Always You

48

Nagising na lang ako nang makarating na kami sa ospital. Ayaw ko sanang magpa-admit but the doctor insisted to have some tests done. I had my spotting kasi noong natumba ako, and had a sprained ankle, too. Halos hindi maipinta ang mukha ng magkasintahan when they found out that I am pregnant. Tinanggap ko na lang ang bulyaw ni Olly dahil sa nangyari kanina sa restroom. Sa sobrang pagod, nakatulog ulit ako.

I woke up after a few hours and was surprised to see Zeke beside me. He looked worried and pissed off. Nang makita niyang nagising ako, hinalikan niya ang kamay ko. I smiled at him, pero hindi siya ngumiti.

And when I touched the side of his face, doon ko nakita ang mga luha na namumuo sa kanyang mga mata. Pinipigilan niyang umiyak. I instantly knew that he already knows I’m carrying his child.

“I’m okay now”, I reassured him. Not minding with the pain I felt on my cheeks.

Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko na nasa pisngi niya at saka dahan-dahan na inalis ito.

“No, you’re not.” His baritone voice were crisp and cold.

“Anong oras ka pala dumating?”, I asked, changing the topic. Ito ang ayaw kong makita sa kanya. His cold expression is making me uncomfortable.

“Kanina pa. As soon as Martin called and told me about the incident. I took the private plane.”

I remained silent.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”, he painfully asked.

“I—I’m sorry.”

“Alam mo ba kung gaano ako nag-alala? When Martin told me---, he paused. “ F*ck Andi!”

I could vividly see tears flowing down on his cheeks.

“I said I’m sorry!”, I told him.

“Papaano kung may nangyaring masama sa iyo?! What if nakunan ka dahil sa ginawa ni Joanne?!”, he yelled.

“Zeke, I’m okay”, I pleaded. I wanted him to know that I'm totally fine. And that my baby and I were okay.

"Okay?! Natumba ka and the doctor said you were bleeding!"

"Spotting, Zeke. It was just-"

"Why you didn't tell me?", paos niyang tanong.

Sakto namang may kumatok sa pintuan at bumugad doon ang magkasintahan.

Napansin kaagad nila ang nag-aaway kami. Olly immediately approached me.

“Alam mo Andi bawal sa’yo ang ma-stress”, she glanced at Zeke, arching her eyebrows. “Masama kay baby ang inaaway.”

Martin asked his friend if they could talk outside.

Sinigurado muna ni Olly na nakalabas na ang dalawa sa kwarto.

“Nakakatakot pa lang magalit si Zeke”, she lowered her voice. “Grabe ang sermon na ginawa niya sa mga bodyguards kanina sa labas. Lalo na noong nalaman niya na buntis ka.”

Naiintindihan ko naman si Zeke.

“He was so furious when he found out na nag-spotting ka dahil sa pagkakabagsak mo. He even called Gavin to make sure that girl’s going to pay for what she did."

I suddenly remembered how Joanne became a monster earlier. Para kasing may kung anong sumapi sa kanya. Puno siya ng galit.

“Pati ang daddy mo, hay grabe!”

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. “Dad’s here?”, gulat kong tanong.

“Yes, at nag-usap sila”, she replied. “Dinig na dinig kong sigaw ng daddy mo kanina sa kanya. Grabe talaga si Tito, kulang na lang kainin niya si Zeke dahil sa galit.”

“Anong ginawa ni Zeke?”, I asked.

“Hayun, hindi na nagsalita. Tinanggap niya ang galit ng daddy mo”, she added. “Ikaw kasi eh, hindi mo sinabing buntis ka. Ayan tuloy, nagkagulo!”

Hindi na ako umimik at yumuko na lang.

Ilang oras din nanatili sila Olly bago umalis. When they came back, mukhang humupa na ang galit niya.

I was watching some news and munching on these berries when he sat beside me and held my hand. Katatapos lang niyang makipag-usap over the phone.

He was making circles over my hand, but remained silent. Gusto ko siyang kausapin, ayoko ko kasi ng ganito kami.

“Zeke?”

He immediately leaned forward and looked at me in the eyes.

“What do you need?”, he asked.

“Sorry if I didn’t tell you right away.”

His expression softened and smiled.

"I’m not angry at you. Galit ako sa sarili ko, Andi, at sa mga taong may ginagawang masama sa iyo. Nagtatampo lang ako kasi hindi mo sinabi kaagad.” He kissed my knuckles and continued, “I don’t know what to do if I’ll lose you and our baby.”

He placed his hand on my tummy. “Don’t give your mommy a hard time, okay?”

I laughed softly and placed my hand over his hand.

“I almost lose a heartbeat when I heard you slightly bled”, he continued.

“Nakakatakot ka raw magalit sabi ni Olly”, I chuckled.

His face turned serious. “I was out of my mind. Dapat lagi akong nakabantay. Ayokong may mangyari ulit na masama sa iyo, Andi.”

“I love you, Zeke.”

His thumb touched my lips. “ I love you so much”, he whispered and claimed my lips. His kisses were soft and sweet.

“Alam na ba nila dad? Anong sinabi niya sa’yo?”

He answered me with a nod. “But don’t worry, I’ll take care of everything. Doon ka na sa condo ko tumira, okay?”

“Galit si dad sa’kin because I chose you.” Tears were welling up in my eyes.

“Thank you for choosing me”, he smiled.

Nakita kong may kinuha siya sa bulsa ng kanyang pantalon. Kinabahan ako nang makita ko ang isang maliit na black box.

He cleared his throat and held my hand. “I went to Singapore for this, to surprise you. Pero mukhang ako ang nagulat sa sorpresa mo.”

He opened it and I was speechless to see a beautiful diamond ring inside it.

“I should propose to you as soon as I return here. Nakahanda na ang lahat.”

He paused, and I can see tears in his eyes. Naiiyak din ako.

“When I heard that you’re pregnant, hindi ko maiwasang magalit sa sarili ko, Andi. What if may nangyaring masama sa iyo na wala ako sa tabi mo? What if nakunan ka? What if---”

I cut him off. “Walang mangyayaring masama sa akin Zeke. Please stop worrying too much.”

“Alam mo bang ang saya-saya ko rin na buntis ka?”, his voice croaked, and he sobbed. “I’m excited to be a father soon”, he softly laughed. “You’ve given me the best gift for my birthday, Andi.”

He took off the ring from the box, and slowly put on my finger.

“Marry me please”, he pleaded. “I want you to marry me. I want to be your husba—“.

Hindi ko na siya pinatapos dahil sinunggaban ko siya kaagad ng halik. He deepened our kiss and for a moment, it was so magical for me.

“Yes!” I laughingly said as soon as our lips parted.