Kabanata 33

Joaquin and I stayed in Negros until the Christmas holidays are over. Doon na rin kami nag New Year. "Hindi ka pa ba kailangan sa trabaho mo?" I asked my husband. Not that I want Joaquin to go. Nasanay lang din siguro ako na palagi siyang busy sa work niya na medyo nakakapagtaka pa sa akin ang ganitong nakakasama ko siya nang mas matagal.

Umiling naman si Joaquin at ngumiti. "It's all right. Don't worry about my work. I can manage." And then he kissed my forehead after giving me a reassuring smile.

Pumikit na lang ako habang nakatayo kami ni Joaquin doon sa harap ng mga tanim na tubo sa asukarera namin. It's early morning and I woke up early, too. Nagising na rin si Joaquin nang magising ako at niyaya ko siyang maglakadlakad muna kami rito sa labas. Kasi wala na rin akong exercise at nakakapanibago rin. So I think kahit ganitong walking ay okay na rin kaysa wala.

At ang ganda pa ng umaga at maganda rin ang malamig na hangin sa umaga rito sa probinsya.

"Are you sure?" I still can't help it but to worry. Alam ko ang responsibilidad ni Joaquin sa trabaho niya. At gusto ko siyang mas intindihin ngayon at suportahan din.

Joaquin gave me a reassuring smile once again. "Yes. And from now on I will be with you more than my work."

Alam kong simple lang naman siguro ang sinabi ni Joaquin... Pero para sa akin ay malaking bagay na iyon. At alam kong para sa kaniya ay hindi rin madali ito... Kaya napaluha ako sa sinabi niya. Or maybe I'm just being too emotional because of my pregnancy as well. But whatever it is, I'm feeling happy by what my husband just said now. Maagap naman akong dinala ni Joaquin sa loob ng yakap niya at hinagkan din ako.

"I think it's going to rain..." Joaquin said. We looked up the darkening sky. Ang lamig talaga ngayong December lalo na rito sa probinsya. Tapos panay pa ang pag-ulan. "Let's go back inside your mansion now." Pagkatapos ay giniya na ako ni Joaquin pabalik.

Tumango naman ako sa asawa ko. At kahit pareho rin kaming balot ng mga jacket namin ay parang nanunuot pa rin talaga ang lamig sa balat ko. Pakiramdam ko ay nasa ibang bansa na ako sa lamig...

"Oh. Lumabas pala kayo, hijo, hija?" Si mama na sumalubong sa pagbalik namin.

Pareho kaming tumango ni Joaquin.

Tumingin sa akin si mama. "You're nose looks red, hija..." Lumapit siya sa akin.

"Ah. Opo, medyo sinisipon nga po ako, Mama."

Mama's eyes widened a fraction. "Hija! It's not a good time to get sick!" she said.

And then after that my whole family almost panicked and got worried because I'm pregnant and I can't get sick...

Nagbuntong-hininga na lang ako.

Pero para kumalma na rin ang lahat ay nagpatawag na lang ng doktor sina mama to check on me. And like I suspected ay dahil lang din sa malamig na panahon... There's nothing really to be worried about my health or my baby's. Ngumiti na lang ako sa pamilya ko. But I appreciate their concern for us.

After the holidays we went back to Metro Manila for Joaquin's work. I also publicly announced my pregnancy on my social media for my fans. I just posted a picture of me with my already noticeable pregnant belly, kahit hindi pa rin naman ito ganoon kalaki talaga pero halata na. And they were happy about it, happy for me. And then I received early gifts and offers for photoshoots for brands, etc. Nagpaalam din ako kay Joaquin at tinanggap na iyong tingin ko ay kaya ko naman. At exciting din na may kinalaman sa baby ko iyong project. Kaya tinanggap ko na para may remembrance na rin sa first pregnancy ko. I won't anymore work as a model like before and will just focus on my family. Pero kung ganitong maliit lang naman na trabaho at hindi na kailangan mag-travel, the team even went to our penthouse at doon na lang ginawa ang pictorial. So Joaquin and I agreed that it's okay. Kahit paano ay mamimiss ko pa rin naman ang trabaho ko.

"Joaquin!" I smiled and went to my husband after I saw him arrived in our home after his work at the company.

"You're done?" Hinagkan niya ako.

Ngumiti ako at tumango. "Yes, mag-pack up na lang din sila." Tukoy ko sa team na nagpunta rito sa bahay for the pictorial.

The team politely greeted Joaquin, too.

"Oh. I ordered food for everyone." Joaquin said na kinatuwa naman ng staffs.

Ngumiti lang ako.

"Thank you, Sir!"

"Thank you also for making this more convenient for my wife." Joaquin also thanked them.

Pagdating nga ng pagkain ay kumain muna kami. At nang makaalis ang mga bisita na pinasalamatan ko rin ay nag-thank you rin ako kay Joaquin. "It's all right. You're welcome. If you want to do this there's no problem. As long as it won't harm you or our child." he said to me.

Tumango naman ako at ngumiti sa asawa ko.

I feel like we're finally having a healthier relationship now... At isa lang ang hiling ko para sa amin ni Joaquin at sa pamilya namin kundi ang maging mas better pa kami. I just want us to do better than what we did before. And I'm grateful for the chance.

"Well, congrats on your pregnancy." medyo mataray pa rin na bati sa akin ni Megan.

Ngumiti na lang ako sa kaniya at nagpasalamat nang magkita rin kami when I met up with our mutual friends. Nagplano na rin kasi sina Anja para sa gender reveal party ko or baby shower. "Thanks." I smiled to her.

At wala na rin siyang sinabi pagkatapos. I hope she'll be happy with her own marriage, too. In some ways, tingin ko ay pareho lang din kami ni Megan... And I mean we were both playful. And we probably thought the same that life would be just all about the fun for us... But I realized many things after I married Joaquin. And one of those was that life should be taken seriously, too. That we can also have fun, find joy and true happiness without being too playful to the point of recklessness... There should be balance in life.

And then I also saw Lalaine again after months. Joaquin's mama invited her to my baby shower to apologize... "I'm sorry..." she said to me.

I just remained looking at her for a while. Hindi ko alam kung tama ba na sabihin ko sa kaniya na okay na agad kami... But since I didn't anymore want to think of troubles, or I didn't want to trouble my mind anymore... I gave her a reassuring smile and nodded at her. And she looked genuine with her apology so I think it's all right.

Ngumiti rin si mama. Alam kong kahit sa kabila ng mga nangyari ay pareho kaming importante sa kaniya ni Lalaine. She's Joaquin's childhood friend at parang naging anak na rin ang turing sa kaniya ni mama. And I as Joaquin's wife is equally important to my husband's mother. We also talked for a while and Lalaine said that she'll go back to the US for good. She also apologized to Joaquin kahit medyo galit pa rin ito sa kaniya. And I think hindi na mababalik ang dating closeness nila... Kung medyo parang naging mas madali sa akin ang pagpapatawad o sa pagbibigay ng chance, hindi naman ganoon sa kay Joaquin. "I can't forgive her for hurting you. And while you were already pregnant. What it something bad happened to you and our child? I don't know what I can do because of anger..." It's what Joaquin had told me...

And then Joaquin told me one day that he has a surprise for me. At nang malaman ko kung ano iyon ay sobrang natuwa ako at naiyak pa ng konti. Siguro ay emotional din talaga ang mga buntis. Dahil ang bilis-bilis kong maging emosyonal ngayon.

"It's ours?" I turned to Joaquin.

We're now in front of our newly built house. Hindi ko alam na nagpagawa na pala ng bahay namin si Joaquin. And it's huge! "Kailan mo ito pinagawa?" I asked him. I'm still amazed!

Patunay lang ito na simula pa lang ay ang sariling pamilyang bubuuin namin ni Joaquin ang iniisip niya. I smiled happily as I watched my perfect husband in front of me. He's perfect for me. And I know to our child, too. Mabuti nang asawa sa akin si Joaquin. I know that he will be a good father to our children.

"The construction started when you were abroad for work..." he answered and smiled.

Ngumiti rin ako kahit may konting luha pa sa gilid ng mga mata. Pagkatapos ay niyakap ko na lang ang asawa ko. "Thank you!" I hugged him tight.

Joaquin chuckled a little and hugged me back. Habang hinagkan niya rin ako. Pagkatapos ay hawak kamay na pumasok na kami sa loob ng bago naming bahay. And from now on we will live in this big and beautiful house. This will be our home. And we will raise our family here.