Begin Again

Chapter 17

"Diba sinabi ko na sa 'yo oo?" She asked.

"Really? It would have happened?"

"Oo. Ikaw? Itutuloy mo ba?"

"That night? Honestly, if you had let me...yes." He lifted her chin up so that he was looking into her eyes. "I would have made love to you like it was our first and last time."

"Bakit last?"

"Because I thought you were with Simon. So if one night with you was all I had...I would cherish it."

Leah looked up at him, tears in her eyes. "Sa tingin mo ba gagawin ko 'yon tapos iiwan kita?"

"I didn't know! I didn't know anything, Leah. I just had it in my head that you didn't love me anymore, you moved on. You had this perfect life, and Simon by your side. I admit I was messing with you, with the divorce papers...just because I wanted some hope that you still felt something for me."

"Nag-assume ka kasi. Kung tinanong mo lang sana ako, sasabihin ko sa 'yo na hindi ko boyfriend si Simon."

"That's what Tita Jack said. I'll tell you what I told her. I didn't want to ask because I was afraid of hearing the answer. I didn't want to hear you say you loved Simon. It was torture in my imagination. I couldn't handle it if it became reality. That's why I went home after signing the divorce papers. Para hindi ko na makita kayong dalawa."

Leah took his face in her hands. "Ikaw lang ang mahal ko," she told him seriously. "Ikaw lang ang para sa akin."

Clark kissed her. "I know that now. Let's stop going back down memory lane. We have the future and more importantly, we have the present. Let's go out and enjoy Tahoe."

"Sige, maligo ka na." She pushed him slightly.

"Sabay na tayo," he said.

"Naligo na ako. Ang tagal mo kayang natulog!"

Clark pouted. Since their wedding, Leah has learned that taking a shower or bath together was one of Clark's favorite things. With that in mind, she had a treat for him but that had to be saved for later.

"Sige na, hubby. Kapag hinapon tayo, lulubog na ang araw." She kissed him quickly and got off the bed with the tray. "Tara na."

Clark lay there and watched Leah walk out of the room, loving the view of her legs when she was wearing only his shirt. When she was out of sight, he got out of bed, excited to start their day.

~

Leah still had her pink jacket that Clark had bought her a year ago, and she wore that with a hat and gloves as they trekked out into the snow. Clark wanted to go snowboarding but Leah protested that it was scary and dangerous. After some debate, Clark convinced her that they'll only go on the beginner slope.

When they got there, Leah was a little more heartened to see families with children. She watched a little boy come down the hill, sitting on a board with his dad. She suddenly thought of something.

"Ikaw na lang, hubby," she said. "Hintayin kita dito."

"Come on, wifey. Its not scary at all. Look, little kids are doing it."

"Oo nga. Pero may naisip kasi ako."

"Ano 'yon?"

"Paano kung...hindi ko sinasabi na buntis ako ah. Pero kung sakali, baka lang makasama sa akin."

Clark's eyes widened and he took her hand and tugged her away from the rental booth.

"Clark! Saan tayo pupunta?"