Losing Control

Special Chapter: Merry Christmas

Stephanie guided her son's little hands that were wrapped around the pastry bag filled with vanilla icing para sa gingerbread house na ginawa nilang mag ina. Gusto kasing gumawa ni Allen ng special treat para sa kanyang daddy. Gusto daw nitong i-surprise ang kanyang ama pag uwi nito galing sa trabaho. It was Christmas Eve pero nagkaproblema sa isang hotel na pagmamayari ni Stephanie kaya inayos muna ni Ashton ang problema'ng itinawag ng branch general manager.

"Baby, ano pang gusto mong ilagay sa gingerbread house mo para kay daddy?" malambing na tanong ni Stephanie sa kanyang anak. Allen was now four years old and looked every bit just like his father.

"Gummy bears!" masiglang sagot naman ng kanyang anak. Allen was a very playful child. Stephanie handed him a green gummy bear para idikit sa kung saan mang gusto ng kanyang anak. "Mommy, you like?" tanong nito sa kanya.

"I love it, baby! And I'm sure magugustuhan din ni daddy ang iyong regalo para sa kanya," she ruffled her son's hair before kissing him on top of his head.

"Done na po, mommy!" Allen beamed at his mother. Stephanie couldn't help but fall in love even more with her son, not only dahil carbon copy ito ng kanyang gwapong asawa, pero dahil na rin sa pagkabibo at lambing nito. Pagsamantalang tumigil muna si Stephanie sa kanyang chef career because she wanted to be a hands on mother to Allen. Napagusapan na nila ni Ashton na pag nag-kinder na ang kanilang anak ay dun na lang sya ulit babalik ng trabaho.

"Sige, baby, ilalagay lang muna ito ni mommy sa ref tapos maliligo ka na ha? Pauwi na rin si daddy."

Tumango naman ang bata. "Opo, mommy."

Tinago na ni Stephanie ang masterpiece ni Allen at pinaliguan na ang anak at binihisan ng khaki pants, blue polo shirt, and white canvas shoes. Papunta pa kasi sila ng bahay ng mga magulang ni Ashton first and then her parents house for two noche buenas. She placed Allen on the king sized bed she shared with her husband and turned the TV on to her son's favorite cartoon. She then went into the walk in closet para mamili ng susuotin, all the while leaving the closet door open para marinig at masulyapan nya ang kanyang anak. She picked a blue knee length halter dress and quickly changed into it. She paired her favorite black stiletto sandals that were a gift from her husband with her dress. She went into the bathroom to do her hair and make up at exactong pag labas nya ng banyo ay yung mismong pagpasok ng kanyang asawa sa kwarto.

"Hi, Love," she smiled sweetly at her husband.

"Wow, you are stunningly gorgeous, Love," Ashton admired his wife and walked over to her para mahalikan nya ito sa labi.

"I know," she joked with her husband. "Ready na kami ni Allen. Ikaw na lang ang hinihintay namin, Love."

"Okay, I'll just take a quick shower."

"Sige, we'll just be in the kitchen. May surprise para sa yo ang baby boy natin."

"Talaga?" Ashton went to the bed and picked up his son. He lifted him up high in the air which caused the little boy to burst into a fit of giggles.

"Yes, daddy, kaya hurry!" sabi naman ng batang lalaki.

"Okay, baby boy. Manang mana ka sa mommy mo talaga. Bossy," Ashton turned to his wife and winked at her.

"Heh!" Stephanie reached for Allen and took him in her arms. "Baby, let's go in the kitchen and let daddy get ready."

Kahit mabigat na si Allen ay kinarga pa rin sya ni Stephanie. He was growing up too fast as it was, and she wanted to cherish moments of him being little as much as she can. Pero actually, hindi na dapat nya binubuhat ang kanyang anak, especially after what the doctor told her that morning.

Congratulations, Mrs. Benitez. You are going to be a mother for the second time around!

She set Allen down on the barstool and touched her stomach gently. She smiled to herself and couldn't wait to share her special news with Ashton.

***

Nakatulog ang bata on their way home from the noche buena festivities with both set of grandparents. Syempre, tuwang tuwa naman si Allen dahil spoiled na spoiled sa kanyang mga lolo't lola. Ang trunk ng luxury SUV ni Ashton ay punong puno ng mga bagong damit at laruan. Meron pa ngang bike na galing sa kanyang Tito Enzo. Ashton parked the SUV in the garage at nagpasyang sa umaga na lang kukunin lahat ng regalo ng bata galing sa trunk. Kinarga na nya ang kanyang anak at idineretso sa kanyang kwarto. May sarili ng kwarto si Allen dahil big boy na daw sya at isa pa, excited ang anak sa theme ng kanyang kwarto which was filled with images of his favorite super hero na favorite din ni Ashton. Hiniga nya ang kanyang anak sa kama nito at binihisan na ni Stephanie ang kanyang tulog na tulog na anak ng pajamas. They both kissed him on the forehead good night bago magkahawak kamay na lumabas na ng kwarto ng bata.

Stephanie held back a scream ng buhatin sya ng kanyang magaling na asawa bridal style at kinarga patungo ng kanilang kwarto. She held onto his shoulders na lang hanggang sa ihiga sya ng kanyang asawa sa kama. Ashton wasted no time at pumaibabaw sa kanya at hinalikan sya sa kanyang labi.

"What was that for?" Stephanie asked her husband.

"Parang may iba sa yo, Love. You're like...extra sexy today," explica ni Ashton.

"Today lang?" Stephanie pouted playfully.

"Alam mo namang you are sexy and beautiful every day, pero parang may iba sa yo ngayon eh. You have that special glow...I can't put a finger to what it is, though."

"Hmmm, I wonder," she lunged up and gave her husband a peck on the lips. "Merry Christmas, Love."

"Merry Christmas," Ashton replied and gave his wife a searing kiss.

Natigil ang halikan nila ng biglang natawa si Stephanie.

"Anong nakakatawa?" her husband looked at her, a confused expression on his face.

"Nothing. It's just that dahil sa mga halik mo kung bakit nasa ganitong kalagayan ako ngayon. Sa mga halik mo naguumpisa yan eh..." she continued giggling.

"Anong kalagayan? Are you sick?" he felt for her forehead and then her neck kung mainit ba ang temperature ng kanyang asawa.

"No, Love. Wala akong sakit. But...I do have a Christmas gift for you," she grinned warmly at him.

"Ano yun?" he couldn't help but grin back at her.

She reached for one of his hands and placed it on top of her still flat tummy.

"6 weeks pregnant na tayo, Love."

"What?" excited na tanong ni Ashton. "When did you find out?"

"Kaninang umaga lang. I checked with my OB kasi I noticed na I skipped my period again. Ang bait nga ni baby dahil wala naman akong morning sickness...pero I'm sure since I said that now, I just jinxed myself," she laughed.

"I love you so much, Steph!" Ashton cupped his wife's face and gave her a kiss. They have been trying for another baby recently, pero unexpected pa rin na nakabuo ulit sila, especially since he and Stephanie just talked about her going back to work when Allen started going to school. "Another baby for us. Thank you, Lord for the new blessing," he continued to stare at her face. "You are so beautiful, mommy. This is the best Christmas gift!"

"I love you, too," she hugged Ashton to her tightly. "I love you so much, daddy. Merry Christmas to us."