Chapter 5

"Is this the baby?" Yttrium curiously asked while looking at the ultrasound's pictures.

I watched how his eyes filled with delighted while staring at it. Parang may humaplos na kung ano sa puso ko.

I suddenly wondered, if Yeshua was the one who's with me right now? Ganito kaya ang ekspresyon na makikita ko galing sa kanya? I sighed and slightly shook my head to erase it on my mind. Hindi ko na iyon dapat na iniisip pa.

We just got home after we visited at the OB. He already booked for the third check up and also for the paternity test. Kapag naisagawa na iyon, pitong linggo lang daw o mahigit ang tatagalin sa pag hihintay ng resulta.

This is our second time that we visited at the OB. Noong una ay iyong pangatlong araw ko rito. Yttrium was also confused and nervous that time, ngayon naman ay ganoon pa rin.

"I can't recognize him..." Yttrium pouted his lips, still dubiously staring at the pictures.

Binabaliktad niya pa iyon at iniaangat. Napangiwi ako nang pitik pitikin niya pa iyon at itinatapat sa ilaw, tila'y hinahanap doon kung nasaan ang anak niya. Yttrium, wala talaga ang anak mo riyan, dahil akin lang 'yan. I frowned because of what I was thinking.

"Baka tae palang siya," pagbibiro ko.

Napangiwi siya, hindi pa rin ako magawang tapunan ng tingin dahil busy.

"Maybe you should eat more so he can grow faster."

"Puro ka 'he he'. Sigurado ka ba agad na lalaki 'to?" I chuckled.

Yttrium nodded. "Yes, I can feel it. Sabi ganoon daw talaga 'yon..."

"Sinong nagsabi, at ano ang sinabi?"

"Some of my friends that has a wife and child already."

Tumaas ang kilay ko. "May kaibigan ka na married na?"

Yttrium glanced at me as he nodded. "Yeah..."

"May single pa?"

His eyes squinted. "Why are you asking?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "Curious lang?"

"Why are you so curious?"

"Kasi baka ikaw na lang ang single?"

"Oh ano naman?" his brow creased.

I scoffed. Problema nito?

"Wala lang, nagtatanong lang?"

Yttrium exhaled and rolled his eyes. "I will introduce you to them."

Napasinghap ako. Seryoso ba siya? Papayag siya?

"H-huh? Bakit naman?" I slightly panicked.

His brow furrowed even more. "Sa mga may asawa, hindi do'n sa single..."

Akala ko pa naman bibigyan niya ako ng jowa, o kaya naman ay irereto ako sa mga kaibigan niya.

"Oh, so may single pa nga sa mga kaibigan mo? Wow, akala ko ikaw nalang ang natitira eh. Ilan pa kayo?" I sneered.

Yttrium scowled at me. "I'm not."

Napawi ang ngisi ko sa sagot niya. I couldn't understand him. Anong 'I'm not?'

"Anong 'I'm not?' Hindi ka na single?" my eyes widened when I realized that he is pertaining to it!

Tangina! Ako pa yata ang naloko dito! Baka mamaya may asawa na 'to?

"Of course, may anak na nga ako 'di ba?" iritado niyang sabi, sabay iwas ng tingin.

He's not your son.

Pinilig ko ang ulo ko. "Single ka pa rin!"

Yttrium's face darkened. Kinuha niya ang pitaka sa bulsa ng pantalon na suot at binuksan iyon. He put the ultrasound's photo inside the picture holder. My lips parted as I watched his actions.

"Why? Are you still single 'cuz you don't have any boyfriend yet, even though you already have a child?"

Napakurapkurap ako at sunod sunod na tumango.

"Oo naman! Ganoon 'yon, hindi mo ba alam? Single mom... Atsaka hindi naman tayo mag on kahit na i-ikaw ang ama ng a-anak ko."

Yttrium scoffed. "Tss, buti na lang at dito ka lang sa bahay. You wouldn't have any chance to search for some boys out there."

Ang lokong 'to! Ano ang ibig niyang sabihin? Dito lang ako at ikukulong niya ako? Nagseselos ba siya?

Ngumisi ako. "Possessive much, aren't we? Ayos lang, uso naman ang hanapan ng jowa sa Internet."

"What the hell? Gagawa at gagawa ka talaga ng paraan ano?" Yttrium sounds irritated.

Humalakhak ako. "Ano naman? Ha? Bakit? Are you jealous, love? Ayaw mo nang may iba ako?"

Of course, I was just teasing him. Hindi naman ako umaasa pa na magkakatuluyan kami matapos nitong pagtulong niya sa akin. In fact, I am already thinking for some possible things that might happen, especially when he finally know the truth.

Jacques Yttrium is really a good man. I've been with him for only a week, but I think I knew him already. I got close with him so fast, it's like we clicked and that's it.

Hindi nga lang ako nag iisip pa ng bagay na mas mataas pa do'n. Siguro kaibigan lang, ayos na. I like him as a person, but I don't have any romantic feelings for him. Siguro kasi'y umpisa pa lamang? Pero hindi rin, I admit that he is a good looking man. Hot and sexy as hell too, pero hindi ako madadaan doon.

I'd think about my child first before anything else. Ang mahalaga, maayos siya, maayos ang lagay niya, maayos kaming dalawa. Iyon na lang muna sa ngayon.

Yttrium's grumpy face made me tease him even more. Iritado siya at hindi na nagsasalita pa. He just talked to me when his friends finally arrived.

I thought they were loud like some boys in my age, but I was wrong. Nagkakatuwaan sila ngunit hindi katulad no'ng mga kakilala kong lalaki na maiingay at makukulit pa kahit matatanda na. Yttrium's friends were all matured, even their wives.

"Good evening," the two men greeted me gratefully.

I was still shocked but I managed to smile and greet them awkwardly.

"Good evening, pasok kayo..."

The two women kissed my cheek. I was stunned for awhile. They both looked friendly, salungat sa mga napang asawa nila. Unang tingin ko pa lang sa dalawa, halata ko nang makakasundo ko sila.

Yttrium stood straight beside me. Tinanguan siya noong dalawang lalaki na hindi ko pa alam ang pangalan. They both tapped Yttrium's arm before going inside the dining area.

"May bago kang wine Jacques?" tanong ng isa.

The man's wife slightly hit the arm of his husband. "Mahiya ka nga, hindi pa nga pinapakilala 'yung asawa niya," mariin na bulong nito.

Pinagdikit ko ang labi ko nang marinig ang bulong niya. I want to laugh but I don't wanna sound rude so I tried to suppress it. The other couple also laughed. Gusto ko rin sanang itama ang sinabi niya, pero pinigilan ko na ang sarili ko. Nakakahiya itanggi ang isang Jacques Yttrium.

"Pakilala mo na Jac," the other man grinned and wrapped his arms on his wife's waist. Umiwas ako ng tingin.

I heard Yttrium cleared his throat as he spoke. He moved closer, I felt his warm hand placed at my back. Napatingala ako sa kanya at kita ko ang side features niya mula roon.

"This is Fiery Eilliesh Ferin..." mabagal ngunit buo ang pagkakabigkas niya no'n. I shivered the moment he uttered my name.

Bakit feeling ko biglang ang ganda ko, pati na ng pangalan ko?

"Ah, Fiery... They are my friends," tumigil siya at tinuro ang naunang mag asawa.

"Rolly and Hannielyn, his wife," then he pointed to the next couple. "Jerome and his wife, Yna..."

I nodded politely and smiled sweetly. "It's nice to meet all of you..."

"You're pretty," Hannielyn said.

Nanlaki ang mata ko. "T-thank you, ikaw rin!"

"She got a nice curves, Hannie. Look, hindi obvious na preggy," It was Yna, amazed by staring at my tummy. Napahawak tuloy ako doon sa hiya.

"Oh, you're right."

Yna smiled at me. "What's your secret?"

I blinked twice. "H-huh?"

"Fiery has no secret. Dito lang 'yan naka tambay sa bahay, nang aaway at feeling prinsesa. Nothing's special," panunuya ni Yttrium.

Ang walang hiyang 'to, sinisiraan pa ako!

I glared at him. "Ikaw kasi napaka epal mo. Siguro natatapakan ang ego at pride mo dahil ako ang pinaka maganda at sexy kaysa sa mga babae mo," I whispered while creepily grinning.

"I don't have girls, Fiery." Yttrium whispered back.

Umirap ako at hinarap na nang tuluyan sina Yna. Their husbands were just watching us.

"I don't have secrets at all. Baka ganoon lang talaga ako mag buntis, maliit lang. Besides, bago pa lang. Almost a month..."

"Oh, anyway congrats!" they all cheered.

We stayed at the dining area and ate some food that Yttrium has ordered awhile ago. They were talking about random stuffs, paminsan minsan ay sumasali ako.

"Have you already think about your baby's name?" Hannielyn asked cheerfully.

Natigilan ako at nahihiyang ngumiti. "I-I'm currently thinking about it, pero hindi pa ako makapili... Matagal pa kasi," pag amin ko.

It's true. Doon ko naisip na mahirap din pala maski ang pagpipili ng pangalan ng anak. Puro lalaki naman ang naiisip ko. Maybe Yttrium was right, mararamdaman mo 'yong gender ng baby dahil sa instincts mo. And maybe that's one of the signs?

"I feel you..." Yna chuckled softly.

"May anak na kayo?" matapos kong tanungin iyon, halos sapakin ko ang sarili ko.

What kind of question was that? Of course parehong mayroon na, married na nga at dalawang taon na.

"Yup, a one year old baby girl."

"Lalaki ang sa 'kin," Hannie said.

I gasped. "Wow! Masakit ba manganak?"

I find my question ridiculous. Of course, it is painful. Ang alam ko'y may namamatay rin nga daw sa panganganak. It's scary, but I have to take a risk and trust myself. I can do that, masasaktan ako at paniguradong mahihirapan, pero sigurado naman ako na kakayanin ko iyon. Lalo na't alam ko na worth it din naman iyon once na maisilang ko na ang bata.

They both pursed their lips and glanced at Yttrium. Napatingin din tuloy ako. That's when I realized that the three were watching us. I felt uneasy when I caught Yttrium's intently staring at me.

Nasa may veranda kami, magkahiwalay ng table ngunit magkalapit pa rin naman. Sapat na para marinig ng kabila ang anumang pinag uusapan.

"Goodluck sa'yo sa due date mo, pero goodluck din kay Jacques."

They all laughed together with their husbands. Tinukso tukso nila si Yttrium na ngayon ay tahimik lang at may maliit na ngisi sa labi.

"Rolly was scared as fuck that time, I can't forget his face, gosh!" Yna exaggeratedly grunted and chuckled afterwards.

I smiled bitterly when I thought of something. Nandito pa rin kaya ako kapag nanganak na ako? Kasama ko pa rin ba si Yttrium? Siya kaya ang magtatakbo sa akin sa Hospital? Siya ba ang makakasama ko habang nanganganak? Dadalaw din kaya ang mga kaibigan at parents niya sa amin?

Malabo, pero magandang isipin iyon kaya't agad ko rin na bahagyang pinilig ang ulo ko upang mawala iyon sa isip. Baka pa mamaya saan pa ako dalhin ng imahinasyong 'yon. Ayaw ko naman na umasa dahil ayaw ko na masaktan. Lalo pa't ramdam ko na malabong mangyari iyon.

"Call us from time to time, lalo na kapag about sa pregnancy. Madalas ay inuusisa kasi ni Jac sina Jerome," Yna told me.

I nodded gratefully. "Salamat, pasensya na rin sa abala. Wala rin kasi talaga akong alam sa pagbubuntis dahil first time ko," then I chuckled.

"We also experienced the same thing. Lahat naman yata ay dadaan sa ganyan. Noon, nag re-search lang kami sa kung ano ang mga dapat at hindi dapat kainin at gawin," Hannie added.

Iyon ang pinagkaabalahan namin sa dalawang oras na pag-uusap. They taught me a lot of things. May iilang spg na ibinahagi sila sa'kin, pero wala naman akong ideya kung magagawa ba namin iyon ni Yttrium, kaya naman inalis ko na rin agad sa isip.

They're fun to be with.

"Una na kami, see you when I see you!" they all bid their goodbyes.

Yttrium and I guided them through the lobby. It's already eight in the evening when they decided to go home. Ang bahay nila ay tatlumpung minuto pa ang layo mula sa Condo unit ni Yttrium.

"How are you feeling?" Yttrium asked while we were walking towards the elevator.

Sumarado iyon at tanging kaming dalawa lang ang sakay. We were both silent as we watched the small screen on the top, there's a red arrow that was seen on it, and it's going upstairs.

"I'm fine, I had fun..." tipid akong ngumiti.

He smells like wine. Iyon siguro ang iniinom nila kanina. I am not allowed to drink, so I just had a glass of water awhile ago while they were drinking some liquors.

"Glad to know..."

The elevators door opened, a sign that we already arrived at the right floor. Sabay kaming lumabas at naglakad patungo sa unit niya. The hallway was quiet and clean. Siguro kasi'y halos mag huhuling palapag na ito kaya't hindi masyado matao.

Yttrium opened the door using his key card. He let me enter first before he went in. Agad akong dumiretso sa kwarto dahil sa pagod. I quickly took a half bath and changed into a decent pajamas. Iyon ang binili sa akin na damit pantulog ni Yttrium noong pinasalubungan niya ako pag uwi galing sa trabaho.

I was already preparing for my sleep, when suddenly, the door of my room screeched and opened a little. Dumapo ang paningin ko doon.

"Hey..."

I noticed that Yttrium looks fresh tonight, maybe he just got shower that's why. Sa una'y sinungaw niya pa lamang ang ulo, ngunit sa huli'y tuluyan na siyang pumasok doon. He didn't even hesitated to went closer to me when he sat down on my bed.

"Sorry, I barged in-"

I quickly shook my head and pushed down the comforter through my tummy. I pulled myself up to sit.

"No, it's okay. Do you need anything?"

Yttrium just softly stared at me. Umiling siya at tahimik na bumuntong hininga. My brow raised.

"Oh, bakit ka nandito? Tatabi ka?" ngumisi ako.

I was just teasing him, but if he will tease me back, I would probably get annoyed. Hindi ko rin alam kung bakit.

Yttrium's eyes darkened. "Hindi."

I chuckled. "Joke lang eh, ang seryoso mo. Hindi ka ba pagod?"

"Pagod nga, kaya nga nandito..." his face lightened up.

My breathing hitched when he suddenly moved closer to me. Mabibigat ang hiningang pinakakawalan niya. I was bewildered by his actions, but I choose to trust him. Wala naman siguro siyang gagawing masama ano?

Kasi kung mayroon... Hindi ko alam kung magugustuhan ko ba o hindi.

"I'll go back to my room now. Call me when you need something," he was always saying that every freaking time.

Tumango ako at umamba nang hihiga, ngunit siya na mismo ang umalalay sa akin na gawin iyon. My body tense up when he suddenly lowered down his head to plant a kiss on my tummy. Yttrium even closed his eyes and gently touched my tummy.

"Good night baby..." he whispered.

Sa baby iyon... Hindi ba?

My lips parted as I watched how he carefully wrapped the comforter all over my body. Yttrium's eyes drifted on me before he sighed again. He swallowed hard before he placed his palm on the right side of my pillow as he leaned closer to reach for my forehead.

I slowly closed my sleepy eyes when I felt his warm and soft kiss on it. Halos hindi na ako huminga nang mga sandaling iyon, pero rinig na rinig ko pa rin ang pag kabog ng nagwawala kong puso. Sobrang maingat ng galaw niya, animo'y natatakot na masaktan ako.

"Good night, baby..." Yttrium whispered again before he left me astonished from what happened.

Sa baby pa rin ba 'yon?