Kanina pa nakatitig si Matt at his laptop. He was looking at the twins’ picture again. They were swaddled in blue and yellow blankets. There were no pictures of Gabby after the twins were born. I was sick. Matt kept recalling Gabby’s reply.
Gusto niyang tanungin ito kahapon pero naramdaman niya ang pag-iwas nito.
He looked at the pictures one more time. The progress from the first picture up to Gabby’s full term. Instead of gaining a few more pounds like how the other women seem to experience during their pregnancy, napansin niyang pumapayat ito. He moved forward to the later pics when the twins were born on the occasional pictures na nakikita ang kamay ni Gabby and they were noticeably thinner.
Agad
“Sana ginising mo ako,” Matt hugged her from behind and started to kiss her neck.“Dy.” Gabby tried to avoid his kisses, a slight panic in her voice.Matt followed the line of sight of Gabby and found Chico was looking back at him.Hindi niya man lang ito napansin coming into the kitchen. The boy hidden from view by the high back of the chairs of the dining table.“Good morning, Daddy.”Matt innocently kissed Gabby’s cheek and sighed. Gabby snickered.“Bud, you’re too early.”“He woke me up.” Bulong ni Gabby. Gabby tu
“ALL ALONG I THOUGHT YOU TWO ARE OKAY.” Nag-aalalang sambit ni Cheryl.Sinulyapan ni Gabby ang video nito sa monitor at nakakunot nga ang noo nito. Disappointment and worry on her face.“Getting together? Hindi 'yon ang para sa amin.” Gabby continued to type on her keyboard as if she was not distracted.“You allowed him in your house. You let him meet the twins then you think getting together is not for you. Hindi ba too late na para doon?”Gabby just shook her head. Glanced on her handwritten notes na hilig niya pa rin gawin when she’s outlining her stories.“G, why? Is it because of that ex-girlfriend? Kasi ‘yong G na kilala ko is not someon
Mabilis na isinuot ni Gabby ang long-sleeved polo na nasa balikat.He got out of bed. “I’ll prepare a bath for you,” malambing na turan ni Matt.Gabby can hear him move to the ensuite. Mabilis na tumayo si Gabby pagkatapos na maisara ang tatlong butones.She ran to the playroom as fast as her aching body would let her. She wanted to lock herself in but to her frustration, hindi niya talaga pinalagyan ng lock ang pinto at ayaw niyang magkamaling mai-lock ng kambal. She went to the bathroom na nandoon. She pushed the door close at nanghihinang sumandal sa pinto.Ano na naman ang pinasok mo? Naghuhumiyaw ang tanong sa isip niya. She looked at herself in the mirror. Suot niya pa ang pol
“Mark will be here in a while.” ani Matt pagkatapos nilang kumain.“I can take a fever medicine, sleep and I’ll be fine tomorrow.”“He picked up Liv at Lexie’s shop downstairs so it’s not a big deal.”Matt kissed the frown from her forehead.Pilit namang iniba ni Gabby ang usapan and moved it to what Matt needed to do for the kids that night.“Chico is taking other subjects but he will be fine. Mango will need to review her reading lessons.” She acted like the kiss on her forehead was not a big deal but deep inside she found it really sweet.“I got it.”
“ARE YOU SURE?” Tanong ni Mark.They stood side-by-side as they watched the kids finish a tagging game“Yes, I’ll be bringing them on Friday.”Napa-iling naman si Mark kay Matt.“And I thought you wanted to do this the old-fashioned way. What did you say again?”“Shut up.”Hindi naman nagpatinag si Mark. “I recall you saying you don’t want her to think you are just after the twins.”“She did not accept my proposal.”“Marriage proposal?”
Matt just sealed Gabby’s lips with his. Ayaw niyang marinig ang mga susunod pang mga sasabihin nito.He let her lips go after a while. Hindi rin siya makapagsalita. He grabbed Gabby’s head and placed it on his chest. Niyakap niya ito nang mas mahigpit.Hindi niya kayang itanggi. She was right when she said he was happy to see her pregnant pictures and he looked forward to it. It was selfish but he felt a bit of disappointment. He forced to concentrate on Gabby though. She must be a hundred times more devastated kesa sa kanya.“That’s why I had them through IVF. I knew mahirap na akong magkaanak if I delayed it. I wanted to have kids, Matt.” Gabby gripped Matt’s shirt.“I grew up with so many children my ag
Matt tried to hide his smile, inilang hakbang lang nito ang pagitan nila ni Gabby."Matt," naiinis na si Gabby. "Hindi ako nagbibiro"Mas lalo pang lumapad ang ngiti ni Matt. He warmed his hand by rubbing it together and cupped her face."How long have you practiced that?" he asked, smiling."Practiced what?" Gabby swallowed. She licked her lips which had started to dry. She could feel the blood drain from her face."You're white as a sheet.""Matt hindi ako nagbibiro.""As you said."He moved his hand toward her chest over the wil
“Miss me,” was the message from Matt that she received as the van rolled off.She looked back at nakita niya itong hinahatid pa ng tingin ang van na sinasakyan niya. Matt looked even more handsome and her heart flipped thinking he was hers.Matt looked down on his phone as if expecting a reply.“I miss you already,” mabilis na tinipa ni Gabby ang reply. Hindi na sya nag-isip pa. If she stopped and thought what to reply to him, baka wala siyang mai-send na sagot.She saw him smile. Dali-dali siyang umayos ng upo. Her cheeks, rosy.