Grieving Soul [#Wattys2019 Winner]

Chapter 38

#GrievingSoulWP

Chapter 38
Hero

"We need to get you home today because your mommy misses you so much, okay, Dhan?" I told Dhan while I was making him wear his little backpack.

Nakanguso naman siyang bahagyang humarap sa akin. Agad akong napangiti dahil napakaguwapo niya talagang bata. Palibhasa kasi'y guwapo ang tatay at maganda ang nanay kaya grabeng kaguwapuhan ang kinalabasan. Paniguradong paglaki niya ay mas may ikakaguwapo pa.

"Is Mommy okay?" he asked me in such a cute little voice that's already getting deep.

"Your mommy is okay but don't stress her too much, okay?" malambing kong paalala sa kanya.

He pursed his lips and pouted more when he heard my answer. For sure, he was having second thoughts of visiting Ate Rain even though he missed her already.

Ate Rain's morning sickness wasn't getting any better. Mas lalo lang itong lumala lalo na't patapos na ang kanyang first trimester. Kuya Diego's worried sick about her kaya kahit hindi nila schedule sa ob ay nagpapa-appointment sila. The ob just gave him a list of what to expect on the second trimester of Ate Rain's pregnancy just to inform him beforehand.

Si Dhan naman ay umiiyak at natatakot tuwing masama ang pakiramdam ni Ate Rain. We already explained it to him that it's normal because his little sister or brother was growing inside his mommy's tummy, but he just cried more. Ang akala ko'y matalas na siyang makaintindi dahil marami na siyang nalalaman pero sigurong may natitira pang kabataan sa kanya lalo na't magta-tatlong taong gulang pa lang siya.

Gio and I decided to bring him home with us. Pinatapos muna namin ang unang linggo ng pasukan ni Dhan sa nursery bago inuwi sa bahay. He's here on weekdays and on weekends, he'll visit his parents. Noong una ay hindi pa siya sanay sa set-up pero ngayon ay nakasanayan niya na. Wala naman na siyang problema pero last weekend ay hindi naging maganda ang pagbisita niya dahil sinamaan ulit ng pakiramdam si Ate Rain.

"Why are you two taking so long?"

Dhan and I both looked at Gio at the same time who was leaning on the door. His arms were crossed while staring at us with his amused look.

Without further a do, Dhan immediately ran towards him. Gio opened his arms wide to welcome my nephew and lifted him up in the air. I couldn't help but to smile while staring at their beautiful smiles and hearing their harmonic laughter.

Ang tawa ni Dhan ay sumabog sa loob ng kuwarto. Inayos ni Gio ang kanyang pagbuhat sa aking pamangkin bago lumingon sa akin nang buong-buo ang ngiti.

Knowing that his smiles were genuine and seeing him this happy warmed my heart so much in so many different ways. It was like a reward for choosing a right decision of giving not just him, but also my self a chance to start a new.

Weighing my feelings and looking deep into his eyes that night made it hard for me to refuse him. Ang totoo ay hindi ko pa sigurado kung ano talaga ang gusto ko pero ang alam ko lang ay ayoko na siyang saktan ulit. Pag sinasaktan ko siya, pakiramdam ko'y doble pa no'n ang balik sa akin na sakit dahil alam kong mas lalo siyang lalayo sa akin at ayokong mangyari 'yon.

He came with me when I inquired at St. Michael's for Dhan. We stayed with my family until dinner before we finally went home together. Sa gabing 'yon, noon ko lang tunay na naramdaman na kasal na talaga ako at amin ang bahay na tinutuluyan naming dalawa.

We slept together in one bed without inhibitions and awkwardness. I let him lock me in his embrace before we slept and after we woke up. I let him kiss me on my cheek as he greeted me a good morning with a smile on his face. I let him stay beside me all the time as we friendly cuddled throughout the day while doing the things we usually do when whenever we're together. I let him back into my life―where he truly belongs from the start.