The Waiting Game

48.

            TINANGGAL ni Blaire ang pagkakasuot niya ng sunglasses nang bumaba na siya mula sa sasakyan ni Exequiel. She smiled upon seeing her parents' house in front of her. Ang alam ni Blaire ay nakabalik na ang mga magulang niya from their trip at kumpleto ang pamilya niya pati ang mga malalapit nilang kamag-anak sa loob.

            Blaire felt Exequiel's arm around her waist. She looked at him and he was smiling at her as well. "Welcome back, Wife," bulong ni Exequiel sa kanyang tainga. Blaire pulled Exequiel's face towards hers and kissed him on the lips.

            "I love you," bulong ni Blaire sa asawa.

            "I love you too...so damn much," nakangising sagot ni Exequiel na ikinatawa ni Blaire.

            They both entered Blaire's parents' house at nagulat si Blaire nang sunud-sunod na nagsiputukan ang mga confetti. "Welcome back mga gagong kasal na pala!" sabay-sabay na rinig nila Blaire at Exequiel nang makapasok sila.

            Natawa nang malakas si Blaire because she was greeted by death glares from her cousins and their wives, her titas, and Exequiel's relatives. Blaire looked at Exequiel and she saw her husband laughing loudly as well.

            "It's good to be back, huh?" bulong ni Exequiel sa asawa.

            "It's good to be back," may napakalapad na ngiting sagot ni Blaire.

            "MON Amour, darating nga pala si Amethyst later to show me her plans for our wedding anniversary party," sabi ni Blaire sa asawa habang nag-aalmusal sila sa dining room ng bahay ni Exequiel sa Pilipinas. "Thank you, Manang," nakangiting sabi ni Blaire kay Manang Renalyn nang dumating ito at iniabot sa kanya ang hiningi pa niyang gatas.

            "I already checked it, and ikaw na bahala to confirm. Whatever you want, we shall have it," sagot ni Exequiel sa kanya habang hindi siya nililingon dahil may binabasa itong progress report. "Will you still go to your restaurant?" tanong ni Exequiel.

            "Yup," sagot ni Blaire pagkatapos niyang uminom ng gatas at kumuha ng panibagong slice ng toasted bread. "I have to give them their invitations, but dadaan muna ako kanila Jessica kasi sila 'yung nag-aasikaso ng mga 'yun."

            "You hired a calligrapher, right?" tanong ni Exequiel.

            "Yes, and friend ni Jessica 'yung hinire ko. Recommended din naman ni Jessica because it was also Candy who did her invitations," sagot ni Blaire at tumango-tango lang si Exequiel.

            "Your friends are going to kill you," nakangising sabi ni Exequiel sa asawa.

            "I know," natatawang sagot ni Blaire. "They'll be like our relatives na sobrang nagulat when our family told them about it. Mas maaasar pa sila Reneth because I didn't even tell them that I'm back 'tas magwa-one year na rin pala tayong kasal."

            "We enjoyed that break anyway," nakangiting sagot ni Exequiel sa asawa. "It won't be long until we have a little one," dagdag niya na ikinangiti ni Blaire.

            Masu-surprise silang malaman na kasal na tayo, pero mas masu-surprise kang it won't really be that long anymore until we have a little one. Kilalang-kilala mo nga 'ko pero bakit hindi mo pa rin napapansin eh mahigit dalawang buwan na? isip ni Blaire.

            Alalang-alala pa ni Blaire kung pa'no nila napag-usapan ni Exequiel ang pagsisimula nila ng sariling pamilya. Pareho na kasi nilang napagdesisyunang it's time to have a family of their own at parang binigyan na rin sila ng sign ng universe na handang-handa na sila dahil puro pamilya na lang ang nakikita nila kahit saan sila magtungo.