Seth's POV
Four more weeks and we'd have a little baby in the house. But for now, I resolve to relax and enjoy our last days together, just Marian and I. I admit I was getting more and more anxious as the days and weeks went by. The baby was all that's in my mind. I knew a lot of things would change once the kid arrives. It wouldn't be just me and Marian anymore, there would be Marian, Pio and I. I thought of milk, changing diapers, and alot of sleepless nights.
I'd heard from my friends that having a child isn't easy but it's worth it. I was both scared and excited. For the past few days so many thoughts began to run through my mind. What if he doesn't like me? What if I screw it up? Are we going to tell him that I'm not his biological father? Will he want to meet his real father someday? Will he love his real father more?
I didn't know how we'd be like once the baby comes. Ano'ng itatawag sa akin ng bata? Daddy, Tito, Seth? Would he just know me as his mother's friend?
Marami kaming kailangan pag-usapan ni Marian bago dumating si Pio. I wanted everything already fixed once he comes out. I wanted him to have a complete family that he deserves. A mother who'd take care of him and a father at his side to guide him through the growing up process.
My head turned when the door to the bathroom opened. Marian walked out of it in her pajamas and slid next to me in bed.
"Kanina pa sumasakit ang balakang ko." She complained.
My brows furrows. "Why didn't you tell me? Do you want to go to the doctor?"
"No. Ngawit lang 'to. Ang dami kasing customer sa shop kanina, buong araw akong nakatayo." She said.
"You should be staying at home. Hindi ka na dapat pumupunta sa shop. You're on your last month, Marian! Ang tigas talaga ng ulo mo. Paano kung mapaanak ka pa doon?"
"Nabored kasi ako kanina kaya dumaan ako sa shop. Tinulungan ko na sina Flor dahil madami talagang tao kanina."
"Please, don't do it again, okay?" I sighed.
"Okay po." She rolled her eyes, smiling.
I reached down to stroke her round belly, "You're mother's a hard headed woman, isn't she? Kaya pati ikaw napapagod."
"Hindi naman siya napapagod. He's all cuddled up and comfy inside me."
"If you're constantly moving around, mapapagod talaga ang bata." I snickered. "Ilang linggo na lang lalabas na si Pio, hindi ka pa rin mapirmi sa bahay."
Her smile disappeared, her face more serious. "Natatakot ako. Sa tingin mo, umikot na siya?"
"We'd find out on your next appointment." I answered.
"What will happen after he comes out?" She bit her bottom lip.
"I've asked myself the same question. Ano na mangyayari sa atin?"
"Sa atin?"
"Yeah, sa atin. We need to talk about us. How will you introduce me to your son? Are you going to tell him we're just friends?"
"I-I've never thought about that." She said, avoiding my gaze.
"I want him to have a family, Marian. I want to be a father to him."
"Seth..." Her eyes shot up at me.
"Didn't I make that clear when I moved in with you?"
Tears began to form in the corners of her eyes.
"Marian, don't you want Pio to have a complete family? You owe him that. I'll treat him as my own child."
"I— I don't know." She started shaking her head. "Paano pag dumating yung panahon na mabored ka na o makahanap ka ng iba? Ayaw kong masaktan ang bata kapag umalis ka."
"I stayed with you all throughout your pregnancy and you're thinking I'd walk out on you?" I said, exasperated.
"You've done so much for us, Seth. You don't have to feel obligated to take care of us. You have your own life to live and I understand that. Hindi sa amin umiikot ang mundo mo."
"Pero sa inyo na umiikot ang mundo ko. You and the baby are my life now." I said with an exhale. My heart was beating so fast I could feel it trying to thump its way out of my chest. "Don't you get it, Marian? Ginagawa ko ito dahil mahal kita, kayo ni Pio?"
Marian gasped, covering her mouth with her hand as she tried to surpress a sob.
"I know I'm not the guy you've prayed and asked for. I'm not even close to your ideal guy. I know I can sometimes be an asshole. I was careless, I was impulsive, I had no direction in life. I thought I knew what I wanted before. All those times, I thought I wanted to be free but then you came and so did the baby. I never knew what I was missing until you both came into my life. The life I wanted wasn't as nearly as good as the life I have with you now. I may not be a perfect guy but I promise, I'd do everything to be a perfect father to Pio."
"Oh my god, Seth..." She sobbed, tearing flowing down her cheeks.
"Please, give me a chance." I said, almost begging her. "I love you so much, you and the baby. I can't even imagine a life without you anymore." I cupped her face, wiping away her tears with my thumb and forcing her to look at me. "Look at me, Marian. Don't you feel anything for me?"
"I love you, Seth." She said. A big smile spread across my face as I let out a huff of relief. "Mahal din kita."
I kissed her on the forehead and pulled her into a hug. My head bent down to give her a kiss on the lips, she wrapped her arms around my neck.
"Seth..." She murmured against my lips, pushing me away. "Seth, I think I just peed... Oh my god!" Napahawak siya sa tiyan niya. "I'm leaking."
"What?"
She looked down and my eyes followed her gaze. There was a small wet spot in between her legs.
"This is so embarrassing. I'm sorry." She said, she got out of bed and small streams of liquid trailed down her thighs. My eyes widened as I was looking at it. It was pink in color, like blood mixed in water.
"It's not pee! You're bleeding." I said. I tried to remain calm and not freak the fuck out. I jumped out of bed and walked towards her.
"We need to go to the doctor." Natatarantang sabi ko. "Masakit ba?"
"No, not really. It just feels like period cramps."
"Bakit hindi mo sinabi sa akin?" I said in a controlled tone.
"Hindi naman kasi ganun kasakit. Akala ko nangawit lang ako kanina." She said.
"Come on, we're going to the hospital." I said, wrapping an arm around her waist and guiding her to the door.
"Sandali lang, I'm just going to put on some pads. It's not stopping." She stopped and headed towards the bathroom door.
"Kaya mo pa ba?" I worriedly asked.
She nodded her head.
By the time we got to the hospital, she was leaking through the pad and she said the pain was escalating. My car stopped in front of the emergency and nurses came right away. They put her on wheelchair and I followed behind. She was admitted to the labor room.
I sat by her bed as she writhed in pain. The pain was getting worse and worse. Her doctor came in after a few minutes of waiting. They checked her, did some tests and after that she was injected with something that they said would stop her from bleeding.
My chest felt like it was being squeezed I watch what was happening. I felt helpless. I couldn't do anything but sit there and watch.
"Her amniotic sac is raptured and she's having contractions." The doctor explained as we were talking outside the labor room. "We've injected her with some antibiotics and some drug that would help stop her bleeding but I don't think it's working."
"Is the baby going to be fine, is she going to be fine?" I frantically asked. I combed my fingers through my hair in frustration. "She's not supposed to give birth yet."
"She's having preterm labor without dilation. Dalawang ang problema natin, she's not dilated and the baby's breech."
"Well, what can we do?"
"A ceasarian section would be the best choice. We can try to stop her labor but nothing's working right now. Habang lalong tumatagal, they'd be more at risk with infections."
I took in a deep breath to try to calm my nerves. Sinabi ko sa doktor na kailangan ko munang kausapin si Marian. Hindi ko pwedeng pagdisisyunan ito na ako lang mag-isa. I went back into the labor room and she was still in pain.
"Hey." I said, tucking some loose strands of her behind her ear. "I've talked to the doctor."
"Ano'ng sabi? Magiging okay ba ang baby?" Nag-aalalang tanong niya.
"Yeah, the baby's okay. She said you're having preterm labor and the baby is still breech." I calmly said, trying to hide the turmoil I was feeling from her. I held her hand and kissed it, "They've tried everything and they couldn't stop the labor. Pinakamaganda daw na option ang c-section. Do you want to do it?"
"I'll do everything para mailabas ko siyang ligtas." She said, getting teary eyed again.
I brought my hand to her cheek and stroked it with my thumb. "I would give everything to make sure you and the baby are safe."
"Seth, I'm scared." She whispered, her voice was shaking.
"Me too." I admitted.