MISSION 3: Claiming You

Chapter 47 - Perfect Addition

"Based sa monitoring ko po ay dapat kahapon pa ako dinatnan. Pero hindi naman po ito ang unang beses na na-delay ako. Noong nakaraan ay dalawang araw po akong delayed, pero sa ikatlong araw ay nagkaroon na rin po ako," mabilis na paliwanag ni Pretzhel. As much as she wanted to hope, she doesn't want to be disappointed.

Again.

Tumango si Leticia. "Any unusual changes on your body? Were your breast sensitive and swollen?"

"Opo. Pero usual po iyon sa tuwing magkakaroon ako." Kaya nga hindi niya pinuna ang komento ni Clifford kanina tungkol sa dibdib niya. Usual namang bahagyang nalaki at magiging sensitive ang nipples niya basta magkakaroon siya.

"Mood swings? Were you emotional these past few days?"

Marahang umiling si Pretzhel. Moody siya nitong mga nakaraang buwan, pero dahil sa frustration niya na hindi pa siya nabubuntis. And yes, she became pretty emotional and touchy-feely because of her inability to get pregnant.

Even her appetite was affected.

"Nausea?"

Muling umiling si Pretzhel.

"Vomiting?"

Muling iling ang naging tugon niya. At sa bawat iling niya ay nasakit lang ang puso ni Pretzhel.

"Frequent trip to the bathroom to pee?"

Natigilan si Pretzhel. She did notice the frequent trip to the bathroom. Even at night where she experienced sleep interruption just to pee. For a couple of days now, actually.

She looked at Clifford's mother unsure of what to say. Pretzhel's heartbeat increased. She didn't even notice her hands went to her still flat tummy.

Pero sapat ba ang nag-iisang kakaibang nararamdaman niya para umasa?

A hopeful smile curved Leticia's lips, even the excitement in her eyes intensified. "Nahilo ka. You breasts were swollen and sensitive and you frequently pee. Palagay ko'y buntis ka na, hija."

Pretzhel's heartbeat is now off the chart. "Ayaw ko po munang umasa. I'd been hoping for a couple of months now and I don't want to..." huminga ng malalim si Pretzhel saka nagpatuloy. "I don't want to cry again when my period starts."

Hindi inaasahan ni Pretzhel ang kasunod na ginawa ni Leticia. May nakikisimpatyang ngiti ang gumuhit sa mga labi nito. Mahigpit din nitong hinawakan ang kamay niya. "You know what, para makasigurado tayo kung buntis ka na, mas mabuting magpa-check-up ka na bukas, hija. I'm sure Clifford would want to confirm if you're pregnant, too."

Sunod-sunod ang ginawa niyang pag-iling. "Magpapacheck-up po ako bukas, pero ayaw ko pong malaman ni Clifford." Humina ang boses niya nang muling magsalita. "We'd been trying so hard and I know how much Cliff wanted to get me pregnant. And I can't bear to see the disappointment in his face once we found out I'm not..." Hindi man intensyon ni Pretzhel pero may namuong luha sa mga mata niya.

What an awful time to be an emotional train wreck!

Yumuko si Pretzhel at dagling pinunasan ang gilid ng mga mata.

Pinisil ni Leticia ang kamay niya. "Okay. I completely understand. Hindi muna natin sasabihin kay Clifford. We'll keep it a secret between the two of us. For the meantime, ako na lang muna ang sasama sa pagpapacheck-up mo bukas, anak."

Anak.

Pretzhel was rendered speechless. She just gaped at her future mother-in-law. Her tear-filled eyes searching Leticia's face, checking if she heard her correctly.

Ngumiti si Leticia. Sincerity and respect in her eyes. "We started on the wrong foot and that was all on me. You always treated me with utmost respect even if I haven't been the nicest person to be around. And for that, I wanted to say 'Thank you' and 'I'm sorry'. And I want to ask if we can just leave the past behind and move forward. We both love Clifford unconditionally. I hope we can start a good relationship on that same ground."