Begin Again

Chapter 23

Clark and Leah exchanged a guilty look. They had meant to start a few weeks ago but their schedules never lined up and they've been kind of putting it off. They thought they had more time.

"Medyo naging busy po kami..." Leah said.

"As soon as possible, mag-attend na kayo," the doctor said. "Mid-third trimester na kayo at magiging sobrang uncomfortable na para sa inyo habang lumalaki ang baby niyo at bumababa na siya para mag-position for birth."

"Opo, gagawin po namin." Leah nodded.

"Okay, Mrs., tandaan niyo: bedrest, uminom ng maraming tubig, at huwag masyadong magpa-stress. Sa tingin ko makakaabot rin kayo sa due date niyo." She smiled reassuringly at them.

"Thank you, Doctor," Clark said gratefully.

Leah kissed his hand and cried happily, the relief they felt was overwhelming. CJ was still safe inside of her.

Week 35

"Inhale...1...2...3...and exhale..."

Leah did as instructed and felt Clark breathing behind her, her back to his chest, their hands intertwined.

"Now with each inhale, I want you to visualize your focal point. Concentrate on it until it is all you can see. It will help you block out the pain."

They had agreed that Leah's focal point will be Clark's stuffed dog. Something that had good memories associated with it and that they could bring to the hospital with them. She tried to visualize it but it was hard to take this seriously when she currently wasn't in any pain. And she could feel the vibrations of the laughter that Clark was trying, and failing, to suppress on her back.

"Clark, ano ba!" She hissed. "Mag-seryoso ka!"

"Look at that guy," he whispered.

He lifted their hands in the direction of a very large and muscular tatooed guy holding his tall but very thin wife in his arms. He had his eyes closed and was taking the breathing and visualizations techniques very seriously, like he would be the one giving birth. In all honesty, he looked more pregnant than his wife did and Leah couldn't stop the little giggle that escaped her lips. She elbowed Clark.

When the session finally ended, Leah and Clark made their way out of the studio.

"I'm hungry," Clark announced. "Japanese?"

Leah pouted. "Di ako pwede kumain ng sushi."

"Yeah, but there's a ton of other food you can eat."

"Pero nakakalungkot kapag nakikita ko."

"How about a buffet?" He suggested. "They have all types of food."

"Mapapakain ako ng marami kapag buffet."

"Okay, what do you want?"

"Gusto ko...gusto ko..." Leah thought.

A little boy holding his mother's hand and with a red balloon tied to his wrist passed them on the sidewalk.

"Gusto ko ng Burger Steak!" Leah said brightly.

"Seriously?" Clark made a face.

"Bakit?"

"Leah, there are a ton of restaurants here. We don't have to eat fast food. How about pasta?"

"Gusto ko talaga ng Burger Steak. Sige na, Hubby..." she tugged on his hand. "Sige na."

He sighed. "You were watching that Jollibee commercial of that love team again weren't you?"

Leah blushed. It was a sweet but sappy commercial that never failed to make her cry. She had even downloaded it to her phone. She needed it...for research. It was a good advertising campaign, after all.