She Conceived A Morgan's Child

Special Chapter 11: Cravings

Special Chapter 11

Rowena

"Hakbangan?" Tanong ko kay Lola. She nodded at me. We were in the garden, it was Sunday and wala akong trabaho. Benj went out, sumama kay Fred when he told him he was visiting Gwyneth.

"Alam mo nung buntis ako sa Papa nila, ganun ang ginawa ko. Paniniwala ng matatanda iyon na mapapasa sa asawa mo ang mga nararamdaman mo kapag hinakbangan mo sya," she explained further. Hindi naman ako mapagpapaniwala sa mga ganun, but then wala namang mawawala. Me and Lola giggled and Fabio saw us.

"What are you two planning huh?" He asks at nilapag yung mga kalamansi na pinabalatan ko. Gusto ko ten na kalamansi, tapos walang akong makikita na white strands kapag binalatan nya. Dapat wala din silang sugat. Nagkibit balikat si Lola at nagpatuloy sa pagscroll sa phone n'ya.

"Anong gusto mo dito love?" He asks. Napaisip naman ako.

"Gawin mong tanghulu," I said. Nilingon n'ya ako.

"Tanghulu? Kalamansi?"

"Bakit? Ayaw mo?" Tanong n'ya.

"Tara," he said ng walang pag-aalinlangan. Alam na kasi nya na kapag may pinaluto ako gusto ko pinapanood ko s'ya. Nagpaalam kami kay Lola. When we went to the kitchen he immediately grabbed some skewers.

"Ano yan?" Tanong ni Felix who was curious sa ginagawa namin.

"Manood ka nalang," singhal ng Kuya n'ya sakanya. Naupo naman s'ya sa may counter. Maya maya din ay bumaba din si Frett at Hugo. Nakinood. Dumating din sila Ate Raki bago kami matapos magluto. Even Kyya Falco was curious sa pinaggagawa namin.

I clapped when the last kalamansi was coated with sugar and he dipped it in a bowl of iced water. Kumuha ako ng ginger powder. Napansin kong pinagtinginan nila ako nung binudburan ko ng ginger powder bawat kalamansi.

"Ilk, how does that even taste?" Frett asked.  Nilingon nila si Fabio, perhaps asking how it tastes. He shrugged his shoulders and gave me a grin. Sakto namang kakapasok lang nila Lolo at Lola na kasama na sila Benj at Fred.

"What's that?" Fred asked. Lumapit sa'kin si Fabio at bumulong.

"Everyone's here and I think it's getting harder to hide it... How about we tell them now?" He asks and pointed the kalamansi skewers with his mouth. Mabilis naman akong sumunod, I also want them to eat it actually hindi ko lang alam pano bubuwelo.

I handed them the skewers one by one, even Lolo couldn't escape. Benj giggled. Mukhang sa isip n'ya hindi nalang sila ni Daddy nya ang magdudusa sa mga cravings ko. Nagtataka din si Ate Raki.

"Eat it," I said.

"Ih ayoko nga, Kalamansi? Balot ng asukal? Tapos may luya?! Yuck Ate Rowena-"

I bit my lips at yumuko. Pakiramdam ko iiyak ako pag tumanggi sila.

"Rowena? Are you ok?" Tanong ni Ate Raki. Fabio ran to me and threw away the small sugar crystal na nakuha nya kanina kay Felix.

"Look what you did?"

"Loh, bat ako-"

"I just badly want to see you guys eat our pregnancy cravings too," I said, almost no voice coming out of my mouth.

"Kainin nyo yan, masama pinapasama loob ng buntis," saad ni Lola. Nag-angat ako ng ulo. I suddenly felt the urge to hide behind my husband. None of them said anything and that was the most awkward moment I ever felt in this house.

"You're pregnant? Congratulations!" Ate Raki was the first to react. Nawala ang pag-aalinlangan ko nung yakapin n'ya ako. Fabio's brothers looked at each other, and even Hugo. They smiled awkwardly and immediately ate the kalamansi skewers.