tempted

ACE'S POV

A year of happiness.

"Hey babe, wake up." I groaned as I felt some jerk's weight is leaning on me.

"FUCK OFF!! I'M STILL SORE!" Tinago ko ang mukha ko sa comforter when I felt the sun's blaring heat.

"Good morning, mi amor. I prepared food for you. Come on, get up." I take a peek on the culprit.

It's no other than my husband. He looks good as always. Wala naman yatang pangit sa kaniya even morning rush. Ang unfair nga eh!

I observed him as he dish out some food at the bed.

"What's with you dominants? Bakit na lang kapag nakaka-score kayo samin ay may pa breakfast in bed na kayong nalalaman? You all are the same." I pout at my words.

Totoo naman eh!

Ngayon ninyo sabihin sa akin na hindi totoo yan. I've read a lot of stories and novels with the same scenario after mag-sex ng bida. Though it makes me think, siguro kung gagawan ng libro itong life story ko ay magiging best selling to. Ang drama rin kasi!

"No nothing. Why do you even read those cliche themed books." –Lance the hypocrite answered.

"Oh, says the one who constantly showed me how cliché he can be. Be it public or nah." I grumpily grumbled at itinaas ulit ang comforter sa mukha ko. How dare he?! Ang ganda kaya magbasa ng mga books, especially kung may mature!

I was pulled out from my thoughts with a manly laugh and when I felt a peck on my lips. Kaagad kung itinaboy palayo ang mukha niya. Paano niya nagawa ang mangsalisi. Pero dahil masarap na salisi ang nangyari ay hindi ko tuloy namalayan ang pamumula ng mukha ko. Shems.

This is what I love in our relationship. He doesn't fail to make me feel kilig and giddy on the insides. Hindi ko na lang pinansin ang pagsilay ng ngiting loko-loko sa mukha niya.

"What's with you? You constantly changes moods in a span of a minute. Are you sure you're okay. I can cancel the plans for the day para samahan ka for check-ups." Umiling ako sa kaniya.

I know Lance is smart and genius even. Pero ang tanga-tanga lang talaga niya pagdating sa pagbubuntis ko. It has been a year from my critical operation as I delivered two angels, Eludes Miconel and Acades Acel. Simula nang masaksihan niya kung gaano kalala ang kondisyon ko while bearing our children, he was scared as hell.

Like seriously, 'yung masakit na matatawa ka dahil sa reaksiyon niya.

"No need at tsaka wala nga akong sakit. I know you freaked out when you saw my state when ya'know. Delivery and pregnancy. Pero yeah, I can't do anything about it. I'm sorry if you're disgusted about it."

I guess there words were right.

I can feel my mood swaying low. I'm sad. Nahihiya rin kasi ako sa kaniya every time na mangyayari 'yun. It always felt like the first time na nakita niya akong nagkakaganoon, hospitalized due to my menstrual cycle or dahil sa pagbubuntis ko.

"Brat. Damn. Bakit ba yan ang mga naiisip mo. I was fucking freaking out 'cause I cared. I was frightened that something might damn happen to you. I don't want that. I want you safe and loved nothing more or less." I saw how his aura turned darker kaya napalunok ako. I know I messed with his thoughts.

I slowly crawled my way out of the comforter to his sitting state. I clung to him and slowly kissed his neck. It will help him calm his mood.

Ewan ko ba at ayaw na ayaw ko talaga kapag nagbubuntis is the mood swings and ang palaging pagtaas ng food cravings ko.

Tapos may tendency pa na iiyak na naman kasi I'm conscious with my body. Kasi God knows how I don't want Lance to see me fat. I know it's bad to doubt someone's feeling pero dahil nga ay shukaret ako kung mabuntis ay heto ang daming iniisip.

Dahil last month lang ay anniversary namin, naka isa na naman ang gago. This time, hindi pala namin namalayan na we haven't used protection. Sabi ko naman kasi sa inyo na sharp shooter tong gago eh.

Nakakandong ako sa harapan niya ng mapansin ko ang kutsarang puno ng pagkain sa mismong harapan ko ngayon. My mind is shouting not to eat it lalo pa't I'm gaining weight these days. Pero my heart is shrieking to eat it dahil nag-effort si Lance dito.

Tiningnan ko ang pagkain, masarap ang amoy and alam kung masarap din ito lalo pa't wala ng laman ang tiyan ko. Sinuka ko na lahat kanina.

Umiling na lang ako and isinubsub ang mukha ko sa matitipuno niyang katawan. I love his scent. I love this new scent on him.

"Si Joxiah? The twins? Had they eaten already? Are they already awake?" I asked still sinisinghot siya.

This is my way to redirect the topic.

He probably knows by my actions but who cares? Binuntis niya ako kaya magtiis siya! Putulin ko yang alaga niya eh! Pero on a serious note, wag nalang pala. Masarap kaya ang kumanta ng nakaluhod.

"Tapos na sila. Kumain at naligo na rin. It's ten already so it's no wonder. Joxiah's probably video chatting Nikolai. And the twins were at Silver's. For now, don't give me that attitude. I heard you mumbling foods at your sleep. Eat. I prepared this for you."

Napakagat labi ako sa sinabi niya. Tumitiklop talaga ang pagka bratinela ko kapag ganito na siya kaseryoso.

I was about to decline pero inunahan niya ako.

"If you're stressing yourself with the idea that I'll be disgusted with your growing body, then you're wrong. I would love to see you voluptuous instead to remove those filthy eyes off you. Now. Eat. Don't make me repeat my words again, mi amore."

Hindi na lang ako nag inarte at kinain na siya. Ay mali. Ang pagkain.

"Hoi gaga! Ano yan?! That's so ew. Stop eating nga nyan. Oh my- stop! Ew." Tiningnan ko ng masama ang maarteng kaibigan ko.

"Stephanie, don't be like that. Alam mong kagagaling lang natin 'yan sa check-up niyan. At saka normal naman talaga yan sa buntis." Ang malumanay na sabi ng isa pa sa mga kaibigan ko.

"Oo nga naman! Wala nga akong sinabi ng ikaw ang nabuntis dahil hindi mo matiis ang Juanito na 'yun!" I shrieked.

"Oh my gee! Oi, stop na nga, Ace. Nakakawala ka ng poise eh. Look oh. People are watching at us already. I don't want to be on the news, wala pa naman akong paalam. Malalagot pa ako eh."

I only rolled my eyes at her as a response. Pinagpatuloy ko na lang ang pagkain ng ube ice cream ko with mangga! Grabeh, ang sarap. You're probably disgusted but nah, masarap talaga siya promise.

Pinagpatuloy lang namin ang aming pagkain dito sa napiling restaurant ko. Yes ko dahil ako ang buntis at ako ang masusunod. After all, I'm Lance's queen and I can have anything I want. His words, not mine.

I was so engrossed with my food ng hindi ko man lang namalayan ang bakla na umalis pala sa table namin. Namalayan ko na lang ito ng paingat niyang inilagay ang Channel tote bag niya sa table.

"Where were you? Andiyan na ba si Kuya?" I asked Ezeh as soon as naka-upo na siya.

For the information of everybody, Ezeh is my closest friend and brother– sister–in law.

Yes, opo mga kababayan, ang napaka man whore na kapatid kong inilihi sa kabute kung magpalit ng mga babae ay hindi mo aakalaing magkakandarapa sa isang Ezeh Lawrent Montesalve. A simple mediocre guy from a local province.

"Ah no, I heard it was Rudy calling (yung isa sa mga bata na pinatira ni Ace sa bahay nila noon, kasama ang papa nila na car washer. See chapter 2-3 for details) dahil may kung anong kailangan yata sa bahay niyo mga siszt. 'Yun lang ang nasagap kung chismis and before I forgot, wag ka naman ganiyan kahalata siszt, Ezeh, sobrang care na care ka naman sa bag mo like duh. I know its limited edition and gusto kung sabunutan ang husbando mo dahil naunahan niya akong bilhin yan, pero please don't be so careful with it. Sentimo lang yan para sa asawa mo no. Lumaspag ka pa! Kasalanan nila yan kung bakit nila tayo pinatigil magtrabaho." –Stephanie.

Nairap na naman ako ulit sa kagagahan nitong si Stephanie. Ewan ko ba at ang hilig mangsita ng ibang tao.

Ang history kasi niyang si Stephanie ay hindi niya lubos matanggap na pinasarado ng asawa niya ang modeling agency na pinagtatrabahuan niya dahil gusto nitong tumigil sa pagmomodelo. After all, were not getting younger anymore.

"Yes, Ace. Si Rudy 'yun, may kailangan lang dahil siya ngayon ang kasama ng mga bata. Tumawag rin kasi si Silv about sa parents ko." Tumango lang ako sa kaniya ang nginitian lang siya to cheer him up.

I don't know exactly kung ano ang issue nila sa buhay pero at least hindi ako nagpapahuli when in terms of moral support.

"I understand. At tsaka hoi, Stephanie tumigil ka nga diyan. Ang arte mo! Umiiyak ka pa eh wala namang nakaka-iyak." Tinapunan ko siya ng tissue.

"Yun nga eh. I'm maarte and look at me now, on a street and cheap ice cream parlor na I know mabibili ko lang ang whole establishment kung tutuusin huhu. I cannot. I'm in pain! The world is ending!"

Ezeh and I looked at her like she had lost her mind which I must say, is yes she totally lost her self. Hindi na lang namin pinansin ang mga rants niya at nagpatuloy sa pagkain.

With the years na nagdaan, I can say that I've changed. Hindi na ako masiyadong maarte and I see worth in everything. Being surrounded with this bunch of diverse people is truly life changing. I am happily living the life of a house-wife and husband to my Lance and a mother to 3 kids.

I'm not saying that my life is just happy and giddy and full of cheesiness, there are instances that my capability of being a parent is tested. 'Yung times na I will doubt myself for it, kung makakaya ko ba, or will I be enough. Some bunch of stupid crappy questions na lumalangoy sa isipan ko, but luckily I have the most hottest and amazing husband who chooses us for anything. Iyon pa lang ay sapat na para malusaw ang mga insecurities ko.

Lance didn't fail us as a father and as a lover. Till now, I still can't believe na may taong gaya ni Lance ang magseseryoso sa akin. A Lance who had been my everything. One thing is sure. I'm happily contented.

"Oh ano na? Tara na at may susurpresahin pa tayo ah."

I can't help but to smile at the idea and the memory.

Lance's reaction is always the most exciting part when I have a surprise. No one can forget the memory of Lance fainting after I announced my pregnancy.

I wonder what his reaction would be this time.

End.