Bedroom Negotiations - Gold (Self-published)

22

I stared at Dustin before I started laughing like crazy. "Ano ka ba?" I said pushing him off me. "Nagkaroon ako. Alam mo naman 'yun, 'di ba? Are you that desperate to be a father that you'd imagine a woman's pregnancy?"

Dustin, however, was unfazed. "Babe, look, you could be spotting that's why you thought na meron ka. You told me na hindi gan'un kalakas, 'di ba?"

"I know what spotting is. Hindi naman talaga kalakasan ang period ko unlike some women na sobrang heavy mag-mens."

"Pwede rin kasi na sa sobrang kagustuhan mong magkaroon ay kahit alam mong hindi naman normal na mens 'yun ay iniisip mong period mo—"

"Dustin, stop it! Hindi ka na nakakatuwa. Why would you keep on insisting na buntis ako? I would know, right, if I am pregnant or not? Katawan ko 'to."

Dustin nodded patiently. "I know and I understand that you're scared of the idea. Kaya gusto kitang ipatingin. Hindi naman lihim sa'yo na gusto kong magkaroon tayo ng baby but more than that mas concerned ako kung anong nangyayari sa'yo. I am more concerned if that light bleeding should be a cause for alarm."

I stared uncomprehendingly at him.

"Babe, we're sexually active and I admit that when you started having mood swings, I dared to hope na meron. Pero, tama ka, katawan mo 'yan kaya mas alam mo. Ang sa akin lang, hindi normal 'yung bleeding between periods. That could be a sign of infection."

"How the hell do you know these things?"

"I was playing with the idea of becoming a doctor because that's what my parents wanted. So, I started reading their books which I found fascinating. Nagbago lang naman ang isip ko sa pagiging doktor n'ung nasa teens na ako because I met—" He cleared his throat. "What I'm trying to say is, ano bang mawawala kung magpatingin tayo, 'di ba?"

"I couldn't wrap my head around the idea na ginusto mong maging doktor noon and you're well-versed in women's menses."

He smiled. "I was curious about how kids were made and you cannot satisfy that curiosity without knowing women's periods and what happens inside them."

I rolled my eyes at him. "That explains a lot kung bakit ka manyak."

"Babe, naman..."

"Look, Dust, 'yung mood swings ko na sinasabi mo? Dahil lang ito sa stress. Sobrang stressed ako sa work. Sinabi ko naman sa'yo na kung may mabuo man, and hopefully ay wala, paninindigan ko. Pero, alam ko sa sarili ko na hindi ako buntis," I insisted.

He hugged me to his chest.

"Hindi nga ako buntis!" I repeated firmly.

He didn't reply.

"Dustin!"

"You've gained weight—"

"Are you calling me fat?!"

He laughed softly. "Babe, no. Besides, kahit tumaba ka, ikaw pa rin ang pipiliin ko. Wala naman akong pakialam sa timbang mo basta akin ka."

"Hindi ako buntis at kaya lang ako tumataba because you're endlessly feeding me!"

"Okay."

"Hindi nga ako buntis!"

Pucha, dapat yata itinuloy ko 'yung plano ko noon na magpa-check-up. Bakit ba kasi sobrang busy ko? Pati 'yung leave ko ipina-cancel ko pa. Eh, 'di, sana natampal ko na kay Montemayor 'yung resulta ng check-up na 'yun!

"Kalma na."

"Naiintindihan mo naman kung bakit ayaw kong magbuntis, hindi ba?"

"'Yung totoo? Hindi ko sigurado what your reason really is. Ang sabi mo noon ay pakiramdam mo hindi bagay sa'yo ang maging ina and I respect that. Although, sa tingin ko, kung ganito ka na ka-nurturing sa akin ay siguro mas nurturing ka pa sa magiging baby natin. But, that's just me."