"Hey, you didn't even tell me you were pregnant already, you brat!" Veron blurted out.
Her friend only laughed.
"I'm jealous of you! During my first pregnancy, I was so sensitive," Veron said.
"I'm sensitive too—especially when it comes to food. I don't even understand my cravings anymore; they're out of this world! That's why he just ends up cooking for me," Mariely replied, laughing.
"You still don't know your baby's gender, right?" Veron asked.
"Not yet. I can't even make it a surprise, because he always comes with me whenever I have my check-ups."
Veron laughed at that. "Hey, I'm pregnant too, you know."
"Really?" her friend asked, excited.
"Yep! Now our eldest will have a sibling—so they won't grow up alone." Veron chuckled.
"You brat!" Her friend laughed harder.
"So, when's the wedding with your man?" Veron asked Mariely.
"After I give birth, we'll start planning. He doesn't want me stressed out by the wedding right now," she explained.
"Aww! That just proves how much he loves you." Her friend nudged her playfully.
Veron smiled as her friend gently rubbed her not-so-big belly.
"Come on, let's go shop for baby things now," Veron suggested.
"What, just the two of us?" Mariely asked.
"Do you want it to be just us?" Veron teased.
"You're impossible! Fine, let's go. But does your husband even know? And you're not allowed to drive—you're pregnant!" Mariely scolded Veron.
Veron laughed. "Andrew will fetch me, so just come with us."
"Ha! His nose is going to flare up again if I don't tell him. Wait, let me call first," Mariely said.
"Alright, go ahead."
Veron listened in amusement as her friend spoke over the phone.
"Okay, bye, I love you," Mariely said before hanging up.
Veron raised an eyebrow and smiled knowingly.
"So, what did Frank say?" Veron asked curiously.
"He said he'll pick me up, and we'll just meet up with you there," she answered.
"Alright." Veron nodded.
"Was Ma'am Becca happy when she found out you were pregnant?" Veron asked.
Her friend frowned a little but let out a soft laugh. "Yes, she was so happy—because she'll finally have a grandchild. She even keeps sending me fruits at home. She's such a kind person, Veron."
"I know, she really takes good care of you," Veron said sincerely.
"You brat," her friend giggled.
They both paused for a moment, reflecting. So many students had passed through their hands over the years. Their very first advisory class were already slowly achieving their dreams. As teachers, it was fulfilling to see their students reach for the stars. To know that they had been part of shaping the younger generation… Veron sighed with a quiet sense of pride.
*****
"Hon." Mariely immediately hugged her fiancé, who had been waiting for her.
"Hey, where are you and Veron going today?" Frank asked after kissing her on the forehead.
"She said she wants to check out some baby stuff. Oh—and she's pregnant too, about three months along," Mariely shared.
He chuckled. "They didn't waste any time, huh? Well, let's not rush into it ourselves. We still have our wedding to think about."
"That depends on you," Mariely teased. "If you want to get me pregnant, that's on you." She laughed.
"Fair point! For now, let's just go with them."
She nodded, smiling warmly. "I'll look at some things for our baby too." She couldn't hide her excitement.
"Not just 'look.' We should start stocking up on baby needs early," he said with certainty.
"You're even more excited than I am."
Frank laughed. "Yeah, I'm excited—but also nervous."
"Me too. Sometimes I wonder… will I really be able to deliver our baby safely?" Mariely admitted.
Frank squeezed her hand. "You're anxious about the delivery, but me? I'm anxious about my two most precious people—you and our baby."
She smiled, holding his hands tightly. "Nothing will go wrong if we hold on to God, right? I always pray that when the time comes, He'll guide me safely through it."
"Yes," he whispered, kissing her hand. Even though he had done it countless times, the gesture still made her heart flutter.
Their car soon stopped—Andrew had already parked at the mall. Their two cars ended up side by side, so the couples entered together. The men trailed behind, while Veron and Mariely led the way, hand in hand with their partners.
"Bestie, where to first?" Mariely asked.
"Let's start at the baby section," Veron grinned.
She laughed and nodded. She was already excited to browse—baby bottles, bath supplies, diapers, tiny clothes. She avoided the clothing section for now since they still didn't know the baby's gender.
"I'll save up first before buying these," she murmured, eyeing a few items she liked.
Motherhood changes you. You begin to put the baby's needs before your own. Mariely felt her heart swell with happiness. I claim this—I'm already a mother, she thought.
Frank, standing quietly beside her, simply watched.
"This one's so nice," she said, gazing at a baby bathtub. She even whispered to it, "I hope you'll still be here when I come back."
"We should just buy it," Frank said firmly.
"No, we're only here to look around," she reasoned.
"But you like it. I'll buy it for you," he insisted.
"Where would we even put it?" she laughed.
"For now, at my condo. But once we move into our real home, everything will go there." He said it so seriously.
She then noticed the cart in his hand, already filled with the things she had pointed out earlier.
"Zean, those are expensive. Put them back."
"Nope. They're for our baby," Frank said simply.
She could only rub her head in exasperation.
Even Veron laughed at their exchange, while she and Andrew also filled up their cart.
Eventually, after all the browsing and shopping, they grew hungry and ate together before heading home.
"Hon, let me help you carry these," Mariely offered.
"Okay, but just take the lighter ones," Frank smiled.
Soon, they reached the car. That night, she stayed over at Frank's condo while Veron and Andrew headed home.
As they arranged the baby items, Mariely marveled at how ready Frank was—even if their baby was only three months along. She gently touched her belly.
"If you're tired, just rest. I'll finish this," he said.
"No, I'm fine. Let me help so we can both rest sooner."
He didn't argue further, and together they finished.
"We need to sleep," Frank murmured after.
"Yes. I love you," she replied.
"I love you more. Now give me a kiss." Frank teased her.
Frank kissed her deeply, and when he pulled away with a grin, she laughed.
"You really are something else."
He chuckled, pulling her into his arms. And there, in the safety of his embrace, she drifted off to sleep—content, loved, and at peace.