Since waking up about minutes ago she has the feeling that her inner organs were trying to scuttle out through her mouth. She was surprised to feel a large hand on her back it startled her at first but then she relaxes into the familiar warmth of her husband.
JM: Baby? Okay ka lang? What's wrong?
His voice sounds warm and sleepy, and Barbie wants nothing more than to wrap herself up in that husky voice and go back to bed. She turns her head slightly, looking up at JM.
Barbie: I think I ate something last night didn't quite agree with me. She murmurs, flushing the toilet and getting up.
She feels a little better now. Well maybe because there is nothing left in her stomach that could cause trouble anymore. After rinsing her mouth, she hugged JM and enjoying the warmth of his body.
JM: Anong oras na ba?
Barbie: It's half past seven in the morning.
JM: So can we please go back to bed?
Barbie: I would love to.
JM: Come on, baby.... Kaya mo ba mag lakad or do you want me to carry you?
Barbie is tired. So tired, and she just clings to JM's shoulders. Without hesitation, JM lifts her up and carries her back into their bedroom where he lays her down gently on their bed.
JM: Don't sleep yet. I'll go get you something to drink. Then pressing a gentle kiss to Barbie's forehead.
In just minutes he was back with a glass of warm water. She took the glass of water and takes a few sips, then she placed it at the nightstand and cuddles close to JM who has rejoined her under the covers.
JM pulls her close. "Get some rest, baby," he whispers, and Barbie, surrendering to the warmth of her husband's body and from all the tiredness she is feeling.
-------
The next morning JM finds her in the same position, kneeling in front of the toilet, hurling her guts out.
JM: Twice, B? That doesn't look good. Maybe we should go see a doctor. JM frowns.
Barbie shakes her head, flushing the toilet and walking over to the sink to rinse her mouth.
Barbie: Okay na ako, Love. I'm already better. See?
JM watches this whole scenario for more than a week, then he calls Mommy Odessa. Every morning Barbie scrambles out of bed, runs into the bathroom to get rid of everything she ate the night before, and then she climbs back into bed with him, sleeping a few more hours before she starts the preparing for her day job: pastry chef day, as if nothing unusual has happened earlier that morning.
Odessa: Oh kumusta anak, napatawag ka?
In a few well-chosen words JM describes Barbie's symptoms.
Odessa: Morning sickness and mood swings? This sounds like class-A pregnancy symptoms.
JM: Ma, hindi nga?
Odessa: Magbobolahan pa ba tayo Juan Miguel? You guys are married. And it's normal na you guys get to sleep together. Malamang mabubuntis mo si Bie!
JM: Ma, ang awkward naman ng topic natin!
Odessa: Nino, wag ka na mahiya. Kung ganyan lang din pala bakit ako pa ang tinawagan mo? If you want to be sure, dalhin mo na sa ospital yang asawa mo. Alam mo naman na stubborn yan eh, kagaya mo. Para na din malaman na if she's really pregnant or, baka stomach flu lang talaga yan.
JM: Sige Ma, thank you po. Mamaya siguro after ng shift niya sa shop.
Odessa: Ngayon na, kami na ni Harriet ang bahala sa shop! Naku, excited na ako maging Abuela.
JM: Don't get your hopes up Ma. Baka hindi.
Odessa: Oy oy, ano ka ba ang negative mo ah! Hindi ka ba excited at magkaka baby na kayo?
JM: Ayoko lang muna ma-excite ma, kasi baka hindi naman. Malulungkot lang ako.
Odessa: Okay lang yan anak, try and try until you succeed. Papadalhan kita ng madaming balut, promise!
JM: Ma! Ano ba, please, let's stop talking about my s*x life!
Tinawanan lang siya ni Odessa at hung the phone.
JM decided to drag Barbie into the hospital kahit anong ayaw pa nito and kept his assumptions. He tried looking and asking people for a good OB GYNE para mas mapanatag siya. One of his friends recommended Dr. Quijano.
Barbie: M, OB? Hindi ako buntis ano ka ba. May nakain lang ako. We're careful naman. At saka, ikaw ang may gusto na next year na tayo mag-try di ba?
JM: I know, pero what if? Please B? Wag ka muna makulit?
She just pouted but JM found her antics cute.
JM: I love you, wag ka na matigas ang ulo. Let's get this done and over. Nag-aalala na kasi talaga ako sa'yo eh.
Barbie: Sorry na Love. Bati na tayo, please?
JM just smiled at her and kissed her forehead.
-----
Dr. Quijano is very thorough in her examination. She took her BP, listened to her heart, looks in every orifice Barbie has, and finally, she decided to take a few vials of blood. "Just making sure." she said.
The pretty doctor hmmms, and mumbles something not even JM can understand, scribbles something in her little blue book.
Dr. Quijano: What did you eat these last few days? She asks Barbie.
Barbie starts to recall everything she had over the last week, and JM is impressed. Her memory is really something huh.
Another hmm from Dr. "Anything something new, odd, paulit-ulit?"
Barbie: Wala po? Nothing in particular I guess. I still eat as normal just like before.
Dr. Quijano: Top or bottom? she now asks.
Barbie: Ano po?
Dr. Quijano: Again, Top or bottom?
At napa-ubo naman ng malakas si JM dahil nagets na niya ang tanong ng doctor.
What the ...? But Barbie just blinks, and answers easily.
Barbie: Both po. I always take the best of both worlds.
And then she winks at JM who's now profusely sweating and blushing at the same time. Inaasar niya talaga ang asawa.
Dr. Quijano: But the last few times. Let's say ... about three or four weeks ago. Top or bottom?
Barbie: Bottom. She answers without hesitation.
JM blushes even more. But he remembers that one special night about weeks ago. Barbie had been insatiable, and they had made love about four or five times that night. Okay, it had been six times, and in the morning JM was certain that his "family jewels" would fall off if he should try to get it up one more time. But Barbie had been amazing that night, so no, he wouldn't want to trade that memory for anything in the world.
Dra. Quijano: Okay. There is one last thing I need. Get dressed, Barbie. I want you to come with me. Just for one last examination. I promise. I want to make an ultrasound.
Barbie: Huh? Ultrasound po?
Half an hour later they're at the radiology department with Barbie half naked on a table, some sticky gel on her stomach, and an ultrasound stick running through it.
The beaming smile that suddenly crosses her face, tells JM that – whatever it is –she found it.
Dr. Quijano: There you go. Did you already think about a name?
His mind suddenly is blank. Name? What for? What do they need a name for?
Dr. Quijano: Take a look at your little munchkin. I can't say yet whether it's a boy or a girl ... but as far as I can tell, it's healthy. 5 weeks and 4 days.
They were both surprised by the sudden news. They started crying and JM kissed her on the lips. "I love you... I love you.."
Baby.
Pregnant.
Barbie pregnant.
