Barcelona Escapade

Chapter Forty-Nine: Bump

Chapter Forty-Nine
Bump

"I said prepare two, Milene. Where's the other one?" rinig kong tanong ni Mamá sa iritableng tono pagdating ko sa hapag. I realized she's talking about vegetable dishes.

"Hindi pa po luto, Madam. Pasensya na po at saglit lang," ani Ate Milene at yumuko. Agad din siyang bumalik sa kusina kasabay ng pag-okupa ko sa isa sa mga upuan. I felt bad about that.

"I'm fine with one," I told my mother. "I don't want to eat more greens."

"You have to," she insisted.

"That's not what I'm craving for," giit ko. "I'm cravings for lemons and you didn't even ask me."

"It's too early for acids."

"I had so much of greens this week."

Annoyed, I leaned back on my chair. I'm not a fan of leafy vegetables myself, now I'm being forced to eat. Dalawang linggo na ang nakakalipas nang sunduin ako ni Mamá sa Batangas.

I'm happy, of course. Pero hindi ko pa rin siya mapilit na kausapin si Eros. She agreed to the marriage so I went home while I dealt with my pregnancy, but she's still treating him like a stranger. Hindi pa sila nakakapag-usap. Kung iimbitahan ko man si Eros para sumalo sa'min, it's always the cold shoulders she's giving him.

Eros, though, told me not to worry. He said he's fine with what my mother can offer. She gave us consent for marriage now. I should just wait until my mother admits he's the best she can see me with.

"Bilisan mong kumain. We're going to the doctor today," isa pang anunsyo niya habang sabay kaming kumakain.

"What? No. I have to work today."

"Then don't go to work."

I eyed her impatiently. "My leave isn't paid yet. I'm saving my benefit for sooner. Kakabisita lang natin sa clinic noong nakaraang linggo."

"I visit the OB weekly when I was pregnant with you."

I put my utensils down and my hands up. Ilang subo pa lang ata ako sa pagkain pero wala na akong gana.

"You know what, Mamá? This is frustrating." Pinunasan ko ang bibig ng tissue bago tumayo. "I lost my appetite."

Rinig ko ang pagtawag niya sa pangalan ko pero inignora ko. It was our new norm. Hindi lumilipas ang isang araw na hindi kami nag-aaway tungkol sa pagbubuntis ko. She want me to do things I don't. Sometimes, I want to do things she doesn't want.

Take going out with Eros at night or visiting their farm in Laguna as examples. I'm just putting up with it but the moment Eros and I are married, I'm moving out the day of our wedding.

Pumasok si Kuya Hugo sa hapag, saktong nag-akma akong lumabas. He noticed my brows furrowing and he knew from there, that Mamá and I had our daily session again. Huminto ako sa harapan niya.

"What's happening?" he asked.

"Ask your sister whose head is as tough as rock," rinig kong sabi ni Mama.

I rolled my eyes when Kuya Hugo turned at me. "What? Ask your mother whose paranoia is as worst as my friend's."

Kuya Hugo pinched the bridge of his nose, disbelief is on his face. "I'm going back to my wife three days from now. Hindi pwedeng ganito kayo lagi."