Bloodless War

EPILOGUE

"I did bad things just so you'd be mine. I made you believe Finn Madison had cheated on you. I set him up, baby."

Nanlamig ang buong katawan ko nang makita ang gulat sa mukha ni Sera. Tuluyan nang bumagsak ang luha sa pisngi niya habang hindi makapaniwalang nakatitig sa'kin.

Sa mga oras na 'yon ay para bang nagsisi akong sinabi ko sa kanya ang totoo. Paano kung iwan niya ako? Hindi ko yata kakayanin. My heart was beating fast and loud! Tangina!

Ilang minutong panay hikbi lang ang narinig ko galing sa kanya at sa mga oras na 'yon ay para akong sinasaksak ng paulit-ulit sa dibdib. I made her cry! This is all my fault!

I was about to say something and try to hug her when she grabbed me and hugged me tightly. Ilang segundo akong natulala pero nang makabawi ay gumanti na ako ng yakap. I hugged her more tightly.

"I'm sorry, Sera. I'm such a bad person. I'm a jerk, an asshole."    

Humiwalay siya sa'kin at hinawakan ang magkabilang pisngi ko. Pulang pula ang ilong niya sa kakaiyak pero kahit na ganon ay hindi parin maitatago kung gaano siya kaganda.

"Eros, we've all made mistakes. We aren't perfect. Please stop being mean to yourself. It breaks my heart.."    she said. Muli niya akong niyakap nang mahigpit.

"It's all right, Eros. I know you're sorry for what you did. Don't worry, I still love you, okay? I will accept and love you regardless of how many bad things you have done or will do because I know deep down that you are a good person."     she kissed the side of my head.

"I have faith in you, Eros."

Matapos niyang sabihin sa'kin ang mga katagang 'yon ay nakasigurado akong siya na ang babaeng matagal ko nang hinihintay..Ipinangako ko sa sarili ko na kapag pumayag siya, ay papakasalan ko na siya.

I'm in love with her. Madly and deeply in love with her. She was the only person who still accepted me despite the fact that I had made numerous unforgivable mistakes. And despite everything I've done to her, she continues to love me. I know she doesn't deserve me, that's why I'm doing everything I can to be the kind of man she deserves. Dahil hindi ko kayang mawala siya sa'kin.

She was the first person who had faith in me. Who believed there was good in me. Dahilan kung bakit minahal ko siya nang sobra.

"Ayos kana, Eros?"

Natigil ako sa pag-iisip nang maupo sa tabi ko si Finn Madison. Ang ex-boyfriend ng asawa ko.

"Yeah.."    maikling sagot ko dahil naalala ko ang dahilan kung bakit niya naitanong sa'kin 'yan...

"It's your first time seeing Sera gave birth to your child. Kaya ka siguro hinimatay?"    halata sa boses nito ang pang-uuyam kaya seryoso ko lang siyang tinitigan.

Ang gagong 'to! Nilapitan ako para lang inisin?

"Oh, man, don't kill me with your glare."     natatawa niyang itinaas ang kamay na para bang suko na. Bumuntong hininga ako at sumandal at tumingala.

He's right. Ito ang unang pagkakataon na nasaksihan ko kung paano manganak ang asawa ko. Zen was born without my presence. That's why, when I saw how much pain she was in earlier, how she screamed my name while attempting to push our baby out of her tummy, I felt as if I were running out of air to breathe. I can't imagine how painful it must be, especially after seeing our baby's head emerge from her!

"Tell me, were you like this when you accompanied my wife during Zen's birth?"    I asked him.

"Not me. But Achilles did. He passed out and had to be confined 'cause he had been unconscious for how many hours."    humalakhak ito. Natawa narin ako dahil muntik naring mangyari sa'kin 'yon kanina. Buti nalang talaga kinaya ko pa.