How Do We Live?

Chapter 31: Healing

"Well, Tita invited me at Shang Ri La. We visited some shops there to find a gift for Tito." Marahan kong simula at bahagya pang sumandal sa countertop paharap sa kanya. He just continue stuffing my ref with all of these things that he bought.

Mostly some basic kitchen stocks at iilang ready to eat food, breads and sweets.

"Then we visited him for a short while." I utter in a low voice, tama lang para marinig niya. He slowly froze upon hearing what I said. Marahang humarap sa akin with a serious face.

"Are you okay?" Mahina niyang tanong while idly walking in front of me. I smile at him a little and nod enthusiastically. Nang ipulupot sa bewang ko ang mga kamay ay alam kong hindi siya naniwala sa naging sagot ko.

I reach for his broad chest and lay my hand there, slightly caressing the soft fabric of his dress shirt. Ang mga mata ay malalim na pinagmamasdan ang bawat hagod ko, naghihintay sa susunod kong gagawin.

"Every time I visit his grave, I was reminded of everything we lost. It's sad, of course." Marahan kong bulong sa kanya. When he heard me agad niyang inilapat ang tungki ng ilong niya sa aking pisngi just like how he do it when we were teens.

"But everything fell into places. You become a great lawyer, I'm a doctor now." I whisper on his cheeks as he continue to caress my cheeks.

"No. It's not the same, Mon." He hissed with a low voice, bakas ang hinanakit at panghihinayang.

"I lost you." Hindi ko napigilan ang marahang pagkapit sa dress shirt niya matapos niyang bigkasin ang mga salitang iyon.

"I lost ten years of your life. I missed your graduation in med school. I didn't get to celebrate with you when you became a licensed doctor. I was not there for 10 years, Mon." I slowly shut my eyes to stop the tears from falling while listening to him as he whispers those words to my ear, kissing my cheeks softly.

"So, no. It's not the same, Mon. It's not the same." Pauulit-ulit niyang saad habang ikinukulong ako sa isang yakap. I embrace his huge frame with all my might, taking every bit of pain he continue to carry.

"We have so much to celebrate ahead, Rahim." I utter in a low voice with a hint of hope in it. Naramdaman ko ang pag-singhap niya bago ako muling iharap sa kanya.

"You better promise me that, Monique Angel."

"Promise you what?" Natatawa kong balik sa kanya ng makita ang kunot niyang noo at nagsasalubong na kilay na nakatingin sa akin.

"Promise me that even when things go south, shaky... you would still stay and try to fix it with me."

"Why would things go south and shaky, Rahim?"

"That's how relationships are, Mon? I thought you had boyfriends after me." Inis niyang saad kaya naman hindi ko napigilan ang paghampas sa kanya ng sabihin niya iyon.

"I promise to stay even when things goes south and shaky, Rahim." I said with a smile on my face.

"You'll stay even if I'm so much of an ass to you sometimes?" I laugh so hard nang lumiit ang boses niya habang sinasabi ang huling linya.

"Even if you're an ass most of the time."

"Even when you have all the reasons in the world to leave me?" I froze when I heard his serious voice. Nang tagpuin ang mga mata niya, his dark blue eyes where penetrating me. Tila binabasa kung ano man ang nasa isip ko.

"Even when I have all the reasons in the world to leave you." I said with finality in my voice. I reach for his strong cheeks and slowly stroke it. Marahan naman siyang napapikit habang dinadama ang mga haplos ko.