Controlled Hearts

Special Chapter Two

(A/N: Consider this a treat for my 2018-2019 readers.)

Song for this chapter: Whatever you prefer. Tinatamad ako maghanap ng kanta.

Special Chapter Two

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, baby," bati namin ni Rick kay Van. It's his 2nd birthday.

"What do you want, my boy?" Rick asks him.

Kumunot ang noo ni Van, nag-iisip. "Uhm . . . baby sister or brother."

Humalakhak si Rick nang narinig niya ang sagot ni Van. Uminit naman ang pisngi ko.

Kinarga ni Rick si Van. "We'd give you that. When you're three or four," he tells him, smiling.

"Why?"

"Your Mommy needs to graduate first," paliwanag niya.

Van turns to look at me. "Mommy, you graduate na. So I can have sisters."

Kinagat ko ang labi ko para pigilan ang pagngiti. I brush my fingers through his hair. "You don't want to be an only baby?"

"I want to be kuya!" Ngumuso siya.

"But we still want you to be our only baby," malambing kong sinabi.

We've spent the whole day normally. Buti nalang at walang mga paparazzi na sumunod sa'min. Sinigurado ni Delilah na kontakin ang lahat ng mga paparazzis na kilala niya dito sa Pinas para wag kaming sundan.

***

"Ellise just gave birth," sabi ni Rick sa'kin pagkauwi niya. Kakauwi lang niya mula sa dinner kasama sila Ellise, Sage at mga kapatid niya. "And she screamed loudly."

"What do you expect? Malamang, masakit yun," sabi ko.

"I never really witnessed a woman giving birth." He purses his lips. "I wish I was able to witness you giving birth to Van, though."

"Mabuti hindi mo ako nakitang nanganak. Ang pangit ko kaya nung oras na yun," sabi ko. Naalala ko bigla yung panahon na nag false labor ako, at sa huli, kinailangan kong magpa-CS. It really hurt a lot. Ang kapal din ng eyebags ko noong panahon na iyon.

"Does it really hurt to the point na mumurahin niyo kaming mga lalake?" he asks curiously. "Sage looked like he was about to faint. It looked like he was giving birth also."

"Bakit? Gusto mong maranasan din yun?" Ngumisi ako.

"I'd hate to see you in pain, but . . . I do want to experience taking care of you. I want to give you massages, get any food you crave, do the crazy things you want me to do, and all that." He shrugs. "Before, I thought that it was a pain in the ass. I knew what kuya Brad and Nick had gone through when their wives were pregnant. But now, I want it with you."

I chuckle. "Wag mo ngang sabihin yan, baka magpapabuntis ako sa'yo ngayon," biro ko.

His brows furrow. "Stop joking. That's not funny. You know that I might do that now."

"Magtiis ka. Two sem nalang at tapos na ako," pabiro kong suway sa kanya.

"Oh, I'll make sure you get pregnant right after you graduate."

"Agad agad? Di ba pwedeng magpakasal muna tayo?"

"So what? We can still get married even if you're pregnant," aniya.

"Ewan ko sa'yo."

Alas diyes ay napagdesisyunan naming matulog na, ngunit bigla naming narinig ang katok ng pinto ng kwarto namin.