Glimpses (special chapters)

Glimpse 05: Under Your Skin

Special Chapter 02: The Moment of Truth

"Ba't 'yan na naman?" Tiffanie thought-out-loud as she averted her eyes from the TV screen.

Nasa bus sila papuntang probinsya at yuong palabas na naman ay Final Destination.

"'Wag ka na lang tumingin sa TV. Just stare at me, Tippy."

James smirked.

She raised an eyebrow. "Tititigan kita buong byahe?"

"Yup. 'Di ba sabi nila, kapag raw buntis dapat laging maganda yung tinitingnan?"

Napakunot-noo siya. "Conceited lang?"

James laughed. He took his band from his wrist and placed it partly between his lips. Then, he fixed the long part of his hair into a bun and tied it.

"Tippy, I'm the father of your child... Don't you think you should, at least, be kinder to me?"

Napahalakhak si Tiffanie sa pagkaseryoso ng pagkakatanong nito.

Pinagmasdan niya ito. What if he looks a little neater? She imagined him without tattoos, pati na rin ang buhok ay maayos na nakasuklay at maiksi, pati ang damit ay medyo pormal. Will he become so handsome and attractive to her? Probably. Pero hindi na yuon ang James na nakilala niya. She will still perhaps, prefer the James that didn't have the physical qualities of her ultimate dream boy.

Besides, she couldn't hide the fact that her boyfriend is attractive enough already.

"Oo na, oo na! Gwapo ka na. Ang ganda mo na tingnan."

Pinalo niya ang braso nito. James pulled her closer and kissed her hair.

"Tali ko rin buhok mo."

She nodded. Tumalikod siya rito. James ran his fingers through her hair then fixed it into a bun. Tinali nito iyon pagkatapos.

"Thanks."

Tiffanie glanced beside them. Sa kabila ay pinapanood sila ng dalawang babaeng teenagers. Nag-iwas nga lang ng tingin ang mga iyon nang napatingin siya. She caught them giggling. Humarap na lang siya at gumilid ng kaunti sa tabi ni James. Nakaramdam siya ng konting hiya.

"Matulog ka na lang."

James gestured her to put her head on his shoulder. Ginawa naman niya ang kaso, alam niyang hindi naman siya makakatulog. For the past few nights ever since that day when she found out she was pregnant, she didn't have any proper sleep.

Nuong pinakita niya kay James yuong resulta nuong umaga ng araw na iyon, saglit siyang natulala. She was happy, it was given. Sino bang hindi matutuwa na mabiyayaan ng anak lalo na, na alam niya ang ibang mga mag-asawa ay hirap na hirap magka-anak? The child is a blessing, alam naman ni Tiffanie iyon.

Isa pa, walang mapaglagyan ang saya ni James nang nalaman iyon. Halos lamutakin na nga siya ng halik at halos hindi na rin siya pinakawalan sa pagkakayakap. He was intensely joyful when she declared that he'll be a father. Siya naman, kabado. Takot. Hindi niya alam kung paano sasabihin sa kanyang ina at tita. Ilang gabi na niya ni-re-rehearse sa isip ang mga sasabihin. She was drafting the first sentence in her head for the past few nights, kaya naman lagi siyang napupuyat.

James was worried. Pinagsasabihan siya nito na huwag masyado mag-isip. He was assuring her that everything will be alright.