Kabanata 34
The boy is mine
It was three o'clock in the morning when I woke up feeling hungry.
Bumangon ako, tumihaya naman si Daxiel na katabi ko sa pagtulog. His eyes were open, it seemed like he was waiting for me to wake up. Naupo naman siya sa kama.
"Hm, craving for something?"
Tumango ako bilang sagot.
He got up of the bed really fast. Kinuha niya ang roba at pinasuot iyon sa akin.
Nakagawian ko nang gumising sa madaling araw para kumain. Madalas ko ring gisingin si Daxiel para ipagluto ako ng pagkain o kaya naman ibili ako ng gusto ko sa madaling araw.
Sometimes, I tried to sneak quietly not to wake him up. But he would always catch me in the act. Kapag nagising ako ay nagigising din siya para pagsilbihan ako sa mga gusto ko.
Malaki na ang baby bump ko sa dalawang ipinagbubuntis ko...
I was getting big as well.
Minsan naiiyak na lang ako dahil pakiramdam ko maraming nagbago sa aking katawan at hindi na ako ganoon kaganda. The pregnancy was humbling me. Daxiel kept reassuring me I am beautiful and the changes in my body are as beautiful as it was.
"What do you want to eat, baby?"
"Adobo..." I trailed off. "With abs."
Pinaupo naman niya ako sa isang stool chair na hindi kataasan. Bahagyang kumunot ang kanyang noo at tumawa.
"With abs?" pag-uulit niya.
"I want to see you cooking with abs."
"Is that our babies' request or just mommy's request?" He teased.
Ngumuso naman ako. "Hindi mo na ba ako mahal?"
Mas lalo siyang ngumisi at hinubad ang suot niyang shirt. He wasn't really wearing a shirt when he was sleeping, but he wore as we left the room. Baka lamigin siya ng bahagya.
Lumuhod naman siya upang haplusin ang parang bola kong tiyan. He gave kisses on my tummy.
"Hindi ka ba lalamigin?" I pouted.
Dinampian niya ng halik ang nakanguso kong labi. He shook his head and went to the fridge to look for the ingredients of my food request. Pinanood ko lang siyang gumalaw sa kusina.
Sa abs pa lang niya at seryosong ekspresyon niya habang nagluluto, busog na ako.
I loved how serious he was with the task at hand.
How lucky I am that the boy is mine. Scratch that, the man is mine.
Mas lalo siyang pumogi sa paningin ko. Attentive na asawa ang datingan niya. Hindi pa naman kami mag-asawang dalawa, roommates pa lang kami na mayroong padating na blessings.
Humagikhik ako kaya napatingin siya sa akin.
"Hm?" His brow rose.
I bit my lower lip to suppress my giggles and shook my head slightly.
"Don't be conscious, I love watching you cook for me." I said with a smile.
Pinag-aralan niya ang pagluluto noong mga panahong magkahiwalay kaming dalawa at nanatili siya sa penthouse. Simula nang magkaroon kami ng relasyon, he's been consistent with his efforts.
Mas lalo akong nabusog sa aroma ng adobo. Pinaghain niya ako nang matapos siyang magluto.
"I'm already full..."
Nagsalubong ang kanyang kilay. "How come? You haven't eaten anything yet. May iba bang gusto ang babies natin? Do you crave for something else? Do you want a takeout instead?"
Tumayo naman ako para bigyan siya ng halik sa labi. But with a big baby bump, it kept us apart. Natawa naman siya at hinawakan ang baby bump ko. Siya nang humalik sa akin nang masuyo.
"Thank you, mahal." I said in between our kisses. "For the food, and mostly, for your patience with me."
"Everything for you, Millaray."
I moved the plate in front of him.
"Please eat this for me..." Ngumiti ako. "Busog na ako nang panoorin kita habang nagluluto, sa abs mo pa lang... Ang bango rin ng aroma."
Wala naman siyang nagawa kung hindi umupo sa tapat ko para lalong mapanood ko ang kanyang pagkain.
I stared at him, smiling.
Sometimes, I would ask him to kiss me to taste the food on his mouth.
Hindi ko rin alam ang trip ng magiging anak namin. Totoo namang gutom ako kanina pero nang matapos na siyang magluto, busog na ako. Nakakabusog naman talaga ang kanyang abs at kagwapuhan.
"Are you sure you don't want to eat anything?" Muling tanong niya naman.
Umiling ako bilang sagot.
He gave me a peck on the lips.
Once he was done eating, he cleaned the dishes.
Tumayo naman ako at lumapit sa kanya. Niyakap ko siya mula sa likuran. Nanatili ako sa ganoong posisyon habang naghuhugas siya ng mga plato. Nagpahid siya ng basang kamay bago humarap sa akin.
Daxiel kept caressing my baby bump.
Inilagay niya ang aking kamay sa kanyang balikat samantalang nakahawak naman siya sa aking baywang. Marahan niya akong isinayaw ng bahagya sa kusina ng walang tugtog.
He was just smiling at me.
Gosh, sobrang pogi!
I could cry... and I did.
"Hey, why are you crying?" Halata ang pag-aalala sa boses ni Daxiel.
Umiling naman ako. "Wala lang. You're so handsome! Sana magmana sa'yo ang anak natin."
"I want our kids to look like a version of you, Millaray. I'm sure they would be beautiful or handsome." Hinaplos niya ang aking pisngi.
Hindi pa namin alam ang gender ng aming babies, napag-usapan naming sabay namin iyong aalamin sa gender reveal party. I am coordinating with his friends' wives about the party, they are happy to help me plan the party.
Simpleng selebrasyon lang ang gusto ko, tamang kasama lang namin ang mga kaibigan para sa espesyal na araw sa aming dalawa. We don't have families to invite, anyway.
We hired a private investigator to unfold the identity of my father. Things were easier with money. Within a few months, there was already a result of my biological father but he was long dead.
Taon na rin ang lumipas sa paghimlay niya. I found out I had siblings with him. To confirm, a DNA test was conducted. It was positive. Nakilala ko ang totoo kong ama at hanggang doon lang iyon.
I never wanted to have a relationship.
Matagal na panahon naman akong nabuhay na walang gabay mula sa aking ama, gusto ko lang talagang tuldukan ang mga katanungan sa aking pagkatao at para na rin mayroon akong sagot kung sakaling maitanong iyon ng aming mga anak.
I finally had closure with my own identity. I was thankful for his genes.
Naakit ko lang naman ang business tycoon na patay na patay sa akin.
I am more focus on the family I'm creating with Daxiel.
With our past experiences on the kind of parents that we had, we know the things to avoid in raising our kids. Hindi namin ipaparanas sa mga anak namin ang mga naranasan namin habang lumalaki.
Muli niya akong isinayaw.
Napuno nang halakhak ang kusina nang bumangga ang baby bump ko sa kanya, nagbago naman kami ng tayo na dalawa. Nakatalikod ako habang magkahawak ang aming kamay sa harap.
We were swaying in small moves.
Nanlaki naman ang mga mata ko at pareho kaming napatigil nang makaramdam ng paggalaw sa aking tiyan. We felt another kick from my womb.
Oh my gosh!
"Mahal, did you feel our little fellas kicking inside my womb?"
Iniharap naman niya ako at tumango. Bumalatay ang masayang ekspresyon sa kanyang mukha. Agad niyang binigyan nang masuyong halik ang aking noo.
Yumuko siya at dumako sa aking tiyan. Pinaulanan niya ng halik ang baby bump ko.
It was a joyous encounter.
"I'm so excited to meet you both, my babies..." malambing na wika ni Daxiel.
Me, too.
Ngiting - ngiti si Daxiel nang muling sumipa ang nasa sinapupunan ko. Patuloy siya sa pagkausap, tumutugon naman ang anak namin sa pamamagitan ng galaw. I was smiling so hard at their interaction.
***
"Ma'am Olga!" sigaw ni Maricel. Napanguso ako. "Sinabing 'wag na po kayong tumayo, kami nang bahala! Baka mapaano pa kayo ng babies," pagalit niya sa akin.
Muli naman akong napaupo at pinanood sila. I was told not to do anything.
Imbes na kunsintihin ako sa kagustuhan kong tumulong, pinagalitan naman ako ni Maricel.
I wanted to help them with the set-up. Even my girl friends weren't accepting my help.
"Bakit nakasimangot ang baby ko?" Daxiel sat beside me.
"They don't want to let me help," sumbong ko sa kanya.
Hinawakan naman niya ang aking kamay at hinalikan ang likod nito.
"They don't want you to be tired, baby. You're carrying twins, remember? They are just looking out for you. Don't be sad. We'll know the gender today, aren't you excited?" He was smiling from ear to ear asking me the question.
I admit they were reasonable.
Mas lalong bumibigat ang aking dinadala sa pagdaan ng bawat araw. Isang putok ni Daxiel, dalawa agad ang nabuo. I was still trying to do normal things instead of lying in bed all day.
Daxiel and I would do exercise whenever I can.
Lately, I'm getting more tired with more back pain.
Nahihirapan din ako sa pagtulog sa bigat ng dalawang buhay na nasa sinapupunan ko. Alagang - alaga naman ako ni Daxiel. Paminsan - minsan na lang siyang pumasok sa trabaho para kasama ko siya palagi.
I gained weight with two babies needing sustenance.
It was getting harder for me each day.
Naintindihan ko naman kung bakit ayaw na nila akong patulungin para sa party. Patuloy naman akong inaliw ng boyfriend ko. Kapag na-reveal nang gender ng aming mga supling, we could start thinking of names for our twins.
Simple lang ang naging selebrasyon kasama ang mga kaibigan naming tumulong para isagawa ang party.
Napaiyak naman ako sa naturang set-up na pre-nepare ng mga kaibigan namin. Napakaraming pagkain na niluto nina Maricel para sa lahat. Mayroon ding takeout orders sa restaurants.
We're going to do popping of a big balloon.
Before that, the photographers took picture of me and Daxiel first.
Agad naman akong ngumiti sa camera, hawak naming pareho ni Daxiel ang baby bump ko.
My boyfriend booked a prenatal photoshoot for me. I didn't want to do it at first. The pregnancy was humbling me so bad. Biglang nagbago ang aking katawan sa isang iglap.
I was not feeling pretty the past months.
With Daxiel's assurance, it lessened my burden.
"Are you ready?" Jandro asked, he served as the host of the party.
Marami siyang baong jokes na umani naman ng halakhak sa madla.
Sumulyap naman sa akin si Daxiel, siya ang bahalang pumutok sa lobo, magaling naman siya roon. Pati ako'y naputukan niya.
Our hands were intertwined. Pinisil ko ang kamay naming magkahugpo at tumango.
I am hoping for a boy and a girl, a mini version of us.
He popped the balloon.
Only blue confetti fell out. Both our babies are boys.
We all cheered.
Niyakap naman agad ako ni Daxiel sa saya. Mas lalo akong natawa nang muntikan pa niya akong buhatin, hindi yata niya naalalang buntis ako. Although I wanted a girl, I am happy with twin boys, too.
I was a bit emotional and excited for my babies to come out.
Wala man lang akong kakampi sa aming pamamahay. I am outnumbered by our growing family.
"Congrats, Olga!"
The girls pulled me aside to hug me one by one, they were gushing over the good news that I was having two boys.
The kids hugged me as well. They were slightly massaging my belly.
Dinaluhan naman ako nina Maricel at Jemaima na tuwang - tuwa sa magiging anak namin ni Daxiel. I was so happy to celebrate this milestone with them. They were very loyal to me.
I let our visitors have fun and enjoy the dishes prepared for them. Buong pagtitipon namang nakasunod sa akin si Daxiel para alalayan ako sa bawat galaw ko. Kulang na lang buhatin niya mismo ang baby bump ko.
We ate and laughed for the whole day.
It was a good time.
The next thing we did was a prenatal photoshoot my boyfriend booked for me. I had chosen my outfits ahead of time. The others didn't need one aside from undergarment.
Sinubukan ko iyong nude prenatal shoot na madalas gawin ng mga artista, suportado naman ako ni Daxiel. I gained back my confidence in doing so having a supportive boyfriend.
I didn't want it at first but I realized I might regret not doing it later in life.
Wala pa kaming plano ni Daxiel para sa sunod na anak. Our first came into two, we might not be having anytime soon. I set aside my growing insecurities to have good pictures to look back.
It fueled me more that Daxiel was looking at me like he was ready to impregnate me again. It was so hot and full of desire. To make him satisfied, I let him fuck me in my mouth.
I was missing our sexcapades but it was a bit uncomfortable for me with my baby bump. He didn't want to take me for safety reasons. Madalas ay pinaliligaya lang niya ako ng kanyang kamay na pinaglalaruan ang pagitan ng aking hita.
Good thing, sinulit namin ang pagtatalik bago ako magdalang-tao.
Sinunod namin ang payo ng doctor. I was scheduled for a cesarean section instead of normal delivery. Mas natakot si Daxiel na umere ako ng normal para sa dalawang anak namin.
He accompanied me to the delivery room, talking to me with sweet nothing.
Hindi naman ako natakot dahil alam kong and'yan siya para sa tabi ko. He would never leave my side.
That day, we met our twins.
Daxiel Oliver III and Daxiel Miller III.
My three Daxiels.