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Chapter Twenty-five

Arabella

Mabilis na lumipas ang mga araw, linggo, at buwan. Aaron never leave my side while I was pregnant with our daughter. Nagtatrabaho siya at palagi pa rin niya akong pinupuntahan sa bahay. At sinasamahan ako sa mga checkups namin sa doctor. Our daughter grew healthy in my womb because until the day I gave birth to her I was away from problems or stress.

Thus Arabella Dela Cuesta Ledesma was born a healthy and beautiful baby girl.

"You okay?"

When I woke up Aaron's worried face was the first I saw. "Aaron... Where's our daughter? I want to see her."

He nodded. "She's here." Bahagya siyang umatras para makita ko ang anak namin. Arabella was sleeping prettily in the hospital crib that was put just beside my bed.

"Oh my..." Nag-init ang mga mata ko pagkakita ko pa lang sa kaniya doon. Hindi ko na maalis ang mga mata ko sa anak ko.

"Aren't you thirsty, Teen? Or anything? You just woke up. How are you feeling? I'll call your doctor —" Narinig ko namang sunudsunod na sinabi ni Aaron.

Pero umiling lang ako sa kaniya. "I'm fine." Sinubukan kong bumangon. And Aaron was also quick to help me. Bahagya akong umupo sa hospital bed ko. And I leaned my back comfortably. "Give her to me, Aaron. I want to carry her in my arms."

Ginawa naman ni Aaron ang gusto ko. He carefully got Arabella out of the hospital crib and gave her to me. Sobrang nag-init na ang mga mata ko nang mahawakan ko na siya. Until I cried a little because of the overwhelming feeling for my daughter. "She's prefect, Aaron." Nag-angat ako ng tingin kay Aaron mula sa anak namin.

Ngumiti lang naman sa akin si Aaron at pareho kaming nagbaba ng tingin sa anak namin.

"You were able to carry her just fine." I noticed. Noong buntis pa lang kasi ako ay napag-uusapan namin ni Aaron ang mga mangyayari kapag nandito na ang baby. He mentioned that he might not be able to carry the baby properly. Isa lang iyon sa mga takot niya.

"I really thought it would be difficult. But maybe it's my father instinct, I guess?" He smiled.

Ngumiti rin ako at muling tiningnan ang anak ko. She was still asleep in my arms. Agad kong napuna ang mahahaba niyang pilik mata. And she already has a little thicker dark hair. Nakangiti lang ako habang pinagmamasdan siyang matulog. Until I felt Aaron's thumb brushing the little tears off my face. Ngumiti nalang din ako sa kaniya.

And then the door to my hospital suite opened. Pumasok sina mommy at at daddy. Agad na ngumiti ang parents ko nang makita nila akong hawak ang sarili ko nang anak.

"Excuse me, tito, tita, I'll just call for her doctor." Si Aaron na iniisip pa rin palang tawagin ang doctor ko. Hindi niya lang kami maiwan ni Arabella kanina. Kaya ngayong nandito naman na sina mommy at daddy ay sandali siyang nagpaalam.

Tumango lang ang parents ko sa kaniya at lumabas na ng room si Aaron.

"How are you feeling, hija?" Mommy gently touched my hair.

I smiled. "Okay lang po, Mommy. I'm fine." Pagkatapos ay muli ko rin binalik ang tingin ko sa anak ko.

"She's beautiful." Dad said.

Nag-angat ako ng tingin at ngumiti kay dad. "Lolo ka na po, Daddy. Tumatanda na talaga kayo ni Mommy." I grinned.

Daddy just shook his head and smiled. "Medyo maaga mo kaming binigyan ng apo..." he said.

Nagtagal ang tingin ko kay daddy. Alam kong may pangarap din siya para sa amin ng kapatid ko, para sa akin. Pero tinanggap pa rin niya ang nagyari sa akin. And I know that that's because he and mommy loves me very much. At alam ko rin na mamahalin din nila si Arabella ng kagaya ng pagmamahal nila sa akin.

"Dad, when Arabella's bigger, babalik po ako sa med school." I said.

Umiling naman si daddy. "Yes you can do that. But don't think about it just yet. Don't push yourself too much. You just gave birth and your priority must be your child and yourself."

"Tama ang Daddy mo, Tristeen. Huwag ka na munang mag-isip ng ibang bagay, anak. You will be fine." Mommy gave me a gentle reassuring smile.

Nag-iinit ang puso na ngumiti rin ako kay mommy.

Bumisita rin sina Tita Eris at Tito Axel after knowing that I just gave birth to their grandchild, too. Aaron's siblings also visited us. And so as my brother.

"She's tiny." Lance commented.

"That's because she's still an infant." I said. And then I smiled to my brother. "You were this tiny too when you were a baby." I reminisced.

Tumango-tango lang naman ang kapatid ko.

My friend Ava also visited me and Arabella. Madalas nga ang pagpuslit puslit niya lang sa room namin ng anak ko dahil nag-d-duty rin siya sa hospital. "She's super cute and pretty, Teen!" Ava looked at my daughter adoringly. "I'm not sure kung sino ang mas kamukha niya. Kung ikaw ba o si Aaron."

I remembered that I had a thought before na sana ay si Aaron nalang ang maging kamukha ng anak namin. And the reason for that was because I was still afraid na pag-iisipan pa rin ni Aaron ang anak namin. Na baka maisip pa rin niya na hindi sa kaniya si Arabella. It was an ugly memory. At kahit ngayon ay hindi ko pa rin maiwasang isipin...

"Hey, are you okay?" Napuna ni Ava ang bigla kong pagkatahimik.

Umiling at ngumiti ako sa kaibigan ko. "I'm fine, Ava. I'm a mother now." I said. And then my eyes went back to my daughter. I was again carrying her in my arms. Nag-aalala nga si Aaron na baka mapagod daw ako. Pero hindi naman. Gusto ko nga na palaging malapit sa akin ang anak ko. At para pang ayaw ko na rin siyang bitawan.

Arabella's bright eyes opened. My lips parted and I felt more happy. Nakakatuwa siya kahit natutulog at lalo kapag gising siya. I can watch her pretty pair of brown eyes.

"Oh my..." Mukhang tuwang-tuwa rin si Ava na makitang gising ang anak ko. Madalas kasi na tulog si Arabella kapag nandito siya sa suite namin.

Narinig namin ang pinto at nakitang dumating si Aaron. Both he and Ava greeted each other. Pagkatapos ay dumeretso rin sa akin si Aaron. "I've talked with your doctor. We can go home." He smiled.

Tipid din akong ngumiti.

Home. Where?

Sa bahay namin... Sa bahay ng parents ko.

I wondered if ganito pa rin ba talaga ang magiging set up namin ni Aaron kahit nandito na si Arabella? And until when...

Sometimes I wanted to confront Aaron... I was just trying to remain understanding... And waiting for him. Waiting for his decision.

Hinihintay ko ang plano ni Aaron... What's his plan for me and our daughter?

Nagbaba ako ng tingin sa anak ko.

I want a bright future for Arabella.