Archanghel: Tale of the Universe

Chapter 29

Nine months had passed. Janus treated me just like before. He was still a gentle and caring husband to me. As my tummy grows, Janus becomes more and more protective of me. Lola Isma was also preparing everything I would need for childbirth. We went downtown yesterday to look for some baby clothes and other things that the baby will need.

And because I was growing too, some of my clothes don’t fit me anymore. Luckily, Lola Isma was advanced and brought me a bunch of house dresses. But sometimes it was not enough, since Janus was the one doing the laundry by himself and he would go help in the field most of the time, I would end up using Lola Isma’s dresses. She didn’t mind it; it was just me who was getting shy about borrowing dresses from her.

My movement was also restricted and I couldn’t do some chores anymore. Janus and Lola Isma would still let me do things that I wouldn’t have a problem doing, like some sort of exercise. But other than that, I would have trouble doing anything else. I also can’t understand my temperament sometimes. Just like now...

“Can I enter?” I was shaken from my thoughts when I heard Janus’ voice behind me.

He was standing at the other side of the door while I was gazing at the window. He was shuffling outside. And was waiting for my answer. We fought earlier, or I was getting pissed at him. The reason, I don’t know. I don’t know. I just felt annoyed seeing his face. And then I woke up and he was not home. I called for him but no one answered and that ticked me off.

He said to me that he would never leave me and yet he did leave me. I cried in the bedroom for a little while and closed the door, locked it. I know I’m being unreasonable. I knew that he was helping on the fields but I was just annoyed at him.

“Xandriel, can you let me in? I need to change my clothes. I'm getting cold out here.” He said gently.

I stood up and blocked my body on the door to keep him from pushing it in. Who knows, maybe he had a spare key. Lola Isma had. I put my ears on the door and listened to him outside. I flattened my face and ears on the wood to hear him or his movements, but I heard nothing.

“Can you tell me what’s going on?”

I jumped when I heard his voice near my ear. When I turned around, I saw him standing in front of me, water was dripping down his hair and his shirt was drenched. He had taken a bath. He also had a towel draped around his waist as he looked at me intently and curiously.

Where did he come from? I looked around and saw the windows that were wide open. Yeah, why didn’t I think of that? I faced him with a matching frown. He also furrowed his eyebrows at me.

“Why did you come in? Did I let you in?” I crossed my arms in front of me to show my displeasure.

“What? What are you saying? Xandriel, it’s still early.”

I flinched when his tone rose. I felt flustered by his words. I don’t know why I am acting this way. I know I'm being petty and all. But it’s not enough reason to shout at me. He didn’t even consider that I was pregnant.

“Xandriel?”

I looked at him. He was still looking at me with furrowed eyebrows and was waiting for me to talk. I felt the side of my eyes burn and the tears started to swell. Janus had changed. He was not the gentle husband that I came to get used to. That is the only thing that was running on my mind. How Janus’ action changed.

The crease on Janus’ eyebrows deepened with my reaction. He was confused and I was starting to cry. I didn’t pay him much attention. The only thing I know is that he shouted at me. He was not being gentle with me and I didn’t like it. Not at all.

“You’re already outside, right? Why did you even bother going home? Why did you even bother going back here!” I shouted at him.

Little sobs escaped my mouth even though I did my best in containing them. I didn’t wait for Janus’ reaction and opened the bedroom door. I walked out of the house and crossed the road. I didn’t bother when the sun almost burned my skin and went inside the waiting shed there.

I sat down. I let the wind caress my face and swept the tears that were falling down my face. I brushed it off, the tears. Why am I acting this way? I was being too sensitive. I put my hand on my belly and rubbed it. Baby, are you the one making me feel this way? Can’t you take it easy on mommy? You know that I like your father very much.

I sighed. I was only thankful that there was no one around me in that miserable state. They would think that Lola Isma and my husband were not treating me well when it was the opposite. It was just me. I was just being silly and overly sensitive. Maybe I can blame it on being pregnant, but I really don’t want anyone seeing me like that.

+++

Janus was left dumbfounded by his wife. He just got home from the field. He took a bath in the public tub because he didn’t want to let Xandriel smell him in his sweat. Since she had entered her second trimester, Xandriel’s nose had been getting sensitive. She didn’t want to be around Janus when he was wearing cologne or if he was sweating. So, he would end up taking almost five baths a day.

And now, in order to prevent her from smelling him, he had taken a bath and went home after. He discovered that their bedroom door was locked and so he called for Xandriel. But when he heard no response, he decided to peek into the window. There he saw Xandriel leaning on the door and listening to something. He got bold and went inside to ask her what was going on.

He also didn’t mean to raise his voice at her. He was just taken aback a little. He was worried now about what was happening to his wife. His mind also kept repeating the image of her welling up over and over again. He was just there, standing, worried, not knowing what to do and how to approach his wife. He couldn’t ask Lola Isma for help, because the old woman was out setting an appointment with a midwife since Xandriel was almost due.

Janus sighed. He knew Xandriel hadn’t had breakfast yet. He proceeded to get some clothes and dry himself. When he was done, he went to the kitchen to serve some breakfast and covered it first. He then went out to fetch his sulking wife.

He looked around in worry. He only sighed in relief when he saw Xandriel sitting in the waiting shed. She was leaning on one of the pillars there and probably crying. He was relieved because he had thought that his pregnant wife would be standing under the scorching sun and crying. He saw how Xandriel tried to brush away the tears on her face.

Her eyebrows were in deep furrows and she hadn’t seen him standing on the opposite side of the road. Janus stood there watching his wife cry. Something pierced his heart and pain enveloped his whole body. When Xandriel looked up, their eyes met. Another set of tears formed at the side of Xandriel’s eyes and her lips pouted.

Janus immediately runs their distance. He was quick, also because it was too hot. Xandriel watched him for a brief moment and when Janus was finally a foot away from her, she diverted her eyes. She wasn't ready yet to face her husband.

“You haven’t had your breakfast yet. Can you go home and eat first?” Janus gently said.

Xandriel didn’t answer him. Even though her stomach was almost growling and the kid inside of her was protesting and she thought she wanted to be near Janus, she held it all in. The baby will not be spoiled.

“Dear, you should eat first. For the baby?” Janus continued.

Janus was being gentle and nice. Xandriel couldn’t help but glare at him. She didn’t want to talk to him just yet. She knew her fault and that little word he said last rang in her ears. Janus watched as Xandriel put her hands on her hips and shouted at him.

“Why don’t you two go with each other? Since it was all you ever wanted!”

Xandriel was about to leave while stomping her foot, but Janus was quick to hold her elbow to stop her. Janus gently put his hands on her waist and at her back and made her look at him.

“Xandriel, dear, what is wrong? Why are you doing this? This is not good.”

Janus, by now, had learned his lesson. His voice was low and soft as he didn’t want to trigger Xandriel for another cry. She had been crying since earlier and it might take a toll on her body and affect the baby. He may not understand her fully, but he will try. For Xandriel and the baby. Since Xandriel was not predictable, she looked at Janus and she couldn’t help it when the tears were starting to form at the corner of her eyes, again.