That Bitch Dancer is a Virgin

Epilogue

SHAKIA

"Evankhell Hanford!" Umalingawngaw ang boses ko sa buong kabahayan.

Wala pang isang segundo ay nagkukumahog na siyang makalapit sa akin. "What?" He huffed. Pinagpapawisan ito, at basang basa ang suot na puting T-shirt.

"Bakit ka hinihingal? Saan ka ba galing?" Iritado kong tanong sabay dampot ng kutsilyong nasa tabi ng pinggan ko. Nagising ako kanina na wala ito sa tabi ko. That irked me for some reason. Lalo pa akong nakaramdam ng inis nang makitang oo nga't may nakahain na sa mesa pero puro damo naman!

"I was watering your plants, babe." Naupo siya sa harap ko at pinagmasdan ako. I glared at him. Lalo akong nakaramdam ng inis nang tila naaaliw na ngumisi lang ito.

"What's so funny?!" Lalong nangunot ang noo ko.

"Ikaw." Nangalumbaba siya. "Nagmumukha ka na namang pato."

Itinaas ko ang hawak na kutsilyo. "Maghinay hinay ka, 'pag 'di kita natantiya..."

Tabingi ang naging ngiti niya. Mabilis niya akong nilapitan at niyakap mula sa likod. "Careful where you point that, babe."

Kinuha niya din ang kutsilyong hawak hawak ko. I was supposed to use it to peel my apple.

"We don't want you or our little bunny getting hurt now, do we?" He nuzzled my neck. "Is he moving so much? Is that why you're being cranky again?" He gently put a hand on my bulging belly.

Bigla nalang nagtalunan ang mga luha ko sa 'di maipaliwanag na dahilan. I really can't understand myself lately. What the jeez is wrong with me?!

Agad namang naalarma si Van. Mabilis siyang lumipat sa tabi ko at lumuhod. "What's wrong?! Does it hurt? Manganganak ka na ba?! Should I call the doctor?? Damn what should I do?!" Halatang 'di ito mapakali.

Umiling ako. "I'm fine." I sniffled and look at him miserably. "Van, What if I become a bad Mom?"

Van stared at me and sighed in relief. Tumayo siya at maingat akong kinabig palapit sa kan'ya. "You're going to be a great mom, okay?  I'll be here with you and together we will do our best for our child." Muli siyang lumuhod sa harapan ko. He tucked a few strands of stray hair on my ear and smiled. He do that often now, that smile. "So, don't worry. We got each other. Hey buddy," he turned to talk to the little angel curling up inside me, probably anticipating to meet the world.

"Bilisan mo ang paglabas diyan, okay? Daddy's so excited to make your baby sister or brother." He smirked as he returned his gaze to me.

"Siraulo." Natampal ko siya bagama't natatawa na din ako. "Hindi pa nga ako nanganganak kasunod na agad ang iniisip mo." Pinanlakihan ko siya ng mga mata.

He only laughed and showered me with kisses. "I love you so damn much."

Dagli ko siyang kinurot sa tagiliran.

"Aw!" Kumunot ang noo niya. I glared at him.

"Watch your language, nakikinig ang anak natin." I looked at him sternly for a second then smiled. "I love you, too."

You make it so easy to melt all my worries away.

"Eat up, diba ngayon natin bibisitahin sina Dad?" Aniya habang nagbabalat ng mansanas. I can say that our family is doing okay now. We are trying, and we are slowly healing from the wounds of the past. Everyone seems excited when they learned about my pregnancy months ago.

I have been a nervous wreck. I don't know how to tell Van about it when I first found out. We have only been married for a year at hindi ako sigurado kung paano siya magrereak.