"Jema! Why?!"
Shit I fell asleep!
Tulo pa yata laway ko ah. Pagkagising ko lahat sila nakatayo na. Si Mafe wala, tumawag yata ng doctor. Si Dani at Ponggay nasa kabilang side ni Jema. Si Ate Bea at Jaycel nasa tabi ko.
"Putangina! Ang sakit!"
Sabay sabunot sa akin. Buhok ko yung nahablot niya pag-iwas ko ng mukha ko.
Natanggal yata ang scalp ko.
Naluha ako agad-agad sa sakit!
Natataranta na naman ako.
Di ko naman alam kung pano siya tutulungan.
I saw the bedsheet, it's wet.
Is it her water bag now?
Naalala ko may buzzer pala dito pag emergency. Pinindot ko yun.
"Nurse station, how may I help you?"
Sabi sa intercom.
I long pressed the speak button.
"I need a doctor here in Room 504 please! Sumasakit na po ang tiyan ng asawa ko. And I think her water bag broke already. Pakibilisan po."
I told the person on the other line.
Maya-maya nagpunta na yung nurse. She is with someone carrying something and connected it on Jema's tummy. Then it bleeps. I think it is my son's heartbeat. Papunta na raw si doc. The nurse checked Jema but she is waiting for the doctor's cue also.
The nurse gave me a paper. It is a temporary birth record. There are two lines here. It was asking for a name. If ever it's a girl write it here. If ever it's a boy, write it here.
I whispered to Jema. Pag nilakas ko kasi baka makialam na naman sa pangalan tong mga to. I was asking what should I write with it.
She said something. I wrote it on the paper.
I smiled seeing our son's name for the first time.
After a few minutes nandito na si doc. Naglelabor na nga yata si Jema. Pinalabas muna silang lahat. The doctor took out a swab and then checked the dilation and she said that it's already 6 cm.
Dr. Lopez requested for helpers in the intercom. Dadalhin na sa delivery room si Jema.
I followed them with my hand never letting go of Jema's.
They gestured me to the sanitation room. I went back to Jema wearing the disposable hospital gown.
...
She has a different way of letting her labor pains pass.
She curses.
Nahihiya na ako dito. Di na ko tumitingin sa mga tao.
Pag sumisigaw siya automatically nilalayo ko na yung mukha ko. Pero one time di ko nailagan agad.
Yung nakalmot niyang part ng mukha ko parang nagpapalpitate sa sakit.
"Tangina Deanna! Last na'to! Ayoko na manganak ulit! Napakasakit! Kung gusto mo pa ng anak ikaw na lang magdala,
Aaahhh!!!"
Pinapawisan na ko sa hiya at sakit ng mukha ko.
"Aaahhh!!!
Deanna paglabas ni baby at nalosyang ako, mangako kang di ka maghahanap ng iba ha. Putangina mapapatay talaga kita!"
