29

Accident

Mabilis na lumipas ang mga buwan and this month, Aeri will give birth to our first baby girl. Lately, she really became more moody and sensitive. Konting kibo magagalit, maya maya biglang iiyak kala mo inapi.

Pero okay lang, I understand. Besides, her due date is coming so she won't be suffering anymore. We will meet our first baby in the family in a few and I know that everybody, including me and Aeri were excited and we can't wait to meet her.

"Love, I'm hungry. Can you cook for me, please?" Tinapik ako ni Aeri sa balikat. I'm laying on our bed while she is seating beside me. I was too lazy to get up because I'm so sleepy. But then, I have to get up because it's almost dinner time and Aeri needs to eat.

"What do you want tonight, love?" Tanong ko. She acted like she is thinking deeply while her pointer finger is on her chin while her other hand is on her tummy, gently rubbing her bump.

"Hmm... what do you want to eat, baby?" she asked the baby inside her tummy.

"Tell mommy what food you want baby. Daddy will make or get it for you." I said. Lumapit ako tsaka hinawakan ang tyan ni Aeri.

"Ah! I know na! We want your special chicken adobo with rice, love. And of course, mangoes." Aeri said. She's so cute.

"Of course, you won't forget about the mangoes. I'll just cook your dinner, okay? Just call me when you need something, love." I leaned to give her a peck before I stepped out of the room.

Lately, she's into mangoes. Hilaw or hinog man 'yan, kahit gaano kaasim kakainin niya pa rin. I cooked her food while Mommy Thena is helping me.

"Love kain na po." Tawag ko sa kanya nang maluto ang nirequest niya.

"Luto mo 'to?" she asked.

"Yes, Love. Bakit?"

"Eh bakit kalasa nung kay Mommy?"

"Ah, eh kasi love, tinulungan ako ni Mommy Thena. You know naman that I am still learning to cook, right?"

"Ayoko niyan, Gusto ko luto mo!!!" She complained. She's mad now.

"Okay, sorry, Love. I'll cook again. And this time, ako lang ang magluluto hindi ako magpapatulong kay Mommy."

"Aeri, eat your mangoes na lang muna while you wait for your adobo." Alu ni Mommy Thena.

Nagpunta na ako sa kitchen para magsimula muli magluto.

"Hay nako, grabe si Aeri, 'nak. Buti na lang hindi ganyan si Thena nung pinagbubuntis niya si Aeri. Jusko, suko ako non." Si Daddy Troy.

"Opo eh. Pero okay lang, dad. As long as she is happy I'll be happy. And besides, I'll do everything for them."

"Tama 'yan, 'nak. Be a good husband and a good father to your child. Btw, ano pala ipapangalan niyo sa kanya?" he asked.

"Hindi pa po namin napag uusapan ulit dad eh. But may idea na po kami. Ayaw pa po kasi ipasabi ni Aeri."

"Kayong dalawa talaga, mahilig kayo sa sikreto ha!"

Nag kwentuhan pa kami habang nagluluto ako.

Salitan na silang duty dito kay Aeri. Sa umaga si Mommy Asha at Daddy Zach, in short my parents. Napagkasunduan nilang umaga sila magbantay dahil kung minsan ay may night shift sila dahil mga doctor ang parents ko. Sa gabi naman ang parents ni Aeri, si Tita Thena at Tito Troy.

Habang nandito si Aeri ay nagtatrabaho ako ulit sa opisina ko. I am planning to build my own company with the help of Elisha, Bea and Aeri's parents, of course. And actually sisimulan na ang paggawa nun soon. Siguro pagkapanganak ni Aeri. Isasabay ko na sa pagpaapgawa nung kayna Mich.

About that project, nasabi na namin kay Aeri yun and she was so happy to hear that news. She's so excited to build her very first project and that project is her bestfriend's property. I know she can do it, I believe in her.

Ganoon na lang ang naging routine namin. Sa umaga nag tatrabaho ako pero minsan sa bahay ako nagtatrabaho. I did not accept some projects and offers international because of Aeri. Siguro kung may tatanggapin man ako dun, I'll just visit. I know magastos 'yon but I choose to be with my family especially ngayong magkakaanak na ako. I want to give all of my time to them.

Every weekend, our close friends or my cousins would visit Aeri. O di kaya ay yung mga nakatrabaho niya sa showbiz dati. She was still accepting offers as endorser or product model before ko siya patigilin mag work. It's okay for me because I understand na mahirap talagang bitawan ang bagay na mahal mo lalo na kung naging passion mo na. I will still support her anyways.

Everything was perfectly well, not until one day came. I thought wala ng mangyayari sa amin but this happened...

"So, any suggestions for this project?" tanong ni Daddy Troy. Kasalukuyan kaming namimeeting for a project.

"No, Wala na. I agree to your designs, Mr. Garcia." Ani Mr. Ferrer, ang client.

"Good. So we'll see-" Daddy Troy paused when Joanna, Aeri's secretary entered the conference room.

Napatingin ang lahat sa kanya dahil sa ingay na ginawa niya. Mukhang nagpapanic at nagmamadali si Joanna. What's the problem?

"Ma'am/Sir, sorry to interrupt but I got a call from Sir Jacob's house..." Aniya na nagpapanic.

Napatayo kaagad ako ng marinig ko iyon. Inalala ko kaagad ang mag ina ko. God, please, wag naman...

"What's going on?!" I said getting nervous.

"Jacob, anak, please calm." Alo ni Mommy Thena sakin.

"Sir si Ma'am Aeri daw po kasi... Dinugo raw po. Nadulas daw po siya sa bathroom niyo. Nadatnan na lang daw po ni Ma'am Asha na namimilipit na po siya sa sakit kaya dineretso na siya sa hospital kaagad." Joanna tried to be as calm as she can while explaining.

"Fuck!" Nasabunot ko ang buhok ko. Nagmadali akong kunin ang gamit at susi ng kotse ko tsaka nagpaalam muna kay Mr. Ferrer.

"Sorry, Sir. My wife needs me. I should be at her side right now." I said.

"I understand, Mr. Castillo. Ingat ka and I hope your wife and your child will be fine." I just gave him a small smile.

"Kami na muna ang bahala dito, Hijo. Susunod kami doon. Update us, okay?" Si Mommy Thena.

"Ingat ka, Jacob." Si daddy Troy.

I nodded and kissed Mom Thena's cheek and gave Dad Troy a bro bump. I shaked hands with Mr. Ferrer before going down to the parking lot.

My mind is full of thoughts and worries while I'm driving my way to my parent's hospital. As soon as I arrived, nasa private room na si Aeri. Hindi pa ako pumapasok sa loob ng kwarto dahil sinalubong na ako ni Mommy Asha at Dad Zach.

"I'm sorry, anak. I didn't look after her. She got to use the toilet and I ask her kung kaya niya and she said she's fine. Hindi ko alam, Hindi ko sinasadya. Please wag ka sana magalit." My mom cried while she's hugging me.

"You don't have to be sorry, Mom. It was an accident." I caressed her back.

Bigla namang lumabas si Doctora Angeles, Aeri's doctor.

"Sige na, anak. Kausapin mo na muna si Doktora ako na bahala sa mommy mo." Tumango ako.

"How's my wife and my baby, doc?" I asked as soon as nalapitan ko si doc.

"Your wife is fine now, as for the baby, she's also fine now, but we will be monitoring her and Aeri so you need to stay here. We might open Aeri's tummy when something happens later. Maaari kasing manghina ang baby dahil medyo madami ang dugo na nailabas ni Aeri. Since her due date is in 3 days, pwedeng buksan na ang kanyang tyan so we can save the baby if something will happen but hopefully wag naman sana."

"Wait, so pwedeng malagay sa panganib ang buhay ng anak ko? And Cesarian ba talaga doc?"

"Yes, posible iyon. Pwedeng buhay ng bata or kay Misis at pwede ring buhay nilang dalawa. We can do normal delivery kung magcocooperate ang katawan ni Aeri at kung kakayanin niya. Pero mas maganda kung i c-cs natin siya because medyo malelessen niya ang threat sa buhay nilang dalawa."

I let out a heavy breath. "Okay, doc. Gawin niyo ang lahat para maging ligtas ang mag-ina ko. I trust you so please, do everything." I said.

"We will, Mr. Castillo. Makakaasa kayo."

"Thank you, doc."

"Excuse me." she said.

Pumasok naman na ako sa room. Doon ko nakita si Aeri na payapang natutulog sa kama. May swero ang kanyang kanang kamay at may oxygen din sa kanyang ilong.

Lumapit ako sa kanya at umupo sa tabi ng kama. Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya tsaka hinaplos ang buhok niya.

"Please hang in there, Love. Baby, kapit ka muna jan kay Mommy ha. Please, lumaban kayo, ayokong mawala ang isa sainyo." I said as my tear fall down.

"I love you both so much, so please stay with me."

Binantayan ko si Aeri for about 2hrs. Nang dumating ang parents niya tsaka mga pinsan at kaibigan namin, Nagtungo ako sa chapel at nanalangin.Pagkatapos ay bumalik ako ulit doon at nadatnan si Elisha at Bea na mukhang kakauwi lang galing Spain.

"Bro," Eli called.

"Uy, thank you. Umuwi pa kayo, nakakahiya."

"Luh, parang tanga 'to, umuwi na nga eh ayaw pa. Sige alis na lang kami." Biro ni Eli. Agad naman siyang siniko ng nobya niya.

"By, Ano ba, mag seryoso ka naman!" Ani Bea.

"Pinapatawa ko lang naman si Jacob, by eh."

"Ayan, puro kalokohan Elisha, baka mamaya si Bea lokohin mo." Biro ko.

"Hindi 'no. 'Yang mukhang 'yan, ipagpapalit ko pa? No way."

"Ewan ko sayo." Umiling ako at tumawa.

"Kamusta siya?" Si Bea.

At sinabi ko ang sinabi ng doctor.

Kinagabihan, naiwan kaming magpipinsan doon. Nagsiuwian muna ang parents namin saka sila Eli dahil pagod sa flight.

Payapa ang lahat ng biglang magising si Aeri, sumisigaw sa sakit. Iyak siya ng iyak. Hindi ko malaman kung ano ang gagawin. Kung tatawagin ba si Doc o aaluhin siya. Sa huli, si Yannah ang pumunta sa nurse station dahil hindi na ako nakaalis sa tabi ni Aeri.

"It will be fine, Love. Basta lumaban kayo. Please." I said while kissing her head repeatedly.

Wala akong nakuhang sagot sa kanya dahil patuloy pa din ang iyak niya.

"We need to do the operation now, Jacob." Si doctora.

"Sige Doc. Please do everything."

Dinala na sa OR si Aeri habang nasa labas kami. Isa isa namang dumating ang parents namin at sina Eli. The whole time I am scared and nervous. Nag aalala ako sa kalagayan nila.

This will be the last time. I will not let anything happen to the both of you, I promise. Because your both my precious gem that cannot be replaced and I can't lose you both. Di ko kakayanin.

____🖤🖤🖤____

Hi Loves, last Chapter na and then, Epilogue! Hope y'all wait for the Ending of Aeristell & Jacob's story ;)