Magkakapamangkin na ako!

It was Jeunessa, my sister-in-law-to-be, and Omar, my brother, who broke the news.

Jeunessa: Omar, what can you say about this blouse?
Omar: Tanunigin mo si Jay.
Me: (Lifting an eyebrow) Well, mukha syang pang-80's. At bakit may garter? And you bought 2 blouses with the same style!
Omar: Pambuntis yan.
Me: ... ha?
Jeunessa: I'm pregnant!
Me: Huh?
Jeunessa: Ay, ayaw maniwala... (bringing out the ultrasound result and two pregnancy test kits showing positive results) ayan... I'm pregnant!
Me: What are you doing??? (Still startled)
Omar: We're telling you, she's pregnant!
Jeunessa: We're going to have a baby!
Me: Whaaat!?

A few minutes after, Miah, my close friend in high school, called and I started spilling that my brother is going to have a baby.

Miah: Uy exciting yan! Syeeet Oscar, kelan ang kasal?
Me: Hindi ko nga alam eh...
Miah: Kelangan paghandaan yan, engrandeng kasal dapat! Naku Oscar I'm so happy for you! (Parang ako yung magkakaanak!) Kelangan tumugtog ka sa kasal nila! Dalhin mo yung buong orchestra!

Even our online game friends, or SD (Supreme Destiny) friends, were surprised by the news.

Me: Magkakapamangkin na ako!
Mafy: yung totoong Jeunessa? (my brother's character was named after his girlfriend)
Me: Oo!
Mafy: Uy nice!
Me: Kung papayagan ng nanay niya, gagawin ko syang prodigy ng violin or piano hehehe.

I even told my officemates about it.

Ana: Naku, Charvie, mauubos ang sweldo mo nyan sa kakabili ng pasalubong sa pamangkin mo!
Me: Oo nga eh.
Elayne: Uy, si Charvie, magkakababy na, AYIII! (Again, parang ako yung magkakaanak)
Me: Gaga.
Mama Haze: Naku, may manggugulo na dito sa office, ang lapit pa naman ng bahay nyo.
Ana: Oo nga, tapos tuturuan mo ng Epi Info (the stat program used in the office)
After all the news spreading and happy greetings, The idea that I'm indeed going to have a nephew/niece after eight months slowly sank into me. And for once, I eventually became just as excited as Miah when his brother had his first child. Exciting nga pala! I have been carrying babies in my arms every now and then, but this will be different. It will be close to having my own child. Definitely, it would mean drastic changes in the house, provided that the couple will stay here. And most significantly, it will change my life forever.

I have been fantasizing about the future with my pamangkin. When I buy groceries, about one third will probably be for the baby. When I get home every night, I will embrace and play with the baby like a doll. When he/she gets older, I will accompany him/her to Sta. Isabel on Saturdays where he/she will have his/her violin lessons with my teacher or piano lessons with the Music Department Chair, a beloved sister of goodwill. When he gets a bit older, I might tutor him/her on his/her school assignments, or not, assuming that he/she'll be smart. In other words, in the future, whatever I do, a big part of it will be with and for my pamangkin.

I remember my close friend in BS Public Health that her plans for her future is to be in a compund where her relatives, especially her nieces and nephews, reside. She has no plans whatsoever to leave the country and excel in her field abroad. Now, I get her point.

It seems that I will stay here for a longer time --- not for myself, but for my pamangkin.

Comments

tantric said…
tito or tita? :D
1:57 PM
Oscar Vic said…
Oo nga problema yan eh hahaha joke.
11:00 PM
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