Del Rico Triplets #1: Bound By Duties

Kabanata 22

Hello! Enjoy reading and always be happy💙

Pregnant

Diretso ang paghabol ko ng hininga. Dama ko ang lamig ng tiles at ng bowl. Sa nipis ng suot ko ay hindi ako naprotektahan noon sa lamig. The only warm thing is Tross body behind me.

“I’m sorry, wife,” he sincerely whispered when I’m done puking.

He helped me clean myself and carefully guided me to the bed. Miski sa pagkukumot sa sarili ay siya pa ang gumawa. His face is pale due to what he witnessed for the second time.

“I’ll bring your breakfast here,” masuyo niyang sambit. Kinintilan pa ako ng halik sa noo.

“Thank you…” I muttered.

It was difficult for me to see him this way. Para siyang nadudurog pero hindi niya maipakita sa akin. Parang nanghihina siya pero itinatago niya dahil sa kaniyang bibig mismo nanggaling na siya ang magiging lakas ko.

I've known him as someone so composed. Ngayon na may problema kami, gusto niyang panindigan iyon. Kahit na... hirap na hirap na rin ang kalooban. I miss our life in Hawaii. Where all laughter, happiness and contentment is with us. Hindi ganito. Mapait akong napangiti.

I still remember what happened the last two days. Nagising ako na nasa kwarto namin ni Tross.  Nakahiga sa kama at may doctor na namang tumitingin sa akin. Kumabog ang dibdib ko sa napakaraming naiisip. What could it be?

I scanned the area. Tross is on my right side while Tita Selena and her husband is on the other. Déjà vu sa akin ito dahil ganitong-ganito rin ang eksena bago kami umalis ni Tross noon patungo sa Hawaii. Limang taon ang nakalilipas... na tinakasan ko ang sakit na dulot ng pamilyang kinabibilangan ko.

Tita Selena looks so worried, too. Just like back then. Nag-iwas ako agad ng tingin nang mahagilap ang mga mata niya. I concentrated on what the Doctor is saying. Kay Tross na nakapamaywang at sumasagot sa ilang katanungan noon. My husband looks deranged. With his hand on his waist, jut out veins and jaw tightened, I know he's trying to control the monster in him.

The doctor smiled at me. That made Tross look on my way. Ang ekspresyon sa mukha niya ay naging malambot. Umiwas ako ng tingin. Nasasaktan sa uri ng titig na iginagawad niya sa akin.

“Well, she is is pregnant, hijo. And on her case, it’s not advisable for her to bear a child. Hindi niya kakayanin. Mahihirapan siya…” the doctor almost stuttered.

It’s a man… mid fifties. He tried to smile at me for how many times, which I can’t give back. Matapos nang nangyari kanina at ngayon ay panibagong rebelasyon, paano ako ngingiti? The atmosphere in our room is definitely heavy. It's like a cumulonimbus cloud. Any time and anywhere, lightning and strong wind might ruined any of us.

“You better have a serious discussion with her and talk about this,” the doctor told my husband. 

Ang dami pa nilang pinag-usapan. Katulad ng inaabisuhan ako nitong magpaopera dahil mas hihina raw ang puso ko. If only that is the only thing he said, nothing might hurt me. Pero hindi nakaligtas sa akin ang iba pa niyang mga salita no matter how much he tried to tone down his voice.  Narinig ko pa rin!

“Mahina na ang puso niya, Tross. You need to pursue her to undergo heart transplant. Kaya lang, delikado sa kaniya at para sa bata. Sakali mang maka-survive siya sa operasyon habang buntis, magkakaroon din ng problema sa bata after noon. It’s hard if I am in your position. You need to choose. Keep the child and lose your wife or lose your child and keep your wife.”

The doctor bid his goodbye. My husband sent him off. Mabibigat ang hakbang na tinalikuran nito ang Doctor.

A minute later, my husband came back. His brows furrowed and lips raised like he is in a war. Kasunod nito ay ang tatlong De Guia na iisa lang ang emosyong nakabalatay sa mukha. Pag-aalala.  The only one that can calm my husband's storm is his worries towards me.