Her Inevitable Fall

Wakas

"Are you hurt somewhere?"

I asked indulgently while checking worriedly on his cheeks, arms, and legs. I will be in big trouble if he got hurt while under my care.

He shook his small face seriously while looking so strong and brave. The almond eyes and straight line of his lips convince me that he's really doing fine. I'm not sure if he's just acting brave and trying to hide the pain he's feeling. Which he shouldn't be. Him being mature and all feeling grown-up is what Bella kept on complaining about for ages.

She hated the idea that his son thinks maturely and does not rely much on us. Yes, we have a son for our eldest, not the daughter mom wanted the most. But just like all the other grandparents, she was more than excited knowing that she's finally having a grandchild in the family. Her frequent visits till this very time tell it all. Mom would always suggest we go on frequent dates while she babysits our son. At kahit na ayaw kong sobrahin ang oportunidad na iyon ay hindi ko maiwasan i-grab ang oportunidad para makasama ang asawa sa maraming pagkakataon.

"What happened baby?"

I heard a very familiar soft voice behind me. Sa mga pagkakataong ganito parati talaga akong huli nitong asawa ko. She didn't approve of teaching my son to play with a bike. But my son wanted to learn the skill and I won't take that opportunity from him.

My son stood up straight from his sitting position. He knew what will happen next after looking at his mom's reaction of him on the ground.

"I'm okay, Mama! I'm not single hurt anywhere," sabay ikot nito sa harapan niya.

Anticipation of Bella's negative reaction was behind my head. I was thinking of several reasons just to pass her anger. But after a few minutes, she remained silent. I guess I'll be receiving a cold treatment from her because of this. Then slowly I turned to face them, I found her too focused on comforting our son. I am finally looking at my wife and son. Both express different facial expressions. One mustering a brave face assuring his not hurt and the other one in a very worried look. Not buying whatever her son is saying.

She's too focused on Elite that giving me a swift glance is too difficult to do. I move slowly toward them and held Bella's waist for support. She's pregnant for our second child, a daughter, and I'm worried she'll get tired from her position. She's currently in a bend forward position while checking Elite's arms.

She gave a soft sigh after confirming that there was none. Then her soft eyes turned toward me while standing properly on her feet.

"Easy on our son," mahina kong paalala sa kaniya.

It's natural for her to worry the way I am to our son pero hindi ako sigurado sa pagiging mahigpit nito tuwing may bagong sports na aaralin ang anak.

She played with our son's hair while pouting her lips on me. "I know..... it's just difficult whenever he falls down or gets hurt." Mahina niyang rason. "I will get along soon."

I gave her a small smile and touched her baby bumps. "Of course, you'll do."

Pero sa totoo lang hindi pa rin ako naniniwala she'll come along.... soon. Our son is already five years old but she still treated him like a baby. Baka nga kailangan nya ng mas mahabang oras to finally accept the changes from our son.

I can clearly remember the moment we came to know that she's eight weeks pregnant. It was on an early Saturday morning. Nasa kusina kameng dalawa about to eat breakfast ng nakita ko ang pamumutla nito at pagsapo sa ulo dahil sa biglang pagkahilo.

"What's wrong baby?" ang una kong tanong sabay sapo sa magkabila nitong pisngi.

I was getting impatient while waiting for her reply. Pumikit lang kasi ito at 'di pa nagsasabi ng nararamdaman.