CHAPTER 1: BABY

I WAS AWAKENED with kisses all over my face which made me smile. My husband and I were really excited for this day, because we already set an appointment for my new OB-Gynecologist, and he really made sure that she was the best OB-Gynecologist for my pregnancy.

“Good morning, Babe! Rise and shine, My Beautiful Wife!” masaya niyang turan sa akin.

Hindi ko napigilang humagikhik nang dahil do’n. “Good morning din, Babe. Bakit parang hindi nababawasan ang energy mo?”

He smiled mischievously. “I would always be energized, especially if I had a dose of you.”

My face flushed with his bluntness. Even though I’m pregnant, he was still insatiable, and always found ways to pleasure ourselves while not hurting our baby. 

“I know that you were still sore and tired, so let me do the honor to be your slave, Babe. I would bathe and put clothes on you,” he added.

I squealed in delight when he scooped me, and carried me effortlessly in his arms. I couldn’t help but to giggle, and let him take care of me. 

Pagkalipas ng ilang minuto ay bumaba na rin kami at dumiretso sa dining room para kumain. Nando’n sina Daddy, Mommy, Delaney at Jona Joyce na masayang nag-uusap ngunit agad naputol iyon nang dumating kaming dalawa ng aking asawa.

“Good morning!” masayang pagbati ng aking asawa sa lahat.

“Good morning po,” nahihiya kong pagbati.

“Sit down, Hijo and Hija. Let’s have breakfast to start this morning with a bliss,” maawtoridad na sambit ni Daddy habang hawak ang kaniyang Ipad at nakasuot pa ng reading glasses. 

Agad naman akong inalalayang umupo ng aking asawa. Lumapit agad ang isang maid sa amin para ilagay sa harap ko ang aking Maternal Milk. Nakangiting nagpasalamat ako sa maid bago ito umalis. Pinagsilbihan naman ako ng aking asawa. Nilagyan niya ng pagkain ang aking plato at nilagyan ko naman ng pagkain ang kaniyang plato. Ganito kasi lagi ang ginagawa namin sa isa’t-isa lalo na’t alam namin ang paborito ng isa’t-isa.

“You look blooming right now, Hija. I hope that my grandchild was healthy inside your womb,” Daddy praised me with a smile. 

“Of course, Daddy. My wife was really an angel with an epitome of beauty. If ever our baby would be a girl, I wished that our baby would look like her,” Derson proudly exclaimed which made my face flushed as I fidgeted the hem of my maternity dress. 

I only had a simple beauty, and my husband really just exaggerated it. 

Mommy cleared her throat, and sip elegantly on her tea cup. “Anyways, did you already have a new OB-Gynecologist? I want an update on my grandchild, especially that he or she would be the first future heir of the Canlas Empire.”

“Auntie Dakota, I already spoke with Derson about that matter, I want to recommend my Ate Joey’s OB-Gynecologist who was Dra. Michiko Akane-Solano. I help Derson to set an appointment for her, so that Dra. Michiko would be the one who would conduct a check-up to Jessa, and have a sonography or ultrasound for the gender of their baby,” Jona Joyce explained. 

Jona Joyce Pepejoh was my husband’s childhood best friend, and the heiress of Pepejoh Cargo Ships. She possessed an elegant beauty, and a down to earth attitude even though her family was also from a rich clan. Canlas and Pepejoh had a strong tie in business, especially in the Shipbuilding Industry in the Philippines which produced ships and cargo shipping vessels all around the world. 

My husband opened up to me that his parents and Jona Joyce’s parents even dared to plan to arrange the both of them in an arranged marriage to strengthen their ties more. But fate really moved in mysterious ways, because he immediately opposed it, especially that he didn’t have any feelings that would exceed friendship towards his childhood best friend. Until fate made the two of us cross paths, and the rest was history, because we were happily married while waiting for our baby to be born. 

“Make sure that Jessa’s new OB-Gynecologist would be the best, and I don’t care about the price, especially that I want the best for my grandchild, Jona.” singit ni Daddy.

Jona Joyce smiled widely as she nodded her head. “Of course, Uncle Erson. Jessa’s new OB-Gynecologist was no other than Michiko Akane-Solano who was one of the most famous OB-Gynecologists here in the Philippines.”

“Hmm. . . I really wished that the new OB-Gynecologist knew how to do magic tricks,” Delaney uttered mischievously as she combed her long curly ash blonde hair.

“Why? Could you please enlighten us about what you said, Hija?” Daddy asked curiously.

“A magic trick to change the results from abnormal to normal,” Delaney answered in sarcasm while looking at me intently with a devilish smile crept in her red lips. 

Napakunot ang aking noo at medyo naguluhan. Imposible naman ang sinasabi ni Delaney lalo na’t sinabi sa akin ni Dra. Camille na maayos ang aking baby mula no’ng aking first check-up hanggang sa fourth month check-up. 

‘Dra. Camille ensured to me that my baby’s health was perfectly fine and normal. I guess that Delaney was just mocking and teasing me, especially that she also had a bad blood to me being her sister-in-law.’

“Delaney!” Daddy raised his voice, and harshly tapped the table loudly. “Don’t you dare say stupidity in Jessa’s pregnancy. My grandchild was perfectly normal, and not abnormal!” 

Delaney just shrugged her shoulders. “Well. . . I’m just only teasing, Daddy. Chill lang at huwag ma-high blood, okay?”

My husband scoffed in annoyance. “You really know how to mess up with our mood. Kung anu-ano ang sinasabi mong kalokohan, Delaney. Be matured, and stop voicing out about nonsense things, especially to my wife’s pregnancy with our child!” 

Napahawak naman ako sa kanyang kamay. Hinimas ko iyon para pakalmahin siya.

“Derson, please calm down, okay? Delaney was just teasing, so don’t mind about it. Puwede bang huwag na kayong mag-away, please?” nag-aalalang turan ni Jona Joyce para pakalmahin ang aking asawa. 

“That wasn’t a good joke to begin with. Kaya naman huwag mong ipagtatanggol ang kapatid ko kung baluktot naman ang kaniyang ipinagsasabi. So better shut up, and don’t meddle here, Jona!” asik ng aking asawa.

Tila napahiya naman do’n si Jona Joyce. “I’m sorry. . .”

Hindi na lang pinansin ng aking asawa ang kaniyang kaibigan dahil muling natuon ang mabalasik niyang tingin sa kaniyang kapatid. “Ginagago mo ang anak namin ni Ate Jessa mo, Delaney! Huwag mong sagarin ang pasensiya ko dahil malilintikan ka sa akin! Stop being a fucking immature, because you were old enough to filter your words coming out from your mouth!” 

Delaney just rolled her eyes. “Did you heard what I said? I’m just only teasing, Kuya. Stop being grumpy, and you were just stressing your angelic wife.”

Napabaling naman nang tingin sa akin si Jona Joyce. Kitang-kita ko ang pag-aalala sa kaniyang mga mata. “Oh my! Please, stop it. Mas lalong magiging stressed si Jessa nang dahil dito. Please, calm down.”

“Stop it you two! Oh my gosh! Nag-aaway pa talaga kayo sa walang kuwentang dahilan. Mahiya naman kayo at nandito ang inyong Daddy at pati na rin si Jona!” Mommy exclaimed furiously.

With that, the two immediately stop bickering.

“Don’t ruin this day, and just eat. Mahiya naman kayo at mayro’n tayong kasama. Also, don’t give stress to Jessa on your pathetic feud, because she was pregnant,” Daddy uttered seriously. “Delaney, apologize now to your brother and sister.”

“Sorry. . .” Delaney whispered.

After that, we ate in an awkward silence. 

***

I THOUGHT everything went well in my pregnancy, but it was like a bomb that exploded after Dra. Michiko Akane-Solano, my new OB-Gynecologist said after she ran some tests and ultrasounds at me which really made me bewildered.

“How come that happen, Dra. Michiko? My wife’s past OB-Gynecologist told us that our baby was perfectly healthy, and had no complications. Pero bakit ngayon ay sinasabi mo sa amin na mayro’ng Down Syndrome ang aming baby?” tanong ng aking asawa.

“According to my tests and also the ultrasound results, it was positive that your baby boy had Down Syndrome. I must say that your past OB-Gynecologist gave you false results, and if you were still doubting, you could have a second opinion. But still, I’m firm with my analysis that it was the real result,” seryosong turan ni Dra. Michiko.

Pagkatapos ng check-up na iyon ay naging tahimik ang aking asawa hanggang sa makapasok kami sa loob ng sasakyan. Agad namang nag-convoy ang aming mga bodyguards. 

“Babe,” pagtawag ko.

He didn’t even bother to look at me. “Could we speak later, Babe?” 

Dahan-dahan naman akong tumango. Hindi ko napigilang maging malungkot sa buong durasyon ng aming biyahe hanggang sa umuwi kami. Hinatid niya ako sa aming silid at inalalayan akong umupo sa aming kama.

“Babe, kausapin mo naman ako, please? Hindi ako sanay na tahimik ka,” pagmamakaawa ko. Hindi ko na rin napigilang lumuha dahil hindi ako sanay na i-silent treatment niya ako.

He sighed heavily, and hugged me. “I’m sorry, Babe. . . It was just that I’m having doubts with the result, and I would immediately set an appointment for tomorrow with three best OB-Gynecologists to know the truth about our baby’s condition. I love you, and sorry for stressing you out, Babe.”

Medyo kumalma naman ako nang dahil do’n. “I love you so much, Babe.”

Naging tahimik lang kami sa resulta mula kay Dra. Michiko dahil nagpa-second opinion kami.  Mabuti na lang at hindi masyadong nagtatanong sa amin sina Mommy at Daddy lalo na’t wala rin sa mood na magkuwento ang aking asawa. Agad nag-set ng appointment ang aking asawa sa three OB-Gynecologists kinabukasan at halos manlumo siya sa resulta dahil pare-pareho ito. 

Hindi ko napigilan na mas lalong malungkot dahil alam kong disappointed siya sa resulta. At nang dahil do’n ay bigla akong nakaramdam nang kakaiba sa aking asawa. Naging tahimik siya at ayaw din niya akong kausapin mula sa pinuntahan naming hospitals hanggang sa umuwi kami. 

After that, we went home, and I locked myself inside our room, because he told me that he suddenly had an urgent meeting. He left without even giving me a goodbye kiss like what he used to do which made my heart clenched in pain.

Napaupo ako sa kama at napatulala habang hawak-hawak ang resulta at sonogram or ultrasound pictures mula sa three OB-Gynecologists na pinuntahan namin kanina. Inilapag ko iyon sa ibabaw ng aming kama at inilabas ko rin ang results at sonogram or ultrasound pictures na mula kay Dra. Michiko. Binasa ko nang paulit-ulit ang mga resulta at tinitigan ang mga sonogram or ultrasound pictures ng aking baby boy. Halos manlabo na ang aking paningin nang dahil naging sunud-sunod na ang pagpatak ng aking mga luha.

Hindi ko tuloy alam kung bakit ganito. Dapat ako na lang pahirapan at huwag lang ang aking baby na walang kamuwang-muwang. Nasasaktan ako dahil hindi ko alam kung ano ang naging pagkukulang ko kung bakit nagkaganito ang aking baby. Ngunit kahit ano pa ang maging resulta basta’t malusog ang aking baby sa kabila ng kaniyang kalagayan ay mamahalin at tatanggapin ko pa rin siya nang buong-buo.

I sighed heavily, and I laid slowly on our bed as I caressed my baby bump softly. My baby boy really had Down Syndrome, but no matter what he was as long as he was healthy, he was still a special gift that I received in my life that I would love until my last breath. 

“Baby ko, huwag mong iiwan si Mommy, ha? Love na love pa rin kita kahit ano pa ang maging resulta basta’t malusog ka lang. Hayaan mo, matatanggap din ni Daddy mo kung sino ka dahil simula nang nabuo ka ay walang oras na hindi niya ipinadama kung gaano ka niya kamahal. Huwag kang magtatampo, ha? Magiging okay din ang lahat,” pagkakausap ko sa aking baby habang hinihimas ang aking baby bump.

‘Sana ay maging okay ang lahat. . . Sana ay matanggap at mahalin pa rin ni Derson ang aming anak nang buong puso. Sana ay hindi kamuhian ang baby namin ng lahat lalong-lalo na rin ng pamilya ng aking asawa. Sana nga. . .’