Yellow Tulips

10

Chapter 10

For the past weeks, my routine was just walking in and out of my unit. I would go out if Tim and I planned to, or for check-ups, and just stay in his or my unit to chill and relax, watching Netflix while fingers enclosed together.

There was also this day when I saw on social media the rumours that Tim and I were dating because of some pictures of evidence. They got us captured by sequential photos where we were walking in the condo until we got inside the elevator.

But who cares? Wala akong pakialam kung malaman ng iba kung ano man ang namamagitan sa 'min ni Tim. I don't give a damn if they think that we're in a romantic relationship.

Time passed by and me and Tim are getting closer and closer. I even don't want to let go of him at the end of the day when we have to part ways. I became dependent on him, I would always think that he was just there when I needed someone to lean on.

We explored life. We made memories together.

And he stayed... just like what he promised.

———

"Hi, baby," Gulat akong nag-angat ng tingin kay Tim nang umupo siya sa tabi ko, ngunit napapahiya akong nagkunot ng noo nang sabay din kaming napatingin sa isa't isa. "Baby... 'yong baby mo," paglilinaw niya.

Tumango ako. I giggled when I got tickled by my son. Tim looked at me in question.

"He just kicked," I beamed.

His lips were slightly parted.

"Can... I... feel him?" He asked hesitantly.

Agad akong tumango na may ngiti sa mga labi. Umisod siya papalapit sa 'kin and he was so careful when he started to rest his wide palm on my tummy. It's my 32th week and my baby's strength is getting stronger.

Tim stared at me the moment he felt those small kicks, it was like there were a hundred galaxies that spark in his eyes.

I saw him smile but I got worried in an instant when his eyes glistened with tears. I held his hand on the top of my tummy and caressed it so that he would lift his head to me.

"Hey... what's wrong?"

Mabilis niyang pinunasan ang mga luhang akma nang tutulo gamit ang likod ng kaniyang palad at ngumiti sa 'kin.

"I... u-uh... nothing, nothing..." He laughed lowly.

"Do you have a problem, Tim? You know, you can always share it with me," I told him.

Sandali siya muling napatitig sa akin bago umayos sa pagkakaupo, humarap siya sa 'kin kaya gano'n din ako sa kaniya. We have faced each other for so many times but every time we do, I'm still mesmerized by the beauty of this man like it's the first time.

"Don't worry about me, Lori... I'm sorry for being just so sensitive," he chuckled, looking down. "I am just... proud of you. I really am. You're the most strong woman I've ever known. Even though you're alone in your pregnancy journey, even though... the asshole guy who made this wasn't there all along... you stood still." He held my hand.