I stared at my naked self in front of the full length view mirror. I still have to blow dry my hair, wet from the shower and then get dressed for we're having our lunch out.

But I just can't take my eyes off the little bulge in my stomach. It's too little and too cute. I encircled my hands there, cradling the little bump just like how I will soon cradle my angel.

From the reflection on the mirror, I saw Aidan getting off the shower with bath towel wrapped around his waist. He was stoned for a second before he raked his eyes on me through my reflection.

I was suddenly conscious. I even think of snatching the robe nearby to cover my body but no, Aidan had seen me all so I shouldn't give a fuss about it.

"You're beautiful..." he smiled, taking steps towards me.

"Thank you..." ibinalik kong muli ang aking mga mata sa repleksyon ng aking tyan. "Few more months, my skin will stretch taunt over and this little bump will surely be as large as a watermelon..."

"And I can't wait to see it, Paris..." huminto siya saking likuran, I let him have his arm around my waist to reach for the bulge of my belly.

"Me too..." I smiled, steadying in my position, crashing my bare back on his naked chest. "I love him, Aidan... I'm instantly in love with our baby."

He caught my gaze through the mirror, while his hand is gently caressing it. He smiled at me.

"It's amazing! Well, sex is amazing but I think the result of sex is tons of times more amazing than it-"

He cut me off with a brief chuckle before he bent down and snuggle to the side of my neck. "Hmm, so you find sex amazing?"

"Aidan..." I giggled when he nibbled me there. "Stop, it's tickling!"

"Hey, bud..." he rested his chin above my shoulder, moving his hand a little lower from my belly. "Have you heard mom? She finds something amazing-"

"Stop teasing me, Aidan!" I shuddered my shoulder to cover up the flushing of my face, why the hell did I say that? "I shouldn't have said that-"

"But you already did..." he chuckled again, kissing my shoulder. "Hey, mommy... there's nothing wrong about what you've said. I liked it."

"Whatever!" I rolled my eyes and moved away from him. "Mag-bihis ka na, masama kung mauna pa satin sila daddy sige ka, may baril yun."

Hindi ko na pinansin pa ang pag-tawa-tawa nito habang ibinabalot ko ang aking sarili ng roba. He reached for my elbow and pulled me in an embrace again, this time with my face buried on his chest.

"Can't wait for tonight again..."

"Aidan!" Kinurot ko ito sa tagiliran atsaka muling kumawala rito. "Sige na mag-bihis ka na!"

"Ito na nga, diba? Mag-bibihis na..." umangat ang labi nito sa isang nakakalokong ngiti, bago kalasin pahubad ang tuwalyang nasa bewang nito.

Agad ko itong pinandilatan ng mga mata, ngunit bago pa ako makapag-salita ay tinalikuran na ko nito atsaka tinungo ang connecting door na nagsisilbing dresser.

"Sex is amazing, huh?"

"Fuck you, Aidan Zeus!"

"Oh, you will baby... later."

We reached the restaurant where Aidan had reserved a table for lunch, just in time. Ilang sandali pa ay naroon na ang mga magulang nito, Tito Safe really looks like an older version of Aidan and Tita Ica looks so much like Alaric, including the pair of dimple that shows every time she smiles.

"Where's Aric?" Aidan asked.

"He's busy with some extra works for school, you know your brother, he's studious." Tita Ica answered, before she turned to me and warmly smiled. "Hi, Paris. How's pregnancy going? Morning sickness? Cravings?"

"It's all fine, Tita. Nothing that Aidan and I can't handle." I smiled back.

"Good to know that my boy is really stepping up to his responsibilities, huh?" Nanunuksong tinaasan nito ng kilay si Aidan.

"Mom..." Aidan chuckled.

"Just enjoy pregnancy, you both will miss being in the moment once the baby is out." Tita Ica said, she then turned to Tito Safe. "How I hated my morning sickness, but when everything is all done I told Safe that I missed him helping me out those tough stages."

"How I love helping you out, each and every step." Tito Safe lovingly smiled at his wife before he turned to us. "In every pregnant woman, it's important to have a patient most loving husband. So be one, Aidan."

I was about to turn at Aidan when he reached for my hand under the table, I felt him slipped something on my finger. Gusto ko sana iyong tignan upang usisain ngunit hindi na nito pinakawalan pa ang kamay ko. He had our fingers entwined.

"Are we late? Sorry, traffic sucks." It was mom, agad akong napalingon sa pinanggagalingan ng tinig.

Aidan and I stood up to greet my parents, I went to hug mom and kissed her on the cheek, ganoon rin si daddy na nanatiling pormal nang batiin ng mga magulang ni Aidan.

We all settled in the round table, mom is smiling at me. I don't know why but she seemed to be happy.

We ordered our food, Tita Ica and mom were talking about things when our lunch was served. We were all eating peacefully with mom and Tita Ica making minimal noises as they chat in between our meal, when dad roughly break the silence.

"Are you hurting my daughter?" He looks at me for a fleeting moment before he turned his gaze back to Aidan.

"Dad!" I snapped, with my eyes wide open.

Muli akong nilingon ni daddy, this time I caught him staring at my exposed shoulder. Agad akong napasinghap nang balingan ko iyon at noon lamang mapansin ang maliit na pasa, hindi naman iyon halos makikita at hindi naman gaanong halata dahil masyado iyong maliit but then, it's dad, he kind of know everything.

"Red, what are you talking about?" Mom asked him.

Nakita kong natigilan ang mga magulang ni Aidan, Tita Ica turned to dad who's looking at Aidan.

"Aidan?" It was Tito Safe.

"Red, anong problema?" Mahinahon na tanong ni Tita Ica.

"You answer my question, are you hurting my daughter?" Ulit nitong tanong kay Aidan.

"Dad, come on. Aidan is not hurting anyone." I said, binalingan ko si mommy.

"Red, enough. We're eating..."

But dad being dad, didn't stop. "Answer me, Castañeda."

"Hurting your daughter will be the last thing I have in mind, sir." Malumanay na sagot ni Aidan.

"If you're talking about this, dad..." I awkwardly cleared my throat, briefly touching my shoulder. "I've accidentally had my shoulder hit the bedpost last night."

Mataman ako nitong pinagmasdan.

"Leave the kids alone..." Mom smiled at me before she turned and whispered something to dad.

Tahimik lamang itong bumalik sa pagkain, somehow I felt an ounce of relief. Life is really better with mom beside dad.

Nang matapos kaming kumain ay doon muling nag-salita si mommy, she's smiling and I can say that my mom is literally the most beautiful one in the room right now.

"Aidan, Paris... I believe you have something to tell us."

"What's that?" Dad turned to mom with knotted forehead.

"Why are you asking me? It's them who's gonna tell us something, you go ask them." Mom rolled her eyes.

"What is it, Aidan?" Tito Safe asked.

Aidan cleared his throat before he turned to me. I smiled at him and nodded. I took in a deep breath before turning to our parents.

Bahagya akong kinilabutan nang mag-tama ang mga mata namin ni daddy. There's really something in his eyes that will make knees wobble.

"W-We, Aidan and I are already..."

"We're already married." There he said it.

Nakita ko kung paanong nanlaki ang mga mata ni Tita Ica, she even gasped loudly.

"How? When? Why didn't you tell us?" She bombarded us with questions.

"Just yesterday." Aidan answered.

"And you didn't even have the heart to tell us?" Nagtatampong sabi ni Tita Ica. "I should've been there, you are my son. I would love to watch you marry the mother of your child. Bakit hindi niyo kami sinabihan? Bakit biglaan?"

"Ica, don't cry..." Tito Safe comforted her. "I'm sure there's a reason behind it, let's just let them do their thing."

"I know that, Safe. Pero sana naman, they've included us to their plans." Nagaakusa nitong binalingan si Aidan. "I hate you for now, Aidan Zeus."

"I'm sorry, Tita. I-It was me who wanted the wedding to be held immediately." I bit my bottom lip admitting it.

"Mom, I'm sorry." Tumayo si Aidan mula saking tabi upang lapitan ang umiiyak na ina.

Napabaling naman kaming lahat nang marinig ang halakhak ni mommy, she paused and cleared her throat. Sipping on her wine, looking so classy and regal.

"I'm sorry. You're not so gorgeous when you cry, Ica." She shrugged a little, nang mapasimangot lalo si Tita Ica. "What? Truth hurts. Anyway, Aidan called me the night before their wedding. He'd been man enough to ask for my daughter's hand in marriage..."

"You know about this?" Binalingan ito ni dad. "And you didn't even tell me?"

"Wait, it was actually you whom he called. But you were in the shower so I took the call, I'm glad I did. Because you wouldn't have agreed if ever it was you whom he asked for Paris' hand." She raised her hand and called for a waiter to order another bottle of wine. "Stop crying, Danica. We should celebrate, we're family now."

"Chiara Paula-"

"Red Franco, stop fussing about it. Your daughter is already married." She looked at dad. "I was younger than her when you married me, secretly. There's nothing wrong on what they did, they really should be married before the child's birth. You all should worry less, I'm the mom, my daughter deserves everyone's dream wedding and she's not a Santa de Leones if she'll not be getting it. But right now, leave them alone."

Binalingan ko si Aidan, he did tell mom and he didn't tell me about it! Nag-iwas ito sakin ng tingin at patuloy lamang na inalo ang ina nito.

"Well you're right, dapat talaga na maulit ang kasal nila." Tita Ica sighed and hugged Aidan. "I can't believe that my baby is already married."

"It's better if you'll start believing it rather than you cry about it." Mom stood up holding her wine glass, walking up to me. "Congratulations, lovely..."

"Thank you, mom." I stood up and welcome her embrace.

"I know you'll find a man as fine as your father." She whispered. "I love you, Paris. And I'm so happy for you..."

"Oh mom..."

Nilingon nito si daddy na pormal lamang na nakamasid samin. "He may not look happy but believe me, he is."

Natawa naman ako doon. Nah, life is at its best with mom around.

The wine mom ordered came, we've all celebrated. Okay na rin si Tita Ica, they even started suggesting things about Aidan and I's rewedding. But I'm not thinking about it yet, I just wanna feel the moment being my husband's wife.

Bandang alas-kwatro na ng hapon nang makauwi kami ni Aidan sa pad niya and I was tired and sleepy, I lied in bed without changing my clothes.

I watched Aidan removed his shirt after he removed his watch. I kicked off the flats I was wearing and used my toe to poke his thigh covered with jeans.

Napalingon naman ito sakin. Inangatan ko ito ng kilay at bahagyang pinaningkitan ng aking mga mata.

"Why didn't you tell me you called my parents?"

"I just think it's not necessary for you to know-"

"Not necessary ka dyan!" Napabangon ako paupo. "That's my mom we're talking about!"

"Alright, I'm sorry for not telling you." He twitched his lips, tumalungko ito saking harapan at inabot ang aking paa bago marahang minasahe iyon. "Sorry, ayoko lang naman na pakasalan kang hindi nagpapaalam sa mga magulang mo. You're precious to them and I'm taking you from them, ayokong nakawin ka lang."

His words. Damn his words! I can feel my heart increases its beating and my stomach suddenly felt weird. Must my baby doing magic, whatever.

Niyuko ko ang aking kamay, I smiled when I saw a simple petite twisted vine diamond ring he slipped in my finger awhile ago.

"Where do you get these?" Binalingan ko din ang singsing na nasa daliri nito.

"I've asked for your mom's help, do you like it? She assured me you'll like it. Kaninang umaga lang iyan dumating." He reached for my hand and kissed the ring on my finger.

"I love it, Aidan..." I pulled him and encircled my arms around his neck. "I love it... its beautiful. Thank you..."

I closed my eyes when I felt him hug me back. No, it's not just the ring that I'm loving...