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CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

ALMOST A MONTH has passed since Laurentius came out to his parents on that disastrous family dinner. Since then, Laurentius and Denryl's relationship has been into a lot of ups and downs.

Dumagdag pang parang nauseous ang nararamdaman ni Denryl kapag gumigising siya kada umaga. Nasusuka siya palagi sa hindi malamang dahilan for the past weeks, at marami siyang mood swings. Hindi rin nakakadagdag na para siyang palaging pagod sa trabaho niya at na-iihi more than usual sa ano mang oras. Medyo natatakot na siya sa nangyayari sa katawan niya, even Laurentius, too.

Denryl doesn't want to think for the worst. Hindi niya gustong mag-isip na may nakakamatay siyang sakit. Maybe he's just in a bad shape lately.

"Denz, I'm a concerned boyfriend; maybe we should see a doctor because this has been happening for weeks now." The worry in Laurentius' voice is evident. Kapag magpa-ospital pa sila ay dagdag gasto ito, ngunit para naman ito sa kalusogan niya. "Huwag mo nang aalalanin ang mga gagastohin sa pang pa-doktor. It's your health compared to wealth," bigay punto pa roon ni Laurentius at mariin na tinitigan ang mga mata ni Denryl, pursuing him to agree.

Denryl sighed. Maybe he's right. He can't risk his health for something like money. Your health should be the top priority when it comes to being practical.

"Fine," sang-ayon doon ni Denryl. "Mag-ayos lang muna ako ng sarili."

Denryl leaned in to his man and gave him a quick peak before leaving him there. May mga damit si Denryl sa penthouse ni Laurentius dahil minsan dito siya pinapatulog ng kasintahan. It's like they're a partially live-in couples.

Nagbihis lang si Denryl sa pinagsalohang silid nilang dalawa ng simple'ng damit at hoodie for cold protection. Gabi na at bago lang silang matapos mag-dinner nang ipahayag ni Laurentius ang kaniyang mga saloobin para sa hindi magandang kalusogan ni Denryl. They got work at daytime, so it is best to visit the doctor at nighttime.

After feeling being insecure and feeling bloated by himself at the mirror, he exits their shared room at nilapitan ang kasintahan. Laurentius was sitting there with a grim expression on his face like he's trying to solve a complicated problem. Naputol lang ang malalim na pag-iisip nito nang maramdaman ang paparating na si Denryl.

Tumayo agad ito at sinalubong siya. "Hey, are you ready?"

"Yeah," sagot niya. "Tara na."

Wala na silang inaksayang na oras at agad na bumaba ng penthouse at pumaroon sa underground parking lot ng building kung nasaan ang kotse ni Laurentius naka-park. Denryl on the passenger's seat with a seatbelt wrap around him, Laurentius toke the driver's seat and reeved the engines to life. Glancing at Denryl, he gave him a little smile when their eyes met.

Agad na pina-andar ni Laurentius ang sasakyan at pumaroon sa trusted niyang hospital. Park Medical Hospital. Flame Leopold Park---one of the known bachelor in the Philippines---is one of his personal friend at the business world. His parents may be homophobic, but their workers aren't. Maybe that's the reason why the Parks are the Altarejos' personal doctors. They share in common hobbies; abhorring the homosexuals. Funny, because their off-springs are homosexuals.

Tahimik lang doon si Denryl sa upoan niya at nagdadasal sa tabi na sana wala siyang malubhang sakit. Hindi naman yata siya pababayaan ng dinadasalan niya.

Ilang minuto lang ang nakalipas, nakarating na sila sa tapat ng Park Medical Hospital. Laurentius finds a spot to park his car, before exiting his car. Sumunod naman si Denryl at salubong ang mga kilay habang tinitignan ang maliwanag na gusali ng sinasabing ospital.

"Let's get inside, it's getting cold," pag-aya roon ni Laurentius sa kaniya, at inigiya na siya papuntang entrada ng gusali.

"B-bakit tayo sa ospital ng Park Medical Hospital magpa-check up? Hindi ba mahal dito?" nagugulohang tanong ni Denryl sa lalaki.

Napatingin naman sa kaniya si Laurentius sa sinabi. "Don't mind it, they have the best service and medical attention they can give. Don't worry about the bills, okay?" Laurentius assures him.

Ngumiti na lang siya rito at tumango.

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"SO, I RAN a lot of test for Mister Denryl here," Doctor Flame Park stated matapos i-test si Denryl sa mga posible'ng mga sakit. Denryl and Laurentius has been waiting for him for the results with anxiousness and anticipation. Si Denryl ang pinaka kinakabahan sa maririnig sa kaibigang doktor ni Laurentius. "None of them indicates that he has some kind of chronic disease, however, base on the things you said that he's been experiencing . . . I think I have an idea what's happening here. It might be absurd and insane, but it's the only thing I could think of right now. Unless he has harbored a newly disease to be discovered."

Sa sinabi nito, mas lalong kinakabahan ang dalawa. Ang Koryanong doktor ay nalilitong pinagmamasdan ang kaniyang hawak na file habang tinatapik ang kaniyang panulat dito at parang may malalim na ini-isip.

"Hm . . ." the doctor hummed. "Can I ask you both with a very intimate question?" Umangat ang tingin nito sa kanila.

Si Laurentius ang sumagot para sa kanilang dalawa. "Sure, go ahead."

"Do you often have intercourse with no protection on? Like, no condom while having sex?" tanong nito sa kanila.

Napa-awang naman ang bibig ni Denryl sa narinig na tanong ng doktor. Si Laurentius naman ay nagsalubong ang mga kilay sa narinig.

What does that supposed to mean?

"Are you trying to say that we might have a sexually transmitted diseases, Park?" medyo pagalit na tanong doon ni Laurentius sa kaibigang doktor. "To answer your question, yes. We've done unprotected sex since our very first intercourse at Achilles Islands Resort."

"Relax. I'm not implying that you both have AIDS or HIV," agad na paliwanag doon ni Flame Park. Parang nabunotan naman ng tinik si Denryl sa narinig at nakahinga siya ng maluwag. "I just want to do this test to see if my conclusion is true. If it is, damn, you're a one lucky bastard."

Agad silang iginiya ni Flame Park sa labor, delivery, and recovery room (LDR) ng ospital nila. Ngayon, silang dalawa na ni Denryl at Laurentius ang salubong ang mga kilay sa nangyayari. What are they doing here? Isn't this place for pregnant people only?

May pinakilalang obstetrician-gynecologist or OB-GYN si Flame Park sa kanila roon. The OB-GYN instructed Denryl to lie down on one of the beds there.

"What the fuck is happening, Park? Are you playing with us?" tanong doon ni Laurentius sa kaibigan na doktor. He's gritting his teeth and restraining himself from doing something irrational.

Hinarap siya ng kaibigang doktor na may seryosong expression sa mukha. "We're doing an ultrasound test to your, uhm, boyfriend. If you still didn't get it, I think your prescious boyfriend here is carrying another being inside him," ang salaysay lang nito at sinenyasan ang OB-GYN na simulan na nila ang test.

"Wait, are you saying I'm pregnant, Mister Park?" biglang salita roon ni Denryl.

"Perhaps," Flame Park answered with a shrug. "There's a huge possibility that you are pregnant, Mister Denryl. Male pregnancy is something that the world isn't accustomed to and hasn't been heard of, but it is happening. Less than one percent of the males has wombs inside them. Only one out of five million males can carry an off-spring inside them, as studies says. Some calls it a miracle, some even calls it a curse."

"And he's one of them?" Laurentius asks him in disbelief.

"Possibly."

The OB-GYN applied a cold gel on Denryl's belly. They're doing an external ultrasound scan to him. Binuhay nito ang monitor at may probe na gagamitin upang makita nila kung may laman ba ang tiyan ni Denryl. Hindi maka-imik si Laurentius habang tinitignan ang lalaking kasintahan habang pinagmamasdan ang ultrasound test nito for women.

"Okay, this might be cold," bigay alam ng OB-GYN sa kay Denryl. Tumango lang siya rito.

Sinimulan igalaw ng OB-GYN ang probe sa tiyan ni Denryl, kaya pigil-hininga silang tumingin sa monitor. Ang nakikita nila ay black and white sa monitor, until something the OB-GYN and Flame Park caught. It was a lump of something. Sakit sa bato ba iyon?

"Can you see it, Mister Denryl?" biglang tanong ni Flame Park kay Denryl.

"Ang alin?" nagugulohang tanong doon ni Denryl at tinitigan pa rin ang monitor. Natameme naman sa tabi si Laurentius.

Itinuro ng OB-GYN ang akala ni Denryl ay sakit sa bato na namumuo sa tiyan niya. "Ito po, Sir. That's a baby inside you po," sabi nito.

A baby inside . . . him? But he's a man!

"Congratulations," bati ni Flame Park sa kanilang dalawa. "You're gonna be parents to a miraculous baby."

Napabalik si Laurentius sa ulirat niya at nilapitan si Denryl sa kama. Nanginginig pa niyang tinuro ang screen.

"That's a b-baby?" paniniguro roon ni Laurentius.

Napakagat si Denryl sa kaniyang labi at hindi alam kung iiyak ba roon o tatawa sa saya. This is just so sudden and unplanned.

"Absolutely," ani Flame Park. "And based on the test, it's more than five weeks old."

"I'm gonna be a f-father? From my own blood and flesh?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong doon ni Laurentius. Hindi nila alam kung saan ito nagtatanong.

Hindi na napigilan ni Denryl ang sarili at tumulo na lang ang luha niya. It was a tear of joy. He wasn't expecting this, nor for Laurentius and him to be together. Unexpected things are suddenly popping up to their lives.

"Denz," tawag bigla ni Laurentius sa kaniya. Bigla siyang nilapitan pa nito at agad na pinahid ang mga luhang pumapalandas sa pisngi niya. "We're gonna be parents. You're fucking conceiving my child and I'm not having it in any other way. Fuck. This is such a huge turn in our lives."

Napangiti si Denryl sa sinabi sa kaniya ni Laurentius. He's glad that Laurentius accepted this sudden turn of their lives. He's gonna give their child a perfect family that he never had. Hindi niya gustong maranasan ng magiging anak ang pangungulila sa isang magulang. He's gonna be there for his growing child inside him.

"Thank you, Law," pasalamat doon ni Denryl na may ngiti at hinawakan ang kamay ni Laurentius sa pisngi niya. "Hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin ko kung sakaling hindi mo kami tanggap ng magiging anak natin. Salamat at binigyan mo ako ng pagkakataon na bigyan ng pamilya. Pangako, magiging mabuti akong magulang sa anak natin."

"And I will be the greatest dad to our child. I promise, I will both give you a great life," nakangiting pahayag doon ni Laurentius sa kaniya. Their eyes meets, and Denryl can tell he's genuine. "Just please, let's settle down for real. We're old enough, so let's make things better for our incoming child."

Tumango si Denryl sa kasintahan. Dahil dito, Laurentius leaned down and gave Denryl a very passionate kiss that feels like appropriate in the moment. It was a kiss full of love and affection.

Laurentius promises that from this moment on, he will only bring him joy and happiness. No one will harm and bring ill to them as long as he's there beside them and breathing. He will make their love strong so no one can destroy it. Create some memories and breathtaking art. Both he and Denryl will never be apart through hardships. As their lives binded from the start and moving on.

"Sorry to be a killjoy, love birds," bigla na lang silang pinutol ni Flame Park sa kanilang halikan. Laurentius glares at his doctor friend because of this. "Since Mister Denryl is a rare case, his pregnancy might be more complicated than a woman's. He needs the nutrients and the necessities for his pregnancy. My OB-GYN will give you the prescription."

"Yup. Follow me po, please."

The OB-GYN wiped off the gel on Denryl's belly and turned off the monitor. Nakasunod naman ang paningin ni Denryl dito.

"Do you both want the sonogram of the baby?" seryosong tanong doon ni Flame Park sa kanilang dalawa.

Agad na tumango-tango si Denryl sa doktor. "Yes, please. I want to keep the very first photo of our child."

"What's the gender of our child, pala?" biglang tanong doon ni Laurentius.

"Unfortunately, you can only see the baby's gender for the first time on its fourteenth week," sagot ni Flame Park sa tanong ni Laurentius.

Aalis na sana si Denryl sa kama, nang bigla siyang inalalayan ni Laurentius sa pagtayo roon. Tinignan niya ito ng nagtataka.

"I'm only pregnant with small belly, Laurentius, not handicapped." Inikotan pa niya ito ng mata.

"Pregnant persons are still PWD, so no. You need my assistance because I don't want you and my child to feel uncomfortable at mapagod sa anong bagay," sabi ni Laurentius sa kaniya.

"Hay naku."

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DAHIL NGA sa nalaman nilang nagdadalang-tao si Denryl, ang overprotective sa kaniya ni Laurentius. Parang paranoid ang lalaki kung sakali mang may hindi magandang bagay ang mangyari kay Denryl kahit minority lang ito.

Hindi rin alam ni Denryl kung matatawa o iiyak siya dahil palaging nagtatanong si Laurentius kung may gusto ba siyang kainin. Ready to go out si Laurentius upang bilhin ang kakainin ni Denryl kung may request siya raw. At his service talaga si Laurentius para sa kasintahan at magiging anak nito.

"Denz, I suggest you should ask for maternity leave at your work. It's not gonna be healthy for your well-being and our child if you keep working. Tsaka what will your co-workers say kung makita nilang ang lalaking ka-trabaho nila ay pregnant? They'd be ignorant with the sight!" suggest bigla roon ni Laurentius sa kaniya.

Denryl wanted to facepalm himself.

"Law, I think it must be more than a month before your expected delivery bago ka maka-maternity leave sa trabaho," he said.

"It will not be healthy for you and our child to work," sabi ni Laurentius doon at hinalikan siya sa noo with affection. "I say quit your job and let me be the breadwinner. My bank account is piling with money, so we wouldn't worry about raising our child by one working parent alone. And, oh! We can buy a mansion where our child can peacefully grow up, and start our family there. Since you can conceive a child, we can have four or five kids more. Oh, I love that idea."

Natatawang umiling na lang si Denryl sa mga pinagsasabi ni Laurentius.

"That's so cute of you. But, Law, hindi pa nga natin alam ang kasarian ng anak natin, at wala pa itong pangalan, susundan mo na siya," natatawang pahayag niya sa lalaki. Natawa naman ito.

Hinawakan ni Laurentius ang dalawang kamay ni Denryl at lumuhod sa harap niya. Nagtagpo ang tingin nila sa isa't-isa at hinintay ni Denryl ang susundo na mangyayari.

"Denz, as I said, I want to settle down with you," panimula roon ni Laurentius. "I want you to bare my last name and be my husband. My partner in life, gano'n. You and our incoming child are my life now. Whenever you're ready, let's get married."

Is he ready for marriage at times like this, though? How about Laurentius' father who kept pestering Laurentius to marry the woman he picked for him?

xALPHA_SYRICx | SYRICH

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So, ayon na nga. HUHU. Sorry, ngayong Monday ng madaling araw ako naka-update, pero at least double update. UwU. Cliffhanger muna tayo sa ngayon. WAHAHAHA.

Anygays, nasa chapter 26 na tayo. HUHU. I think target chapters nito is 32 talaga and a epilogue. Shuta, chapter 26 na ako at wala pa rin tayo sa climax ng story. HAHAHUHUHUHU.

Hindi ko na pahahabain ang author's note dahil i-edit ko pa sila bago i-publish ngayong madaling araw. WAHAHAHAHAHHA. Ingats kayo, though. Love y'all! Muahx!