FINAL CHAPTER

LACY HAVENWOOD

Being with Uno is the best part of me... especially the family that we have now. Wala na rin talaga akong ibang gusto kundi 'yon lang. There have been so many happenings in 1 year of being married to him.

Everything that Uno planned for our wedding is completely in smooth progress. Lahat ng gusto kong makapunta ay present lahat. From my family in England, they were here, except for my mother. I heard that she can go out to the jail this year in the month of december I think. That what's on her sentence.

Maybe I can invite her to celebrate the christmas and new year here because the first time ever that I experienced it, it was so fun! And sakto month ng december din ang fiesta sa Marquez Highlands, kaya maraming mga event na mangyayari ngayon.

My mother just sent her regards to King Samson for us. Nagpadala rin ako ng letter sa kan'ya saying that I'm thankful for the regards and a little gift. She gave me a pearl set of jewelry that she owned daw. May maliit na version 'yon and saying that I can wear it on Liah.

Ang dalawang set ng jewelry na 'yon ay nasuot naming dalawa noon. When I was a child pa. Ang kaso I was easily getting irritated by that kaya hindi na pinasuot sa akin.

Naplano na namin ni Uno na after mag one year old ang baby girl namin ay saka na kami ikakasal. Because I'm scared na baka mamaya after ko mag-give birth kay Liah maka-experience ako postpartum; well, it's totally normal sa aming mga mommies. I just don't want na magmukhang ugly sa kasal namin ni Uno.

Postpartum is not a joke. I'm really thankful pa that Uno was there when I needed him. Mahirap pa rin but nakaya kong malagpasan 'yon because of him. He was there when I experience it and hindi niya ako pinapabayaan. He's really a hands-on father to our baby girl. Siya ang nag-aasikaso tuwing gabi so I can sleep properly; ako naman 'tong nagwoworry sa kan'ya because kinabukasan parang nagkakaroon na siya ng eye bags dahil doon.

I'm in one year of being Mrs. Santillan while our baby girl is two years old na. And you know what? Hindi na rin ako nagulat na ang first word ni Liah was 'papa' I'm hoping na 'mama' ang first word niya because that sounds cute and I'm her mama, eh. I'm the one who gave birth to her, tapos biglang papa.

My baby Liah, our first daughter. She just very cute! Tama nga ang hinala ko na bochog siya ng lumabas sa akin. The delivery doctor doesn't have a choice but to perform an episiotomy on me! And that's super worse. She said taht kaya naman daw ng gano'n without cutting me on my kitty pero dahil hindi raw ako marunong umire ng maayos nag tulong tulong na sila na palabasin si Liah.

My recovery on that was the worst. I swear. I can barely move; thank goodness that Uno was there. Laging nakaalalay sa akin. My kitty was super hurt! Especially kapag iihi ako.

All my recovery journey after I gave birth is really uncomfortable for me but since Uno was there, parang nalessen na yung feeling na gano'n. Hindi talaga naging okay ang pakiramdam ko sa mga panahon na 'yon. Pero sa tuwing nakikita ko ang tinatawag kong baby bochog, I can say that everything that I sacrifice just to carry her in my womb until I give birth to her is totally worth it.

I just can't imagine that nandito na yung baby na kumakapit ng malakas sa akin sa mga panahon na nagiging maselan at sensitive ang pregnancy journey ko.

I'm just so proud of my baby girl. My chubby baby with chubby cheeks. Liah has a Fair skin with freckles on her face, my daughter hair was the same as mine, blonde and wavy. Many people told me that I look like her but with Uno's eyes. 'Yon lang yata ang namana ng baby girl namin ni Uno. Liah inherited Uno's brown eyes.

Kahit na sabihin nila na Liah was my carbon copy, masasabi ko pa rin na may pagkahawig pa rin sila ni Uno whenever my daughter looks serious. 

"Mama... mama," Liah mumbled while she was playing with our chicken. "Cute titiw... mama hen... papa..."

Nandito kami ngayon sa backyard at binabantayan ko siya sa ginagawa niya. While for Uno, he's busy fixing the chicken coop. Maganda ang weather ngayon hapon, kaya naglatag na lang kami ng soft mat sa bermuda grass para doon maupo.

I was smiling while watching my husband and my daughter. Nakikigulo si Liah sa ginawa ni Uno kaya hindi ko maiwasang hindi matawa sa kanila. My daughter was wearing a pink jumper that has a yellow inner shirt inside of it. Naka pigtails ang hair niya, while may mga cute na flower hairclips na nakaipit doon.

"Baby, don't take the chicks. Baka tukain ka ng inahin," I heard Uno told Liah.

Napailing na lang ako at tumayo para lapitan sila. This family of mine is really too good to be true, to be honest. Minsan hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na nangyayari na pala ang pinapangarap ko noon.

"Come here, Liah. don't bother your papa there," malambing kong sabi sa kan'ya.

Liah obeys immediately. Her cute chubby legs walk towards me habang humahagikhik. Sinalubong ko siya at mahinang natawa na binuhat.

"Mama... papa? Linis?" she asked. Her innocent big brown eyes were looking at me.

I nodded and glanced at my husband. "Yes, baby. Your papa is cleaning our chicken coop. Dapat behave ka lang and don't be makulit, okay?"

Liah nodded at me. "Okay, mama. Liah will not kulit," she answered and chuckled at me.

Uno was wearing nothing on top, bumalik na sa dating katawan ang hulma ng katawan ni Uno makalipas ng ilang taon. Both of us became more healthy ngayong we're married na. I always tell him that we always put some vegetables to eat in our food everyday.

And minsan sinasabayan ako ni Uno na mag-walking; that's my only exercise bukod sa pagmamake love. Well... it was Shasha who told me about that. Cardio na raw 'yon.

Speaking of Shasha, her baby turned one year old last month. Silas and Shasha have a baby boy. Super cute, right!? Kamukhang kamukha ni Silas noong bumisita sila rito. And of course I promise naman sa kan'ya na imamake sure ko na magiging friends din ang baby boy nila sa baby girl ko soon. Masaya kaya 'yon.

"You can bother me, baby. Don't worry, hindi naman mahirap ang ginagawa ni papa."

Ngayon ko na lang din napansin na nakalapit na pala si Uno sa akin. Goodness... my husband. He's so very handsome talaga. His beard was always well trimmed as well as his long hair. Hindi niya yon pinapaiklian ng sobra. Bumaba ang tingin ko sa body niya; his broad chest was glistening with his sweat and I swear I find it very hot.

When was the last time we had sex? I miss him na tuloy.

"But, mama said no, papa..." Napaawang ang labi ko ng bumagsak ang balikat niya. "I want lambing..."

Nanlalaki ang mga mata kong tumingin kay Uno. "how did she even learn that? Marunong na siyang magtampo!?" I hissed at him.

Uno laughed at me and went to Liah para buhatin ng mapunasan niya ang pawis sa katawan. Since Uno was done with his work at the chicken coop. Nagawa na niya ang request ng unica hija namin na paglalambing.

This girl! Talagang marunong na siya.

"Oh... my little conyo baby. Did you miss your papa that much? Lagi naman tayong nandito, ah," malambing niyang sabi sa anak namin.

Napailing na lang ako at nilapitan sila. One thing that I like being a mom is seeing like this scenario. I can clearly see how Uno became a father to our baby girl.

And everytime na magkasama silang dalawa, nagiging tahimik ako because I want to hear my daughter rant on him. I was just chuckling na lang dahil parang ang dami niyang hinanakit sa buhay sa lagay na 'yon. Liah has this mannerism that she tends to do a hand movement while she's talking to her papa.

"Antok na..." mahina at reklamo sabi ni Liah. I know that she's really sleepy because she's being grunting na. Hindi mapakali at palaging umuungot.

Uno and I were walking to our horse pen para bisitahin si Brutus, Pretty, and the horse that I owned on the england. Dinala na nila sa akin ang alaga kong horse doon because hindi rin naman ako papayag na magkahiwalay kami.

"Let her sleep on your shoulder, Uno," I told my husband as I saw my daughter eyes were closing.

After that, she's snoring na. Nakayakap ang small arms ni Liah sa neck ni Uno habang nakatanday ang ulo sa balikat. Nakapasok na kami sa pen ng mga horse namin kaya sumenyas ako na maupo na lang sila at ako na ang bahala magpakain kela Brutus.

"Are you sure that you are good there?" Uno asked while carrying our sleeping daughter. Hindi na siya makakilos ng maayos dahil sa tuwing aayusin niya ang pwesto ng anak namin, Liah will cry.

I looked at him and nodded. Ningitian ko siya at inuna muna ang mga girl naming horse dahil si Brutus ay sinusumpong na naman. He's back again to his—

"Lacy!"

Kamuntikan ko ng mabitawan ang kukuhanin kong pagkain nila ng marinig ang yabag ng paa ni Brutus at pagtawag ni Uno sa name ko. I didn't know na nakatakas na naman si Brutus sa kwadra niya!

Uno stood up and hindi na napigilan ang sarili na puntahan ako. My eyes were still widened habang nakatingala sa kan'ya. Nakakunot ang noo ni Uno na tumingin kay Brutus na nasa gilid namin.

Brutus was like a war horse sa gilid namin. Naka tayo lang sa gilid at nakatingin.

"Brutus, we really need to talk about your attitude. Ano na naman bang problema natin?" Uno asked Brutus na para bang anak niya 'yon na sinisermonan.

Brutus let out a neigh and scoffed. Mahina akong natawa at tinapik ang balikat ni Uno para mapaharap sa akin. He looked at me naman habang nakaaalalay ang kamay sa likod ni Liah para hindi mapatihaya.

"It's okay. As long as I'm fine here—ohh..."

Parehas kaming natigilan ni Uno ng makita ang sunod ng ginawa ni Brutus. He gently nudged my belly like a dog. Natigilan kaming dalawa ni Uno at nagkatinginan.

Okay... what's happening?

"Such a good boy there, Brutus." Mahina akong natawa at hinaplos ang ulo niya. "Are you okay? Why naman ang super lambing mo ngayon..."

I look up to Uno, nakakunot pa rin ang noo habang nakatingin kay Brutus at sa amin. Papalit palit ang tingin niya sa aming dalawa habang hinihele si Liah ng magsimulang umungot ito.

"He's weird, Uno. The last time that Brutus did this to me was like when I was pregnant with Liah, eh. Right?" natatawa kong sabi sa kan'ya ng bumaba ang tingin ko kay Brutus.

He still nudged my belly... ilang segundo ang nakalipas ng mapatulala ako saglit ng may pumasok sa isipan ko ang isang bagay. I gasped and looked up to Uno with wide eyes.

"Uno!"

"When was the last time you had your period?"

Naitikom ko ang aking bibig dahil sabay pa kaming magsalita at dahil na rin sa tanong niya! Uno and I looked at each other for a couple of seconds until he decided to help me feed our horse while she's carrying our sleeping daughter.

Nagging mabilis lang din 'yon; that's why we're in the room now. Nakalapag na sa kama si Liah and mahimbing na natutulog habang kaming dalawa ay naghihintay sa result ng pregnancy test na tinake ko.

Goodness! Why do I even feel so nervous!? I was sitting on my chair sa vanity table habang si Uno ay tahimik lang na nakatayo sa gilid ko.

"I forgot the last period that I have... but I think that was 2 months ago..." I told him in a small voice. Lumingon ako sa kan'ya habang halatang halata ang kaba sa mukha ko. "I have this gut feeling that what If I'm pregnant—"

"It says positive."

Mas nanlaki ang mata ko dahil doon. I stood up and snatched the pregnancy test to him. Ang tagal kong nakatingin doon at natulala. While for Uno, I am already locked in his arms, and he repeatedly says thank you while he buries his face in the hollow of my neck.

Positive.

Positive.

Positive.

It took me a couple of seconds before mabalik sa reality. I let out a small squeal and hugged him back.

"Oh my goodness! Oh my goodness! I'm pregnant! We're pregnant!" masaya kong sabi sa kan'ya. I couldn't help but to jump on his arms ng paulit ulit habang siya ay pinipigilan ako. "Liah will be a big sister na! Our baby is a big sister na, Uno!? I'm so happy! I'm so happy!"

I was laughing the whole time and hindi ko na namalayan na Uno and I were crying at the same time. Mahina akong natawa at pinunasan ang luha niya at kiniss sa lips. He responded to it and deepened our kiss before it parted.

"Thank you so much, baby," he whispered while looking down on me. Magkayakap pa rin kaming dalawa habang nakatingin sa isa't isa. "You're not going alone on this, okay? We got this, baby."

I sniffled. "Y-yes... thank you, my big baby. Thank you so much. We're pregnant again... I'm so very happy."

Uno chuckled and leaned in to kiss my forehead. I didn't know how many minutes were like this habang magkayakap. Ilang minuto kaming magkayakapan habang dinadama ang init ng isa't isa.

We keep it secret because we're planning to surprise our loved one. And I'm just happy about it... I can't contain and express how happy I am. Our family is getting big na and I can't wait for that to happen. I was an only child din kasi ang dream ko rin na magkaroon ng big family. Masaya rin ako na unti-unti 'yong natutupad.

I can't really get tired of telling myself that I'm not regretting marrying Uno. The dream that I always wanted to happen—a peaceful, simple, and stable life—is not my reality now.

Hindi mahirap at nakakatakot mag-asawa kung ang mapapangasawa mo ay si Uno. I always appreciate everything that he does for our family. All his efforts... from me... to our house... to our baby girl, Liah... and to our family that we build.

And that all thanks to my one and only husband—Uno—my big baby.

THE END