I stared long at the ring on my finger. It's a yellow gold mounting with one round brilliant cut diamond. It's strong brilliance and unbelievable sparkle made it hard to ignore. One look at my hand and it will surely call attention.

The happiness in my heart comes unexplainably. I'm so happy that it sometimes scares me. Paano kung may kapalit lahat ng kasiyahan na nararamdaman ko ngayon? Kakayanin ko ba?

I scanned my reflection in the mirror, standing in front of it with only a pair of underwear. I was no more the sexy supermodel that I once was. I've grown big and I'm not exaggerating it. My skin was stretched taunt over, I help my hands around it, cradling it like I would my babies within. It had swollen to the size that I didn't think possible. Even larger than the largest watermelon. My entire body were swelling, too. Especially my feet and my hands. I look like I was going to pop any second. There's no doubt I'm carrying three heads, though I'm proud that I'm already lasting it for six months now.

Then I remembered our doctor's visit last week. We were told that we're having three healthy baby boys. I got so excited after hearing it. I've already chosen the names for them, Oxygen let me decides in everything.

After I accepted his proposal, he was eager to marry me immediately but I didn't agree. Goodness, it's my wedding we're talking about. I'm only marrying once and I want it to be the highlight of my entire life. I want to walk down the aisle as the most beautiful woman everyone would see, not because of vanity or what but because I want to make it so special. With our babies out to watch us seal our love. He think that it's just fair enough but in exchange, he wants me to live with him from that night on. I agreed. I don't think I can ever be away from him. He became a necessity for me.

Mom went ballistic on me when she saw the ring shining on my finger. She doesn't like it. But I stood strong to my decision, I'm a grownup and I'm the one responsible with my life not them. This is what I want and this is what makes me happy. It pains me to hurt her and I honestly doesn't want to leave her but how could I live my life if I'd let myself be stuck with mom and all her anger and sadness. It's past time for her to move on, forgive and live happy again. She needs to realize that and that won't happen if I continue living for her. She will never realize that it's dad that she needs not me.

I wore my maternity dress and finished fixing myself. Oxygen needs to be at work by eight, he'll drop me off their house since he wants someone to look after me while he's gone and I will stay their as he works. We'll have dinner their with his family and then went back here to his unit to end the day. That's our routine every weekdays, while at weekends either we went visit dad or we'll shop some baby stuff.

"Oxygen, I'm done. Are we gonna go now?" I said as I went out of our room, just so he know that I'm about to walk at the living room any moment now. I don't want to intrude, someone came while I'm on the shower, I didn't know if his visitor is still there.

Naabutan kong nakatayo si Oxygen at ang dalawa pang bisita nito. His eyes were directed at the man in a blue baseball cap.

"Boss, pasensya na kayo kay Nato. Hindi na mauulit 'to mauulit pa, pangako." Sabi ng isa pa.

"Pipili ka ng tatarantaduhin mong putang ina ka." Mahina ngunit mapanganib na sabi ni Oxygen. He looks mad, I was instantly worried.

"Hey, what's going on?" I walked in, he turned to me and his face softened. Inserting his hand on his pocket.

"Nothing that concerns you, beautiful." A ready smile curved his lips as he scanned me from head to foot.

"Aalis na kami boss, pasensya na ho ulit." Sabing muli ng kaninang nag-salita.

Hindi na iyon inimikan pa ni Oxygen, narinig na lamang naming ang pagsara ng pinto hudyat na naka-alis na ang mga ito. I felt Oxygen kissed my temple, I looked up to him.

"What happened?" Tanong ko.

"Wala," simple niyang sagot. "Rider sa casa, palpak magtrabaho."

Tumango na lamang ako. Since Zach run off, Oxygen and Kade took over the management of their restaurant business. Last month, Zach attended their cousin, Paris' wedding. Ang akala nila, sumusuko na ito. That the 'Chasing Zach' game was over, they're wrong. Because right after the wedding, he went missing again. I don't think Zach will ever be ready for responsibilities.

I pinched his chin and tiptoed to kiss him. "I love you, wipe your snarl please? There's a good day waiting for the both of us."

"I guess you're right,"

"I'm always right, Oxygen." I grinned. "Now let's go, you're running late."

"If I could just skip work and lock your sexy ass to bed the whole day I will." He groaned, squeezing my behind. Kissing me again.

I giggled in between our kisses, he still thinks my fat ass is sexy. "As tempting as it sounds, you have to run loads of errands. Besides, I promised Titanium I'll help her bake today. I want to learn something in the kitchen, para hindi ikaw lagi 'yung nagluluto. Baka mamaya, mapagod ka na, e."

"Ako mapapagod sa'yo?" Natatawang pinisil niya ang aking ilong. "Malabo 'yan. Pero sige, gusto ko rin matikman 'yung luto mo. Wala pa man, 'yun na agad favorite ko."

Ako naman ang natawa. "Halika na, mamaya mo na ko bolahin."

Nang makarating kami sa bahay nila, si Audrey agad ang naabutan namin na nag-didilig ng mga halaman at bulaklak sa labas. That's her thing, watering the plants every morning and keep talking to it as if it's gonna answer her. Probably the reason why their garden looks magnificent.

"Grow beautiful, just like me. Okay?" She said.

"Beautiful nga, tuyot naman." Si Anja iyon na tumatawang pinapanuod si Audrey mula sa front porch kasama ang kaibigan nitong si Vios.

"Mama..." Sigaw ni Audrey. "Mama, si Anja at Vios mag-syota na!"

"Anong mag-syota? Sinong mag-syota?" Usisa ni Oxygen na siyang ikinaputla ng mukha ni Anja.

"Uy! Kuya!" Napaharap sa amin si Audrey, with an awkward smile in her lips. "Andyan na pala kayo. Joke lang 'yon. Di ko naman alam na may pagka-chismoso ka pala."

Ngunit matalim pa rin ang tingin ni Oxygen kay Anja at Vios. He guided me towards the house.

"Ayusin mo lang Anja, bubutasin ko ulo niyo sa kotong. Tamo lang." Banta niya sa dalawa, agad ko naman siyang siniko.

"Ano ka ba?" Natatawa'y pabulong ko siyang sinaway. "Don't go Camille Syanna on them!"

Pati ako'y sinamaan niya ng tingin. Nginisihan ko lamang siya.

"Sige na, you're going to be late. I'm fine here." I kissed him goodbye. "I love you, call me at lunch."

"Surely will," he smiled and started leaving. Nag-iwan pa ng mapagbantang tingin sa dalawa.

I shook my head. It's not as if Anja is still a teenager. She's grown and boyfriends at her age is just normal.

"Ignore him, just keep your love your life." I winked at Anja and she beamed.

I was about to get inside when Audrey called me out. She put down the water hose and walked towards me.

"Oo nga pala, your brother went here. He's got you a flower, from your daddy daw." Audrey giggled. "Oh my God, your brother is a hunk, huh!"

"Brother? Zander?" I frowned.

"No! The other one. The handsomest I've seen this morning." She said a little dreamy.

"But he's got his eyes on Tami, so bye bye Audrey." That was Anja.

If not Zander then that means it's Derek. Derek has been making efforts on me, I'd like to say appreciate all of it but I'm still a little bit unsure of him. I don't understand why, because he's actually nice. It's just that something is off about him.

After lunch, Titanium and I went baking. She lets me do minimal works although I'm watching her because I'm really eager to learn. Good thing that she's patient with my questions. Oxygen's sisters were all nice but for me, Titanium is the nicest. She's also the prettiest. She looks just like their mom.

"This is one of my favorite foods. Whenever I eat brownies I kind of remember my childhood, where mom used to bake trays of it for Oxygen and I. I swear he's a monster, he could finish the whole tray and leave nothing for me." One thing I love about Titanium is all her Oxygen story. "I'm all about that crisp crackly top, ooey -gooey fudge-like center, studded with chunks of molten chocolate! Makes it the best."

And I couldn't agree more. I love brownies when I was child but mom made me change my favorite into vegetable salad. So, I didn't quite get the best of it. "I'm excited to see how it taste."

I looked at the oven and watched it bake the brownies we made. I heard her laugh. "Relax, Gabby. It won't burn."

"Sorry if I'm giddy and anxious about this. Much as I'm ashamed to admit, but this was the first time I'm baking." I told her.

"Then there will be the second, third, fourth and many more. Because I'm certain that after today you'll learn great lesson." She winked at me. "What can I say, I'm a good teacher."

"I won't argue to that." I chuckled.

"Saya niyo, ah." Si Tita Moana iyon na pumasok sa kusina, she went to fridge to get herself a water.

That's what I like about her household, they have plenty of housemaids but they do things for themselves. If it had been mom, she'll ask the help to bring her water. Though I wasn't saying that's not good, it's just that, it's different here.

"I'm learning baking." I said, beaming at her.

"We used your recipe for brownies." Titanium informed her.

"Wow, gusto ko 'yan." Sabi niya sa amin matapos uminom ng tubig. "Pero Gabbana, konti lang ha? Sabi ng doktora mo bawasan mo na ang matatamis. Last trimester mo na."

I'm aware of that. I'm always completely aware of everything when it comes to my pregnancy. On Thursdays, I'm attending a yoga class with Audrey and Titanium. Anja doesn't like to go with us for that, she sees it as a waste of time. No, it's actually a big help for my pregnancy. And also being surrounded by people that carries positivity is a plus point.

I suddenly miss Kurtney. I haven't seen her in awhile. I'm not sure if she's aware about my pregnancy, looks like she's busy with her life, too. I've decided to shy away from people, not because I'm ashamed that I'm pregnant but because I wanted this moment to be intimate. Just for Oxygen and I and our families. For healthier pregnancy, too. I'll just make it up to her, for sure I'll have a lot of explaining to do.

"Alam ko, mahirap iwasan kasi masasarap 'yan. Hindi ko nga rin alam bakit ang lakas ng trip ng mundo, kung ano pang masarap 'yon pa ang bawal." Paalala pa rin ni Tita Moana. "Huwag kang mag-alala, pagkapanganak mo, kakain tayo ng kakain ng matatamis."

Sounds fun! Mabilis akong tumango at humagikgik. If I'm carrying a baby girl, I'll surely name it after her. Who doesn't want another Moana Marie to light up the room?

"Ma!" Humihingal na dumating si Anja bitbit ang telepono, agad niya iyon inabot kay Tita Moana. "Si papa."

Kinuha iyon ni Tita Moana at inilagay sa tainga. Kitang-kita ko ang pag-kunot ng kaniyang noo then she started moving. "Ano?! Hindi pwede! Hindi nila pwedeng kunin ang anak ko. Putangina, Exodus puntahan mo si Oxygen. Pupunta na 'ko."

Agad akong kinabahan nang marinig ang pangalan ni Oxygen. I stood up from my seat, agad na nakaalalay sa akin si Titanium. Bakas din ang pag-aalala sa mukha nito.

"Mom, what's going on?" That's Titanium.

Imbes na sagutin ay binalingan nito si Anja at ibinalik ang telepono. "Tawagan mo si Blaster at Tristan, sabihin mo pumunta sa hotel ngayon na."

"Anong nangyari, ma?" Maging si Anja ay nag-alala na rin.

Tita Moana's voice broke as tears started falling from her eyes. "Oxygen was arrested."