Zoey: the Road leads to Rome (Completed)

Chapter 32- Nag-usap din sila... Finally

Rome's POV

Nilipat si Zoey sa isang private room after makita sa mga test niya na napigilan ang cancer cells nya na nadamay ang right ovary niya. And the cancer are slowing down. Beth said she made sure na hindi madadamay ang right ovary... Nabigla din si Daddy sa naging result ng biopsy ni Zoey.

Dad said that she can have her chemo next week and she needs to rest for the whole week. We decided to stay at Country Club after she and the twins were dismissed from the hospital.

My super girl is smiling when she was greeted by our family. An impromptu party courtesy of my mom was help for Zoey and the twins.

Pinagpasa-pasahan si A at B ng mga lola nila na ayaw magpatawag ng lola.

"I really can't believe na A and B ang ipinangalan nyo sa mga anak nyo." Tumabi si Cailee kay Zoey.
"Mas madali sa kanila yun." Zoey replied.
"Cool kaya... A C. Ramirez and B C. Ramirez." I replied cheekily.
Cailee rolled her eyes.
Kinawayan ni Zoey si Allie ng dumating ito kasama si Beth at Carlos.

"Allie... Thank you." Maluha-luhang yumakap si Zoey kay Allison.
"Wala yun momshie. Hindi na lang ako nakabalik sa hospital kasi madaming mumu dun." I knew Allie was telling the truth but our friends laugh at her as if she was joking.
"Thank you Beth." Zoey said.
Ngumiti si Beth. "Magpagaling ka." She winked at her.

"Nasaan ang mga inaanak ko?" Tanong ni Allison. Nang makita niyang pinagkakaguluhan pa ang kambal, umupo na lang siya sa tabi ni Zoey.
"Excited ang mga lola buti kung makuha mo." Jack commented.
"Nadinig ko yun..." Sabat ni mommy na nasa dinning area. "Nonna ang tawag sa akin hindi lola."

"Samantha, huwag mong kurutin ang pisngi, baka madeform." Pagbabawal ni mommy.
Umiyak ang kambal ng madinig si mommy.
"Ayan, umiyak. Ang lakas kasi ng boses ng lola eh." Inugoy-ugoy ni Tita Sam at Tita Marie ang kambal.
"Matuto ka nga bumulong." Pagbabawal ni Tita Lise kay mommy.

Nagsiuwi ang mga bisita namin ng sabihin ni daddy na kailangan magpahinga ni Zoey. Dinala namin sa nursey room ang kambal at nilinis ni Zoey isa-isa ang dalawang bata. I watched her doing what a mother should do to her babies.

I almost lost them, I thought.

Hindi pwedeng magpabreast feed si Zoey dahil sa mga gamot na iniinom niya. Iyon ang pinanghihinayangan niya.

"I don't want to leave them here." Zoey said to me softly ng mapatulog niya ang kambal.
"You have to rest. Hindi ka pwedeng mapuyat." I replied to her.
"Pero..."
"No buts Zoey. Doctor's order not me. You have to rest. Let's go. Nakabukas naman ang baby monitor. Si Mommy muna ang bahala sa kanila sa gabi habang nagpapalakas ka."
Malungkot na lumabas si Zoey ng kwarto ng kambal. Huminto siya sa psare room na ginagamit niya dati as her room.

"Doon ang kwarto natin." Pagpipigil ko sa kanya. Nakakunot siyang nahinto sa pagbukas ng pintuan.
"Wala na ang mga gamit mo diyan. Nasa kwarto na natin. Sa kwarto ko." I said.
Nakakunot pa din ang noo ni Zoey pero hindi nagsasalita.

"Tara na. Meron pa tayong dapat pag-usapan." I hold her hand and guide her to our room. Slowly... dahil meron pa siyang tahi na kailangan ingatan.

Once we are in our room, kinabahan naman akong magsalita.
Dahan dahan umupo si Zoey sa kama at naghintay ng sasabihin ko.

I paced in front of her, formulating what I wanted to say to her withoutsounding like an insecure asshole.

"Bakit hindi mo sinabi sa amin na kapatid mo si Trevor?" I started with that.Dahil diyan nagsimula lahat ang galit ko. Huminto ako sa harapan ni Zoey athinintay siyang magsalita.
"He asked me too." She replied.
"And?"
"Yun lang. He asked me na kung pwedeng itago ko na magkapatid kami. Una, sabi niya this is for my mom's memory. Para hindi malaman ng ibang tao na nagtaksilsi papa. Hanggang sa pinoprotektahan niya ako sa family niya dahil maimpluwesyaang mga ito." Sagot ni Zoey.
"And you believe that?" I asked.
"Partly. Pero ang totoo, pakiramdam ko nahihiya pa rin siya dahil siya ang anak sa labas kahit mas matanda siya sa akin. Inintindi ko na lang." Sagot ni Zoey.Walang halong galit sa kapatid na tarantado.
Huminga ako ng malalim.
"Bakit hindi mo sinabi sa akin ang... tungkol sa... tungkol sa cancer mo?"

Matagal bago sumagot si Zoey.

"Ayaw kong makita kang naawa sa akin. Ayaw kong magstay ka dahil naguguilty kasa nangyayari sa akin. Ayaw kong makita moa kong nahihirapan at namamatayaraw-araw sa sakit ko. I will not do that to you. Akala ko mamamatay talagaako." May luha ang mga mata ni Zoey.
"I'm sorry Rome. I should have not hide it all from you."
"Yes should not have... team tayong dalawa Zoey. No more secret from me, okay?Kahit ano pa ang tumatakbo sa isip mo. Kahit masakit pakinggan ang mgamangyayari sa atin, no more secrets between us."

Tumango si Zoey at pinahiran ng tissue ang mga luha. I squat in front of her so we are eye to eye.

"Do you know it kills me when I see you with Trevor? I almost kill you brother because I thought he is your lover." She smile a little. "I was jealous with him."
"You were?" tanong niya.
"Don't make me repeat what I said." That made her smile.
"When you were in the hospital, fighting for your life, I was thinking to commit suicide if you will not make it." Something formed in my throat that makes me hard to speak.
"I can't make it with you Zoey. You are my everything. Huwag mo na akong tatakutin ng ganun, hon."
"Don't be stupid, Rome." She murmured.
"Allison saw it. She saw what will happen to me so she helped us." Hindi ko sinabi kay Zoey ang naging kapalit kay Allison. Not now, I will keep this hanggang sa gumaling siya.

"I love you Zoey..." I said to her.
"You do?" Balik na tanong ni Zoey.
"I do... love you... From the day I saw you picking up your books at Brent. There is something you wake up in me...A protective instinct perhaps... I am not a saint Zoey, I will make mistakes in the future... But please, let me love you until my end. Until the next life... I'm sorry that I made mistakes... The things I did to you. The things I did not do."

"I love you too... You ruined other guys for me. It will always be you. And I am not angry with you Rome. I will never get angry with you." She replied shyly.
I hugged her... Hugged her tight.
"Not that I'm complaining, hon. Pero minsan, magalit ka naman. Lalo na kay Trevor." I said when I back away. Tumabi ako sa kanya sa kama.

She chuckled at me. "I have so much love to give that I don't know the word hate."
Inakbayan ko si Zoey at hinalikan sa noo. "I have so much hate to your brother to cover for both of us." I replied dryly.
Natawa si Zoey. "Wash up ka na. Magpahinga ka na Zoey."

I helped her to clean up then helped her to go to bed. I went to my twins when Zoey is already sleeping and ask for forgiveness once again. I kiss them goodnight and thank God for these gifts. I may not deserved them but I will accept them, open arms. God's timing is always perfect.