Incompatibility

25

Auria

Even with the nausea I'm feeling, I still have to comply with my responsibilities at the office.

I feel so sluggish, like I'm in no shape to be working right now. It's been a few days since I discovered that I'm pregnant, and everyday, the laziness just gets worse.

Even though it still hasn't completely sunk in yet, the signs are already evident.

Currently, I'm so meticulous with smells. Sa food, hindi pa ako masyadong nagc-crave, pero sa smells, talagang ibang usapan. Even the smallest hint of rubbing alcohol or just any strong chemical smell in particular, can make me gag and throw up.

Anyway, I'm on the phone with Raf. He's currently driving that's why he can't text, kaya naka-face time na lang kami.

["I'm on my way to fetch Adeline, nag-text, wala daw silang prof."]

"Oh, okay. Paki-bilhan na lang ng fruit shake, kagabi pa naghahanap 'yan," I requested.

["Spoiled!"] he bantered.

I chuckled, realizing how spoiled our daughter is, but not in a bad way. She knows her limits, and she is respectful and sweet when she's asking for something. She also knows how to wait.

"Yeah! And pretty soon, this little baby is gonna be spoile by us, three."

["That's exciting,"] he grinned as he quickly glanced at the camera. ["Nga pala, send me the prescription of your prenatal vitamins, I'll buy it na. May madadaanan akong pharmacy."]

"Hmm? You sure?"

["Yeah. I'll take a few things off your shoulders."]

Ever since, wala akong mairereklamo talaga sa pagkukusa ni Raf when it comes to us.

"Okay, thank you. Sige na, ibababa ko na ito, I can't focus," I informed him.

["Okay. I love you."]

No matter how many times I hear that cheesy statement, it still gives me butterflies in my stomach.

Oo na, inaamin ko na. Gustong gusto kong naririnig 'yan mula sa kaniya.

"I love you. Ingat ka. Update me kapag nasundo mo na si Adeline," bilin ko bago namin ibaba ang tawag.

While scanning through the stressful papers on my desk, I was subconciously caressing my tummy, with the realization that this baby would probably be living Adeline's dream childhood.

Ugh, honestly, that makes me feel worse as a parent. Parang mas mahihirapan akong sabihin kay Adeline na magkakaroon na siya ng kapatid dahil naiisip ko kung anong pinagdaanan niya as a child with a broken family.

Binitawan ko ang hawak kong papel saka ako napahilamos ng palad sa mukha.

Paano namin sasabihin?

Kailan namin sasabihin?

Maybe I'm overthinking it too much. Maybe I'm not.

Is this because of the hormones? Please tell me that it is, because I've been so OA lately with everything. Gosh!

***

Adeline

Dad picked me up from school today. He was all smiles when he saw me, even bought me my favorite fruit shake.

Ano 'to? Suhol?

Yes, I'm still so suspicious of everything. Lahat na lang pinagdududahan ko. Even his text messages to me are subject to my suspicions.

Right now, the coast is clear, but we can never be too sure.

"Gutom ka ba?" Dad asked in the middle of a traffic jam.

I grinned. "Drive thru?"

He laughed and shook his head in a 'I-knew-it' manner while being on the lookout for a fastfood place.

Hmm...another suhol!

May nagawa ka bang kasalanan? Huhu! Sana wala! Sana na-misheard ko lang kayo. Sana isa lang sa mga friends niyo ang magkaka-anak.

"Ang tahimik mo ha. Something wrong?" Daddy asked while taking quick glimpses of me.

No!! I'm not that obvious, right?

"Bakit magkasalubong 'yang kilay mo?" he asked again.

Act cool, Adeline.

I smiled as I shook my head 'no'. "Wala po. I'm just hungry," I then averted my gaze to the window. With wide eyes, I heaved a sigh of relief because I came up with a stupid, nonsensical alibi.

Finally, we pulled up at the fastfood resto, kaso ang haba ng pila sa drive thru. Dad volunteered to get off para siya na lang daw ang umorder.

Hmm, extra suspicious!! He usually just gives me money then waits for me in the car. Bakit pinagsisilbihan ako masyado nito?

While he was away, I looked around the car for evidence.

I feel so bad because I never had to meddle with my parent's stuff but here I am, doing it for the sake of my sanity.

Right as I was about to give up, I noticed a paper bag from a pharmaceutical store, sitting at the backseat.

Aha! What is this?

I looked around before reaching for the bag. In it were a few medicine bottles and small papers which I think are receipts. To make things quicker, receipts na lang ang tinignan ko.

"Huh? These are prenatal vitamins?" I uttered while reading each and every item bought.

Oo nga! OMG! These are prenatal vitamins!

Okay, if Mommy was the one pregnant, dapat ibibilin ito sa akin ni Dad pagkahatid sa akin sa bahay.

If not, then it's somebody else's.

I noticed Dad walking up towards the car with the food bag in his hand, so I quickly threw the receipt back in, and placed the paper bag at the backseat where I found it.

"Mabilis lang sa loob, nagpapakahirap silang lahat dito sa drive thru," he said as he got in.

"Thanks, Dad! Love you!" I exclaimed happily when he handed me the big order.

Don't think that because of this, you're out of my watch na. I'm still keeping a very close eye on you, Dad!

***

Huhu! I'm internally panicking! Binaba ako ni Dad na hindi ibinilin 'yung vitamins. So, hindi kay Mommy 'yun?

"Oh? Bakit nakasimangot ka?" Ate Carol asked when I entered the dining room.

For sure, I look devastated, that's how I feel eh.

"Wala po, may naisip lang. Akyat lang po ako sa room," paalam ko saka ako tumakbo paakyat sa kwarto.

With the burger in my hand, I paced back and forth, overthinking today's discoveries.

What if tanungin ko na lang sila para diretso sagot na lang?

Oh no! Kaso, what if I can't handle the truth??

Or what if it's good news? What if si Mommy nga?

What if si Tita Jillian?

What if it's some random girl we haven't even met?

OMG! What if the girl is the same age as me?

"Stop!!" I yelled before stuffing my mouth with a big bite of the burger.

I'm gonna go crazy if this continues.

I need to lay low a bit.

Ubusin ko muna itong food.

*

End of Chapter 25

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