Chapter 34

For four days, Fabio stayed in the hospital. I told him to stay for a week so he can full healed pero matigas din talaga ang ulo. Gusto pa nga umalis sa ikatlong araw niya, pinilit ko lang na 'wag munang ituloy dahil recovering pa rin naman ang kondisyon niya. Nakinig naman siya sa akin, but he still pushes himself that he's fine na.

When he was discharged, he was still advise by his doctor na kailangan niya munang magpahinga para hindi sumakit ang hips niya. Hindi na naman daw masakit. Kayang-kaya naman daw niya. Sus.

On that note, I decided to stay with him on his condo while he's recovering. Hindi na ako nakauwi sa bahay. Si mama na ang nagdala kay Matteo sa condo kasama ang ilan sa mga gamit nito. Fabio was happy when I told him about that.

Sure, I want him to bond with his son and create a strong relationship with his child. That's all I ever wanted for them. All I wanted for Matteo is to grow up with a father figure in his life—I know I have been in bad situations and decisions, but I've realized my mistake and all those things can be done and happen when I forget and forgive.

I'm in the process and that'll happen once the time comes.

"What do you want to eat?" tanong ko kay Fabio.

"You'll cook?" he looked at me, raising his brow as if questioning me with what I said.

Tinaasan ko rin siya ng kilay kasabay ng pagkahalukipkip ko. "I will and you can't stop me. What you'll do is look after Matteo and sit there. I couldn't have fast food takeouts anymore."

"I should've let your mom stay here with me rather than you," he said. "She can cook."

My eyes squinted. "You've never tried mine. You'll see."

He smirked. "Yeah, we'll see."

"And what do you want to eat?"

"I don't wanna suggest anything," he said. "Surprise me."

"Hmm..." I grinned. "Okay, sure..." Inilahad ko naman ang kamay ko sa kanya. Tiningnan niya lang ako.

"What was that for?"

"Give me some money to buy some ingredients!"

He groaned and picked up his wallet. Cash ang inaabangan kong iabot niya sa akin pero isang black metal card ang binigay niya.

"Don't you have cash?" I asked.

He smirked, shaking his head. "I don't carry cash unless needed. Take that card. You know what to do there."

"With absolute best. I'll also get some things for Matteo if that's alright with you."

"Go on, whatever you think he needs," he said. "If you won't leave now, my stomach will be hungry as ever."

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. "You can wait. Be patient, Mr. Giordano."

He chuckled. "Oh, fuck, woman."

I quickly prepared myself to go to the grocery store. Bago pa ako umalis ng condo, sinabihan pa ako ni Fabio kung kaya ko raw ba mag-isa pumunta ro'n dahil kung hindi raw ay may ipapasama siya sa akin. Agad ko naman siyang sinuway dahil hindi naman ako bata para bantayan niya palagi.

As I left the condo, I walked where the nearby grocery here sa condo. Mabilis din naman akong nakarating do'n. I grabbed a trolley cart and went to the aisles where I would pick up a lot of food stocks in his condo. Nagasasawa na ako na palagi kaming o-order online ng pagkain namin. I don't really cook, I barely do it, but I know how to cook, I just don't do it.

Nang mapadaan ako fruit section, everyone finds it weird or odd enough when they passed by a stock of durian, but it smells great for me—this time and I don't know why. I ended up taking two fresh ones for myself. I know Fabio will hate it so much so it's a good thing to buy it as well to annoy him.

I thought about making Italian food for him, but he'll judge me for murdering their cuisine so I decided to go on a much safer meal—adobo.

Na-realize ko naman na ang dami kong pinamili at kaunti lang din naman ang need for that meal, but that's fine. As if Fabio would be mad about it.

Before I headed to the counter to pay ay napadaan ako sa over-the-counter pharmacy. Lalagpasan ko na sana ito dahil wala naman akong balak na bilhin. I was hesitating at first, but then I still fall in line and get what I wanted. Matapos no'n ay dumiretsyo na ako sa counter para bayaran ang mga pinamili ko.

Iyong binili kong ingredients sa lulutuin ko mamaya ay wala pang five hundred pesos pero umabot ng almost five thousand lahat ng nakuha ko. Hindi pa nga gaanong madami ang nakuha ko dahil kinokontrol ko pa dahil mapapagalitan pa ako no'n dahil kung ano-ano na rin ang pinagkukuha ko.

As I couldn't carry them all back at the condo, nag-taxi na lamang ako. Dahil medyo madamo-dami ang bags, nagpatulong sa isang utility staff na dalhin ang ilan sa mga bags na dala ko paakyat sa room namin. When we reached our room, I gave him a tip and announced my arrival by knocking on the door.

Pagkabukas ko nang pinto ay nagulat naman si Fabio na ang dami kong inuwing grocery.

"What?" he uttered confusedly. He watched me as I brought them all to the kitchen. Pagbalik ko sa kanya ay inabot ko na rin ang card niya. "Thanks for the grocery."

Napangisi naman siya. "It looks like you did it so well."

"I pretty much did." I giggled. "Now, if you'll excuse me. I'm gonna make us some dinner."

"That should make me full, alright?"

"I will make sure of that, Mr. Giordano."

He smirked and winked on me. Pakaharot. Kung wala lang siyang iniinda ngayon, siya na mismo ang magpe-presenta na magluto. Inayos ko ang mga pinamili ko. I put all the frozen goods inside the fridge with some vegetables and fruits I bought. Hindi ko na sinama sa ref ang Durian dahil for sure mangangamoy ng bongga 'yon. I left it on the countertop with the rest of the dry goods.

I started preparing the ingredients. I cut the veggies, washed the meat, and set up the cooking wares. I couldn't also help myself so side by side ay kinakain ko na 'yong Durian na binili ko.

While I'm in the middle of everything, I heard Fabio.

"What's that smell?" he shouted, sounding so disgusted. "Fuck. Can you smell that Jacinta? Matteo doesn't even poop!"

Nagtataka naman ako kaya pinuntahan ko siya sa sala. Nakatakip ang ilong at nakakusot ang mukha dahil sa naaamoy niya. Nilapitan ko naman si Matteo to check his diapers and it's not even full or he poop yet. Napansin ko naman na inaamoy-amoy ako ni Fabio saka siya biglang lumayo sa akin.

"It's you!" he retorted, covering his nose with his shirt. "You smell so bad! What did you do? What are you doing over there?"

"I am cooking..."

"Yeah? But why do you smell so bad!"

I winced. "I was eating Durian."

"The what?"

"Durian—similarly like jackfruit."

"Shit," he hissed. "That's why you smell so bad. Why did you bring it here?"

I shrugged off. "I just want to have some of it and it isn't that bad."

"How many did you buy?"

"Two packs." I giggled.

He grunted. "I shouldn't have let you go grocery alone. I know you'll do that."

"I'll finish them sooner, but you gotta try tasting them. It tastes good, you know?"

He shook his head hastily declining my offer. "No, thanks. Could you please go back to the kitchen now and take that smell out of you? Your breath stinks. You should take a shower now."

At mas lalo ko pa siyang inasar at binugahan ko siya ng hangin sa mukha ko. Hindi siya masyadong makagalaw kaya iniwas niya lang ang ulo niya at pinigilang huminga. He tried covering his face with a pillow so it won't get through.

Natatawa na lang din naman akong bumalik sa ksuina.

"You're a savage, Jacinta."

I chuckled. "I was just having fun."

Bumalik naman ako sa pagluluto ko and I didn't realize that I finish the first pack. I tear the sealed pack of the second one and while I'm in the middle of eating eat ay bigla akong nasuya. Hinintay ko na lang din naman kumulo ang niluluto ko para makaligo na rin ako.

When it was finally done, I told Fabio we'll be eating in a moment after I finished taking a bath. But then I know I was taking a long time in the bathroom when Fabio started knocking on the door.

"Jacinta? Are you done? Are you okay there?" he asked. "Matteo's sleeping now, we can eat on our own."

"Wait for me..." I responded.

"What's going on in there?" he queried.

"I'm already done," sabi ko pa. "I'll be out in a minute."

But I guess this man couldn't wait. He barged in and caught me looking at a stick. Kunot-noo pa itong lumapit sa akin dahil nakita naman niyang nakasuot na ako ng robe at may nakapalibot na rin na tuwalya sa ulo, but I'm still inside holding a stick.

"What's that?" he asked.

I looked at him and handed over that piece of stick. When he realizes what was that, nanlaki ang mata niya. Mabilis na bumalik ang tingin niya sa akin.

"You're fucking kidding me, Jacinta."

I shook my head. "I did it three times..." Pinakita ko sa kanya iyong ibang test ko kanina-nina lamang. "And just like the one you're looking at right now, they were all positive."

He swallowed, doesn't know what to say.

Kahit ako ay hindi rin makapaniwala nang lumabas ang result na 'yon. I wasn't expecting this, but I should be having my period by now and I still don't have yet the result shows why.

"How long did you know?" he wondered.

"Same as you. I'm just finding it now."

"No, no. You could've had some other signs, right?"

Napaisip naman ako sa mga ginawa ko nitong nakaraang linggo. "The only thing I know is that I've been craving for some foods—"

"And that tells that trashy smell food," he commented.

"Yeah, and I'm feeling nauseous lately. I didn't know why and I just ignored it. I should be having my period today, but I guess my vagina has another plan."

"Shit," he hissed. "We only had sex once that time, Jacinta. How this would happen?"

"I guess, your sperm seemingly finds its way to mine."

"So, what are we gonna do? You do know that Matteo's still a baby, right?"

Tumango ako. "I know."

"And it would be hard for us to have two babies alone! That's crazy."

"But we can if we want," I told him. "I guess, this is just a new beginning for both of us. Let's think of this not in a bad way, but something good. I know this isn't a mistake."

Humugot siya nang malalim na hininga. "As if I have a choice, that baby could be growing there by now."

"Could be," I giggled. Inilapit ko ang sarili ko sa kanya saka ko siya niyakap at pinalibot hanggang sa likod. "I know you'll be a good father... I can see the way you take care of Matteo and soon, this baby, will feel the same way from you."

"Well, I hope you won't run from and hide our baby from me again."

I chuckled. "I would if I could."

"Nah, stop it," he said. Umalis naman ako sa pagkakayakap sa kanya at saka ako tumingala para tingnan siya sa mga mata niya. "This time, I won't let you run away. I wouldn't leave you again. I will be right here with you. I promise that. No lies. Let this be a rebirth of our relationship, something that we will carry moving forward."

I smiled and nodded. "I'd like that..."

And then he leaned closer to me and kissed me passionately.

"Okay, that's enough," he said pulling himself away. "I'm hungry. Get some clothes on now." He then spanks my butt as we go out of the bathroom.

After I put some clothes on and prepare the dinner table, he was already talking about how we would plan on telling them about it. Hindi pa pumasok sa isip ko ang bagay na 'yon. Hindi pa nga tuluyang nagpa-process sa utak ko 'yong nalaman ko, tatanungin niya kaagad ako no'n.

But seeing Fabio excited and trying to be a part of it makes my heart full. From the last time I was in this condition, I was alone and don't have any plan at all pero ngayong siya na ang gusto magplano sa lahat, I guess he's making my job pretty much easier.

I am hoping that this would be the start of something else—something we both get crazy about.

#BirthOfLiesInSicily #BOLISChapter34 #WTS9