"Ano brod, tuloy pa ba ang kasal?"
"Shut up Edward!"
Kitang-kita ng lahat kung paano siya ini-snub ni Samantha habang papasok ito ng bahay at umakyat sa hagdam pabalik sa kuwarto nito. He called her three times pero ni hindi man lang ito natinag kahit lumakas ang kanyang boses sa pagtawag ng pangalan ng babae. Hindi na niya naisip ang hiya sa mga taong naroon lalo na kay daddy Dante nang tumaas ang boses niya dahil sa inis kay Samantha. He's getting more angry and frustrated sa inaasal nito, yet hindi niya magawang komprontahin agad ito dahil nga buntis ang babae. But damn her hormones and oversensitivity!
'"Daddy?" humihinging tulong niya sa magiging biyenan.
"Pasensya ka na, anak. Maski kami dito ay nahihirapan sa inuugali niya ngayon. Try to understand her situation. First time niyang magbuntis and kailangan nating habaan ang pasensya sa kanya."
"Ang hirap palang magbuntis ni Sam, ano? Paano yan, brod, everytime she gets pregnant, you'll wear your patience out?" biro na naman ni Edward.
Tinapunan niya lang ito nang masamang tingin.
He then looked at his mother. "What did she say? Did she tell you the reason bakit ganon ang attitude niya? Is there any problem with her or the baby? What, mother?"
His mother looked at him as if trying to get answers from his own questions.
"Mo..."
"She's still afraid, hijo."
"Afraid? Afraid of what?"
"She didn't say it directly but I think she's afraid you'll leave her again."
"What?! What made her think that?! Daddy, napansin nyo ba yon kay Samantha? Yani? Qin?" tanong niya sa mga nakapaligid sa kanya.
Puro iling lang ang isinagot sa kanya ng mga ito.
"I don't know hijo."
He frustratedly sat at the nearest chair he saw.
"Ano pa bang puwede kong gawin para patunayan sa kanyang I'm staying for good? Ginawa ko na ang alam kong tama, ginawa ko din kung ano ang sa tingin ni daddy na tama. Would I do that if I don't love her? I did everything para maikasal kami agad just to assure her that I'm serious with my intention. I don't know! Really, hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko!" napapagod na litanya niya sa ina. "Did she say anything about our marriage later?"
"Wala naman siyang sinabi tungkol doon maliban sa nagawa mo daw kalimutan na sabihin sa kanya ang tungkol doon."
"And then?"
"Nothing. It seems to me something is bothering her."
"Pero ano yon?"
"Hindi ko alam anak."
"What about you? Did you talk about the last time you two met?"
"Yeah, we did and we're okay on that. One thing more I noticed, she won't accept she's the reason ng pagbabago mo, na siya ang dahilan bakit tayo nagkasundo. She's acting as if she doesn't want anything to do with you."
"Christ! What shall I do with her?!"
"Tama ang daddy-in-law mo, apo. More patience, please. Maybe it's because of her pregnancy that's why her emotions are in a rollercoaster mode. Kung ako siguro yun, mas matindi pang insecurity ang mararamdan ko. Imagine, itinakwil mo siya nung una niyang ipinaalam sa 'yo ang pagbubuntis niya. You were not around during her most crucial period of pregnancy. Though you came back, umalis ka naman ulit without letting her know your plans. Ano sa tingin mo ang mararamdaman niya?"
