi. “You should read them para naman may alam ka kung paano alagaan ang sarili mo at ang bata. You should’ve bought these the moment na naisipan mong magpabuntis.”
 
“Bakit ako lang? Bibili ka nito tapos ako ang magbabasa?” sagot ni Asa.
 
“You’re just gonna shoo me away once the baby is born, so there’s no point for me to read that. Maganda rin na mag-practice ka na kung paano magpalit ng diaper ng baby. There are lots of skills that you should learn before you finally give birth. Hindi dahil buntis ka, wala ka nang gagawin,” Javi said.
 
“Pinapatamaan mo ako?” singhal ni Asa.
 
“Wala akong sinabi,” sagot naman agad ni Javi.
 
The latter opened the last paper bag. “Bumili rin ako ng mga damit na magagamit mo kapag lumaki pa lalo ang tiyan mo. Binili ko ang mga ‘to sa shop na malapit lang dito. The owner even gave me a discount. These’ll look cute on you,” he said with a wide smile, showing Asa the clothes that he bought.
 
“Why did you even bother buying me these?” Asa said as he inspected the clothes. “You should’ve just told me na bibili ka. I could’ve bought these myself. You don’t have to spend your money on me.”
 
“Don’t worry. Sweldo ko naman na. Besides, I don’t want to rely too much on the money that you gave me. More importantly, awkward naman kung pera mo ang gagamitin ko para bilhin ‘yan. At least I bought something for you for a change,” Javi said.
 
Nagkunwari na lang si Asa na sinisipat nang maayos ang mga biniling damit ni Javi para itago ang mukha niyang namula bigla.
 
“Balak ko sanang bilhan ka ng duster, kaso baka hindi mo magustuhan kaya ‘yan na lang ang binili ko,” sabi ni Javi habang sinusukat ni Asa ang mga binili niyang damit.
 
“Buti naman. Ikaw sana ang pinagsuot ko kung ganoon ang binili mo,” sagot naman ni Asa. “Just because I’m an omega doesn’t mean I love to wear cute or girly clothes. Obvious naman siguro ang fashion taste ko doon sa mga damit na ipinadala ko sa ‘yo.”
 
It’s actually one of the things about Asa that surprised Javi. Omegas usually wear clothes fitting for their pretty faces: cute ones, girly ones, and other similar clothing. Asa’s fashion taste, on the other hand, borders between leather jackets and sleek, semi-formal coats. His clothing is just a little manlier compared to the fashion preferences of his fellow omegas. ‘Yun din ang rason kung bakit hindi nahirapan si Javi na suutin ang mga damit na ipinadala sa kanya ni Asa noon.
 
Shorts at tank tops lang siguro ang pinaka-girly sa mga damit ni Asa. Even so, bihira lang din siyang magsuot ng ganoon. Kapag nandito siya sa condo niya ay halos maghapon lang siyang naka-pajamas o kaya naman ay nagsusuot siya ng maluluwag na sweatshirts. Javi bought loose sweatshirts and t-shirts for Asa’s maternal clothes. They’re big enough to accommodate Asa’s baby bump in the future, at kahit manganak na siya ay masusuot pa niya ang mga ito.
 
“They also have clothes and accessories for babies,” sabi ni Javi matapos niyang maitabi ang lahat ng pinamili niya. “We should go there kapag malapit ka nang manganak para makapamili ka talaga ng gusto mo.”
 
“Yeah. I’ll do that. Actually, I’ve been thinking of buying new clothes, too. After ng appointment ko bukas sa doktor, I’ll buy some more clothes,” sabi ni Asa.
 
“You have an appointment?”
 
Sakto naman na lumabas mula sa kwarto ni Asa si Harold. “Tapos na akong mag-ayos, sir,” sabi niya. “Hello rin, Javi.”
 
Javi waved at him. “You look so exhausted. What did you do?” tanong niya.
 
“Pinaayos ko lang ang kwarto ko. I want it to look and feel brighter and a bit more spacious. A change in your room’s atmosphere can significantly influence your mood,” Asa said.
 
“I see.”
 
“Also, kagaya ng sabi ko, may appointment ako bukas. I think they’ll perform ultrasound—”
 
“Can I come with you?” sabi naman agad ni Javi.
 
“I was actually going to ask you kung gusto mong sumama. After ng appointment ko, mamimili naman ako ng dagdag na mga damit. Mas mabuti nang mamili tayo ngayong hindi pa ako nahihirapang maglakad. Kailangan ko ng taga-bitbit ng mga bibilhin ko,” sabi ni Asa.
 
“Of course I’ll come with you!” Javi replied right away. “I’ll finally see my beautiful baby for the first time,” he added, stroking Asa’s baby bump and smiling at it.
 
“Good. Magpunta ka nang maaga rito bukas,” sagot naman ni Asa. “Now put all these things aside and start preparing our dinner. Gusto kong kumain ng tinola,” dagdag pa niya sabay turo sa kusina.
 
Javi picked up the bags on the coffee table. “Masusunod po, sir. May ipag-uutos pa po ba kayo sa inyong abang tagapag-lingkod?” sabi niya.
 
Asa threw a pillow at him. “Akala ko ba napagkasunduan natin na pwede kitang gawing utusan? Nagrereklamo ka na?” tanong niya.
 
“Of course not!” Javi replied before walking away. “Jeez. Why are you always in such a bad mood? It doesn’t suit your pretty face at all. You should smile more often.”
 
“Why are you always smiling like an idiot?” the guy on the sofa snapped back at him. “It doesn’t suit your ugly face at all.”