Carisia
"It's a girl!"
The doctor's announcement caused my stomach to drop in excitement.
I'm trying so hard not to cry because I don't want to look like a freaking crybaby in front of my husband and my OB.
In the midst of trying to fight my unmanageable emotions, I felt Enrico's lips touch my forehead while I'm lying on the bed, prompting a smile to appear on my face.
My doctor smiled widely while switching gazes between us, and the monitor. "Congratulations! I'm so happy for the both of you!" she exclaimed happily.
I stared at the monitor, where an image of the inside of my womb is currently being flashed. The little girl inside is breathing strongly and moving like a fighter.
I can't help but feel regretful and sorry to the little girl in there. I can't even imagine how my life would be right now, if I successfully got rid of her. That would be the biggest mistake of my life, if it happened.
***
After getting in the car, my suppressed tears automatically fell one by one, soon producing a stream of tears down my cheeks.
"Where do you want--"
Enrico suddenly held me by the arms, gently forcing me to face him. "What? Is there something wrong? May masakit ba sa'yo?" he asked continously, with a concerned look etched on his face.
I cleared my throat before speaking. "I feel like a terrible mother," I confessed.
His usually cold eyes was now painted with emotions that I haven't seen from him before. "Why? Why would you think that?"
Now that he asked, it made it harder to stop myself from crying. "Because!"
He held one of my hand, and he used his other one to lift my chin up. "Because what? You wanted to get rid of the baby?"
I shut my eyes as I nodded in disappointment towards myself.
Such a stupid, terrible mother!
"Listen to me," he whispered. "If our girl could talk right now, she would say otherwise. She'll tell you that you're a great mother, you know why?"
In curiosity with his statements, I opened my eyes and I stared at him with hope. "Why?"
He leaned his face even closer. "Because despite the fear and dread in you, despite all of the mental challenges you had to face, and despite wanting to end it all, many times-- you still decided to keep her," he softly explained.
"Because I love you," I uttered out of the blue.
His eyes subtly widened with a hint of surprise after hearing what I just said.
Did I...did I just tell him those three words? Did those words really came out from my lips?
Even after everything that happened between us-- the rough start, the rocky patches, and just everything in between...I still managed to love him.
It wasn't easy. Loving him wasn't a piece of cake, and I'm sure that he can say the same towards me. We were two ends of the same line, we were always on the opposite sides of everything, and I never imagined that a day will come when our paths would align.
All of those became possible because of this child inside me.
"I knew it..." he smirked.
His unusual softness today prompted me to embrace him because I don't always get to see this soft-spoken version of him.
"I guess I should also apologize to you because I tried getting rid of your child. I'm sorry," I muffled on his shoulder.
He rubbed my back in a comforting manner, and planted a kiss on my cheek. "I understand, and you're forgiven."
After I pulled away, he cupped both sides of my face and pulled me in for a smack...or more like multiple.
***
Enrico
We are having a girl.
My heart feels weirdly full upon learning that news. Maybe it's the contentment in me, but I truly am overjoyed with the news.
Right away, I called the house staff and ordered them to deep clean the designated room to be the nursery. We need to get started on to decorating the room to prepare for our baby's arrival.
I've never expected a day like this to come so soon, but here it is, right in front of me. The magic of slowly learning the mystery of the human being which is developing in my wife's womb is such a privilege to witness everyday.
Maybe Cari doesn't feel it often because I find it hard to express things, but I have the deepest respect and appreciation for her for carrying our baby and making sure that they're both healthy all throughout her pregnancy.
She's been very careful now, and she obeys what needs to be done, as much as she can.
"I'm full..." she giggled after swallowing the last brocolli on her plate.
I took her to a buffet because she's craving for everything daw. To make things less harder for me, I just took her to a restaurant with everything that she could possibly want.
"The baby's full?" I kidded.
She smiled heartily while wiping the corner of her lips with a napkin. "Both of us," she said.
Well then, time for me to finish my meal. Ako kasi ang taga-kuha ng pagkain niya so I didn't have time earlier to eat with her.
While I was having my rib eye, her phone rang on the table. I didn't see the caller ID but from the looks on her face, I don't think it's from someone that she wants to talk to.
"Po? What is it?" she asked the person on the other line.
Oh, it's either her mom or her dad. Either way, she doesn't look too interested.
"We can't, Ma. Busy kami ni Enrico."
I paused from eating, and I focused all my attention to her.
The phone call went on for several minutes, nothing too relevant except for the fact that Cari sounds like she's about to fight with her mom every second.
"They want to have dinner na naman," she said in an annoyed tone, as she reached for the glass of water after they ended the call.
"Do you want to go?" I asked her.
She rolled her eyes. "I don't want to, but do I have a choice? Ugh! They don't deserve to see me carrying their grandchild. I really don't want to see them," she admitted.
"Then we don't have to go. It's your choice, darling," I assured her.
She flashed a warm smile at me, but immediately shook it off. "Whatever. I'm just gonna give it to them this once."
She looked out the window, but I remained staring at her.
I didn't realize how adorable she looked with furrowed brows until now. Miss grumpy.
*
End of Chapter 19
*
