The café was buzzing with chatter and the smell of fresh pastries. Aiah was seated at a cozy corner table with Maloi, Stacey, and Sheena, a half-eaten plate of waffles and strawberries in front of her. She was cradling a cup of decaf coffee—because, as Maloi loved to remind her, "buntis ka, wag kang mag-caffeine masyado!"—while her friends grilled her about pregnancy life.
"So, ano na, preggy queen?" Maloi said, leaning her chin on her hand as she grinned at Aiah. "Kamusta na ang buhay niyo ni Mikha? Parang ang tahimik niyo lately, ha. Dati you were all over IG, tapos ngayon puro baby-related posts na lang."
Aiah laughed, her dimples deepening. "Excuse me, we're still cool. Hindi porket nagpa-prenatal yoga na ako biglang boring na kami."
"Sure ka?" Stacey chimed in, raising an eyebrow. "Kasi the last time we went out, ikaw ang unang nag-yawn and asked for warm water with lemon. Iconic ka dati for being the 'one more drink' girl."
Aiah rolled her eyes, sipping her coffee. "Okay, fine, I'm more of a grandma these days. But that's because I'm literally growing a human being inside me. Hindi 'to madaling trabaho, ha!"
Sheena chuckled, nibbling on a croissant. "Fair point. Pero let's be real, hindi lang yan ang gusto naming malaman."
Aiah froze slightly, her eyes narrowing. "What do you mean?"
Maloi smirked, leaning closer across the table like she was sharing a secret. "You know exactly what we mean, gurl. Kamusta ang sexy time life niyo?"
"Maloi!" Aiah hissed, her face turning bright red. She glanced around to make sure no one else could hear them.
"What?" Maloi said, feigning innocence. "Curious lang! I mean, you guys have always been all sweet and lovey-dovey, pero things change when you're pregnant, diba? Spill the tea."
"Yeah," Stacey added, clearly enjoying Aiah's flustered reaction. "Like, are you guys still... you know, active? Or are you too tired from all the pregnancy stuff?"
Sheena, quieter but no less curious, piped up. "Or does Mikha panic every time? Tipong, 'Babe, baka ma-damage si baby?'"
The three of them burst into laughter, and Aiah groaned, covering her face with her hands. "Grabe kayo," she muttered. "Ang hilig niyo talaga mang-intriga."
"Eh kasi, gurl, you're pregnant!" Maloi said, still laughing. "Ang daming nagbabago, and we want to know what it's like! Share naman."
Aiah sighed, shaking her head but laughing despite herself. "Okay, okay, fine. I'll answer some questions. But not all, ha. May boundaries tayo."
The three of them leaned in eagerly, their eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"Okay, first of all," Aiah started, her voice firm but amused, "yes, we're still... active. Actually, parang mas clingy pa ako ngayon kay Mikha."
"Oohhh!" all three of them chorused dramatically.
"It's weird!" Aiah admitted, laughing. "Sometimes I'll be doing something random, like folding laundry, tapos bigla na lang I'll feel this urge to, like... grab her. Kahit wala siyang ginagawa, parang ang hot niya sa paningin ko."
"'Ang hot niya sa paningin ko,'" Stacey mimicked, laughing. "Gurl, ikaw pala ang mas wild ngayon kaysa kay Mikha!"
Aiah blushed deeper but nodded. "Oo na, guilty ako. Pero to be fair, Mikha loves it. She keeps saying I'm extra cute when I'm clingy. Kahit na super random 'yung timing ko minsan."
"Like when?" Sheena asked, grinning.
"Like nung isang gabi," Aiah began, then hesitated. "Oh my god, hindi ko dapat kinukuwento 'to..."
