three months later ~

"Are you ready?" Tanong ni kuya Kayden habang nakasandal sa pinto ng kwarto ko.

"Yep, saglit nalang"  Inayos ko ang buhok ko at nag lipstick, tinignan ko din ang tiyan kong malaki-laki na.

"Remember that you will always be my little sister even when you have dozens of children"

"Kuya naman eh! don't make me cry" He just laughed and hugged me.

I have a baby shower today, last month ako nagpa-ultrasound and I kept the gender a secret from my parents, Kuya, si Yareli lang ang nakakaalam. And now nag organize si Yareli ng baby shower and gender reveal, nag imbita rin sila dad ng mga close friends nila.

Inayos ko ang dress ko tsaka bumaba.Inalalayan ako ni Kuya pababa ng hagdan.

The stairs was full of white and gold balloons. May mga life-sized teddy bears na may hawak na mga balloon sa baba ng hagdan.

"Oh my God this is so cute" I gasped. Ngayon ko lang to nakita kasi the whole preparation, hindi ako pinababa ni Yareli.

May table na puno ng blue and pink cupcakes tapos may isang malaking cake na shaped ng onesie with 'oh baby' written on top.

There is a  onesie making station, may plain white onesies with different kinds of design and art materials where the guests can design the onesie.

May write on the diaper station where they can write silly or sweet messages. Meron ding onesie shaped card for 'Mommy advice station' where they can write advices for me.

Meron ding Name Suggestion stall may pink and blue note pad and fishbowl lalagyan ng mga notes.

Cast your Vote station, Where guests can vote if it is a boy or a girl.

May 'snap a polaroid with mommy' area maliban sa photo booth na puno ng pink, blue, gold at white na balloon tapos may malaking teddy bear sa gilid.

The souvenir area was so cute, May Pop Corn na may 'ready to pop' label, meron ding 'baby making potion' na nakalagay sa tag ng blue and pink na vodka, and Jack Daniels na may nakalagay na 'this is how babies are made'.

"This is so extra" Sabi ko kay Yareli na naghihintay sa baba.

"Let us all welcome our Mommy to be!" sabi ni Yareli and they all began clapping. She hugged me at sinabitan ako ng ribbon with 'mommy to be' written on it. She has a ribbon too with a 'future aunt' written on it.

"Thank you" bulong ko sa kanya and wiped my tears.

Nagpunta ako sa mga bisita and they we're all congratulating me, mom and dad we're teary eyed when I approached them.

"Congrats Princess" sabi ni Daddy at niyakap ako. "Not a Princess anymore dad" bulong ko sa kanya.

"You will always be our Princess though" mom butted in.

"I cannot wait for the gender reveal" Dad said. "Me too, you're keeping this secret for too long" Sabi naman ni mommy.

"don't worry mom, dad malalaman niyo na mamaya kung lalake o babae ba ang magiging apo niyo" I said.

"Congratulations Hija" Sabi ni Tita Felicity, mommy ni Yareli.

"Thanks Tita"

"Naunahan mo na si Yareli, tell her to catch up hija sabik na rin akong magka apo" sabi ni Tito Enrique.

"I'll tell her tito" natatawang sagot ko.

"Kara, have you seen the Gift table? let's go check it" sabi ni Yareli. "let me borrow her for a sec" sabi ni Yareli sa kanila.

Nagpunta kami sa garden, nandun ang iba sa mga bisita nakikipag mingle, may mga designs at buffet table din hanggang dito.

"Alam mo ba na kinuha ko pa kay tito yung list ng inimbitahan niya, para ma email sila?"

"No wayyy"

"Yes wayy, and guess what I emailed them? sabi ko wag na silang umattend pag walang regalo" natatawang sabi niya.

"You did not!" nanlaki ang mata ko pero natatawa ako, alam kong magagawa niya yon.

"kidding! but here it is" At itinuro niya  kung nasaan ang mga regalo.

"Oh my God! natakot yata sila sa banta mo" Tawa ko.

There were tons of gifts there. Humarap ako kay Yareli at niyakap siya.

"Thank You bestfriend! You're really the best of the best. Pag ikaw naman ang magkaka baby babawi ako!" Sabi ko sa kanya.

"Matagal pa yon so don't worry" Kumalas siya at ngumiti.

"Tama na nga iyan, iyak ka ng iyak eh! simulan nalang natin ang pa games!"

The games started, Yareli being the MC. Pati mga bisita ni Dad and even Dad himself participated on the games.

After the games and after makakain ng mga bisita it's time for gender reveal.

Tumayo ako sa gitna may maliliit na balloon na kulay pink at blue at stars at moon na nagkorteng malaking question mark sa gitna naman may nakalagay na malaking black balloon na may 'oh baby' na nakasulat.

"Now for our most awaited moment! What do you guys think? Is it a Boy or a Girl?" Tanong ni Yareli.

"A boy!" Sigaw ng mga kalalakihan

"Baby Girl!!" sigaw naman ng mga kababaihan.

"Tita Serene, Tito Dominique what do you think?" lumapit siya kina mom at dad. "Whatever the baby's gender is we love the baby" sagot ni Dad,smiling at me. Nagpalakpakan naman ang mga bisita.

"How about kuya Kayden?" Tanong ni Yareli sa kanya, I wiggled my eyebrows at Yareli. Para-paraan pa to alam ko namang crush niya yung kuya ko.

Namula siya bigla pero nakangiti parin siyang naghihintay ng sagot mula sa kuya ko.

"I think It's a Boy" sabi ni kuya.

Bumalik si Yareli sa tabi ko. "Okay ready na ba kayo?" Tanong niya. Naghiyawan naman silang lahat.

Tumingin siya sa akin at niyakap ako "okay! I got carried away" Tawa niya.

"In 3,2 - -" Bilang niya nagsimula na namang maghiyawan ang mga bisita pero natigil ito dahil tumigil siyang magbilang, natawa naman ako.

"Okay Kara any message to your baby?and to our guests? " tanong niya and gave me the mic.

"First of all I want to thank Mom and Dad for supporting me all the way from the very beginning.Dad thank you for your endless love and for spoiling me, Mom thank you for always listening and for buying me maternity dresses every single time.... " Nagtawanan ang mga guests.

"and my Kuya Kayden, Thank You for waking up in the middle of the Night just to get and buy everything I want for my cravings,Thank you for taking me to places I wanted to go to. I think I wouldn't survive this pregnancy without you Kuya. Thank you so much and love you big bro"I said.

"we woke up in the middle of the night too" One of my Kuya's friend shouted and everyone laughed. I think he was the owner of the Supermarket.

"And to my Kuya's friends thank you all so much for waking up in the middle of the night with him" I laughed.

"and to everyone who came today, thank you all so much for coming"
I said and everyone clapped.

I smiled to myself, I also wanted to thank them for not asking where the father of my baby is, Alam kong curious sila. I am no Virgin Mary para magbuntis mag-isa. I am thankful that they never asked me not even once, and that they respected my privacy.

"And to my bestfriend who supports me in everything! Yareli Fye Milan! my future lawyer Thank you for everything! Thank You for this wonderful party I love you so much!"sabi ko at nagyakapan kami ng mahigpit." anything for my bestie, I love youu too Vixen! "she sniffed.

I think I wouldn't survive without Yareli being by my side during this pregnancy. She was busy with law school but she still finds time to visit me and be with me,to reassure me that I can get through this.

I wiped my tears and we both smiled at eachother.

Hinawakan ko ang tiyan ko at ngumiti. "To my baby, I love you and I can't wait to hold you in my arms, I want you to know that many people loves you"

even your dad loves you, eventhough he doesn't know

"okay! In 3,2,1!!!!"Sigaw ni Kara.

I popped the balloon with a stick and pink powder with pink confetti poured down as memories from the past flashed backed.

" And if a daughter is what our future holds.. I hope she has your eyes
Finds love like you and I did, Yeah, and if she falls in love, we'll let her go..
I'll walk her down the aisle..
She'll look so beautiful in white" he whispered in my ears, we were dancing under the stars.

"gusto mo bang magka-anak ng babae?" bigla kong tanong sa kanya.

Tumigil siya at tinignan ang mukha ko. Tinitigan ko rin siya habang nakangiti

"oo naman, kahit isang dosena pa. Basta ikaw ang ina" Sabi niya and I rolled my eyes playfully at him.

"You look so beautiful in every color not just in white, happy anniversary"

"I love you" bulong niya. "I love you too" sagot ko bago niya tuluyang siilin ng halik ang mga labi ko.

Feeling ko kami lang ang tao sa mundo.Kontento na ako sa buhay ko. Mahal niya ako, at mahal ko siya.

Everyone was cheering and saying congratulatory words.

" IT'S A GIRL!!!!!! "Hiyaw ni Yareli.

I looked at everyone and smiled.Napakasaya ko ngayong araw, everything was great... It could have been greater if he was here.

But it was okay. I'm okay.

I'm happy.

" Kara, these are for you"sabi ni mommy sabay abot sa akin ng bouquet. I looked at her confused but she just smiled and left my room.

Tapos na ang Party at nakapag ayos na rin sila sa baba. Kinuha ko ang Card na nakaipit sa mga bulaklak.

Congratulations!
I'm sorry I can't make it, due to my schedule. I'll make it up to you. That's a promise. Oh and say hi to baby for me ;)

xx Eunwoo

I smiled after reading the card. Eunwoo and I have gotten closer over these past few months. Pag may free time siya lagi siyang dumadalaw dito sa bahay, he even helps my mom cook sometimes. He even brought me books, so I can do something when I get bored,minsan binabasahan niya pa ako sabi kasi niya maganda raw iyon para sa baby. Kasundo rin niya si Kuya Kayden and my Dad.

Pinapayagan rin ako ni daddy lumabas kapag kasama siya, though we don't do that often.Minsang lumabas kami pumunta kami sa basketball court kung saan siya madalas mag-laro, and I watched him play.

Si mom at Yareli lagi akong itinutukso sa kanya, I don't think he minds, he just smiles pag naririnig niya ang panunukso nila mommy. Though I don't also mind.

I don't think he likes me or anything, I think he just wants us to be really good friends.And we are now. Masaya ako na lagi siyang anjan though minsan busy siya dahil sa schedule nila, he still finds time to call or text me to ask how my day went. Tumatawag din siya bago ako matulog para makantahan niya ako,his excuse was its for the baby. Tuwing umaga naman may goodmorning message na siya. Maaga daw kasi siyang nagigising kaya nagagawa pa niya akong itext.

I yawned and turned the lights off. Maya-maya pa ay nag ring na ang cellphone ko.

"Hi" Bati ko sa kanya at muling binuksan ang ilaw para makita niya ako. "Hi, did I wake you?" Tanong niya.

Umiling ako at ngumiti. "Thanks for the flowers"

"did you like it?" nakangiting tanong niya tumango naman ako bilang sagot.

I yawned again inaantok na talaga ako. "Go to sleep, I know you're tired"

"Don't turn it off -" sabi niya. Iniayos ko ang phone ko sa bedside table para kita parin niya ako.

"Bakit? gusto mo ba akong panooring matulog?" Natatawang tanong ko.

"Slight" Nakangiting sabi niya. "Goodnight Baby, Goodnight Kara" he said. I smiled and closed my eyes.

~play Call you mine by Jeff Bernat~

"One, two, here we go
About not too long ago, I woke up feeling kind of blue So I
Picked up my phone and I decided that I hit up you So then
We talked for a little while, ask me if I could roll through So we
Met up, got food, and we spent time till the night was through
Can I call you my own, and can I call you my lover
Call you my one and only girl
Can I call you my everything, call you my baby"

I heard him sing softly as I drift off to sleep.