During Iya's first two months of pregnancy, wala itong nararanasang kakaiba. Para nga itong hindi buntis. Kundi lang dahil sa lumalaki nitong tiyan at appetite, walang makakahalata. But in her third month, that's when the hormones start kicking in.

Nagsimula na itong topakin. At sino pa ba naman ang mapagbubuntunan kundi si Hans, the husband. It all started one Saturday morning. Hans tried cooking. Pritong bacon lang naman. No big deal. Nakaantabay rin ang mga katulong nila para kung may mangyari man, may nakahanda nang fire extinguisher.

He wanted to give Iya a breakfast in bed. So he woke up early to cook. But Iya must have woken up at the wrong side of the bed. Ayaw nito ng amoy ng bacon. Nagalit ito sa kanya dahil nagluluto sya ng bacon. She went out of the house to "get some fresh air" and refused to get back inside habang amoy bacon pa ang buong bahay.

Sinubukan niyang makabawi noong tanghali. He helped manang cook menudo.

"Sir, wala tayong atay sa ref," paalala nito sa kanya.

"Ayos lang yan, manang."

Pero hindi pala okay kay Iya. She didn't eat when she found out that there's no liver in the dish. Naka-strike two tuloy sya.

Nang humapon, he gave up trying. Ayaw niyang maka-strike three. He doesn't want to sleep in the couch. So he let the maids make merienda. Nasa sala sila ni Iya, nanunuod ng sinusubaybayan nitong talk show nang maalala niyang may panunuorin nga pala syang game sa ESPN.

"Hon, can I watch ESPN?"

"No."

"Please? Patalastas naman e."

Sinamaan siya nito ng tingin. "Ayoko nga, di ba?"

"Iya, commercial naman."

"Kung gusto mong manuod, may TV sa kwarto."

"But I want to watch it here!" he said indignantly.

Iya was holding the remote. Itinago nito sa kabila nito iyon para hindi niya makuha. As if he would make an attempt to get it. Alam niyang masamang magalit ang buntis. Noong minsang nag-double date sila nina Ken at Ahn, nasampolan si Ken. Ayaw niyang magaya sa brother-in-law niya. Partida pang sobrang bait ni Ahn. Pa'no na kaya kapag si Iya? Alam niyang masama itong magalit o magtampo.

"Be quiet!" she snapped.

"What? I wasn't talking!"

"I can hear you breathe!"

He gaped. "Pati ba naman paghinga ko, pinapansin mo?!"

"Maingay kasi!"

"Then raise the volume!"

Natahimik ito bigla at maya-maya'y nagsimulang umiyak. "Why are you shouting at me?"

"I wasn't—I'm sorry, hon."

Akmang yayakapin niya ito nang itulak siya nito palayo.

"I don't like your smell!"

Napasapo siya. "Iya naman!"

Iya turned to the TV. "Ayan, wala tuloy akong naintindihan sa pinanunuod ko!" paninisi nito sa kanya.

Huminga siya ng malalim at saka tumayo. Sumasakit ang ulo niya sa inaasal ng asawa.

--

Kinagabihan ay hindi pa rin siya kinakausap ng asawa. She wasn't angry enough to make him sleep on the couch, but she made his night uncomfortable. Inangkin nito ang mga kumot at unan sa higaan. She made an igloo made out of pillows and took over the larger part of the bed.

Tuloy, paggising niya kinabukasan, siya naman ang badtrip dito. When he got up, the first thing he did is to tighten the lid of her favorite cheese spread. Iya likes to eat bread and there's this one brand of a spread na gustong-gusto nitong ipangpalaman. Wala itong ibang ginagamit kundi iyon.

When it's time to eat, Iya got frustrated because she couldn't open the damn jar. She asked the maids for help, kaso ay hindi rin kaya ng mga ito. He's the only man inside the house that day and Iya doesn't want to talk to him.

Akala niya'y iiyak na naman ito and he was almost sorry that he made a childish move. But then, she came first to her senses. Nilapitan siya nito.

"Pabukas." She handed him the jar with uncertainty.

Tiningnan lamang niya ang iniabot nito.

"Please," she added.

Alright, she said please, he told himself. Kinuha niya iyon at sa isang pihit ay nabuksan kaagad.

"Thank—"

Akmang kukunin nito iyon nang ilayo niya. Naudlot tuloy ang pasasalamat nito.

"Are we okay now?" he asked.

"Give me the jar, Hans."

"Sagutin mo muna yung tanong ko."

"Hanson."

"Emilia, answer my question first," he insisted.

She glared at him. She really hates being called Emilia. Pakiramdam kasi nito ay tumatanda ito ng ilang taon.

"Oo na! Akin na kasi!"

"Kiss muna."

You're pushing it, bro.

Hindi niya alam kung iiyak na ba ito o magwo-walk out. She looked really upset. Alam niyang gutom na ito, pero ayaw naman niyang lumipas na naman ang maghapon na hindi sila nagkakaayos.

Iya pouted. She knew she has no choice. He could almost hear her stomach grumbling. At konti na lang talaga ay makukonsensya na siya dahil hindi lang si Iya ang ginugutom niya.

"Fine," she finally said. Tumingki ito at kumapit sa braso niya for support. With his other hand, he held her by the waist, making sure that she won't lose her balance.

She gave him a peck on the lips and he was sure he returned the kiss while smiling. Binitiwan niya ang jar na hawak to cup her face and deepen the kiss. He could feel her shiver. She leaned unto him and put her hands on his nape.

"Here's your cheese," he whispered after.

He left his wife dumbfounded in the kitchen, with the open jar of cheese spread and weak knees. Based on the kiss, he was pretty sure that they're okay now.

"O, ano'ng nangyari sa 'yo?" kunot-noong tanong ng matandang katulong pagkakita sa kanya sa sala.

Sinugod niya ito ng yakap. The old lady shrieked when he lifted her up and twirled her around.

"Naka-kiss ako, manang!"