After nine months...
"Aray!!! Masakit!!!" I am currently having contractions here at my hospital room.
Yes, I'm in labor. "Kaya mo yan," pag-cheer sa akin ni Kard.
Here we were expecting parents. My husband and I are having a baby.
••••••••••••••••••
Kard and I got married on my fifth month of pregnancy. It was simple yet intimate wedding.
My maid of honor is none other than Ryn Do.
While the best man was Alfred Beet.
It was kinda rushed kaya siya na lang napili ni Kard as his best man.
Akala ko nga magrereklamo si Alfred, but he just said, "Para sayo, magiging best man ako ng magiging asawa mo, ganyan kita kamahal."
Naluha naman ako sa sinabi niya and I felt hurt for him. "Huwag ka lang niya sasaktan, ako ang papalit as groom mo."
Pinalo ko ang braso niya, "Asa ka!"
When I walked down the aisle, I felt nervous and happy and sad.
Hiniling ko noon pa man na ikasal ako na kasama sa paglakad papunta sa aisle ang parents ko.
Pero hindi na nila naabutan pa na ikasal ako.
So here I am, slightly emotional.
I agreed to get married to Kard kahit hindi pa kami couple in love dahil I want him so bad.
And our child needs him. Naalala ko noon na hanggang daydreams lang ang kasal na iniisip ko with him.
Right now, I feel happy to be married with my long time crush.
My Eternal Infatuation.
The wedding was nice kahit na Von Dutch family ang bisita and Kard's family was there.
Bago kami mag-kiss after ng vows and rings part, he leaned on my side. "Remember our first encounter?" I gave him a curious look.
"It was the time I first talked to you." That still left me curious. Before I could react to what he said, he removed my veil and kissed me.
It was a short kiss kaya hindi na ako nakapikit. Para tuloy akong mannequin na hinalikan ng tunay na tao.
I hope it didn't look awkward on the photos.
I will really get upset. At the reception, everyone was sitted and kami rin ng aking asawa sa gitna ng function room.
Tumayo sa harap namin si Alfred, mag-iispeech na siya.
"Well, Kard and Quelly, Congrats sa inyo! May you have a long lasting married life and take care of that little bundle of joy."
They cheered on his speech. "May message ka ba kay Quelly?" Nagulat ako sa sinabing iyon ni Kard. I nudged him at ngumiwi ako sa direksyon ni Alfred.
"Yes, I do have a message for our Quelly."
Muntik na ako hindi huminga kung hindi lang kinaress ni Kard yung shoulder ko and he held a hand of mine, firmly.
"Well, una sa lahat, nagtatampo ako na hindi ako ang pinakasalan mo, pero naniniwala ako na mas strong ang friendship natin. Secondly, dapat talaga hindi na lang ako ang best man.
Finally, Mahal kita Raine Quelly Bael-Saige, at ikaw Kard, just don't make her cry often, dahil may isang Alfred Beet na magbibeat sayo into pulps." Napaluha na ako eh kung hindi lang niya binitawan yung joke na yun.
Una akong humagalpak ng tawa and sumunod ang mga bisita.
"Quelly, may chance ka pa para i-revoke yung marriage niyo, kakasign niyo pa lang."
Nagtawanan nanaman ang mga bisita. Ang kulit talaga ni Alfred Chicken. Tumayo na ako and kinuha na yung mike sa kamay niya.
I gestured Ryn Do to come with us.
We group-hugged. We don't usually embrace each other that often so this is a rare sight.
"Thanks for supporting me up until now, my friends." I cried on Alfred's suit and he just let me.
"It's the pregnancy," sabi Ryn. We chuckled and a while later, Kard and I went to table to table to have photos taken.
Limang table lang naman ang na-occupy sa reception and that was convenient and really meaningful to me.
"Welcome to our family, Quelly dear," mama ni Kard. I smiled at her and kissed her cheek.
Nakakailang man na ngayon ko lang nakita at nakilala ang mga in-laws ko, I'm just grateful na in-accept nila ako as their son's wife.
"Mom and Dad, si Karicha, our daughter." Kard gestured my tummy. Yes, we are having a girl and we named her Karicha.
It was a moment to remember.
••••••••••••••••••••
"She's ready to pop out the baby," sabi ng doktor namin. She positioned my legs on the birthing bars. I didn't want Kard to film, my birth so I just asked him to start filming when our Baby Kari is out of me.
I pushed more than I could push. In between pushes I thought I was going to lose consciousness but Kard held my hand and told me,"Don't fall asleep yet."
And so after a few more pushes, I heard Kari's cries. Nakalimutan na yata ni Kard i-film ang unang sulyap namin sa kanya.
I can't blame him because we were bawling our eyes out.
At na-amaze ako na nanlamig ang kamay niya habang hawak pa rin ako.
"Ok na Kard, you can relax now." After I said that, napabitiw ako sa hawak niya and finally fell asleep.
The next time I woke up, the room was dimly lit.
Kard was beside the bed. I even saw our angel, peacefully sleeping on her hospital cot.
"Kard, gusto ko makita si Baby." I woke him and let him adjust my hospital bed into a sitting position.
I was kinda having sharp pains on my down there, maybe the anesthesia is wearing off.
"Hi baby!" I said cheerfully when he handed me her.
Naiiyak ako na makita na siya in person and mahawakan siya in my arms.
Suddenly, the door was burst open.