Chapter 16

I just got discharged from the hospital and I'm feeling a lot right now. I headed to my room when we got back into Fabio's house. I am overwhelmed and it feels like I am having too much in my life right now. I don't know how to take the first step now, but by being a mom.

For real? I'm a mother now.

I didn't know how long I was in my room when Fabio knocked on the door and then announced himself when he opened the door to see me.

"Hey," he said, searching me inside the room and finding me at the corner of my bed. "What are you doing here alone? Are you okay?"

Hindi ako nakasagot agad, but I tried painting a smile on my face and followed it with a soft nod.

But Fabio seemed like isn't satisfied with my answer. He went inside the room and shut the door behind him. He took a deep breath and put his hands in his pockets then walked in my direction.

"How are you?" he asked, and then sits next to me—just a few inches away from me.

I creased my forehead, shaking my head. "I am fine... I feel like you are trying to ask something."

He scoffed, chuckling. "Well, yeah... are you scared?"

I swallowed before I could answer him, even avoiding any eye contact with him.

"You don't have to answer... I understand," he said. "Well, to be honest, I am scared, too."

At that point, I shifted my eyes at him.

"I really don't know what to do, but I know taking up this responsibility and being a father—I just don't know how to be one, but I am not stepping out of this role. When I found out you were pregnant and it's mine, I know I had to man up and be ready for what I did. And I'm here... and I will be here to support you on whatever you want to do and need. Alright?"

"Alright..." I muttered and the next thing he did was pulled me closer to him and leave a kiss on my head. It was a nice gesture from him and that put a smile on my face.

"We should go back to Matteo... he's waiting for us in the nursery."

Inalalayan niya akong tumayo saka kami lumabas ng kwarto. We both headed into the nursery room which we both found our baby with a house staff checking by. Iniwan naman niya kami nang makapasok kam sa loob. Napahugot na lamang ako nang malalim na hininga nang titigan ko ang mukha ng anak ko.

"We did that," Fabio said.

I looked at him, raising a brow. "Well, yeah, but you were only there for three months... so most of the time, I did that."

He chuckled. "I couldn't argue with that."

Lumapit naman ako sa baby at dahan-dahan ko itong binuhat upang kargahin. Fabio ended up watching us.

"Oh, before I forgot, we'll have dinner tonight. My parents would be here and I invited your auntie and uncle as well."

"I see... have you invited Ale as well?"

He rolled his eyes funnily. "I did 'cause I know you would ask that."

"Perfect! You know me now."

"Well, I have to."

Our day never goes the same as the way we had before. Sobrang hands-on din naman sa akin si Fabio sa akin at hindi niya ako pinababayaan. It feels like he has been doing this for a very long time. First-time parent siya just like me and said he doesn't know what he would do, but I guess all the things he had to learn from the past weeks paid off very well.

I'm giving him a chance to be a part of my life—to be the father figure he should be. Hindi ko alam kung hanggang saan aabutin ang lahat ng ito. Or maybe he'll get tired along the way. Na magsasawa na lang siya sa akin at maghahanap na naman siya ng ibang babae that will somehow can make him satisfy in every way.

But I'm not hoping that to happen... this... us... is something that shouldn't be swayed.

Habang abala ako sa pag-aalaga sa baby namin, he was busy preparing for tonight's dinner. I'm not sure how I was feeling inside, but this would be the first time to meet his parents. How do they treat people? How would they treat me?

Never in the past few weeks had he mentioned about them—how they were like and how they would react to seeing him being a father now. Nakakatakot isipin na baka itakwil pa nila ako. Actually, there are a lot of things running through my head right now and I couldn't process them all at once. Ayokong mag-overthink. Ayokong isiping hindi ko deserve to.

When I told Fabio to invite Alejandro as well, hindi naman niya ako binigo. Ale came so early to check-in. Wala naman daw problema kay Fabio. He doesn't mind and he finds him very helpful to me.

"I didn't think I would be setting a foot in his place," Ale said.

I smirked. "Well, you're my best friend so he doesn't have any choice about that."

He chuckled. "I know... so, how are you? Are you okay? You'll be meeting his parents for the first time, right?"

I nodded. I took a deep breath before I answer his question. "Yes... and I really don't know. I guess it's better to show them the baby rather than presenting myself there."

He shook his head. "You are lovely, Jacinta. They will like—they will love you."

I smiled and tried to think about it even though it still scares me. But I know I will make it through, I just hope this ends sooner than I expected.

Ale and I just talked our way in every way possible we could catch up with each other. We didn't even realize the time and we were about to meet Fabio's parent's soon. Ale even told me to wear something nice dahil para daw akong babaeng hinatak lang diyan sa tabi. I was a little offended about that, but I just laughed it off.

Nang ipakita ko naman sa kanya ang suot ko na sleveless red causal dress. I thought it would be just fine since I don't really need to put so much into myself. Alam kong what I will look like to his parents would substantially be the reason for how they will treat me.

Paano na lang kaya kung malaman nila na nakikilala ako ni Fabio sa isang club?

We never talk about what we would say to his parents or other made-up stories we would get along with. Pero kung ano man ang lumabas sa mga bibig naming mamaya, we hope we'll get along with it and then survive the day.

"I think that looks good on you," Alejandro commented, checking me from head to toe. I was only wearing nude flat shoes since I don't wanna trip in front of Fabio's parents. "This is nice. You know, I couldn't deny the fact that you're really beautiful, Jacinta. Now that you're a mom, it makes more sense..."

I giggled when he complimented me with those kind words.

"I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not, but I'll take it," I said.

Not that long when someone knocked on the door and walked in. Sabay nama kaming napatingin ni Alejandro sa pumasok and it was Fabio.

"Your family's here," he announced, and then his eyes wandered. "Oh... you changed your dress. You look beautiful."

I smiled. "Thanks..."

He smiled and then his gaze turned to Alejandro who was carrying my baby.

"Come on, you should go and meet them... and I think they're also with someone else."

Napakunot ang noo ko nang banggitin iyon ni Fabio. Naningkit pa ang mata ko. "Who was it?"

He shrugged off. "Honestly, I don't know. Let's go now."

"I'll be right after you, guys," Alejandro said.

I followed Fabio out of the room and behind us was Alejandro who seemingly enjoys carrying my baby. I even told him he would look so good as a father and then he jokingly said, if Fabio didn't come back into my life, he would really look good as the father of my baby.

Hindi ako nakapagsalita no'ng sinabi niya kaya tinawanan ko na lang. And I'm not sure if it was really a joke on his side, but sure, it does not mean anything now.

When we were on the way to meet auntie, I was a little nervous as I don't know how to handle this. My parents back home knew about my pregnancy but doesn't really care at all. That's the sad life of Jacinta.

"Jacinta!" I heard auntie's voice as she saw me. "Oh, darling..."

Her arms widely opened as I got closer to her and she hugged me tightly when we did. She's saying a lot of things, but one thing I've noticed is that someone familiar stood beside her.

"Lorenzo?" I muttered.

Umalis ako sa pagkayayakap kay auntie. Lorenzo was just smirking.

"Yes, darling. Lorenzo's in town," auntie said. "Perfect timing, I must say."

Lorenzo nodded. "Yeah, I was just visiting my parents and they told me you gave birth. Congratulations, and good to see you, Jacinta."

I really don't know what to feel. Lorenzo and I aren't really that close, we haven't bonded so much since I flew here in Sicily a few months ago and then he left. So, I only knew most of his life because of his mom.

They get to meet Fabio and for Lorenzo, it was the first time he met him, but it seems like they would easily get along with him since they have the same interests in the business. Then they found Alejandro behind us with our baby. Auntie slowly takes Matteo from his arms.

Just a moment later, a staff came in our direction and said to Fabio that his parents have arrived at the mansion. Mas namuo ang kaba sa dibdib ko nang malaman iyon. While I brought my family to the living room, Fabio attended to his parents.

"I'm glad you all came," I said to them.

"You're lucky, Jacinta," Lorenzo commented.

My forehead creased. "What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean," he smirked.

"He means you're lucky to have a wonderful life, Jacinta..."

"I don't think—" I wasn't able to finish my sentence when Fabio called me to be with him.

I excused myself from them and I fixed my dress as I head to meet Fabio's parents. Tumabi lamang ako sa kanya hangga't sa magbukas ang pinto. And then in a quick moment, the door opened and both showed up.

Napahinga na lamang ako nang malalim. His mom looked so grand and sophisticated, and it seems like I wouldn't be able to get along with her.

"Buonasera," she greeted and kissed me both cheeks. "Tu devi essere lei." (Good evening. You must be her."

"Si', lo e', mamma. Lei è Jacinta," Fabio said. (Yes, she is, mom. This is Jacinta.)

"Hello," pagbati ko naman. "E ' un piacere conoscervi entrambi." (It's nice to meet the both of you.)

"Allora, dov'e ' mio nipote?" Fabio's father said.

"He's in the living room, with my auntie," I said.

"Andiamo a incontrarli," Fabio said. (Let's go and meet them.)

Fabio led them the way while I walked behind them and took a deep breath. I didn't know that Fabio noticed what I did, so he pulled me beside him and gently rub his hand on my shoulder.

"It'll be fine," he said. "I know that...'

I hope everything will work out perfectly and nothing bad will happen at the end of the day. I guess this is where my journey as a mom begins when everything gets real. I hope not, the world won't crumble right in front of my face.

#BirthOfLiesInSicily #BOLISChapter16 #WTS9