Dio's POV

"Babe!" Tawag ko kay Kara. "They're here!"

I opened the door and found Cesia carrying a basket, while Trev held a bottle of sparkling wine in his hand.

"Hello, neighbors!" bati ko sa kanila.

Though we're not entirely neighbors, because the apartment that they bought is two floors above us. We'll be living in the same building until their house gets finished.

"Hi!" nakangisi ring bati ni Cesia sa'kin.

I opened the door wider for them. "Come in."

Kinuha ko ang mga dala nila at inilapag ito sa mesa. "Kara-" I was about to call her when I saw her come out of the hallway.

Nagmamadali akong lumapit sa kanya para alalayan siya sa hagdan. "You okay?"

"I just vomited my breakfast and lunch, Dio, what do you think?"

Umangat ang aking magkabilang kilay, at ilang sandali pa'y napangiti. Hinagod-hagod ko ang likod niya. "I know, I'm sorry."

"Hi, Kara..." Sinalubong siya ng yakap ni Cesia. "Kamusta?"

Umiling siya.

Cesia gave her an empathetic smile. "Masama ba yung pakiramdam mo?"

Tumango si Kara at marahang napakapit sa'kin. "I need to finish signing documents-"

"You don't have to," sambit ni Trev. "Chase and I will take care of it for you."

Sabay kaming nagsiupuan sa mesa kung saan nakahain ang mga pagkain na ako mismo ang naghanda.

Lumiliwanag ang mga mata ni Cesia nang isa-isa itong tignan. "Dio? Ikaw ba nagluto ng lahat ng 'to?"

"Every one of them," I said with my head held high.

I gestured them to start eating to which they did. Nagsimula na silang kumain nang lingunin ko ang asawa ko na nakakunot ang noo habang nakatuon sa kanyang harapan.

"You don't want to eat?" tanong ko.

She shook her head.

And I smiled, after remembering that she asked me to cook pasta for her earlier in the afternoon, but now she does not even want to look at it.

I tilted my head to look at her intently. "What do you want to eat right now?" I raised my arm and held her shoulder when she turned herself away from me.

Ibinaba ko ang aking kamay at dahan-dahang napatango.

Pagkatapos, nilingon ko si Cesia na nakatingin sa'kin. Nakakunot ang kanyang noo nang mamuo ang isang malambot na ngiti sa kanyang labi.

"Okay lang ba yung baby?" tanong niya.

I took a deep breath and nodded. Sinimulan ko na ang pagsalin ng pagkain para sa sarili ko at sumagot, "Seht says the baby's fine..." My voice weakened as I said the next few words. "-but Kara..."

"Bakit?" usisa niya.

"I'm the problem," ani Kara. "My body can conceive a child, but keeping one..."

I turned to face her. "You're not the problem-"

"I am," she insisted.

I just sighed and didn't talk back. We've had this argument a thousand times already.

According to Seht, it is a miracle that she was able to get pregnant, but getting pregnant is not the only stage of pregnancy. A woman has to go through three trimesters for a total of nine months, and that's our problem.

We're still only eight weeks in, and Kara... she's already weakened.

"Kara..." mahinang sambit ni Cesia sa kanya. "Gusto mong bisitahin kita araw-araw?"

Yumuko ako upang maitago ang isang mapait na ngiti.

Perhaps, I am not enough for my own wife. If she needed someone to help her with what she's going through, it should be a woman that can relate to her, like a daughter of Aphrodite who has the ability of empathy, or Kaye who's also pregnant.

Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga at inangat ang aking tingin.

"You don't have to," sagot ni Kara. "I have my husband."

Napatigil ako.

At nakita ko kung paano ako ngitian ni Cesia, na para bang alam nito ang magiging sagot niya.

I pursed my lips and suppressed a grateful tear when I realized why Cesia asked in the first place. She wanted to give me assurance, to lift my spirit.

Slowly, I glanced at my wife who continued to stare at her empty plate.

"You're still not hungry?" I asked.

"Dio..." mahina niyang sambit. "I want crab soup."

Bumaba ang aking tingin sa lalamunan niyang umanga't baba. "Instant? Or?"

"Instant," aniya. "I want to eat it now."

"Excuse me," I excused myself from the table and made my way towards the kitchen. I grabbed a pot and filled it half with water. While waiting for it to boil, I leaned my back on the counter and watched the three demigods seated on the table, calmly talking. Finally, I grabbed a sachet of powdered crab syrup. It didn't take me long to mix it with the heated water and transfer the soup into a bowl.

I brought it to the table and lowered it in front of Kara, silently praying that she eat it. 

I feel like she has not been getting proper nutrients these days because every time she ate, she'd just throw it all up.

To my relief, she grabbed her spoon and started to take little sips.

Bumalik ako sa aking upuan nang magaan ang loob.

"I never asked, but how was your honeymoon?" tanong ni Kara. "It's been a month since your wedding, isn't it?"

Sumingkit ang mga mata ni Cesia, habang si Trev naman, bahagyang napaangat ang isang sulok ng labi.

"Okay lang," sagot ni Cesia. "Maganda sa Normandy..."

"Did you get to see the beaches?" usisa ko. "I've been there once because I heard the shores are amazing, and indeed it was."

"Ah- haha..." She let out an awkward laugh. "Yung totoo n'yan, di kami lumabas ng bahay-"

Napahinto siya nang biglang mahirinan si Kara.

I hurriedly grabbed for a tissue while she coughed. I wiped the soup stain on the corner of her lips when she held my hand and chuckled lightly. "I-I'm sorry-"

She took the tissue and cleaned her own mouth.

Ever since Kara laughed, our dinner progressed into light and fun conversations, with a bit of teasing here and there. We also reminisced, and talked about our future plans.

It was already late when we finished. Hinatid ko sa pintuan sina Cesia at Trev na nagpaalam ng huling beses bago tuluyang umalis.

Then, I turned around and saw Kara still seated with her head down.

Lumapit ako sa kinaroroonan niya at nagsimulang magligpit sa hapagkainan. "I'm glad we invited them over."

"Dio..." bulong niya.

Nilingon ko siya. "Yes, babe?"

"I want to take a shower."

"After I finish." I smiled at her. "I'll prepare you a hot bath."

"No." She shook her head before looking at me. "We haven't done it for a month now," sabi niya. "I want to take a shower with you."

"And you're asking me that because we talked about honeymoon?" Natawa ako nang mahina. "We can't, Kara."

"Why?"

"I don't want to tire you," sagot ko. "You're already exhausted."

Matagal-tagal siyang napatitig sa'kin. "Shower with me, babe." Tumayo siya at kinuha ang kamay ko. "What I want right now, is my husband."

Napatingin ako sa mga kamay namin.

"My husband who has been cooking meals for me, everyday." A gentle smile curved on her lips. "My husband who has been rubbing my back every night..."

I lifted my gaze at her moments later, and saw a tear run down on her cheek.

"Kara-" Humakbang ako papalapit sa kanya para tuyuin ang kanyang luha. "Gods- please don't cry."

"Dio..." naluluha niyang tugon. "I need you."

Niyakap ko siya. "Tell me, what do you want?"

She sobbed against my chest. "Sleep with me."

I tightened my embrace around her. "Are you really sure about that?" 

Tumango siya.

"Well then." Bumitaw ako sa kanya at yumuko para buhatin siya. Narinig ko pa ang mahina niyang pagsinghap nang gawin ko ito, dahilan na mapangiti ako.

"Kara..." My heart ached when I noticed how light she was in my arms. "You know that I made a promise to you, right?"

She wrapped her arms around my neck as I walked us to our room.

"That I will love you for what you can give me," paalala ko sa kanya. "-and what you can't."

"I'm keeping this child, Dio." 

Napatango-tango ako at itinulak ang pinto gamit ang aking likod. Bahagya akong umikot at dumako sa higaan kung saan ko siya dahan-dahang ibinaba.

She pulled me closer and I can't help but break into a smile before leaning in to kiss her.

What transpired was a gentle love making- no, it was far more deeper than that. And I know this because I did not ask for more while I made love to her. Instead, I just wanted to make the time stop and hold her.

"You're the strongest, Kara..." I whispered while she lay beside me, sleeping soundly. "That's why I love you."

Kasunod na dumapo ang aking palad sa tiyan niya. 

Yumuko ako rito at napangiti. "She also makes you proud, doesn't she?"