Kabanata 34

Few months more and I gave birth to our healthy baby boy. My parents went to Manila for the birth of their first apo. Kasama rin namin sa hospital ang mama ni Joaquin na natutuwa rin dahil may baby na kami. Ang mga kuya ko at si Anja ay bumisita rin sa hospital. At siyempre kami ni Joaquin ay sobrang saya nang makita na namin ang anak namin sa unang pagkakataon.

"Look at him, Joaquin. I think he looks just like you. I hope he will act like you, too." I smiled as I watched my baby son in my arms now and then I turned my eyes to my husband next to me after.

We were still in my private hospital room. Hinihintay lang din namin ang pamilya namin na dumating. Pupunta rin daw ang papa ni Joaquin at sina Tita Christine to see our baby, too. Noong pasko ay binisita rin namin sila sa Hacienda Karmen. Nang nagbagong taon naman ay nag-abroad din sina Senyor kasama ang kambal na kapatid ni Joaquin. Senyor Stefano also congratulated us and was happy for my pregnancy back then.

"He can look like you. And act like me."

Nagkatinginan kami ni Joaquin sa sinabi niya at pabirong pinanliitan ko siya ng mga mata. And he just chuckled. Ngumiti na lang din ako.

"Well, I don't want our child to be so naughty... Baka mas maaga akong tumanda." Nakangiting sinabi ng asawa ko.

Pabiro ko naman siya inirapan. At tinawanan na lang din namin iyon. Totoo rin naman na baka pati ulo ko ay sumakit. Ngayon ay parang naiintindihan ko na noon ang mama at papa...

"Oh my... He's such a beautiful baby..." ang mama ni Joaquin na malambot ang mga matang nakatingin sa kaniyang apo.

Ngumiti ako at pinakita pa sa pamilya namin na dumating na ang aming anak ni Joaquin. And everyone was just so happy to see our baby.

"What did you name him?" My papa asked.

Ngumiti ako at sumagot. "Joaquin Stephen Ossorio Aguirrezabal." I said happily. Nakuha namin iyon sa pangalan ni Joaquin na Joaquin Stefano na galing din sa kaniyang papa.

Our family nodded and smiled at the name we gave our son.

When Senyor Stefano came to visit his apo, he carried his grandson in his arms as he reminisced back the time when Joaquin was just a young boy. Nakita kong ngumiti lang din si Joaquin sa papa niya.

Alam kong hindi kagaya ko ang pamilya ni Joaquin. And his father isn't perfect. But Joaquin understands his parents and family well that it does not become a hindrance for him to grow up into a good man. And I'm proud of him. And I wish that our son will just be the same as his dad...

We stayed at the hospital for a couple of days before we were allowed by my doctor to go home. Joaquin and I brought our baby to our house. At nag-stay din doon sina mama to help taking care of baby Stephen. They stayed for a few days before going back to Negros dahil kailangan din sila doon sa asukarera namin lalo na ang papa na may duties din as mayor doon. But Joaquin's mama stayed with us kaya siya ang nakatulong namin sa kay baby Stephen. May kinuha na rin namang nanny si Joaquin at may mga kasama na rin kaming kasambahay dito sa bahay. Pero iba pa rin na nand'yan din ang mama niya. Lalo na at first time parents pa kami ni Joaquin.

Pinasok ko si Joaquin sa loob ng opisina niya rito lang sa bahay namin. He's working through his laptop, pero pumapasok na rin naman siya sa opisina. Nahirapan din siya sa pagbubuntis ko hanggang panganganak, that I think he deserves a good vacation to rest. Pero hindi rin kasi madaling trabaho ang pagiging CEO. He has to report to the board of directors and things like that. It's a big responsibility, too.

"Joaquin..." I called.

Galing sa kaniyang laptop ay nag-angat naman siya ng tingin sa akin at ngumiti. "Hey,"

Lumapit ako sa kaniya at kumandong sa mga hita niya nang paharap sa kaniya. Pagkatapos ay naglalambing akong yumakap sa asawa ko. Joaquin's arms wrapped around me too as he was sitting on his swivel chair here. "What is it?" He gently asked me. Pagkatapos ay hinagkan niya rin ako.

Nakatulog na si Stephen kaya iniwan ko na muna sa nanny para mapuntahan ko naman si Joaquin dito sa study niya.

"Wala naman... I just miss you." I said.

"But I'm just always here..."

Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kaniya at ngumiti. Pagkatapos ay bahagyang yumuko pa si Joaquin, and then we kissed each other's lips sweetly. I smiled more after the kiss. I opened my eyes and looked at my husband's handsome face after.

Nalaman nga rin pala namin na ang best friend ni Joaquin na si Dwayne at Lalaine ang nagkatuluyan sa huli. They also invited us to their wedding. And I thought that attending the two's wedding can also serve as our vacation since abroad din naman iyon. Although it's still a few months from now. Ayos lang din at baby pa talaga si Stephen at mahihirapan pa kaming iwan. We'll probably leave him to Joaquin's mama or my parents when we attend Dwayne and Lalaine's wedding.

"Kailan nga pala nagkakilala sina Dwayne at Lalaine?" I asked my husband, bilang nakikichismis lang din. Well I was curious, too.

"Hmm. When we were in high school." sagot naman ni Joaquin sa akin.

Napatango-tango ako. Kung ganoon ay baka noon pa ay nagkagusto na rin si Dwayne kay Lalaine... "Baka noon pa lang ay gusto na ni Dwayne si Lalaine?"

Nagkatinginan kaming mag-asawa. "Right?"

Unti-unting tumango sa akin si Joaquin at ngumiti.

"Oh my! Did Dwayne let you know back then?"

Umiling si Joaquin. "Not really..."

"But you knew? It was obvious?"

Tumango lang si Joaquin.

Napaisip naman ako. Pagkatapos ay sinabi ko rin kay Joaquin ang naisip. "Hindi kaya...nagustuhan mo na rin pala noon si Lalaine? But because you knew that Dwayne also likes her..."

"I liked her as a friend. Or even like my younger sister." He shrugged.

Ngumiti na lang ako sa asawa ko at muli lang siyang niyakap.

Well, I'm just glad that Dwayne and Lalaine still ended up together. Dwayne probably loved her since then. And Lalaine just eventually fell for him, too. Siguro ay hindi niya lang din masyadong na recognize noon ang feelings niya rin for Dwayne... Because she thought that it's Joaquin she liked... Dahil nga rin siguro ay sabay silang lumaki. But when she returned to US and the two probably met again and gave it a chance, and started dating each other... Siguro ay doon na nga. And Dwayne is a good person, too. I know he wouldn't be Joaquin's best friend if he wasn't. At natutuwa na lang din ako para sa kanila.

And Megan too was pregnant with her first child. At mukhang naging okay din naman ang marriage niya with her husband na isang businessman din. Napaisip lang din ako that Megan and Lalaine both tried Joaquin and I's relationship... And I realized that they're still happy now with their lives. Naisip kong hindi mo na talaga kailangan manira especially ng ibang pamilya para lang makuha ang sa tingin mong gusto mo. Minsan hindi talaga pwede dahil may iba na palang nakalaan na para talaga sa atin.