Under His Hoodie

Special Chapter

I pricked my fork on a sliced watermelon once more, dipping in fish sauce after. "It's good. Try mo, anak."

Tapos ay inilapit ko sa bibig ni Kye ngunit umiling ito agad. "It's kadiri po."

I chuckled and patted his head. My son gave me a curious stare as it went down to my tummy. He looked adorable when his little brows wrinkled. "Mommy, are you pregnant po?"

"No, marshmallows." Kinurot ko ang pisngi niya. I was surprised but I didn't let it show on my face. But I couldn't lie to my son. Agad kong binawi ang sinabi. "Okay, fine. Do not tell anyone, anak, okay?" sabi ko.

He nodded his head, eyes sparkling. "Opo."

"Mommy is pregnant, you're now a kuya . . ."

Grade one na si Kye ngayong taon. I couldn't believe that my son was getting older. Parang kinikiliti ang tiyan ko sa tuwa ngunit may parte rin sa akin na nalulungkot. Kapag tumanda na siya, hindi na siya magiging clingy sa aming dalawa ni Nazareth. Pero mas lamang sa akin na nagagalak na masubaybayan ang anak kapag nagbinata na. Hahabulin kaya siya ng mga babae? O ang anak ko ang mananakit? Looking at him now, I couldn't imagine it yet!

Nazareth's birthday was fast approaching. His birthday was after Christmas. Nitong nakaraang taon ay sinasabay na lang namin ang birthday niya sa Pasko. He liked it better, though. He did not complain.

"Love, what's your gift for me? Hmm?" he asked. I was lying in his arms while we were watching a movie in our room. Sumimangot ako sa kaniya.

"It's a surprise."

Ngumisi siya. "Just a hint?"

"Hint or no surprise at all?"

"Okay, no hint."

"You're so annoying."

He kissed my cheeks gently. "Bakit ka galit?"

"Ikaw kasi."

"Oo nga. Ako kasi." He chuckled. "I love you, love."

"Okay."

"What?" His brows met. "Okay?"

"Nanonood tayo. Hindi ko na maintindihan!" reklamo ko.

"Gusto lang kitang lambingin."

"We're watching, Nazareth."

"Sige. Pasensya na."

His lips pressed into a thin line. Nagtagal ang titig niya sa akin na tila pinagmamasdan akong mabuti. He shook his head then after that he stood up. Halos maestatwa ako. Kahit nang pumasok siya sa banyo at narinig ko na ang pagbuhos ng tubig, hindi ko mapigilang . . . manibago.

It was my mood swings kicking in, but I didn't expect he would . . . actually . . . be mad. Because I knew him as someone who didn't get mad that easily. Hinintay ko siyang makalabas ng banyo para sana mag-sorry. Pero sa tagal niya roon ay hindi ko napansing nakatulog ako. Kinabukasan ay wala na siya. Nasa trabaho na.

This wasn't the first time that we had a fight. Kahit anong relasyon, may pinagaawayan, maliit man o malaki. Pero lagi naming naaayos iyon agad. Napag-uusapan. Hindi namin pinapalipas ang gabi na magkagalit kami sa isa't isa. Pero ito . . . the sun was already gleaming from above, but we hadn't fixed our fight last night.

"Si Nazareth?" tanong ko kay Angelita.

Nagkibit-balikat ito. "Maagang umalis, sismars. Parang wala sa mood. Nag-away ba kayo?"

I smiled a little which I knew she already noticed.

"Naku, kaya ayoko mag-asawa!" sabi niya. "Fleng-fleng lang dapat!"