THE STORY OF BERNICE

PROLOGUE

During Chesca’s pregnancy, madalas niyang bisita si Bernice. Malapit na kase ito sa kanila nakatira… After school hinahatid ito ng yaya niya sa bahay nila Chesca at susuduin ni Ivo or ni Joan paggaling nila sa work. Sina Ivo at Kevin na lang ang madalas nilang nakakasama.

Bernice: Ninang, how babies are there in your tummy?

C: I have two babies, one boy and one girl.

Bernice: how did they fit in your tummy? Are they big?

C: no honey, they’re small, when they come out, that’s when they grow and become big babies like you…

Bernice: how did they enter your tummy? Is there a door or something?

C: no, it’s magic. Only Papa Jesus can put babies in your tummy.

Bernice: wow! That’s great… I want to have babies too..

C: your still young honey when you grow bigger like ninang.

Bernice: why do you call them your babies?

C: because they are still small. When a person is still small or young, they’re still babies.

Bernice: why do you call Ninong Kiko your baby too? he’s bigger than you…

C: he’s my baby too…

Bernice: he came from your tummy?

C: no but because I love him, I call him my baby…

Bernice: do you love me Ninang?

C: of course….

Bernice: why do you call me Honey and not baby?

(dumating na si Francis from work at agad dumiretso sa Nursery. Alam niya dun nakatambay si Chesca at Bernice)

F: hi Baby, how’s your day??

C: great.. nauubusan ako ng sagot sa inaanak mo baby…

F: haha, bakit? Come here honey, give ninong kiko a kiss… (she kissed him) what are you talking about honey?

Bernice: coz ninang said she loves you that’s why she call you baby, and she said she loves me too but she calls me honey..

F: It’s a term of endearment honey, when you love someone you call them by sweet names.. that’s why we call each other Baby, and we call you honey coz It’s sweet… come, I brought you cake and ice cream!!

Bernice: wow!!! I love it! thanks ninong…

Sabay sabay silang bumaba sa dining area para kumain… may housekeeper na din sila na kasama ni Chesca sa bahay especially now na anytime soon manganganak na siya. nakaramdam ng sakit ng tiyan si Chesca while eating.

C: baby, my water bag broke… 

Nataranta na si Francis… he carried Chesca inside the car, and along with Bernice, he asked their driver to rush them to Asian Hospital. Buti na lang prepared na nila dati pa yung mga kelangan dalin sa hospital.. pinasunod nila si yaya Violy sa hospital. Para dalhin ang iba pang gamit.

Nasa DR na si Chesca kasama si Fancis nung dumating ang mommy nila.. dumating din si Joan at Ivo para sunduin sana si Bernice pero nung nalamang nasa ospital na ito, dumiretso na sila doon.

Bernice: dad, what’s happening?

Ivo: your ninang chesca is giving birth.

Bernice: the baby will come out soon?

Joan, yes..

Bernice: wow, I’ll have a new playmate!

Lumabas sina Francis after manganak ni Chesca… saka lang umuwi sina Ivo.. babalik na lang daw sila… they named the twins Kathryn Bernadette and Benedict Kristoff. Ano kayang mararamdaman ni Bernice ngayon na may anak na ang Ninang Chesca at Ninong Kiko Niya? Magiging kalaro ba niya to, or kalaban sa atensyon?