Chapter 29

Twins

Regular ang checkup namin sa doctor at palagi akong sinasamahan ni Kalyx sa mga checkups ko. Medyo malaki na rin ang tiyan ko ngayon. At nasa condo niya pa rin kami nakatira. Mabuti na lang at wala naman kaming masyadong problema sa pagbubuntis ko. The doctor always reassured us that everything was fine with my pregnancy.

And today we're having another ultrasound. At ngayon din sa checkup na 'to malalaman na namin ang gender ng baby. We're so excited! Both I and Kalyx.

"Oh my!" Even the doctor seemed excited when we learned the gender. "It's twins! You're having twins! Wow! Congratulations, Mommy and Daddy!" She smiled kindly at us.

Napangiti rin ako at agad na bumaling kay Kalyx. Tumingin na rin siya sa akin at may ngiti rin sa mga labi niya. He lifted his hand to my face and his thumb gently brushed near my eyes... Hindi ko namalayang napaiyak na pala ako. Dinaan ko na lang sa konting tawa.

"Thank you, doctor." We thanked my doctor.

And after the checkup I was craving for some Filipino food and halo-halo for dessert. Kaya naman dinala at kumain muna kami ni Kalyx sa labas bago umuwi sa condo.

Sahod din ni Kalyx ngayon so namili na rin kami muli ng dagdag pa na mga gamit para sa babies namin. And now that we knew that it's twins so we bought more and double na or in pairs ang mga pinamili namin.

"I have savings. We could get married with it. But mag-iipon pa ulit ako para makabili naman tayo ng bahay natin..." Kalyx said.

He was looking at me when he also sighed a bit. "I think the condo is now small for the two babies we're expecting." aniya.

Napangiti naman ako habang nakatingin din ako sa kaniya. "Your condo is not small, Kalyx. We can still live there habang wala pa tayong sarili nating bahay. And it can wait. Baby pa naman ang kambal at hindi naman sila lalaki agad..." I gave him a reassuring smile.

I think he's worried kung ano ang uunahin niya. Kung ang bahay ba na ipapagawa niya para sa amin or ang wedding namin. And maybe he wants to do both at the same time. Pero mukhang kulang pa ang pera niya since umaasa kami ngayon sa work niya and investments that he just started not so long ago. We're now independent at hindi na umaasa pa sa parents namin. And I'm so proud of him. He's been working hard for us. For me and for our babies. And we appreciate it a lot. We appreciate his efforts a lot. Alam ko na maging ang mga anak namin ay proud din kay Kalyx.

Kasal na rin nina Janine and Ethan, so we attended their wedding first. They also invited us and all of our friends. Kaya naman nagkitakita rin muli kaming lahat na magkakaibigan sa kasal nina Janine at Ethan.

"Congratulations, Janine and Ethan!" I congratulated them for their wedding.

Ngumiti naman sila sa akin na bagong kasal lang. "Thank you, Rina. And congratulations din sa inyo ni Kalyx sa baby n'yo..." Janine smiled at me and Kalyx.

All that's happened before, iniwan na naming lahat 'yon sa nakaraan. There were misunderstandings but I'm glad we're all still here now. I'm happy that I was still able to have good relationships with my family and friends. And that's because I was giving to the point of selflessness... I'm not saying that it was all right. I already learned that it's also important to always leave some for yourself. But I'm just gladly that before I always chose to understand the people around me who's dear to me. And I have forgiven easily... At pati ang sarili ko ay napatawad ko na rin.

I think the thing that I was so selfish with was with Kalyx. Naging selfish ako noong piliin ko siya kahit ayaw pa noong una ni Mommy. O kahit pa ang mga kaibigan ko ay hindi rin sang-ayon sa kaniya noong una. But I chose him selfishly. I chose him for myself. For my happiness... And I don't regret it.

Siguro minsan ay okay din naman na magpaka-selfish din... Kahit konti lang. At kahit minsan lang. Hindi naman siguro masama na may pagkakataon sa buhay na unahin din naman natin ang sarili natin. And to choose the things and people for ourselves...

I think when you want something, you should also be ready to fight for it. Like how Kalyx and I tried to fight for each other. And it can be called selfish especially when the other people doesn't want it, and if these people are family and close friends. But it just happens sometimes. That we also fight for the things we want. And for me it wasn't just selfishness. It was also courage that we've got when we choose to be with someone we want... someone we love.

Palagi akong mapagbigay noon. At isang beses ko lang yatang pinagbigyan din naman ang sarili ko. And I can say that it was worth it to fight for it. Hindi rin naman masama na pagbigyan mo rin ang sarili mo sa gusto mo lalo na kung minsan lang naman ito.

I guess it's also a form of self-love—choosing and fighting for what you want for yourself. Walang masama kung gusto mo talaga at alam mong papahalagahan mo naman ito. And I guess that people around you, especially when they truly love you they will eventually accept what you chose for yourself. Because they would understand you like how you also tried to understand them. And that's because they love you. And they care for you.

Tingin ko rin na hindi palaging nagkakaintindihan ang mga tao. Kaya may mga pagtatalo rin minsan. Kasi kung ano ang gusto natin ayaw din nila para sa atin. At ganoon din naman tayo sa kanila. But I guess that when you love them and care for them it would be all right because you will always try to understand the people you love. And sometimes even if you don't understand it fully you will still try to understand and accept the choices made by the people you care about.

In the end Kalyx and I decided to have a simple and intimate wedding. Ako rin ang nagsabi sa kaniya noon. Ang iniisip niya kasi na bigyan ako ng dream wedding ko. But I actually didn't have a grandiose dream wedding at all. Ang importante lang naman sa 'kin na makasal kami ni Kalyx. At may pera pa pampagawa rin ng bahay namin. I think I'm just more practical. And I just reassured Kalyx that it's fine until I was able to convince him that it's still good.

I also offered him my own savings but he doesn't want to accept it. Kasi sabi niya ay kaya niya pa naman daw. And I can spend my money to myself. And he would surely ask for my help when needed.

But I think that Kalyx's investments were already doing good. Kaya naman may sarili na kaming pera para sa pamilya namin bukod pa sa nagtatrabaho rin talaga siya para sa amin. He's also starting his own business now. And I'm always a proud wife to my husband.

Pero sa totoo lang kahit pa simple lang ang naging kasal namin ay maganda pa rin ang kinalabasan nito dahil magaling din iyong nakuha naming wedding coordinator. And we only invited a few people and who are also important to us. And in the end it still came out good. Natuwa pa rin kami ni Kalyx sa kasal namin.

And also my wedding gown or dress was really pretty, too. Malaki na ang tiyan ko nang kinasal kami ni Kalyx but the dress fits me well and still made me a beautiful bride on my wedding day. I really thank everyone who contributed to our simple and intimate yet beautiful wedding with the people who are dear to us all present on the day.

Nasimulan na rin ang pagpapagawa namin ng bahay ni Kalyx pagkatapos. We still stayed in his condo habang hinihintay na matapos ang bahay na lilipatan namin. But today I stayed with my Mom while Kalyx was still at work. May kasama na rin akong isang kasambahay sa condo pero nag-aalala pareho sina Mommy at Kalyx sa akin kaya naman sa bahay na lang muna ako habang malapit na akong manganak.

"Are you all right, Rina?" Maya't maya ang pag-check sa akin ni Mommy.

Ngumingiti naman ako sa kaniya at sinasabing okay lang ako. Although I was already feeling a bit uncomfortable. Pero kaya ko pa naman ang nararamdaman ko. I was waiting for Kalyx to be home. By now ay tapos na ang work niya at pauwi na siya sa amin.

"Ma'am, okay ka lang?" Tinatanong din ako ng nakuhang kasambahay namin ni Kalyx.

Sinubukan ko pang ngumiti sa kaniya pero nauwi na iyon sa ngiwi dahil pakiramdam ko ay hindi ko na kaya sa puntong ito at kailangan na siguro akong dalhin sa ospital.

"Ma'am! Pumutok na ang panubigan mo!" Halos mag-panic ang kasambahay at agad na tinawag si Mommy.

Habang iniinda ko na ang sakit. I think I was about to give birth...

"Rina! Malapit na tayo sa ospital!" si Mommy na kinakausap ako sa loob ng sasakyan.

"Mommy, si Kalyx po... Please call him..." I still managed to say kahit sobrang sakit na.

"Yes, anak. I already called him. Kakaalis niya lang sa trabaho at dederetso na rin siya sa ospital. So he'll be there when we arrive. Are you all right?" Mommy worriedly asked me.

Since they knew that I was carrying twins ay mas lalo lang yata silang nag-alala pa sa akin. But I'm fine... And I can do this. But I just want Kalyx to be there with me when I give birth to our twins.

"Rina!" Kalyx rushed to my side as soon as we arrived at the hospital.

Ngumiti rin ako nang makita ko na siya. He held my hand habang dinadala na nila ako sa delivery room. At kahit masakit ay pakiramdam ko nakakaya ko pa rin because Kalyx was there with me...