Chapter 15

Next day, I wasn't able to get out of my bed as I felt so tired and exhausted. Napaalam ako kay Andre na hindi ako makapapasok ngayon and he understood my situation fairly. Siguro ginatungan na rin ni Fabio kaya walang problema sa business partner niya.

But then it'll be only a few weeks away before my due and it's getting hard for me. Physical, emotional, and mental health—it all exhausts me. But somehow, everyday gets better with Fabio kahit na minsan naiirita ako kapag nakikita ko ang pagmumukha niya. I guess there's nothing wrong with it. Tinatawanan niya lang din naman ako.

And for the next few days, I never had the chance to go back to work when Fabio insisted that I should stay home and rest. Naiintindihan naman ni Andre iyon. Fabio even said I should resign from my current job because I don't need to save up money for giving birth since Fabio will cover it all up.

But covering for my birth would be enough? Pa'no kung after that ay umalis na lang siya ulit?

I tried not to think deeply about what would happen after birth. What's important for me is how I will become a good mother to my child.

Every day, Fabio will bring food to my bedroom. He will serve it to me—hindi niya iuutos iyon sa mga staff niya. He cooked it himself. He's the one who's asking what I want to eat. Mapa-heavy meal man 'yon o kaya dessert, he would get it for me.

Kahit pa sinabi niyang lumipad kami papunta sa Milan or kaya sa Rome, gagawin namin iyon. I thought he was just joking at the time he said that, but I know he has the capabilities to say them and quickly take an action with them. Money's easy for him that's why many women are coming after him.

I didn't.

I'm not after his money. I'm not after what he could give to me. I want his loyalty and trust and that is all I could I've asked for.

Currently, I am working. My desk is a mess. It was full of food that Fabio gave to me. Iyong iba ay binalatan niyang prutas at iyong iba naman ay mga juice at matatamis na pagkain. I'm not eating it all at once, basta ba ay may mangata lang ay ayos na sa akin.

As I was checking my email, nakaramdaman ako nang kakaibang pakiramdam na matinding paghilom sa tiyan ko. I thought I should just ignore it since it could be just a normal contraction, but it continued... and it's painful.

"Fab..." I called him, but it was almost like a whisper. So, I slowly reached for my phone and made a quick dial him. In a quick second, he answered the call and he hastily asked why I called him when he was just downstairs. I wasn't able to answer his question when I felt something dripping down my legs and then I know something is about time to go.

In a quick moment, Fabio showed up in my room with so much worry on his face. Nagpabalik-balik ang tingin nito sa mukha at sa sahig kung saan nakita niyang basa ito. He was just staring at me for a few seconds until it sinks to him what was happening.

He immediately carried me. His one arm is on my legs while the other one is supporting my back. We just stormed out of the room calling his staff about my situation and then we were followed by them with all of my belongings. As we got in the car and I got seated in front with shallows breaths, Fabio grabbed the emergency bag we prepared and quickly get on his seat and drove the car away.

I couldn't focus. Tila ba hapong-hapo ako sa paghinga. Fabio also said to make sure that I breathe not too deep and not too shallow and that's not going on the top of my head when I couldn't even distinguish what's shallow and deep at this moment.

I didn't even mind how fast we even got into the hospital. We just got into the emergency lane and Fabio calls for assistance. A moment later, a nurse is running in our direction pushing a wheelchair. Fabio carried me and put me on it and just right after it, they directed me to the labor room and prepared me for birth.

I really don't know what was going on until the doctor came and they were saying a lot in Italian and I couldn't comprehend it all at once. Sabog na sabog ang utak ko. Napasigaw na lang ako nang sinabihan ako iiri ko na ang bata. It doesn't take me too long when I felt so much relief when that happens... and after that, I black out in so much exhaustion.

***

I woke up, slowly opening my eyes, and felt something rubbing the back of my hand. Tinanaw ko pa kung sino iyon, but obviously it would be the only person who was with me all along and that's Fabio. When he noticed I was awake, he got up from his seat and immediately check in on me.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

Tumango naman ako nang dahan-dahan.

"I'll be back. The doctor said to call them once you're awake," he said.

Hindi naman ako nakasagot dahil umalis siya sa tabi ko at umalis. Ilang saglit lang din naman ay bumalik na ito at kasunod niya ang isang nurse. Makailang segundo lang din ay sumunod na dumating ang doctor na siyang agad na chineck ang condition ko.

Hindi ako masyadong nakinig. Tutok naman si Fabio sa pakikinig sa doctor at sa kung anong mga sinasabi nito. I still feel so exhausted, pero mayamaya lang ay Nawala ang pagod ko nang may pumasok na nurse na tulak-tulak ang isang baby crib kung nasaan ang baby namin ni Fabio.

I was so speechless when the nurse carried my baby and bring it into my arms.

"E ' un bellissimo bambino," she said, smiling widely at me.

"E ' un maschio," Fabio uttered.

I breathe in and let it slowly. "Yes... it's a boy... and he's beautiful like his mother."

"His parents," Fabio corrected.

I smirked at what he said, but I don't have the energy to fight him with it. My baby boy is wrapped around my arms. There's just an overwhelming feeling inside my chest that somehow made me feel so bad. Agad kong inabot kay Fabio ang baby. Nagtataka pa siya kung bakit ko 'yon ginawa.

He carried the baby by his arms and I slowly get off the bed and stood on my feet to go to the bathroom. They were confused about what I was acting, but the nurse just assisted me inside the bathroom. As I got inside, my body just froze and I don't know what to feel.

I feel like I suddenly got lost.

Now that I gave birth to my baby, I can have my old lifestyle back. I can have my own life back again. I can be back in Manila and do whatever I want. Get a career in fashion or do something else.

"Jacinta? Are you okay there?" Fabio asked.

That's when I got back into senses. I quickly look at the mirror and stare right at my reflection. Napatitig ako at saglit lang ay natawa ako sa hitsura. Para akong bruha. Ang gulo ng buhok ko at iyong pisngi ko ay ang taba-taba. Maybe this is just an effect of giving birth. Siguro hindi pa ako handa pero dahil nandito na ay hindi ko na 'to matatakasan pa.

Isang malaking responsibilidad ang nakaakibat sa akin ngayon.

"Going out," sagot ko.

Binuksan ko ang pinto at bumungad naman si Fabio sa akin. He asked me how am I feeling in all. Simple lang naman ang naging sagot ko.

"Okay lang..."

Pinasuyo ni Fabio ang baby naming sa nurse para maalalayan niya ako. When I got back into the bed, tinanong niya ako kung gusto ko ba ulit buhatin ang baby namin. Ilang Segundo pa akong natigilan bago ko siya sagutin. Tango na lang din naman ang binigay kong sagot at lumapit sa akin ang nurse upang ilagay sa braso ko ang baby ko.

When I felt the warmth on my arms, I looked down to see the face of my baby. It doesn't just look like me, but Fabio. Somehow, I got a little calm and I smiled when the baby smiled at me out of nowhere.

"Come chiamerai il tuo bambino?" the nurse asked. (How will you call your baby?)

Nagkatingnan naman kaming dalawa ni Fabio. "Uhm... we really haven't decided yet."

"Oh, okay. But the baby's birth will be registered soon so maybe decide soon yet?"

I giggled, nodding my head. "We will."

"Ringraziamento. Ora vado," she said. (Thank you. I'll go now.)

When we were both left in the room, Fabio didn't ask me right away about that question, but he just let me have time to get this close to my baby. Hindi ko sure kung bakit ko na lang siya inabot kay Fabio kanina. I was so out of mind.

"Hello, baby..."

But the baby seems to be sleeping quietly.

"He looked so comfortable in your arms," Fabio commented. "Well, I know the feeling..."

I looked at his face and gave him a sharp look. Tinawanan niya lang ako.

Like father, like son na ba ito? Oh good Lord, please ilayo niyo itong baby ko sa mga kinaugalian ni Fabio. I don't like seeing my baby grow up like him—well, not most of him, but some.

"It took me nine months to finally have you," I muttered, trying so hard not to cry. "But your father has been with us only for two months so don't get so close to him."

Nilingon ko si Fabio na may mapaglarong ngiti at kita ko naman ang pagkunot ng noo niya. Slightly disappointed of what I said.

"Well, at least I still showed up and take responsibility for our baby," he reasoned. "I wouldn't be the one who you imagined that wouldn't man up to take these responsibilities. I am up for it so that's why I am here."

Hindi na ako nagbigay ng komento sa sinabi niya. I loved what I've heard from him and I guess that's enough for me to hold on. Na hind inga siya maglalaho na lang bigla.

Maybe that's why I panicked earlier. Ngayong nanganak na ako, Fabio might leave me alone and then show up like he didn't do anything. Pero sana hindi iyon ang mangyari. I hope he stays. I hope our relationship will work out like what I have imagined.

"I've called your aunt and uncle, they'll be here soon," he said.

"Good to know that," I said. "Have you called Alessandro?"

Nagsalubong ang kilay niya sa tanong ko at saka ito umiling. "Does he need to be here?"

Bahagya ko siyang sinuntok sa balikat niya nang tanungin niya ako no'n. "For your information, he was there with me longer than you were with me right now. Have you called him?"

He shook his head. "I don't wanna call. You call him. He's your friend anyway."

I rolled my eyes. "Okay, get my phone and carry Matteo out of my arms."

"Fine," he muttered and get our baby off of me when he exchanged it with my phone. And then he slowly realizes something. "Did you just call our baby Matteo?"

"Uh... yes, maybe?" I shrugged off."

"Oh, okay..." he said like it was nothing. "Hello Matteo Ruffino Giordano."

"Ruffino?" I questioned him.

"What's the problem? That's my grandfather's name so why not, right?"

Napabuntonghininga na lamang ako saka ko tinawagan si Ale. He wasn't answering the call so I just left him a message and I know once he read that message, he'll be so proud of me.

Just a moment later, my aunt and her husband came and they were so proud and happy for me. Aside from Ale and the people I work with, these are the people who know about my pregnancy and now that I gave birth... I'm not sure if telling the world that I've got a child would make a difference, but I don't think so.

The world's cruel, and I don't want any of it.

I guess, the life I have here in Sicily now is good... and hopefully gets better.

#BirthOfLiesInSicily #BOLISChapter15 #WTS9