The Playgirl's Game

Kabanata 40

"Mum, is it heavy?"

I look at my daughter who is wearing a flowey pink dress. The make up artist has done her make up already. Binilin ko na wag siya masyadong make-upan. Just the right amount of pink cheeks and a lip gloss. Lumapit siya sakin kaya inayos ko ang flower crown na nasa uluhan niya. I touched her cheek and smiled.

"I can manage. It is heavy but mommy can do it." I assured her. Tumango tango siya sakin. Napangiti ako.

"You're so beautiful. You've grown so beautiful, my princess." Zac opened his arms and welcomed Chyler into a hug. Until now, pakiramdam ko ay tumataba ang puso ko pag nakikita ko silang mag ama ko.

"Mommy's beautiful too, daddy. Even with that big tummy of hers." Sagot ng anak ko. Tumawa si Zac. He prefers us to call him Zac. I loved him first when he is still Zac. Yes I also love him as Ezekiel but I love him first as Ezekiel.

"Of course she is. Every part of her is beautiful and you are a part of her so you are beautiful too." Malambing na sabi ni Zac sa anak. Napangiti naman ako.

"Napaka galing niyong mambola mag ama eh no?" Hirit ko sa kanilang dalawa. Bumulong si Zac sa anak niya na tumawa. Napailing na lang ako.

"Okay! Malapit na mag sunset so go to your positions. First solo shot first then couple bago ang family. Ready!" Nilingon ko si Renzy na photographer namin na nag announce na magsisimula na. Zac helped me carefully in standing up.

Nandito kami ngayon sa La Casa Vallejo La Union. We decided to have a maternity shot. Of course, I chose the setting. And since I love beaches, dito namin ito gagawin.

I am 30 weeks pregnant but my tummy is bigger than a nine months pregnant woman. We have quadruplets. Nung unang sinabi sa amin ng OB iyon, hindi talaga kami makapaniwala. Apat?! Oh come on! I even asked mom and dad if may lahi kami ng ganito. She said her auntie gave birth to a triplets and it is really possible in our bloodline.

Any moment from now, pwede na raw akong manganak. My uterus has already been stretched so wide na aakalain nitong nine months na ang dinadala ko kung kaya't malapit na raw akong manganak. She even discussed to us the possibility na tanggalan na ko ng matres. Since my uterus was over stretched, may possibility na hindi na ito magcontract pa at duguin ako hanggang sa mamatay ako. I signed a consent na if ever it won't contract by then, papayag na kong ipatanggal ito. 5 children is already a great number. Nakakagulat pa iyon dahil agad agad 4 na.

Sana mahintay pa nila kahit 8 months. Delikado pa ang 7 dahil pre-mature pa sila. But my doctor assured me that they have all the equipment and facility to help my babies survive the extrauterine life.

Tumayo na ko sa may sad na prinepare sa akin. I was just wearing a white tube and a flowing skirt. Hindi ko na nga makita ang paanan ko sa sobrang laki ng tiyan ko.

"Okay Trish, mag pose ka diyan ng medyo naka side ka, angle your head towards me. Give me a look with a sense of pride, give me a look with a feeling that you are the most powerful woman here because of your babies. Give me that pregnant glow look." I did as I was told. I don't know why I was teary eyed. Maybe because I am too happy, so happy.

Habang tuloy tuloy sila sa mga shots ay nanonood ang mag ama ko. I saw pride in their eyes too.

"Okay! Couple shot! Paki retouch muna si Trish."

Lumapit sa akin ang make up artist at niretouch ako. Zac went beside me and damn, I can't believe I married this man 3 months ago.

"I love you." He uttered. I smiled bigger. Shet, ilang taon na ang nakalilipas pero kinikilig pa rin ako sa kanya? Madaya.

"Pogi mo." Biglaan kong sabi. He looked amused, and later on, he laughed.

"In love na in love ka sakin." Utas niya. He went behind my back and gave me a hug. Nakapatong ang dalawang kamay niya sa tiyan ko.

He kissed me on my shoulders.

"In love ako sayo pero ikaw patay na patay sakin." Pagyayabang ko na tinawanan nanaman niya. I love the sound of his laughter. After everything, he deserves happiness.

"How can you say so?" Panunuya niya. Pinatong ko ang kamay ko sa kamay niyang nakapatong rin sa tiyan ko.

"Hindi pa ba ebidensya ang apat na sanggol sa sinapupunan ko? Galit na galit ka eh no?" Pangaasar ko. He kissed me on my shoulders up to my neck. Nakikiliti ako kaya hinarap ko siya. Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko. Pinasiklop niya iyon. He thumb is playing with mine. I look at his eyes with full of happiness. I can see adoration in his eyes and I felt some sense of pride with the way he looks at me.

"I missed hugging you in front. I can't wait for our babies to come out. I've been sacrificing not to hug my wife because of them." Nagtatampong sabi niya. Natawa ako kaya medyo napagawak pa ko sa tiyan ko.

"Labas na daw kayo sabi ni daddy? For sure siya mag aalaga sa inyo." I said. He laughed.

"How do you want to name them?" He asked. Napalabi ako at napaisip. I was the only one who named Chyler Leigh. I think I want him to be the one to name the only girl in my tummy.

Yes, three boys and a girl.

"I want you to name the girl alone. I named Chyler Leigh alone so I want you to name our baby girl." Malambing kog sabi sa kanya habang hinahaplos ko ang kaniyang pisngi. He slightly let his weight shift on my hand. Then he closed his eyes. Hinahangin ang kanyang buhok na mahaba na, napaka gwapo ng asawa ko.

"Elizabeth Sephora. I'll call her Elizabeth." He mumbled. Tumango ako at ngumiti.

"Elizabeth Sephora, then. How about our three boys?" Paglalambing ko.

"Carter, Karev, and Parker. How about that?" Sagot niya. Napangiti ako at tumango. Napaisip ako.

"Can we all put Ezekiel on their names? Carter Ezekiel, Karev Ezekiel and Parker Ezekiel. You think?"

He laughed and nodded. He gave me a kiss on my lips.

"Anything for my wife."

"Good! Couple shots, done!" Bigla kaming napalingon ni Zac kay Renzy na nagsalita. He was laughing as he went to us holding his camera.

Hinatak naman ako ni Zac at hinawakan sa bewang.

"Hindi na namin kayo inistorbo pa dahil tamang tama na ang aksyon niyong dalawa. The shoot became natural. It's great." He complimented. Napangiti naman ako at natawa si Zac.

"My wife us naturally beautiful, that's why."

—

Pabalik na kami ngayon ng Manila. Cross called Zac and told him na naadmit na si Sophia sa ospital. She is in labor already and Nina was there. Ang alam ko ay nasa Singapore sya ngayon with Nathan because of a concert pero mukhang umuwi sila.

Nakatulog na si Chyler sa likuran. Siguro ay napagod sa shoot.

Diretso kami sa ospital pagkatapos. I saw Laurence, Nina and Nathan outside the Delivery Room. Agad nila akong nilapitan.

"Ang laki na ng tiyan mo." Bati ni Nina. Natawa ako at tumango.

"Malapit na rin akong manganak." Sabi ko. She smiled. Lumapit naman si Chyler sa kanila para humalik. Humalik rin naman sa amin si Laurence.

"Where's Cross?" Tanong ni Zac. Inalalayan naman niya kong maupo.

"He's inside the delivery room."

Nagantay kami hanggang sa matapos manganak si Sophia. Their baby is a boy again. Ang sabi ay mananatili daw muna si Sophia sa recovery room kasama ang baby. Maya maya pa ay lumabas na si Cross. Nag apir naman sila ni Zac.

"Another boy for you." Bati ni Zac. Tumango si Cross at umakbay kay Chyler.

"Yeah, I'm happy but I can't help but to wish for a girl. Maybe, isa pa." Biro niya na tinawanan nila. Pati ako ay natawa. Sa pagtawa ko, bigla akong nakaramdam ng kirot sa tiyan ko. Mahigpit akong napakapit kay Zac.

"Mum.." nilingon ko si Chyler na tinawag ako. Her eyes are widened as she pointed my tummy.. "...your water broke."

——

Hi guys! This is the last chapter. Epilogue na po ang susunod :)