SERA

"BABE, WAKE up."

"Hmmm..." he stirred a little before rubbing his left eye, forcing his eyes to open up kahit halata mo sa mukha niya na antok na antok pa siya.

"Cash Evander gising..." I slightly shook his shoulders again when he went back to sleep.

My eyes darted to the clock hanging on the wall; 3:24 AM.

Bakit ba kasi bigla akong nag crave ng strawberry ice cream kung kailan madaling-araw na. Ilang beses akong tinanong kanina ni Cash kung may gusto ba raw akong kainin bago kami matulog kasi sobrang kakaiba ako mag-crave at nasasakto pa na palaging madaling araw.

"Babe, I don't think mag-ce-crave ako ngayong gabi kasi busog na busog na ako." I told him repeatedly. But guess what? It's 3 o'clock in the morning and I'm craving for strawberry ice cream from our ice cream store. I'm 4 months preggy na, pero mas lumalala lang iyong paglilihi ko habang tumatagal.

"What are you craving for this time, babe?" Cash woke up, forcing himself to sit down before giving me a kiss on the lips and on my small baby bump before wrapping his arm around me.

I snuggle closer to him. I buried my face in his chest. "Strawberry ice cream, babe," I pouted, which elicited a soft chuckle from him.

His right hand went to my belly, gently caressing it before lowering himself, hanggang katapat na ng bibig niya iyong tiyan ko. "Do you want strawberry ice cream, anak ko? Daddy will get you some, okay? Don't make Mommy cry. Daddy will be right back." he said in a lower voice.

My heart melts every time he talks to our baby. Tapos palaging 'anak ko' pa ang tawag niya na parang may aangkin na iba sa anak namin. Mas madalas pa nga niyang kaharap iyong tiyan ko kaysa sa mukha ko dahil palagi niyang kinakausap si baby.

Shifting on the bed, I asked, "Can we come with you?" pertaining to me and to our baby.

"Babe, we've talked about this before. I'll be quick, I promise. Go back to sleep for now, and then I'll just wake you up when I get back."

I pouted. His hand cupped my face and pressed his lips on my forehead. Wala akong nagawa kung hindi tumango nalang.

"I'll be back. I love you." sabi niya bago siya bumaba ng kama at kinuha muna niya iyong hoodie at usi niya bago lumabas ng kuwarto namin para umalis.

I tried to go back to sleep, pero hindi na talaga ako inaantok. I'm naglalaway na rin kasi kanina ko pa iniisip iyong strawberry ice cream.

I decided to go out of our bedroom to grab myself a glass of water from the kitchen, and then I just stayed in the living room. I plopped myself on the couch before grabbing the photo album that's been sitting on top of the coffee table. This photo album contains our wedding pictures, and almost every day I browse through the pages looking at our pictures. Hindi nakakasawang tignan iyong mga pictures namin sa araw ng kasal namin.

I flipped the first page and a smile crept into my face while staring at our beautiful wedding pictures. I was so absorbed in looking at the pictures that I didn't notice that tears were already flowing down my cheeks.

Yes. I have been very emotional since I got pregnant.

We got married just months after Atlas and Gael got married because Gael had been threatening Cash talaga na wag silang uunahan magpakasal. Natatawa nalang ako kasi ang hilig pang asarin ni Cash si Gael kaya palagi tuloy silang nagbabangayan.

We got married in the park where we met Manong and where we had our first ice cream date. That place became really special to us and I'm thankful that Cash rented the whole place for our wedding—don't even ask me how he did it—basta nagulat nalang ako na walang tao doon maliban samin sa araw ng kasal namin.

Everything is perfect. Our wedding was perfect.

Cash helped me a lot in preparing for our wedding. Nagbibigay rin siya ng sarili niyang opinion at ideas sa magiging kasal namin at hindi niya pinaubaya lahat sa'kin ng trabaho and I love him even more because of that. Maddie Jane, our wedding coordinator from Waldorf's and a friend of Ate Olive, was really happy because "hindi raw kami kagaya ng ibang ikakasal na ang daming demand na imposibleng mangyari o gawin." She even said, "na sobrang dali raw naming client."

Cash is also present every time na may kailangan kaming puntahan o kausapin. He always makes sure that he will accompany me no matter how busy his schedule is. Especially since he is now the CEO of VM Corp.

Yes, that's right! Sir VM gave the company to Cash.

After the night that Cash proposed to me, kinabukasan lang ay biglang kumatok si Sir VM sa unit ni Cash para humingi ng tawad sa anak niya. Akala ko masaya na ako na ikakasal ako kay Cash pero nang makita ko si Sir VM na humihingi ng tawad sa anak niya, ibang kasiyahan ang naramdaman ko.

Sir VM also retired after giving the company to Cash, and then he left the country after successfully transferring everything to his son. Siyempre nalungkot si Cash dahil hindi man lang makakarating ang tatay niya sa araw ng kasal namin, but to our surprise, on the day of our wedding, Sir VM showed up.

"This is really weird for me to say, pero naiiyak talaga ako sa tuwa na nandito si Sir VM," I told Tia. She's my maid of honour, and we are at the bride's room before the wedding ceremony starts. Si Evo naman ang ring bearer namin.

"Hindi ko pala nasabi sayo na bago siya umalis ng Pilipinas noon, pinuntahan niya kami ni Hank sa Isabela at humingi siya ng tawad sa mga nagawa niya samin."

My lips parted. "Why didn't you tell me this agad?"

Tia chuckled. "Sobrang busy mo sa pag-aayos ng kasal niyo ni Cash at ayaw kitang istorbohin." She smiled at me. "Pinatawad na namin siya ni Hank, dahil kami rin, gusto nalang namin nang payapa na puso't isipan. Nakakapagod magalit sa tao."

"That's really great news!" I said, almost jumping in enchantment before we hugged in delight.

Minsan tuwing nagigising ako, napapaisip ako kung panaginip lang ba lahat nang nangyari. Kahit na ilang buwan na kaming kasal ni Cash parang hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala. Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na Mrs. Serenity Rose Villarreal Medina na ako.

"Babe can I ask you a question because I'm really curious talaga..."

"Of course, You can ask me anything, babe," he answered, kissing the side of my head.

"Why is your last name Villarreal Medina? I'm really curious talaga kung bakit dalawa."

"I actually been waiting for you to ask me that question. I thought you'd never gonna ask," he say, before chuckling softly. He has an amusing look on his face.

"So, why is your last name two nga?"

With a sigh, he says, "Villarreal is my mother's last name, and Medina is my father's last name. Usually, when you get married, it's only the wife who changes their last name, right?" I nodded. "But in my parents' case, dad also changed his last name to Villarreal Medina to show how much he loves my mom."

My jaw dropped. "So, that's why naging VM Corp. and why we call your father Sir VM because of that? Bakit hindi na pinatanggal ni Sir VM iyong last name ng mom mo when they separated?"

Cash only shrugged. "I guess dad really loved my mom so much, to the point that even when they got separated, he still wanted something to remember my mom."

Cash sold his parents' house dahil hindi raw niya kayang tumira roon dahil madaming hindi magagandang memories doon ang pamilya niya. We're still living in the Empire for now habang hindi pa tapos iyong bahay na pinapagawa namin. Kuya Baker and Arlo are our architects, and I'm really excited about moving into our own home! They said kasina matatapos iyong bahay namin bago ako manganak.

After our wedding, Sir VM left again. We have never seen him again since he came to our wedding.

I was talking to Gael when I noticed that Sir VM was on his way out. Hindi man lang siya nagpaalam samin. Agad akong tumayo para tawagin si Cash at saka namin sinundan si Sir VM.

"Dad, why are you leaving already?" Cash asked his father. Sir VM stopped in his tracks.

"I have a flight to catch, son," he says, smiling slightly. Hindi pa rin ako sanay na ngumingiti siya. Nakakapanibago dahil ang aliwalas na ng mukha niya kumpara noon na palagi siyang nakakunot ang noo.

"Sir VM, hindi po ba kayo puwedeng bukas nalang umalis o sa susunod na araw para makasama po namin kayo nang mas matagal." I said, after I talked to Sir VM before, nawala na lahat nang takot ko sakaniya. Or maybe may maliit na parte pa rin sa'kin ang takot sakaniya, pero hindi na kagaya ng dati.

Akala ko magagalit siya dahil nawala bigla iyong ngiti sa labi niya, pero nagulat ako nang maglakad siya papalapit sa'kin at saka niya ako niyakap. "Call me Dad. No more, Sir VM." he whispered at me, chuckling softly.

"I'm sorry that I had to leave straightaway..." Sir—I mean, Dad says when we pulled away. Si Cash naman ang niyakap niya. Nakakapanibago na dad ang itawag sakaniya. Sobrang sarap sa pakiramdam na hindi na against sa'kin si Sir—Dad.

"I love you, son." I heard him say to Cash. Ramdam ko iyong pagtutubig ng mga mata ko habang pinapanood silang magkayakap.

Dad slightly tapped Cash's shoulder. "Congratulations again. I'll see you two when I see you." He just says that before finally leaving.

#

Hindi ko namalayan na nakatulog ako sa paghahantay kagabi kay Cash at nagising nalang ako at umaga na at nasa kama na ako ulit nakahiga. Cash is sleeping peacefully beside me while his arms were wrapped around me safely.

I slowly got up and brushed my teeth before going to the kitchen to cook us some breakfast. I cooked us some eggs, bacon, and pancakes. Nakita ko rin sa freezer iyong strawberry ice cream na kinuha ni Cash kagabi.

He really is the best husband, and I'm sure that he will be the best father to our children.

"Good morning," Cash's arm slowly snaked into my waist from behind.

"Good morning. Sorry nakatulog pala ako kagabi." humarap ako sakaniya para halikan siya.

"It's okay, babe," he says before crouching down para si baby naman ang kausapin niya. "Good morning anak ko." sabi niya bago halikan iyong baby bump ko.

"Let's eat na. We have to visit the stores pa di ba?" I asked and Cash nodded before sipping from his cup of coffee that I made kanina.

"Yes, babe. Then we have to go to Milana's 1st birthday."

"Oo nga pala mamaya na rin iyon! We have to buy her a gift! How about a Barbie dollhouse? or cooking set?"

Cash chuckled, "Or both." he replied, and I nodded vigorously.

After we ate our breakfast, we took a shower together dahil ayaw lumabas ni Cash sa bathroom. Sabi niya baka raw bigla akong madulas habang naliligo kaya kailangan nakabantay siya sa'kin. Minsan hindi ko rin alam kung anong trip ni Cash sa buhay kaya halos isang oras kaming naligo dahil nilandi pa niya ako! Well... gusto ko rin naman.

We quickly visited the ice cream stores, just to check that everything is operating smoothly before we went to the mall to buy Milana a gift. Or should I say gifts because ang dami naming binili. For sure magagalit si Kuya Baker dahil hindi na nila alam kung saan pa nila ilalagay iyong toys ni Milana sa sobrang dami!

Umuwi muna kami sandali para magpalit ng damit bago kami pumunta sa bahay nila Kuya Baker at Ate Olive. Sa bahay lang kasi sila naghanda, sa may backyard nila at ang theme ng birthday ni Milana ay MasterChef. Yup! MasterChef ang theme at hindi ko rin alam kung anong trip nitong mag-asawa kung bakit ganito ang theme ng 1st birthday ng anak nila.

"Happy birthday, Milana." I greeted the birthday girl before handing out the gifts to her and kissing her on her squishy cheeks.

"Happy Birthday, Milana." Before taking Milana from Kuya, Cash says,

"Mahal, look oh! They both have a cooking set for Milana!" Ate Olive exclaimed in excitement when she saw our gifts. Hindi na kasi namin nabalot dahil malalaki iyong toys at nagmamadali na rin kami dahil napabili rin ako nang madaming damit para sa baby namin kaya nagtagal kami sa mall.

Kuya Baker just smiles at Ate Olive before secretly scowling at me.

"It's so pretty no ate olive?" I commented.

"Super! Thank you pala for the gifts ha." Ate Olive replied.

"No problem ate,"

Inabot ni Cash pabalik si Milana sa tatay niya bago namin pinuntahan iyong table nila Atlas.

Cash suddenly said, "I can't wait to meet our little one soon." We were sitting at a big round table, and I noticed that he was watching the kids who were all busy running around, including Clemmy and Clove, who are just months older than Milana.

Magka-batch kasi ang kambal nila Arlo na si Clemmy at Clove at si Milana tapos si Gael at ako naman ay magka-batch baby rin pero si Gael malapit nang manganak dahil 36 weeks na siya.

I wrapped my arm around Cash's waist and gave him a peck on the cheek. "Me too," I say.

"Will there be a chance that our baby will become twins?" he says before wiggling his eyebrows. Hinampas ko siya sa braso.

"Cash! Kahit pa mag-sex tayo araw-araw hindi na puwedeng maging kambal ang anak natin!" saway ko sakaniya at tinawanan lang niya ako.

"Ang daming bata, bakit sex iyang pinag-uusapan ninyo? Hindi pa nga nakakapanganak si Sera gusto niyo na agad sundan?" Gael interrupted. Cash rolled his eyes automatically, and I laughed along with Cara, Arlo, and Atlas.

"Aren't you going to pop yet?" Cash retorted. Raising one brow at Gael.

Nanlaki iyong butas ng ilong ni Gael. "Excuse me? Sinasabi mo bang mataba ako?!"

"I'm just saying because you're 36 weeks already." Cash shrugged.

"Para kayong mga bata." Cara says, trying to shush my husband and Gael.

Niyakap naman ni Atlas ang asawa niya. "Abigael wag mo nang patulan si Cash. Inaasar ka lang niya at hindi ka mataba, okay? Ikaw ang pinaka-sexy at magandang buntis."

"My serenity is the sexiest and most beautiful pregnant!" biglang sabat ni Cash at napapikit nalang ako. Ayaw ring nagpapatalo ng asawa ko.

"Love! Hindi mo man lang ba sasabihin na sexy at maganda rin akong buntis?" Cara says to Arlo.

"But you're not pregnant," Arlo replied. Cara's forehead creased, frowning.

"So hindi ako sexy at maganda noong pinagbubuntis ko iyong kambal? Ganon ba 'yon Benjamin Carlos?!" nakapameywang na si Cara habang nakaharap kay Arlo.

"My wife is the sexiest pregnant in the whole wide world!" Cash yelled.

"Mas sexy ang asawa ko!" Atlas protested.

"Cara is the sexiest because she is pregnant with twins!" Arlo opposed.

"What is happening here? Why are you all louder than the kids?" Kuya Baker says, with his forehead creases.

Napahilot ako sa ulo dahil parang sasakit ang ulo ko sa tatlong to. Napatingin si Cash, Arlo at Atlas kay Kuya Baker at sabay-sabay na tumawa bago nag-high five. Napailing nalang si Kuya sakanila bago kami iniwan para puntahan iyong ibang bisita. May mga asawa't anak na tong mga to pero parang mga bata pa rin.

Maya-maya pa at dumating na rin sila Kenzo kasama pa iyong ibang kaibigan ni Ate Olive at pumwesto rin sila sa table namin. Mabuti nalang at hindi na nagbangayan ulit iyong tatlo dahil siguradong pag-uumpugin ko na sila.

Madaming games para sa mga bata at tuwang-tuwa iyong kambal dahil ang dami nilang napanalunan. Sobrang competitive nila para sa edad nila lalo na si Clemmy.

"Do you want to take a walk in the park before we go home?" Cash says, pag-alis namin sa party ni Milana.

"Okay. Let's buy ice cream na rin," I giggled before he started driving.

Pagdating namin sa park, walang masyadong tao dahil gabi na rin. Sinuotan ako ng cap ni Cash para hindi raw ako mahamugan habang naglalakad kami sa labas. Bumili muna kami ni Cash ng ice cream at nakipag-kwentuhan sandali kay Manong bago kami naglakad pabalik sa park.

We sat on the bench in the center of the park kung saan ginanap mismo iyong kasal namin.

"Nova Aurelie."

"What's that, babe?" Cash asked. He turned his head to look at me. A smile appeared on my lips. Hindi pa kami sigurado sa gender ng baby namin pero ilang araw ko nang pinagi-isapan iyong pangalan ng magiging anak namin.

"Nova means new in Latin, which gives us a new beginning, a new chapter in our life."

Dahan-dahan nanlaki iyong mata niya. "Is that our baby's name?" I nodded at him.

"Nova Aurelie, How's that sound, babe?" I asked.

"It's perfect!" agad niya akong niyakap. "But what if it's a boy?" sandali siyang humiwalay sa pagkakayakap sa'kin.

"Malakas kutob ko na babae ang baby natin," I replied, and he chuckled.

"Okay then, let's just trust your instinct, babe." natatawang sagot niya, bago niya ako niyakap ulit.

W H A T Y A S E Y