Until Forever (Published!)

Chapter 66

Akala ni Mia ay naubos na ang mga luha niya pero hindi pa pala. Her tears started to stream down her cheeks again when Micheal handed her a beautiful urn. It contained her mother's ashes.

"Hiniling ni Mama na ipa-cremate ang mga labi niya at ibigay sa iyo..."

Naninikip ang dibdib na tinanggap niya ang lalagyan ng abo ng ina. She brought the urn to her chest, and hugged it tight. Her heart was still breaking thinking that her mother saved her life. Alam na niya kung ano ang nangyari sa ina. Jasmin sacrificed her life for her. She was her bone marrow donor, and her health worsened after the procedure. Ayun pa sa asawa ay hiniling ng ina na huwag na itong ipaglaban at gamutin pa. That she just wanted to take a peaceful repose knowing that she had done what she wanted to do. Pagod na raw ito at gusto nang magpahinga. It was her mother's wish, and right now, she had no other choice but to respect it. She owed her life to her, the life of her baby, too, and she would forever be thankful.

"Her urn was just sitting beside you, here in the hospital..." pagpapaalam nito sa kanya.

Nakita nga niya ang urn na iyon sa side table na nasa tabi ng kanyang hospital bed. She thought that it was just an ornament. Hindi pala. It contained her mother's ashes. The mother that she couldn't hug anymore, but she would forever be a part of her body. She had her bone marrow. She gave her a new life. Nabubuhay ito sa kanyang mga ugat. At habang buhay siya, parang buhay rin ang kanyang ina. Their lives were already weaved together, inseparable, no matter what happens.

"I know that Mama Jasmin is watching over you all the time, Mia. She's your guardian angel. And her sacrifice didn't go in vain. Look at you. You'll not be like this without her."

"But I just can't help not to feel guilty," she sobbed. "Ako ang dahilan kung bakit nawala siya, Micheal. Ako..." She couldn't help but blame herself.

Patuloy siyang inalo ng asawa. "I understand the feeling, but I know, if you're in her situation, you'll do the same, too, for our baby. You'll give your life to our baby if you need to, right? That's what your mother exactly did to you, for you."

Napasigok na lamang siya sa sinabing iyon ni Micheal. He was right. Siya man ay gagawin din iyon. She would say yes in a heartbeat. She would do that for her own child, especially if that was the only way to save her.

"I promised Mama Jasmin to take good care of you. Which I will do. I will take good care of you, Mia. Nawala man si Mama Jasmin, nandito naman ako. I will be with you until forever, until my last dying breath. I love you, honey..." madamdaming wika nito. Mas lalong naging mahigpit ang yakap nito sa kanya.

At muli ay naging emotional siya. Pakiramdam niya ay ngayon lang niya narinig ang mga katagang iyon mula kay Micheal. Pero parang ilang beses na rin yata niyang narinig? It became too familiar to her already. She just couldn't tell. Was he saying 'I love you' to her when she was in a coma?

"I love you, and our baby... I won't let you go. I'll hold you forever, as tight as I could, Mia."

She just pushed her face harder in his chest. Nakataas ang uluhan ng kanyang hospital bed, at halos ay nakaupo na rin siya. And her husband was holding her in a tight but protective embrace. Micheal saying 'I love you' to her overwhelmed her. Just right after her mother professed her love to her, here was another person, her husband, saying the words she felt deprived all these years. She felt unloved and unwanted all through her life. But right now, that feeling was gone.

Sandali siyang inilayo nito at marahang hinagkan sa mga labi. He kissed her tenderly, but love was overflowing in his tender gesture. There was no pretense. She could tell that this man really loved her.

Malamlam ang mga mata nito nang tumitig sa kanya. "I love you, Mia," buong pusong sambit nito. "I'll forever be thankful to Mama Jasmin for saving you. For I don't know what to do if I lost you. I don't know. Maybe I'll go out of my mind. I haven't loved a woman like this all my life until I met you."

Muli ay binihag nito ang kanyang mga labi. And she could only weep. But tears of joy this time around. It felt so good to be in Micheal's arms, to hear the words he was saying to her.

"I love you, too, Micheal..." kusa iyong nanulas sa kanyang mga labi. Because that was what she felt as of the moment, that was what her heart was beating inside her chest. That she loved this man. She could feel that from the deepest corner of her heart. She hadn't loved anyone else but him.

Their lips locked in a more emotional kiss. She had just a rollercoaster of emotions. She was heartbroken a moment ago knowing that she lost her mother. But when her husband started to tell her how he loved him, she felt as if he made her heart whole again. Of course, she wouldn't be the same again after her mother died for her. But with Micheal beside her, loving her, that was another brand new life that was worth living for. And then, there was their baby. Ang anak na lalong magbubuklod sa kanilang mag-asawa. She still had a family afterall. A family that she could call her own.

She was breathless when their lips parted. Marahang hinaplos nito ang kanyang tiyan. "And I love you, too, baby..." he gently whispered and planted a soft kiss over her baby bump. "Mommy and Daddy love you..."

She couldn't help but smile. Micheal looked an adorable, doting father, and it melted her heart. Weakness pala niya ang mga ganitong klase ng lalaki. Iyong mapagmahal sa anak. Mas lalo tuloy itong gumuwapo sa kanyang paningin.

She could just sigh in happiness. She'd been through hell and back for this family. Para sa pamilyang bubuoin nila ni Micheal.

They'd been through a lot. At ipinapangako niyang gagawin niya ang lahat mapanatili lamang buo ang kanyang pamilya. And she knew, that was what her mother wanted for her, too. Ang magkaroon siya nang buo at masayang pamilya.

She and Micheal would wither any issues and problems that they might have had, be it in the past, or in the future.

They just have to work hard to keep their marriage strong, and open the communication between them to talk about any mishaps.

And of course, it's their love that would keep them together, forever.