Deliverance (DS #1)

Chapter 24

Chapter 24:
Kiss me, please

STORGE'S proposal, honestly, is very tempting. Gustong-gustong um-oo ni Patricia.

But something inside her heart's still saying that it was unfair to him. Storge can really be a good husband and father. There's no doubt about that. She wouldn't ever doubt about that.

The thing is, she doesn't love him the way he loves her. Gusto niyang subukan. Unti-unti. But not to marry him right away.

"Please, think about it," ani Storge bago siya umalis. "Pero huwag mo masyadong pahirapan ang sarili mo sa pag-iisip. Always think about the baby first."

Tumango si Patricia at ngumiti. Si Storge pa lang ang tunay na nakakaalam ng kalagayan niya at nangako itong itatago iyon para sa kanya.

"Thank you, Storge..."

He kissed her forehead. "Take care, love. Give me a call when you reached home."

Ganoon nga ang ginawa ni Patricia pagkauwi niya. Tinawagan niya si Storge para ipaalam na safe siyang nakarating ng bahay.

"Kailan mo balak sabihin kanina Tita?" tanong nito.

Nakatanaw si Patricia sa baba ng hardin kung saan nandoon ang Daddy at Mommy niya. "I don't know yet... May ilang buwan pa naman bago mahalata ang tiyan ko," sabay sapo sa puson niya.

"I understand. If ever that you wanted to tell them, sasamahan kita."

Napabuntong hininga siya. "Thank you, Storge..."

"Tuwing kailan ang check-ups mo?"

"H-Ha? Ahm... every month yata dapat akong bumalik."

"Do you have your vitamins already?" nag-aalalang tanong pa nito.

"Yes. Kabibili ko lang. Hindi ko nga alam kung saan ko itatago," she put humor in her voice to make the conversation light.

"Very good! Kung wala kang mapagtataguan, puwede dito sa bahay."

"Eh, paano kung makita nina Kuya Gap?"

"Sasabihin ko, buntis ako. Bakit?"

Patricia chuckled. "Storge naman, eh."

He chuckled too. "Seriously, I can keep them for you. At araw-araw ay pupuntahan kita para mabigyan ng vitamins. Seeing you and at the same time, making sure that you're drinking your vitamins is a favor to me."

"Storge..." This guy is some sort of a man from a romance novel! "Abala lang iyon sa'yo."

"Kahit kailan, hindi kayo magiging abala ni baby."

Napakurap siya. "Storge..."

"You know, earlier, I really felt honored that you trusted me. Sabi mo, ako pa lang ang nakakaalam. Sobrang laking pagtitiwala ang binigay mo sa'kin. So whether you accept my offer or not, love, I will take care of you."

"You're too much, Storge."

"In love, we do things too much."

Bumalik siya sa loob ng kuwarto at umupo sa gilid ng kama. "Thank you, Storge."

"Don't thank me yet! Wala pa nga akong nagagawa." Nahihimigan niya maging ang pagngiti nito. "By the way, saan ka nga pala naglilihi?"

Biglang lumitaw sa isip niya ang banana split na nag-uumapaw ng chocolate syrup. Napalunok siya. "Banana split."

"Oh?"

"With a lot of choco syrup on top."

"Oohh! Carbs!"