Marian's POV

"Hey." Pumasok si Seth sa loob ng flowershop habang nag-aarrange ako ng mga bulaklak. He walked up to me and wrapped an arm around my waist while his other one stroke my belly. He drops by to the shop everytime he gets off work so we could go home together. "How was your day? How was the little one?"

"Okay naman. Medyo mabagal lang ang benta ngayon. Thankfully, wala masyadong customers. Wala masyadong ginagawa. Kanina pa sumasakit ang balakang ko. Ang bigat bigat na kasi ng baby, galaw pa ng galaw."

"He really like playing in there, huh?" Ngisi niya sa akin. "Sabi ko naman sa'yo huwag ka na munang pumunta dito sa shop. Hire another staff to help Flor out. You don't have to worry about the salary, I'll pay for it."

"Ano naman ang gagawin ko? Mabobored lang ako sa bahay. Mas magandang may pinagkakaabalahan ako." I said.

"I'm just worried about you and the baby. You're almost seven months pregnant. You should be resting at home."

"Hindi ako sanay na walang ginagawa at saka hindi naman mabigat ang trabaho dito."

"Pagbibigyan kita ngayon but on the eight month, you'd have to stay home okay?"

"Okay." I half heartedly said.

"You promise?" His brow arched up.

"Pero bibisitahin ko pa rin ang shop. Mga thrice a week."

"Twice." He said.

I sighed. "Okay, twice."

"Don't be hard-headed it's for your sake and the baby's." He grinned. "Kumain tayo sa labas ngayon. Where do you want to eat?"

"Anywhere with pasta is good to me." Sagot ko.

We went to Seth's favorite Italian restaurant and ordered food. I silently watched him as he was busy eating his food.

Alam kong mahal ni Seth ang baby namin. Ilang beses niyang nang sinabi iyon. I never doubted that. Hindi man niya alam, nararamdaman kong ramdam niya na sa kanya ito. Gusto kong sabihin sa kanya ang totoo pero palagi akong pinangungunahan ng takot.

I was scared he won't believe me. I was scared he'd think I'm crazy. I was scared everything would change. I was scared he'd leave. I was scared of a lot of things. I was scared of taking the consequences of what i did.

Hindi ba maganda na ang ganito? Masaya naman na kami ngayon. We were both already happy and I didn't want to ruin it. Hindi ba nga sabi nila, what you don't know won't hurt you? I knew I was being selfish but I couldn't help it. I was scared of losing him.

"Why aren't you touching your food?" Tanong niya ng tumingin siya sa akin.

Napakurap ako. "Seth, may tatanong ako sa'yo?"

"Go ahead."

"Paano kapag nalaman mong may kinuha ang kaibigan mo sa'yong isang mahalagang bagay na hindi mo alam. Magagalit ka ba?"

"What did you do?" His eyes narrowed at me.

"W-wala." I shook my head. "I just have this friend who stole something from a friend. Hiningingi niya ang advice ko pero wala naman akong maibigay sa kanya."

"Hell I'd be really angry. I'd feel betrayed."

"Would you ever be friends with that person again?"

"No! How can you be friends with someone you don't trust anymore?" Sabi niya. "Sana lumapit na lang siya sa akin at hiningi iyon kaysa kunin niya ng di ko alam."

And I got the answer I needed.

Seth's POV

"Hmm..." The doctor had a quizzical look on her face as she was looking at the monitor and moving the ultrasound receiver over Marian's stomach. Her reaction alarmed me.

"Is something wrong, doc?" I worriedly asked.

"Wala naman. It's just that she's almost on her thirtieth week but the baby's still breech." Sabi ng doktor.

"Breech?" I gave her a confused look.

"Yes, breech. Dahil mabigat na ang ulo ng baby ang tendecy, umiikot na siya. Normally at five to seven months the baby's head should be at the lower side of the uterus. Dapat ang una ang ulo pero nakikita mo ba itong nasa screen, naka posisyon pa din sa taas ang ulo niya."

"Is that bad?" I asked.

"Some baby's turn head down at the very last week of pregnancy." She smiled. "Don't worry, it's not something you should be scared about."

"At paano kung hindi siya umikot? Ano'ng mangyayari sa baby?" I could feel Marian's anxiety and worry through her voice. The same feelings I felt at that time.

"Well, it will be unsafe for the baby. There will be some risk if delivered normally, he would more likely be injured. As you can see, the baby's feet is pointing downards, it's what we call the footling breech. Mas delikado ang posisyon niya kaysa sa ibang posisyon."

I saw how Marian's face pale at what the doctor said. I felt like energy had been drained out of my body. I would literally kill if something bad happens to our Pio.

"Huwag niyo munang alalahanin iyon. Mahaba pa ang panahon. We still have a lot of time. Maghintay na lang tayo."

"Ano po bang pwede namin gawin?" Marian asked.

"There's not much we can do. Wala tayong kontrol sa bagay na 'yan. If next visit and the baby's still breech, you can opt for a cesarean section. It's safer for the baby."

"C-section? They're going to slice her stomach open?" My eyes widened.

"Kung iyon ang kinakailangan para malabas kong ligtas ang baby ko, then I would do it." Sabi ni Marian.

Marian's spirit had been down since the doctor's check up this morning. She had been really quiet. I knew she was thinking about the baby. I was a bit worried for the baby too but I didn't to show it to her. I had already researched about breech births on the computer. With the help of technology, hindi na ganon kakomplikado at kadelikado iyon. Normal birth would be a bit risky so a c-sec would a better choice.

She was quietly sitting on the side of the bed and I sat next to her. I took her hand in mine. Her eyes averted from the blank wall to me and she forced a smile.

"It's going to be alright. Don't think too much about it. Sabi nga ng doctor, we still have a lot of time." I said.

"I don't want anything bad to happen to my baby."

"Nothing bad's going to happen to him. I won't let it." I said.

"I'm scared." Her voice quivered.

"Don't be. I'm here for you."

"Salamat, Seth. Hindi mo ako iniwan." She gave me a slight smile. "You've always been there for me and my baby."

"I won't leave you both."

"I'm scared but at the same time I'm excited. Ilang buwan na lang mahahawakan ko na siya. Maririnig ko na ang iyak niya. Makikita ko na siya." She rested her head on my shoulder and yawned.

"I'm as excited as you are. What do you think he'd look like? I hope he'd look like you."

"I wouldn't mind him looking like his daddy." She said in a sleepy tone.

"No, I think he'd look more like you." I said, trying to mask my annoyance. I wouldn't want the baby looking like his idiot father. I love the kid but I couldn't shake off the jealousy I had for his father. "He'd be a beautiful baby."

"He will." Marian agreed and then she flinched. "OH!"

"He's moving again?" I asked.

She took my hand and rested it over her round belly. I felt him moving under my hand. I'd felt him a lot of times before but it still never fails to awe me everytime.

"Hey baby, kailangan mong umikot. Don't give your mommy a hard time. If you don't turn, they'd have to slice her stomach open to get you out of there." I said.

"Seth!" She lifted her head up. "You're not helping! Lalo mo akong tinatakot!"

I chuckled. "Sorry."

I love Marian and the baby. I wanted to raise the child with her. I wanted us to stay together. I wanted us to be a family. I could already picture our family in my mind. A few more weeks and Pio would finally be here with us. The nursery room was ready for him. 

But I was afraid to tell her. I was afraid if we start anything else, we'd ruin what we already have.