as the stars would have it

bonus chapter #1

a/n: set about three years after atswhi’s ending :)

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[DIALOGUE]

< JACHIN’S HOUSE. MORNING. >

Evie tugs her lower lip between her teeth and sucks in a deep breath. No way this was happening already.

Then again, she knew it was a faraway dream for them.

But oh my. . .

She lifts her gaze from the cold bathroom sink inside Jachin's room and refocuses on her appearance on the mirror.

She didn't look different than yesterday; she didn't feel different. But right at this moment, everything was.

Evie
(whispers)
Am I really?

Hinawi niya ang ngayo'y mahaba na niyang buhok at humakbang paatras mula sa salamin. Tinagilid niya ang katawan niya at hinawakan ang tiyan niya.

It was still flat.

Evie
(whispers)
Oh my God. . .

Everything all at once came down on her. She's pregnant. She's pregnant. She. Her hand blindly reaches for the end of the sink to hold onto dahil pakiramdam niya ay umiikot na ang paningin niya.

Evie
(whispers)
Oh, no. Oh, no. Oh, no.

Hindi niya alam kung bakit sigurado pa siya na hindi siya buntis bago gamitin ang test niya kahit ilang araw na siyang delayed. And she's been having weird changes in her mood and appetite.

Kahapon, halos maiyak siya nang sabihin ni Jachin na wala itong nabili na paborito niyang flavor ng yogurt sa supermarket.

The man immediately panicked and bought her ice cream instead. Same flavor.

Evie hears the door open and close, followed by Jachin calling for her.

Jachin
Bub? Tara, almusal na. Nagluto ako para sa lahat pero maaga umalis sina Mama J kasi pupunta sa pinsan niya.

Narinig niya ang kalampag ni Jachin sa labas ng banyo, malamang inaayos ang higaan nila.

His parents offered that they both stay here until they can move out. Ang plano ay dapat after 5 years ay makalipat na sila, but now, all their plans was going to be put on hold.

Nang hindi siya sumagot ay kumatok ito.

Jachin
Bub? Okay ka lang d'yan?

Evie grabs the pregnancy test and hid her hand behind her before pulling the door open.

Evie
Hi—yeah, okay lang. Masama lang tiyan ko.

Agad na kumunot ang noo nito at humakbang palapit sa kanya.

Jachin
Ha? Bakit? Ano ba kinain mo kagabi?

Evie
No—uhm, no. It's—it's not that.

Evie squeezes her eyes shut and draws in a deep breath. Her heart was fighting to leap out of her chest in both fear and excitement.

Jachin
Bub, what is it? Natatakot na ako. Anong mayro'n?

His eyes went all over her face, and then everywhere, checking.

Evie
It's this.

Evie lifts her hand in front of him to show him the small device that had their fate written on it.

Jachin stares at it in confusion before his eyes registered what it was saying. And then, it widened in surprise.

Jachin
Hala, gagi. Hala?

A laugh rumbles out of Evie's throat. She couldn't help it. Hinampas niya ang dibdib ni Jachin.

Evie
Bub! Be serious!

Jachin gently grabs the pregnancy test from her and stares at it for what seems like forever. Ang tagal nitong nakatitig.

Jachin
(whispers)
Seryoso ba?

Sumilay ang ngiti sa mga labi nito nang mag-angat ng tingin sa kanya.

Jachin
Bub. . .

Evie nods.

His eyes quickly turns glassy with tears, but the smile never left his lips.

Dahan dahan itong lumapit sa kanya bago inabot ang mga kamay niya. He pulls her close to him in a tight hug that seeped through her bones.

Evie
(muffled)
I know it's not yet in our plans. . . sabi ko—sabi ko maghintay pa tayo ng ilang taon.

Jachin
I don't care anymore. Wala na 'yong plano na 'yon sa 'kin, bub. Ang mahalaga ngayon ay ikaw. Kayo. Pwede naman tayo gumawa ng ibang plano.

His hand reaches for her stomach and gently strokes it.

Jachin
Ito na 'yong hinihingi sa 'kin ni Mama J. Kinukulit ako, bub. “Ang sarap siguro na may bata ulit sa bahay, ‘no, pa?” sabi ba naman kay Papa J. Si Papa naman tumango tango lang.

Evie laughs and wraps both of her arms around Jachin's neck.

Jachin
Tapos 'pag wala ka, laging binubulong na sana raw maabutan niya pa mga apo niya. Pero tumatanda na raw siya.

He rolls his eyes as he remembers his mother's sentiments. Paulit ulit ito magmula nung magkatrabaho sila ni Evie at nagsimulang magbalak na lumipat.

Evie
What did you say?

Jachin
Sabi ko kalmahan lang nila. Nape-pressure ako, e.

Evie pulls him in a hug again.

Evie
I love you.

Naramdaman ni Evie ang pag-ngiti nito sa balikat niya at marahang pinatakan ng halik ang balikat niya.

Jachin
I love you. And our baby.

Our baby. Evie couldn't help but feel like she was doing something right. She was creating a dream beyond the both of them and once again, she lets it decide how their life was going to be.

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#ATSWHIwp