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Chapter Twenty-one

Teasing

"So you're telling me that you were crying the last time because you were hungry?"

I nodded to Mommy.

She sighed and then she smiled after shaking her head lightly.

Mommy and I got to talk after dinner.

"I feel fat, Mommy."

Umiling naman si Mommy sa sinabi ko. "It's all right, Tristeen. Ganoon talaga kapag buntis. Normal lang na nag-c-crave ka at parang ang dami mong pagkain na gustong kainin..."

"Ganoon ka rin po ba noong nagbuntis ka sa amin ni Lance?"

She nodded. "Yeah. So it's okay, anak. It's normal. Don't worry about it."

"Pero tumaba po ako, Mom?"

Tiningnan ni Mommy ang katawan ko. "Hmm, hindi naman."

"Be honest, Mommy."

"Well, yeah, medyo nag-gain ka nga ng konting weight, anak. Pero sabi ko nga normal iyan because you're pregnant."

I sighed loudly.

"Why are you so worried? Ayos nga lang iyan."

"I hate feeling ugly, Mommy."

"Oh! But you're not ugly, Tristeen! You're very beautiful. Lalo ngayong buntis ka. May mga ganoon na lalo pang gumaganda kapag buntis."

"And gaining some weight doesn't make you ugly. Especially if it's normal when you're pregnant." Mommy added.

I sighed.

Mommy held my cheek with her palm. She gently smiled at me. "Stop worrying too much, Tristeen. Just think of your child that's still growing inside your womb."

Tumango ako kay Mommy. "Thanks, Mom."

"Awww." Mommy gently brought me in her arms and hugged me comfortingly. Her hand and fingers caressed my hair and then I also felt her kissing my head.

I hugged my mother back and I closed my eyes in her warm embrace.

I shouldn't really worry too much. Worrying won't do me any good and my child. I just have to focus instead on my pregnancy and my baby. Ang dapat ko lang isipin ay ang kung ano ang makakabuti sa amin ng anak ko.

"What's happening here?"

Bumaling kami ni Mommy kay Daddy na dumating. Kumalas na rin kami sa yakap. Sinalubong ni Mommy ng ngiti si Daddy. "Wala naman, Tristan. Mother and daughter talk." Mommy said to Dad.

"Hmm. Hindi ako kasali?"

Pareho kami ni Mommy na bahagyang napatawa ni Daddy. "Come here." si Mommy kay dad.

And Dad went to Mom for a hug. I kiddingly rolled my eyes to them. But I still smiled watching my parents. Mommy just chuckled at my reaction as she continued to hug Daddy in front of me. While Daddy was smiling, too.

Pagkatapos ay napaisip ako habang tintingnan ang mga magulang ko. Ito rin ang gusto ko para sa anak ko. Gusto ko ng isang masaya at kompletong pamilya para sa kaniya. Naisip ko rin kung handa na ba akong tanggapin si Aaron? Kapag niyaya niya akong magpakasal ay siguro nga pakakasalan ko na siya. Magkakaanak na kami. And I really love him. Hindi naman nawala ang pagmamahal ko sa kaniya.

"It's getting late. Maaga pa tayo bukas, Tristan." Mommy said after a while.

Daddy nodded to Mom. And then my parents both turned to me.

"Good night, Mom and Dad."

"Good night, hija." Nauna si Mommy na patakan ako ng halik sa noo.

And then daddy, too. "Good night, sweetheart. Sleep well. You should stay healthy and our grandchild."

Ngumiti ako kay Daddy. "Opo."

Daddy smiled gently to me, too.

Hinatid pa 'ko nina Mommy at Daddy sa room ko bago rin sila pumunta na ni Mommy sa bedroom din nila.

Indeed I slept well that night. And then the morning when I wake up I was also feeling good. Nag-breakfast ako at nagpahinga saglit pagkatapos kumain. And then after I went back to my room inside my bathroom to take a bath. I prepared myself for Aaron's another visit in our home.

I just wore a simple yellow summer dress at home. And then I just leave my hair down. It's getting longer. I'm thinking if I should get a haircut, pero tinatamad na rin talaga akong lumabas ng bahay. Pwede rin naman siguro magpa-home service, we'll just see. Kung magkagana akong gawin, then I'll do it.

Hindi na rin ako nag-makeup. I remember yesterday and nahihiya na ako kay Aaron kung bakit ganoon talaga ang makeup ko pala at nasa bahay lang naman ako. I just put some shine on my lips with a lip balm and I'm good.

"Nandito na po ba si Aaron, Manang?" Salubong ko kay manang nang makababa na ako.

"Oo, kadarating lang ng sasakyan niya. Salubungin mo na."

"Okay, po. Please prepare our lunch na rin po." Dahil mas maaga si Aaron ngayon unlike usually na palaging dinner time or before dinner na siya nakakabisita. Siguro nga ay okay na ulit ang business nina Tito Axel. And that's good.

Ganoon siguro talaga ang business na hindi palaging okay. So you have to be a real good businessman para mapanatili mo ang business mo.

"Hi!" Ngiting-ngiti ko siyang sinalubong na papasok ng bahay namin.

Aaron gave me a smile, too. "Hey," magaang bati niya.

"Come in!" Kinuha ko ang kamay niya at hinila siya deretso patungo sa dining area.

"You're hungry already?"

Natigil ako at binalingan ko si Aaron. There's this playful smile on his face again. Sinsubukan na naman ba niya akong asarin? Nagtaas siya ng mga kamay niya na parang sumusuko sa mga pulis. "I mean, you had a really early breakfast? That's why you want your lunch now." he said.

"It's already time for lunch, too, Aaron."

Tumingin pa siya sa wristwatch niya. "Yeah... it's almost 11:00 AM."

Tinalikuran ko na siya at nauna sa kaniya papasok ng dining area. Naghahain pa lang din sina Manang doon. Nag-angat ng tingin sa amin si Manang. "Ayos ka lang, Tristeen?" puna ni Manang sa mood ko.

"Opo." sagot ko naman na halos nakasimangot pa rin.

"I'm sorry, Manang. It's my fault. We're fine here. I almost forgot that she's sensitive..." Humina pa ang boses ni Aaron.

Mabilis ko siyang nilingon at pinaningkitan ng mga mata ko. He just smiled at me. It's really his fault na nagbago ang maganda kong mood kaninang umaga. Para kasing sinasabi na rin niya sa akin kanina nang dumating siya na gustong-gusto kong kumain.

And yes maybe I'm really sensitive.

What can I do? I'm pregnant. At kasama na ito sa pagbubuntis ko.

"Naku, kumain na nga lang muna kayo. Pagkatapos ninyong kumain, Aaron, pagpahingahin mo muna si Tristeen at maaga siyang gumising kanina."

"I'm fine, Manang." sabi ko naman.

Tumango nalang si Manang. "Siya," Pagkatapos ay iniwan na rin kami nito ni Aaron.

Aaron and I sat in front of the table with food now. Medyo marami ngang pagkain na kaming dalawa lang naman. 'Tapos ay may naisip akong kapilyahan. Ewan ko ba at bigla ko nalang din naisip ito. "Saan pala kita hihilahin agad nang dumating ka kanina? Siyempre rito sa kusina. It's not that I'm already hungry kaya niyaya na kita agad kumain pagdating mo. Wala lang akong maisip na iba pang pagdadalhan sa 'yo when you arrived a while ago... Alangan naman sa kwarto ko kita ipapaderetso?" I smirked at him.

And Aaron looked like he's taken aback. Lalo pa akong napangiti. I feel satisfied na natahimik siya at parang walang masabi nang ilang sandali. Nagtaas ako ng kilay. "Nasanay ka yata agad dahil last time pinapasok kita sa kwarto ko?"

Now he looked like he's beginning to get uncomfortable. Pero lalo lang akong mas na satisfied pa sa reaction niya na mukha pang nahihiya na rin. "Tristeen..." He looked like he didn't know what to say.

And then he sighed after a short while. "I'm sorry, all right. I didn't mean to offend...you with my choice of words..." He sighed again. "I'm just actually happy to see that you're eating well."

"Talaga?"

He nodded. "Yes. It's good for you and the baby."

"So nakakatuwa pala?"

Aaron nodded his head again. "Yes. To be honest I just find it amusing..."

"It's amusing to see me eating much?"

"Nakakatuwa lang na may gana kang kumain. Because from what I've learned there are some women who did not like or is very picky with the food they eat when pregnant. And sometimes ending not eating at all..."

Tumango-tango ako kay Aaron. "Fine."

"I'm just happy that I don't have to worry so much when it comes to your meals... Kasi kumakain ka naman nang maayos."

Tumango-tango muli ako. "Kahit tumataba na ako?"

Napatingin din si Aaron sa katawan ko nang sabihin ko iyon. And I got conscious immediately seeing him watching my body. Parang naiirita agad ako sa ginagawa niya kahit napatingin lang din naman siya dahil sa tanong ko. I'm really being sensitive. And he should be careful.

"I think it's normal..." Aaron answered.

I pouted.

"And you're still very pretty!" he added hastily.

Gusto ko pang sumimangot pero natawa nalang ako kay Aaron.

Sa huli ay napangiti nalang din siya sa akin.

We proceeded to our delicious lunch after.

"Are you sleepy?" Aaron asked a while after we finished lunch.

Humikab kasi ako.

Nakanguso akong bumaling sa kaniya at tumango. "Yeah..." I pouted.

Bakit parang nakakaantok yata pagkatapos mong kumain... Ganoon ang nararamdaman ko.

Aaron just smiled. "Then let's go up to your room so you can rest."

Kapilyahan ang agad sumagi sa isipan ko. "Oh, really... Gusto mo na namang pumunta sa kwarto ko?"

Aaron sighed like he's stressed and I just chuckled at his reaction. "You said you're sleepy, Tristeen. Saan ka pa ba pwedeng matulog bukod sa kwarto mo?"

"Pwede naman dito..." Biro kong tukoy sa living room.

"Alright." Aaron was fast to answer.

Tumayo naman na ako mula sa sofa. "Biro lang. I can rest well in my room. At s'yempre sasamahan mo ako, 'di ba?"

"Only if you want to—"

"Ayos lang! Buntis na nga ako't lahat."

"I mean—"

"Yeah, come on! Let's go! Get up!" Hinila ko siya sa kamay niya para tumayo na rin mula sa sofa.

Tumayo naman din si Aaron at hindi na nagpabigat pa sa akin.

"Saan kayo pupunta, Tristeen?" Biglang dumating si Manang sa living room.

I smirked when I saw her. "Sa kwarto ko raw po sabi ni Aaron."

Manang's eyes widened a fraction.

"No, Manang—"

"Let's go!" Aaron even tried to explain to Manang, pero hinila ko na siya.

I even laughed while bringing him with me upstairs. Nakakatuwa naman si Aaron. Masyado yata niyang iniisip ang iisipin ng mga kasama namin dito sa bahay kung nasa kwarto ko siya. Ayos lang naman. I'm already pregnant with his child! Nahihiya pa siya d'yan.

"Tristeen..." he called.

"What?" Nangingiti pa rin ako habang hindi na siya nilingon ay deretso lang siyang dinadala sa room ko.

I remembered us as a teen. Siya rin ang palaging nahihiya sa aming dalawa. While I was just comfortable with him, o makapal lang talaga ang mukha ko... Basta sa akin ay ayos lang naman. Aaron used to overthink a lot even if we'll just kiss before. It's as if we were about to do something illegal...

"Hindi mo dapat sinasabi nang gano'n..."

"Paano ba dapat?" I asked innocently and playfully.

He sighed. Nasa loob na kami ng room ko. I faced him. "You're worrying so much over nothing, Aaron. Hindi ka naman pag-iisipan ng masama nina Manang." I smirked.

"Fine." suko niya.

And then his eyes went to my bed.

Pumunta ako sa harapan niya. Blocking his vision of my bed. "Wala naman tayong ibang gagawin..."

Mabilis na tumango si Aaron. "Yes. And you're pregnant."

Pinaningkitan ko siya ng mga mata. "What do you mean? If I'm not pregnant you —"

"Stop teasing me, Teen."

I chuckled.

"Inaantok ako!" Pumunta na 'ko sa kama ko para mahiga na roon. "Come here, Aaron." Tawag ko sa kaniya nang nakatayo pa rin siya doon sa tabi ng kama ko.

He sighed and went to my bed, too. Pumwesto siya sa tabi ko. "Sleep." he told me.

"How 'bout you?"

"I'll stay here with you."

"You'll watch me sleep?"

"Yeah,"

"Matulog ka na rin. Maaga pa naman. Mamaya ka pa uuwi sa inyo. Hindi ka na rin babalik sa office, 'di ba? Dahil wala ka naman nang meetings this afternoon..." Humina na ang boses ko dahil sa antok. Pumikit na rin ang mga mata ko. I comfortably rested my head on Aaron's chest.

Aaron gently combed my hair with his fingers. Lalo akong hinihila ng pagtulog sa ginagawa niya sa buhok ko. "Yeah, I'll stay here. Now sleep."

"Hmm..."

Pagkatapos noon ay nakatulog na ako nang hapong iyon. While Aaron remained with me in my room the whole afternoon.