July 3, 2020
The strict lockdown in Cebu ended on June 30 and Bella was now waiting for her turn at the ultrasound clinic.
She had gone to visit the OB yesterday. Her doctor had given her an endorsement for this particular procedure. By her informed guess, the OB told Bella that she was 16 weeks along. Bella had asked about her morning sickness. If she was on her second trimester, why was she still feeling nauseated? Apparently, it can happen to some expectant moms she was told. Eating saltines was one of the ways to alleviate it, she was also told.
“Number six?” The receptionist called from her table.
Bella raised her hand and she was led into the room. She was asked to lay down and wait for a few minutes. The sonologist would be along soon. She was just disinfecting from the last patient.
Bella lay down on the bed and took out her phone. It was10:30 AM. Jake was supposed to be doing an interview today so she decided not to call him. Instead, she sent him a message.
Xiao Tian Shi: In the ultrasound room now, baby
She was about to put her phone away when a lady in white entered the room. “Hi mam!” she greeted. “Morning! First baby?”
Bella smiled at her despite wearing a face mask. “Morning, doc! Yes, doc.”
“Excited ka, mam? (Are you excited?)” The sonologist asked.
Bella nodded. “Excited, doc. Kuyawan pud gamay. (Excited and a little bit scared, doc)”
The sonologist laughed. “Ayg kuyaw kuyaw, mam.” (Don’t be afraid)
“Bella lang, doc. Kiwaw kayo ang mam.” (Just Bella, doc. I feel awkward about being called mam.)
“Sige, sige. (Okay)” She replied, as she poured a cold gel over Bella’s abdomen. “Ingna ko kung sakit, Bella, ha. (Let me know if you feel pain, Bella)”
Bella nodded as the sonologist started to place an apparatus over her belly, pushing uncomfortably yet gently. “Doc, okay ra if magvideo ko? Ako i.send sa papa. (Doc, would it be okay if I took a video to send to the baby’s dad?).” She showed the doctor her phone.
“Sige, Bel, okay ra but for private use. Ayaw upload please. Pero dapat imo isulti kay papa sa mga bata. (Sure, go ahead, as long as it’s just for private use. Don’t upload it please. But what you should be saying is the father of the babies.)”
Bella, who had just pressed play on the video, almost dropped her phone. “Ha? Unsa doc? (Huh, what did you say doc?)”
The sonologist looked into the camera. “Congratulations, mommy and daddy! You’re having twins!”
Bella swallowed and looked to her right. Indeed, there were some shapes on the monitor. She disappeared into her head after that.
The sonologist was pointing out some things to her regarding the babies but Bella did not hear anything. She was too lost in her own mind at that point.
“Bel?” The doctor gently tapped her arm.
Bella turned to look at her. “Ganahan ka makabalu sa ila gender? (Would you like to know their gender)”
She nodded slowly.
“Kani kay girl and kani usa kay boy. (This one is a girl, this other one is a boy)” The doctor was pointing to baby A and baby B on the monitor.
Bella continued to look at her, still kind of lost in her thoughts.
“Nagbleeding ka? (Did you experience some bleeding?)”
