It Was Always You

XXIII

Mika Reyes

Sunday morning, First of December. The beep of my iPad woke me up from slumber. It was Kiefer calling thru Face time. I clicked the 'answer' button and his face was on the screen.

"Good morning, Love!" He greeted me on the other line.

"Hi Love! I miss you real bad." I said while pouting on the screen.

"Aww ang bebe ko, nagpapacute na naman! I miss you too!" Kiefer said.

"Hindi ka pa matutulog, Love? Gabi na dyan ah." I noticed his tired eyes are starting to get sleepy.

"Actually, I just waited for you. And hey, 2-0 na kami sa Fiba!" Kiefer even managed to tell me the good news.

"Sige na, you should sleep para mastraight nyong 3-0 yan. Alright? Say hi to Thomas for me!" I told him. Thomas was his room mate.

"Hi daw Thomas sabi ni Miks! Good morning dyan, I love you!" Kiefer said. Everytime he would tell me he loves me, the 'kilig' feeling really sinks in deep.

"Good night dyan, I love you too!" He hung up. My smile automatically curved when I saw my baby bump in the mirror.

"Three days na lang, lalabas na kayo!" I excitedly whispered to the twins. Someone knocked on my door, it was my mom. She will  be staying with me until Kiefer came.

"Mika, bumaba ka na at handa na ang almusal mo. Tara, sabay na tayo." Mom gently helped me walk downstairs. Hirap na kasi ako sa pag-akyat at pagbaba ng hagdanan kasi ang laki na talaga ng tiyan ko.

"Mom, ngayon nga pala may check up ako. Samahan mo na lang ako ha." I said while we were eating.

"Hindi pa ba humihilab tiyan mo?" She asked.

"Di pa Ma, December 4 nga estimated date eh." I replied.

"Minsan pwedeng ma-late ng weeks o araw. Pero month of December pa rin yan." After our breakfast, we went to the clinic for my last check up.

"Mika, supposed to be December 4 ang delivery mo. Pero mukhang maeextend sila." Dra. Abellon spoke.

"Ay Doc bakit po?"

"Hindi pa kasi sila nagrereverse position. Dahan dahan ang paggalaw. Third week of December siguro, manganganak ka na." She explained to us. I don't know if it's a good thing na hindi pa ako manganganak.

Each day passed by, but nothing change. No sudden pain and excessive movements by the unborn children inside me. Everyone is excited, our families and especially Kiefer who is still away from us.

"Hindi ko nga alam kung kailan kami uuwi." He sighed in one of our Face time sessions.

"Wag ka ng malungkot. Pag-uwi mo siguro, sasalubong na sayo sila Katie at Kenzo." I tried to console him but I guess I failed.

"Wala naman akong magagawa kundi maghintay eh. Sayang wala ako sa araw na manganganak ka." He uttered. I know how bad Kiefer felt because he can't make it.

"Dito ka ba magcelebrate ng Christmas?" I changed the topic.

"Hindi ko pa rin sure kasi eh. Sige sige, I need to sleep. I love you." Kiefer hung up. I was saddened because he will not be here with us during the holidays. It would be our first Christmas together as a family.

***

Kiefer Ravena

December 22nd. The Gilas Pilipinas did not make it to the Semi-finals and we were eliminated. Tonight is our flight back home. Kahit talo kami, tuwang tuwa naman ako kasi makakauwi na ako. At hanggang ngayon kasi, hindi pa nanganganak si Mika. Maybe the twins are waiting for me.