It was a lazy weekend afternoon at the Lim household. The sun was gently streaming through the large windows, casting a warm glow over the living room where Aiah, MJ, and Maxene were sprawled on the couch. Aiah was absentmindedly scrolling through her phone while MJ flipped through the TV channels, trying to find something worth watching.
Maxene, however, had other plans. She snuggled up between her parents, her small frame sandwiched comfortably, but her mind was clearly preoccupied. Her little brows furrowed, and after a few moments of silence, she finally spoke up.
"Momma, Papa," she began, her voice tinged with curiosity, "when am I going to have a baby brother or sister?"
Both Aiah and MJ exchanged glances. This wasn't the first time Maxene had asked the question, but today, it seemed like she was more determined than ever.
Aiah smiled, brushing Maxene's thick brows lightly. "Anak, we've talked about this before. You know you'll have a sibling someday..."
Maxene's eyes lit up. "Really? When po?"
Aiah chuckled softly. "Pero, I don't think now is the time, baby. We still want you to be our one and only for a little while longer."
Maxene pouted, crossing her arms over her chest. "But why, Momma? I'm ready na po! I'll help take care of the baby. I promise, I'll even share my toys!"
MJ laughed at Maxene's eagerness. "Wow, ang bait naman ng anak namin! Pero, Maxene, having a baby brother or sister is not as easy as it sounds."
"Bakit po? Di ba madali lang?" Maxene blinked innocently, clearly unaware of the complexity behind her request.
Aiah couldn't help but laugh, shaking her head. "Oh, anak. If you only knew how chaotic it was nung ipinanganak ka." She gave MJ a teasing look. "Your Papa and Ninang Stacey were so nervous, para silang mga baliw!"
MJ groaned, knowing where this was headed. "Babe, don't—"
But Aiah was already grinning mischievously, her mind diving back into the memory of that fateful day. "Nako, Maxene. Let me tell you the story of when I gave birth to you. It was wild!"
Maxene's eyes widened in excitement. "Really, Momma? What happened po?"
Aiah leaned closer, ready to spill the tea. "So, ayan, it was just me, your Papa, and Ninang Stacey sa US. Wala pang nakakaalam that we were going to have you kasi nga secret, di ba? One morning, bigla na lang akong nag-labor. Alam mo ba, anak, your Papa was shaking like a leaf!"
MJ rolled his eyes, trying to downplay it. "I wasn't *that* nervous."
"Ha! Sure ka?" Aiah teased, giving him a playful nudge. "Maxene, you should've seen your Papa! Para siyang naligaw na bata sa ospital. He was pacing back and forth in the room, hindi niya alam kung ano gagawin."
Maxene giggled, clearly amused by the image of her usually calm and composed Papa losing his cool. "Talaga, Papa? Takot ka po?"
MJ grinned sheepishly. "Well, it was my first time, okay? You try seeing the love of your life in pain and not freak out!"
Aiah laughed, her eyes twinkling with the memory. "Tapos, si Ninang Stacey! Oh my gosh, Maxene, ang gulo niya! She was running around like crazy, para siyang call center agent na multitasking, calling everyone and making sure the doctors were doing their job, but she didn't know what she was doing half the time!"
"Si Ninang Stacey?" Maxene asked, her mouth hanging open as she tried to imagine her usually collected Ninang Princess in a state of panic.
"Oh yes!" Aiah nodded dramatically. "She was trying to be the 'responsible' one kasi wala ang mga pamilya namin, but instead, she just kept getting more and more nervous. She even knocked over a tray of medical supplies at one point."
MJ snickered at the memory. "And remember, Babe? Stacey tried to 'coach' you during your contractions, pero ang sabi niya, 'Breathe in, breathe in...' Hindi niya sinabi kung kelan mag-breathe out!"
Maxene giggled uncontrollably, imagining her Ninang Princess failing at such a basic instruction. "Ninang Stacey said that po?"
Aiah nodded, laughing. "Oo! Kaya sabi ko na lang, 'Stacey, tumahimik ka na lang diyan!' But oh, anak, the funniest part was when it was time for me to push."
MJ's eyes widened, his grin growing mischievous. "Oh, yes! That was the highlight!"
Maxene looked between her parents, eager for more. "What happened po, Momma?"
Aiah dramatically raised her hand, pretending to be in labor. "There I was, trying to push you out, anak. Grabe yung sakit! Your Papa was beside me, holding my hand—pero para siyang wala sa sarili niya kasi I was screaming like a madwoman."
Maxene's jaw dropped. "You screamed, Momma?"
MJ laughed, mimicking Aiah's labor screams. "Not just any scream, Maxene. Your Mom was like a mad lioness. As in, parang manganganak na tigre! 'AHHHHHHHHH!'" MJ waved his arms around for added effect, his voice booming through the living room.
Maxene was in hysterics, rolling on the couch as she pictured her Momma screaming like a lioness. "Really, Papa?"
"Oh, it gets better," Aiah continued, giggling at MJ's performance. "Your Papa was so nervous, he was holding my hand so tight, tapos bigla akong nag-scream sa kanya, '*MJ, ITULAK MO NA YAN!*'"
MJ almost fell off the couch laughing, clutching his stomach. "Yeah, as if I could just push you out myself! Para bang ako yung manganganak!"
Aiah wiped tears from her eyes, remembering the chaos. "And your Papa! Oh my gosh, anak, he was so nervous, he actually said, 'Babe, okay ka lang? Kaya mo pa ba?' as if I wasn't already struggling!"
Maxene was in full giggles now, wiping her tiny hands over her eyes. "Papa, really? You asked that po?"
MJ nodded, still laughing. "Oo, anak. And your Mom just glared at me with that 'I'm gonna kill you after this' look."
Aiah burst out laughing again. "Tapos, when it was finally time, I shouted so loud that the nurses came running in, thinking something was wrong! Pero, it was just me, trying to push you out."
Maxene covered her mouth in shock and laughter. "Momma, you scared the nurses?"
Aiah nodded, her cheeks still red from laughing so hard. "Oo! They thought may emergency, but nope, it was just me, screaming my lungs out."
MJ leaned closer to Maxene, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "But then, you came out, anak. And all the chaos was worth it."
Aiah smiled fondly at Maxene, her heart swelling at the memory of holding her daughter for the first time. "Yes, anak. The moment I saw you, all the screaming and craziness didn't matter anymore. You were perfect."
Maxene snuggled into Aiah's arms, her face glowing with pride. "So, I was worth all the shouting, Momma?"
Aiah kissed Maxene's forehead. "More than worth it, baby."
MJ reached over and tousled Maxene's hair. "But you see, anak, having another baby would mean going through all that again. I don't think we're ready for that yet."
Maxene pouted playfully. "But I want a baby brother or sister po!"
Aiah chuckled softly, holding her daughter close. "We know, baby. And one day, you'll have one. But for now, we just want to enjoy being with you. Our one and only Maxene."
MJ smiled gently, wrapping his arms around both Aiah and Maxene. "We're not ready to have another Maxene just yet, anak. You're more than enough to keep us on our toes."
Maxene sighed dramatically, but her pout turned into a smile as she nestled deeper into her parents' embrace. "Okay po. I'll wait... but not too long, okay?"
Aiah and MJ laughed, pressing kisses onto Maxene's head as they cuddled together on the couch.
"Deal," Aiah whispered, her heart full.
For now, their little family of three was just perfect.
