Elegant Affair

III.III

"Welcome back!" bungad ko kay Matteo na sinundo ko pa sa airport.

I have lots of free time these days and I easily get bored when I stay at home. He's coming home, I'm free, so why not come here to get him? And it's been two weeks since I last saw him... It's been so long.

"I thought you'd be inside."

"Di na ako bumaba ng sasakyan. It's too hot and I'm unreasonably lazy lately, thanks to your kid."

After putting his luggage at the back, he opened the door at the passenger's seat. He really looks so stressed, worse than before.

Even with his tired eyes, he smiled while touching my belly. Hindi naman halata but I just refrain from wearing fitted clothes. On top of being sleepy most of the time, I'm also too paranoid.

"Don't worry baby, I got you. I'll handle all your Mom's nags for you."

I dismissed his hand so I could start driving. Nagger pala ha. Well, I do that but all I say are truths. These kid and Matteo ganging on me, iniisip ko pa lang, nahihilo na ako.

"Any news while I'm gone? Kamusta kayo ni Bay-pea?"

"Matteo..." Ang kulit talaga. It was a warning tone. I was driving so I need to focus. "Please, for the love of God, please stop calling the kid Bay-pea like some kind of rapper!"

Tumawa lang ang loko. Inirapan ko lang siya dahil sa totoo lang, wala naman akong magagawa. "The first trimester is over, mister." Pagbabago ko ng topic, with a more serious tone this time. We decided after also considering the doctor's advice to let everyone know after the third trimester. "Should I just go abroad and go home after giving birth?"

"Not a bad idea," seryosong sagot niya.

I groaned. I wish I could do that but that would just be escaping. I have a plan and even if I had to modify some parts, I'm still determined to follow it.

"I'm meeting Esme later for a dress fitting. I also need to subtly choose a dress that would fit me until the wedding... Ugh. Tatlong buwan na lang."

"Anything I can do to help?"

I shook my head, "I'll be fine. I'll be fine." I said like a spell, umaasang magkatotoo nga.

"The baby likes your smell."

I let my hand touch his chest, feeling the beating of his heart and how it vibrates as he laughed as I nuzzled into his neck. Hindi naman ako ganito dati pero napaka-clingy ko talaga ngayon. It's really hormones tapos naaalala ko pang babalik na naman siya sa Malaysia sa Linggo and that I only have four days with him... it's like this child knows his father will be away making me cling unto him even more.

"I know pero mukhang hindi lang naman si Bay-pea ang may gusto ng amoy ko."

"Isusumpa ka ng anak mo, Matteo. Get a grip of yourself."

"You know what... I've been thinking, I'll love our kid no matter what but do you think it's a boy or a girl?"

"I haven't thought about that yet. What do you think?"

"I think Bay-pea is a girl."

"I said enough with the Bay-pea." Nakakainis talaga. Kung anu-ano na lang naiisip, my goodness. "Can you think of a better name for your kid?"

"Let's not argue now please..." The way he sounded so tired was making me feel sleepy too. "I'll be gone for a while when I come back... Okay lang ba?"

Nag-set muna ako ng alarm dahil baka makatulog ako at hindi ako makapunta sa dress fitting ni Esme. "How long?" I asked, not looking at him because I don't want him to see how I look right now.