November 1983
Almost a year after, the Ventura-Manalo newlyweds had started a family with their first child.
Ka. Eduardo had just finished his errands from the ministry at deretsong sumakay sa sasakyan from his office after being notified by his sister, Eileen, that his wife is already awake at nandyan na rin yung baby nila.
"Lance, salamat sa paghatid." sabi ng Ka. Eduardo as they reached the hospital's entrance, his driver nodded with a smile as thanks and drove off.
Habang naglalakad papunta sa naka-assign na kwarto, 'di niya maiiwasang mararamdaman yung kaba.
But all of his fears have casted away when he opened the door his sisters, Eileen and Beth, sitting on both sides of the bed with Lynn cradling a baby in her arms - creating a beautiful image with it's bright glow coming from the curtained windows of the room.
"Congrats kuya!" his sisters approaching their big brother with a hug.
"Salamat! Salamat sa inyo sa pagbabantay kay Lynn," sambit ng Ka. Eduardo while hugging them back.
"No worries naman, kuya!" sabi ni
"Anak! Nandito na si Daddy, oh!" Lynn cooed, pointing at her husband who's moving slowly towards her.
"Musta ka na?" Ka. Eduardo asked softly while combing her hair with his fingers and planted a kiss on her cheek and forehead.
"Masakit, nakakapagod... pero salamat sa Ama. Nakaraos na din. At..." Lynn paused, a soft smile forming on her lips, "ang ganda ni baby girl natin." tugon neto.
"Pasensya na, sweetheart." malambing na sambit ng Ka. Eduardo, "Hindi kasi kita maabutan nung manganganak ka kagabi." he sighed.
Lynn made a soft giggle, "Dear, 'di na kailangan. Ang importante, nandito ka na. Makakasama mo na din si baby."
Mas lalong nawalan ng angas neto as his gaze shifted at his daughter's face– so small and adorable, "Hi, anak... nandito na si Daddy." Ka. Eduardo cooed, lightly caressing the baby's hair down to her plumpy cheek.
He slid his index finger on the baby's hand na bumuka eto ng kusa.
"Ang liit ng kamay niya, dear!" sabi ni Lynn, "Hi, Daddy! Happy to meet you!" said in her babied voice.
When she said that, the baby formed a smile na nagpangiti rin sa mag-asawa.
"Awwwwww..." Lynn cooed, giving a buzz on her daughter's forehead with the tip of her nose.
"Ganda ng ngiti niya! Manang-mana talaga sa'yo, Lynn." sabi ng Ka. Eduardo.
"At syempre, yung pagiging bungisngis niya— sayo talaga nanggaling, dear." pag-describe naman ni Lynn habang tinitigan yung anak nila.
Di maiiwasang ngumiti na may halong kilig ang magkakapatid na Eileen at Beth na pagmasdan ang kuya and their manugang having a moment with their niece.
"Uyyyyy! So sweet!" they exclaimed. The couple just laughed at their reaction.
"Ay, wait!" panimula ni Beth, "Ano pala ipapangalan ninyo sa pamangkin natin?" tanong niya na napapaisip ng madaming ideas ang mag-asawa.
"Hmmm... let see."
⋆ ☀︎ ⋆
Hours passed, nagawa na nilang i-fill up yung form para sa birth certificate of their baby girl with the name that was given from both mother and father: Gemma Minna Manalo.
Panay asikaso naman ang Ka. Eduardo sa asawa niya - with the help of his sisters, syempre, bilang pambawi habang binabantay nila si Gemma, who's sleeping peacefully in her bassinet.
*knock knock knock~*
"Come in." sabi ng Ka. Eduardo at bungad ng pagbukas ng pintuan ay yung nurse.
"Good morning po mga ma'am at sir, may mga bisita po kayo ngayon." pagbati neto, signaling her hand as she stepped back for someone to come inside.
"Hello hello hello to the newlyweds!" a broad man's voice called as he entered the room with his family– revealing to be Ferdinand, Imelda, and their children.
"Tito! Tita!" the surprised Eileen and Beth hurriedly walking towards the First Couple sabay mano at yakap naman para sa magkakapatid na Imee, Bongbong, at Irene. They also noticed a cute little girl na nagtatago sa likod ni Imelda.
"Hope we don't mind bringing little Aimee here." sambit ni Ferdinand with his one hand motioning for her to greet them.
"Siya po pala si Little Aimee? Ang cute niya!" sabi ni Eileen.
"Hiiiii baby!" pagbati naman ni Beth.
"Hi po-" a 3-year-old Aimee smiled shyly tapos nagtago ulit sa likod ni mommy Imelda niya, causing others to giggle due to her cuteness.
"Buti, napadaan po kayo rito." wika ni Eileen.
"Syempre naman, 'nak. We wouldn't want to miss this." ani ni Imelda saka binaba yung mga bitbit nilang regalo coming from them.
"Inaanak ko, congratulations!" Ferdinand happily greeted Ka. Eduardo with a handshake and hug.
"Salamat po sa Diyos, ninong!" ani ng inaanak. Yes. The First Couple are included as one of their ninong and ninang sa kasal last year.
"Congratulations to the new mommy!" Irene squealed as she moved towards Lynn with arms open for a gentle hug.
"Rene! Thank you!" sabi ni Lynn.
"Pinagpala ka na talaga, kuyang!" Imee stated jokingly, tumawa na lang ang Ka. Eduardo.
"Oh, where is the- hala!" Irene gasped, with her eyes now glued to the baby in it's bassinet with a smile on the lady's face, "Kuya! Manang! Tignan mo, oh!" she motioned her hand for them to look at the sleeping Gemma.
Sumunod naman sina Imee, Bongbong, Ferdinand at Imelda.
"Babae?" Bongbong asked, ngumiting tumango naman ang Ka. Eduardo bilang sagot.
"Jusmio! Ang ganda-ganda ng inaapo ko!" dagdag ni Imelda.
The baby started to open her eyes slowly then formed a smile as a greeting.
"Awwwww..." the three siblings cooed admiringly.
"Oh, she has the loveliest eyes and smile! Just like her Mommy. Yung pagka-bungisngis naman, mana talaga sa Daddy niya, syempre!" ani ni Ferdinand while observing Gemma's features.
"Agreed!" sagot naman ng tatlo.
"What's her name pala?" tanong ni Imelda.
"Gemma Minna Manalo po." tugon ni Lynn.
"Uy! Bago! Ngayon ko lang yan narinig." Imee chimed in.
"Kami din." dagdag ni Bongbong.
"Gemma means 'jewel' in Germanic origin. Minna means 'love' and 'protection' - also in German. Pag pinagsama, it means: jewel of love and protection." dagdag ng Ka. Eduardo.
"Our little Gemma. Our precious jewel.." sabi naman ni Lynn.
"That's a unique name for your lovely baby, inaanak." ani ni Imelda, ngumiti naman ang mag-asawa as thanks.
Wala pang isang minuto ay nagbabanyagan ang tatlo sa kung sino ang pwedeng maunang hawakan ang baby.
"Ba't ikaw, manang? Baka iiyak yan." sumbat ni Bongbong.
"Oo nga naman. She'll gonna cry when she saw your face, no?" kumampi si Irene.
Napatirik na lang si Imee, "Ay hindi kaya. Sa gandang taglay neto? Baka sa mukha mo pa lang Bonget, iiyak na yan!"
"Luh. Assuming mo naman manang." belat naman ni BBM.
Tahimik na nagsisitawanan naman ang magkakapatid na Eduardo, Eileen, at Beth sa bardagulan nila.
"Eileen, pwede mong dalhin si Gemma dito?" pakiusap ni Lynn.
"Of course!" her sister-in-law whispered as she made tip-toes across the room at dahan-dahan niya 'tong binuhat.
"Thank you!" said Lynn, now carrying her daughter.
"Come here nga," Ka. Eduardo motioned his hand for little Aimee na napansin nina Ferdinand at Imelda.
"Go lang!" Imelda gave her bunso a nod. Aimee went towards the bed saka binuhat ng Ka. Eduardo for her to have a closer look.
"Baby?" turo ni Aimee, tumango naman ang Ka. Eduardo, "Hiiiii! I'm your ate Aimee." she greeted cutely as she leaned forward and was about to give Gemma a kiss.
"Aimee, sa forehead lang. Wag sa lips, okay?" sambit ni Lynn, tumango na lang ang bata sabay kiss sa noo.
Lynn cuddled the little girl closer which it was noticed by the three.
"Luh! Kuyang! Ba't kay Aimee, pwedeng lapitan at hawakan si Gemma? Pag sa amin, hindi?!" reklamo ni Imee sabay cross ng arms neto.
"Oo nga!" dagdag ni Irene.
"Infairness, pwede gawing panganay si Aimee dyan." sabi naman ni Bongbong, looking at the Ventura-Manalo family with Aimee in the picture.
"Hay naku. Ang daldal naman ninyo kase," Lynn stated jokingly that made everyone in the room laugh.
❛ ━━━━━━･ ❁ ･━━━━━━ ❜
Happy weekend eberiwan! Walang proofreed na nagaganap dyan!