Maine's POV
On our way back to Nuvali, Rizza and Celestine never stops planning on how the gender reveal dinner will be. We all decided to have an intimate dinner with the whole family only plus few of our chosen friends for this milestone. We are not a celebrity to have a grand gender reveal party. The more lowkey it is, much better for us.
“Maybe we could have a stick wherein at the tip there is a lip or a mustache, then we will have our guest get two sticks each, depends on their guess on the babies’ gender” Rizza suggested. “Then the revelation will be on the cake, ako na ang bahalang gumawa nun Ate Maine, I just need lots and lots of nips since isa naman yung sa pinaglihihan mo”
“Then we will have reward for those guest who guess it correctly” Celestine added
“Very clever baby Celestine, a reward would add more fun in it” Rizza said
“Ikaw na ang bahala Rizza, I leave all the preparation to you, kung ako kasi ang gagawa nun malamang wala pang Friday, mabubuko na ng Kuya mo yung gender ng babies” I said
“Mukhang excited ang apo ko sa pagdating ng kambal” Nanay Mary said while Rizza and Celestine continue discussion about the dinner
“Mas excited pa nga yan kesa sa amin ni RJ” I replied
“She is very fortunate to have a family such as yours anak. Napakaswerte mo kay RJ” Nanay Mary commented “I could say na hindi kami nagkamali sa desisyon namin na ipakasal kayo. I admit, ang laki ng takot ko nung pumayag ka sa arrangement na ‘to. Hindi ko kasi alam kung paano kayo mamumuhay sa ganong sitwasyon. Pero mukhang kaming lahat ang ginamit ng tadhana para mapagtagpo kayong dalawa.” She further said
“Tama ka po Nay, wala talagang makakapigil sa tadhana eh” I replied smiling
“At wala kayong nagawa nung na in love na kayo sa isa’t-isa” Nanay Mary replied. “Ngayon, hindi na ako natatakot, I am so happy for you Menggay ko kasi alam kong hindi ka na mag-isang tatanda, meron nang RJ na mag-aalaga sa yo at mga anak na alam kong mapapalaki mong mabubuting tao” she added
“And it is all because of you and Tatay, kanino ko pa ba malalaman kung paano magpalaki ng maayos sa mga anak kundi sa inyo ni Tatay. Thank you po Nay, you and Tatay are always there for me and Dean and Ate Nica” I said
“I wish you Ate Nica is here to see how happy you are now para hindi na sya ma-guilty sa pag-alis nya at pag-back-out sa kasal nila ni RD” Nanay sadly said
“Ang tagal na nun Nay, sana pauwiin na ni Tatay si Ate Nica at si Lolo Danny sana payagan na rin makabalik ng Pilipinas si Kuya RD. Gusto kasi namin ni RJ na gawin ninong at ninang ng kambal ang mga kapatid namin at para makita na rin nila na may dahilan bakit nangyari ang lahat ng ito. Ate Nica and Kuya RD at not meant to be, same goes with me and Kuya RD because the universe said that it should be RJ and I” I replied
“Sige anak, kakausapin ko ulit si Tatay, baka pwedeng kahit bakasyon lang, makauwi si Ate Nica mo” Nanay said
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As expected, Rizza and I got too busy preparing for the gender reveal dinner, (not much of me pala, baka magalit si Dra. Sanchez … hehehe). Both of us are very careful on the preparation. Masyado kasing smart ang asawa ko, kapag sa bahay naman kami gumawa ni Rizza, malamang mabubuko kami. Pati nga yung cake, Rizza needs to bake it sa house ng friend nya para siguradong walang makakakita.
We prefer not to let Celestine know the gender too, mahirap nang sya ang mag-squeal sa daddy nya. At this point in time, I do not trust that Celestine can keep the secret, hindi marunong magsinungaling ang bagets kaya mas maganda nang wala syang alam.
At hindi rin ako nagkamali ng hinala dahil ang magaling kong asawa, tumawag talaga kay Dra. Sanchez para alamin ang result ng ultra sound ko for the babies’ gender. Mabuti na lang at kabisado ko na ang galawang Richard Faulkerson, Jr., grabe tatlong araw lang naman ang hihintayin, hindi pa makapaghintay.
“I am taking a day off today, how can I help you with the gender reveal dinner” RJ asked
“Everything is set. Thank you for the offer, Faulkerson, Jr.” I replied
“Are you sure? How about yung cake? I can come with Rizza to pick up the cake” he insisted
“Nasa house na nila yung cake, finishing touches na lang ang ginagawa ni Rizza” I said
“How about the balloon, where shall we pick up the balloons?” He asked
“Love, ok na lahat. Naayos na ni Rizza lahat” I said
“Nag-ooffer lang naman ako ng maitutulong ko. Imagine, I even took a day off just to help you here. Anak ko rin naman yang may pa-dinner mamaya” he said
“Walang nagsabi na hindi mo anak ang dahilan ng dinner mamaya, wag nang praning” I said. “Also, Nobody told you na wag pumasok ngayon. Maaga pa naman, pwede ka pang mag-half day” I suggested
“Ayoko nga, Friday ngayon, malamang traffic na pauwi baka ma-late pa ako sa gender revelation. Mukhang kawawa naman ako kapag nagkataon, parang lahat ng tao alam na ang gender ng kambal samantalang ako na tatay huli sa balita” he said
“Stop strategizing Faulkerson, Jr. I know what you are up to” I said
“Why are you so judgmental Mendoza Girl? I just want to be part of the preparation” he insisted
“Not me Faulkerson, Jr.,” I said. “Ano ka ba naman, konting oras na lang hindi ka pa makapaghintay. Patience my love, patience” I said, gently tapping his cheek
“That patience is starting to kill me” RJ replied
“Why don’t you go with Celestine somewhere else para makapag-ayos kami dito ni Rizza nang matiwasay at hindi nyo naiistorbong mag-ama” I suggested
“Do I have a choice my love?” RJ sweetly asked
“Of course you have a choice my love” I sweetly replied “You have a choice on where to bring Celestine as long as both of you leave the house as soon as we start preparing for the dinner. Am I understood, MY LOVE?” I sarcastically added
“Alright, hindi naman talaga ako mananalo sa inyo. I’ll just bring Celestine at the arcade later after lunch” RJ replied in surrender. Mabuti na lang mahal ko talaga ‘tong si Faulkerson Jr, ang hirap paliwanagan ah.
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The guests started coming at around six in the evening. RJ and I invited only few close friends plus our family members. We wanted this celebration to be as simple as possible.
Of course hindi mawawala ang dalawa kong kikay na kaibigan, si Hannah at si Camila while RJ invited Mike and Atty Francis, and to my surprise, RJ suggested to invite Jacob too. I’m glad Dra. Sanchez was able to come to grace the event.
Needless to say, we invited them because we choose them to be the ninongs and ninangs of the twins together with Dean and Rizza.
“Anong occasion ba ‘to, gender reveal o baby shower?” Camila asked
“Roll into one, ayoko na ng maraming parties, kaya nga simpleng dinner lang eh” I said
“With all these decorations and festive food on the buffet table, simple celebration pa ang tawag mo dito girl?” Hannah commented
“Si Rizza naman lahat ang nag-arrange nyan, tumulong lang kami ni Nanay” I replied
“Ang bongga talaga ng in-laws mo eh, kung ikaw lang ‘to malamang squid ball na may kasamang gulaman at sago lang handa mo” Hannah replied
“Anong squid ball na may gulaman at sago, sa sobrang kuripot nyang si Menggay, malamang walang ganitong occasion. Remember, yung kay Celestine nga walang ganito eh” Camila said
“Grabe kayo sa akin, alam nyo naman yung sitwasyon nung kay Celestine di ba?” I said
“Oo nga pala, bawal maglustay ng salapi nung mga oras na yun kasi pampagamot ni Olga” Camila said
“Tanong ko lang girl, ano ang ginagawa ni Jacob dito? Baka umusok ilong ni Tisoy kapag nakita nya yan” Hannah asked
“Si RJ nga ang nagpa-imbita dyan, kasi di ba si Jacob ang nagdala sa akin sa hospital nung naaksidente ko sa tracks, tapos sinamahan pa nya si Rizza sa hospital hangga’t hindi dumadating si RJ. Tisoy is just being grateful to Jacob. Also, nirerespeto rin naman ng asawa ko ang friendship namin ni Jacob” I explained
“Eh dun sa dalawang hunk na kausap ni RJ, kelan mo kami balak ipakilala?” Camila asked
“Tumigil ka nga Camila, dinner ‘to para sa kambal ko, hindi acquaintance party. Bring your harot somewhere else, hindi mo pa nga alam kung taken na yang dalawang yan” I said
“Sus eh di aalamin ko mamaya” Camila said
“Hay naku, kumain na nga lang kayo ni Hannah, gutom lang yan. Nakapili na ba kayo ng stick? May prize ang mga makakahula ng tamang gender” I asked
“Of course, boy and girl ang vote ko” Hannah said
“Ako, two girls ang vote ko, para pareho kay Ate Celestine” Camila said
“Naku Camila wag mong ipaparinig yan kay RJ baka himatayin yun” I said
“Yan tayo eh, magpapakasawang humarot tapos ngayon matatakot” Camila commented
“Eh ikaw ba Menggay ano ang gusto mong gender ng babies?” Hannah asked
“Kahit ano basta healthy” I replied
“Letche, ang cliché ng sagot, kairita ka girl” Hannah complained
“Iniisahan mo ako eh, lumaban ka ng patas, hindi biro ang overnight staycation for two na prize ni Rizza, kung ako lang palakpak at thank you lang ang makukuha ng winner” I said
“Ikakabuting tao mo yan Menggay, ipagpatuloy mo yang pagiging kuripot mo. Dasal ko lang wag sanang manahin ng mga anak mo” Camila said
“Ewan ko sa inyo, sige na kumain na kayo at pupuntahan ko lang si Celestine para mapakain ko na muna” I said then I left them to join my in-laws at our table.
I’m glad that everyone enjoyed the food, kasi naman hindi OA ang description ni Hannah na festive ang food sa buffet table, to think less than twenty lang naman kaming kakain eh parang pang 50 pax ang order ni Rizza.
The fun moment started when Rizza ask each one kung ano ang vote nila, of course Dra. Sanchez, Nanay, Rizza and I are not allowed to vote.
“Grabe, overwhelming ang votes for baby boy and baby girl. Mukhang si Ninang Camila lang ang nag wish ng both girls among sa ninongs and ninangs ah, lahat sila lip and mustache and hawak, ikaw lang ang two lips Ninang Camila” Rizza said
“Ayos na yon, para solo ko ang staycation, hindi ko isasama si Hannah” Camila replied
“Si Daddy Ricky kaya ano ang vote?” Rizza asked
“Boy and Girl” Daddy Ricky said smiling while waving his sticks.
“Ate Maine, ang Mendoza family, lip and mustache ang hawak” Rizza said
“Gaya-gaya si Dean kay Tatay” I exclaimed and everyone laughs
“Tatay Teddy, bakit boy and girl ang choice mo po?” Rizza asked Tatay
“Para pantay, girl ang gusto ni Mary, ako naman boy ang gusto ko. Boy and girl na lang para hindi magalit ang asawa ko” Tatay replied which makes us laugh.
“Uy parehong mustache ang hawak ni Lolo Danny at Lola Linda ah” Rizza said giggling “Ikaw Kuya RJ wala ka pang hawak na stick, take your pick now Kuya” she told RJ.
RJ pick two mustache and everyone teases him “Takot masingil ng utang ah” Atty Francis exclaimed.
“I don’t want to take chances, para na rin sigurado” RJ replied and everyone laughs at what he said.
“O si baby Celestine naman ang kukuha ng sticks” Rizza said. RJ assisted Celestine in getting her sticks. She picks up two mustache like RJ.
“Hala akala ko ba baby sisters ang gusto mo Celestine, ang bilis namang magbago ng isip” Camila complains
“Malamang nabulungan ng Daddy nya” Daddy Ricky commented
“Why did you pick-up two mustache baby?” Rizza asked Celestine
“Daddy said, two baby brother, the better” Celestine replied and the one everyone laughs
Kung alam lang ni Celestine ang agenda ni RJ malamang kakampihan nito si Ninang Camila nya. While everyone are having fun on their personal choices of the babies' gender Rizza put the cake at the center
“Why do we have only one cake? Pareho ba ang gender ng baby?” Lola Linda asked
“Hala, eh di wala nang chance yung mga pumili ng boy and girl” Dean reacted
“Wrong! Isang cake lang kasi isa lang ang kaya ng budget ko” Rizza said giggling “Anyway, I put nips in the middle of the cake and the color of the nips shall reveal the gender of the babies. Pink for girls, blue for boys or blue and pink for a boy and a girl” Rizza explained
“Love, ikaw ang mag-cut ng cake” I suggested
RJ took the cake knife from me and started to cut the cake while everyone began cheering for their individual choices. All phones are on him, including me, I don’t what to miss RJ’s reaction once the gender of the babies are revealed. I can see him shaking while slowly cutting the cake and I’m glad I was able to capture that priceless expression when he sees the nips pouring out from the cake.
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Mukhang malakas si RJ sa universe ah. 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔
Thank you for sharing your thoughts about the babies' gender. 😊😉
At para naman Dun sa mga hindi nakakuha ng tamang gender ng babies. Betterluck next pregnancy na lang ni Menggay. Remember 12 ang gustong anak ni RJ, may nine chances of winnings pa ✌😊😉😊😉
Thanks as always guys for the reads and votes. 😚🤗😚🤗😚🤗