Obnoxious Oxygen

Chapter Forty Eight

Just pretend you were surprised.

I smiled at the text message I received from Titanium. Zander might've noticed it, he glanced at me with a frown seated on his forehead. I bit my lower lip and cleared my throat. Reminding myself how much I need to act good, no superb this evening. Just so I could pull up my plan perfectly. Remember, Gabby, this shouldn't be difficult for you. You've attended theatre classes back in third grade.

"Okay na kayo?" He asked with disapproval in his voice.

Oh my God, Zander can't be a better actor than I am. "No, he hasn't called me yet. That was Titanium, sending funny messages trying to uplift my mood ruined by her brother."

"He should start being responsible." Maaskad niyang sabi bago ikutin pakaliwa ang manibela. "I'm not liking the idea of him cancelling on you."

"He's kind of busy, I understand it. Medyo nakakatampo, oo. But that's fine, you're an okay substitute." My phone vibrated again, I moved it face down to my lap so Zander wouldn't notice. "Isa pa, hindi naman palaging nangyayari 'to. Ngayon nga lang actually.

"I'm more than just okay," he huffed. "Of all days, ngayon niya pa napiling 'wag kang siputin. It's your OB visit, you should try to remind him that. He needs to put you on top of his priorities. Magkakaanak na kayo, tatlo pa."

"Zander, I'm okay. Nothing bad happened. The trio are healthy inside me and so am I." I told him that. "And I'm really thankful, you're available to accompany me."

"Paano pala kung hindi? Edi mag-isa ka?" Naiiling-iling niyang sabi habang ang mga mata ay tutok sa daan. "Baka naman nambabae 'yan, Gabbana ha? Sinasabi ko lang talaga sa'yo-"

"Ano ka ba?" I cut him off. "Walang ganoon, Zander. Why would he do that? Sabi mo nga 'di ba? Magkakaanak na kami, tatlo pa."

His shoulders moved in a shrug. "He's still the Oxygen De Salvo."

"You're so judgmental," I looked down at my phone and saw a text message from Romee. I toggled that immediately. "And negative, get rid of that thoughts."

Everything is settled.

I kept my phone back to my purse, Zander's been watching my texting since we got in his car. I had an scheduled checkup after lunch today, Oxygen and I have planned on having lunch together and going into the doctor to see how the babies are doing. An hour before lunch time he called me to say that he's caught in the middle of an important meeting and that he'd be home late. He won't even make it to dinner. He's sorry that he couldn't accompany me to my seven month checkup, he insisted on sending Anja to go with me but I refused. Instead, I called my brother. He's a less reckless driver that Anja.

"Are you already hungry?" He asked after a few minutes of silence.

Looking down at my wrist watch, it's past five. "Know any good restaurant around?"

"Casa Caballeros," was his simple reply.

I stopped myself from grinning and tried to pull up a formidable look. "Zander, if you're going to have dinner with Romee tonight, no thanks. I don't wanna be third wheeling a romantic dinner date. Ibalik mo nalang ako sa bahay, then I'll order my own dinner and eat it all by myself."

"Romee isn't available tonight, she's babysitting Ricos. It's Paris and Aidan's date night." He smiled, turning to look at me. "Come on, woman. Wipe that ugly snarl on your face and have dinner with me. I heard they'll be serving tarragon chicken tonight and you've been dying to eat chicken since last week, ain't you?"

Well, he's right. I badly want to eat chicken since last week but I wasn't allowed. Now that my due date is near, they have put me in a strict and healthy diet. This afternoon I have asked my OB if I could have chicken, she said I can but I should watch my intake.