Mr. and Mrs. Sungit Special Chapter No. 10
“The End is just the Beginning.”
--
A/N: I don’t want to be dramatic and all, kaya I will put this simply, thank you. The next story is on the process BUT I think, matatagalan pa siya ma-materialize. I hope, ma-post ko siya by January kahit slow updates lang. Hopefully, makakaraos rin tayo. She Bangs as you know it, is ON HIATUS. I’m still thinking kung i-dedelete ko ba sya o tatapusin o gawin ko na lang na short story (kahit 20 chaps lang). Ideal sa akin yung latter; let’s just hope for the best! :)
Anyway, welcome back SNSD! (I got a boy)
“Imagination is far way better than reality.” Kaya sana, lahat tayo, makahanap rin ng mga kaibigang katulad nina Charis, Josh, Kevin, Keith at Fara. Though they’re just a figment of my fickle imagination, their somewhat true and they’re a part of me.
Truthfully, hindi ko alam kung papano ang magiging katapusan neto. \-_-/ I just hope you’ll all like it.
ARIIIBA ARIIIBA!
--
“She didn’t make it?”
“I’m afraid so..”
“How will we tell him?”
“W-what?”
“Huwag mong sabihing….?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh God.”
“Kumusta na siya?”
“He’s in the brink of giving up.”
“(0_0)?!”
“He didn’t commit suicide, did he?”
“about to.”
--
Remember when your parents used to tell you not to play in the mud because it’ll get really dirty? This is like my 8-year old self. I was a kid again. The ambiance is really serene. I want to be here forever… with my lolo.
“Lo, are we going to play hide-and-seek again? I want to!” I smiled brightly to him.
“Okay. We’ll play every day and forever if you want to.” He held my hand and he swing me freely. It’s like, he’s healthier and strong. Strange.
I noticed we’re walking and walking…. And walking. It’s like, this trail is endless. And as I looked at my Lolo, he started to disappear.
“Good bye Apo. Let the twins know I love them so much. Go back safely ok?” He started fading and he’s just like an apparition. A ghost.
What does that mean?
As I walked again.. Nag-iiba na naman ang paligid ko.
Kanina, everything is serene and so bright. When you’re there, it’s like you wanted to be there forever. Pagkatapos, ang endless trail.
Tapos…….. bigla na namang dumilim.
Pagmulat ko, I saw myself in the hospital bed, with all the kinds of tubes and machines you see to someone whose in the rim of dying.
Dying?
“Yesss. Dying?! Hindi mo ba alam kung ano yun?!”
“Ay kurimaw!” \0_0/
“Who the hell are you?! Ba’t ka nananakot?!” I said to her. Bastusan?!
“Aba! Hija, ganda naman ng expression mo! Who the hell talaga?! As in impyernsss?! Walang ganun ditowww, you knoo?!” she said with matching eye popping pa.
And oh my God! Yung eyeballs niya sa dalawang mata, NAHULOG!
I looked at her like she’s crazy.
“Will you have the courtesy to help me find my eyeballs pls? Hello?! Wala akong mata!”
“I’m dreaming right?”
“It depends. Kung gusto mong magising.” She smirked. Imagine a lady without an eyeballs smirking at you. C-R-E-E-P-Y.
Tumalbog yung eyeballs niya dun sa dulo kaya kelangan ko pa tuloy pulutin yun.
“Here.”
“Eeeew. I can’t put them on, agad-agad! Nahulog sila kaya kelangan ko munang i-disinfect yan!”
Ang sosyal ah. |0_0|
“Anyway, I’m here to tell you, “Welcome to the world of Living Dead.” Meaning, you’re half-alive, half dead, it’s either you deserved to take another course or got stuck in here forever. Anyway, it’s such a pity. Your hubby is really guwapo. Kung hindi lang ako nadisgrasya dati, susulutin ko yan siya sa yo.” I eyed her with my eyes popping too. At least, hindi literal na nag-pop yung eyes ko.
And oh, I’m not an 8-year old anymore. What?
Why did I grow up so fast?
“Hija, that’s your exact age. At yung katawan mo, nag-aagaw buhay sa ospital. Anyare sa Magna Cum Laude brains mo? Namatay rin?!” Gosh. Naghahagikhik na walang mata.
“So, this is heaven?” I asked her.
“No, this is the “stuck-up land.” Now shoooo, you deserved to live more.”
Bigla niya kong tinulak ng pagkalakas-lakas.
The last I felt, it was like, nagbunjee jumping ako mula sa heaven papuntang earth.
Ganito pala yung talagang meaning ng,
“out-of-the-body experienced.”
--
“Fara please, open your eyes for me. Please?”
No response.
“Josh?”
“How’s her vital signs doc?”
“Doing good. She’s strong. She can handle it. Medyo humina lang yung heartbeat niya kahapon pero, she can keep up. She’ll not die Josh.”
That’s a relief.
“Pero doc, ba’t di pa rin siya nagigising?”
“Mahirap ipanganak ang kambal in a natural way Josh; but your wife insisted. Come hell or high waters, she’s going to deliver them in a natural way. Ayaw niyang magpa-CS, she took the risk.”
“Even if her life depends on it?”
“Even if her life depends on it.”
Fara. Fara. Fara. Sarap mo ring bulyawan minsan. Such a pain the neck. My pain-in-the-neck.
Good Lord, I know I’ve been one lucky bastard for having Fara as my wife. Kung minsan nga, tinatanong ko, ano bang tamang nagawa ko para ibigay niyo siya sa akin? Pero Lord, you know me, I’m such a selfish person. I want Fara- all of her for myself.
My world will never be completed without her in it. Our babies need her. Please let her wake up. We need her. So damn much.
*Flashback*
“My water bag broke.”
Nagkakatitigan kami ng tatlong Segundo bago siya nagpanick.
“Josh! Are you hearing me?! Manganganak na ko, dammit!”
“Oh my God! Oh my God!” Inilalayan ko siya at dali-daling kinuha ang susi ng kotse.
“Hold on babies. Wait lang talaga. Huwag mo na kayong lalabas!” I started panicking too. I almost can’t feel my own hands sa sobrang kaba.
“Josh, let’s just hurry ok.”
“O-ok.”
“Josh, look at me!” She demanded.
She cupped my face and said,
“G*go ka! Dalhin mo kami ng mga anak mo sa Ospital ng maayos! The last time I wanted right now is a fidgeting husband! Hindi ikaw ang manganganak ok?! Now, get your brain entangled and keep your wits out. I love you.”
Ok Josh. Ok. Kaya mo yan. Huuuuuuuuuuu.
“Naalala mo yung sinabi ng Doctor, Breathe in breathe out tayo wife!”
Pinasok ko na siya sa kotse and I started driving. I put my cellphone in a speaker phone at speed dialed our friends.
“Hello?! Charis?”
“Hmmmm.” tunog ng taong loading pa ang utak.
“Fara’s delievering tonight. We’re now heading to Kevin’s fiancee’s hospital. Meet you there ok?”
“Huh?”
“Manganganak si Fara Hon.” Narinig pa niyang sabi ni Keith.
“Oh my God! Ok!” Hindi ko rin alam kung naka-ilang Oh my God si Charis before she let go of the phone.
“Far, are you ok? Malapit na!” Hindi ko alam pero I’m really shouting right now.
“G*go! Huwag mo kong sigawan! I’m not ok! Ipapanganak ko na anak natin! Tingin mo, OK ako?!!!” And she started that breathe-in and out mantra again.
Nakasigaw na rin talaga siya. Grabe.
Timing rin na pagkarga ko Fara papasok ay ang sumalubong sa amin ay si Kevin.
“Tol, where’s your fiancee?” aligaga kong tanong kay Kevin.
“ER. Bakit?”
“Manganganak na asawa ko Tol. Di ba obvious?”
“Oh my God! Pakidalian ang chitchat pleaaaaaaase.” Sigaw naman ni Fara.
“Ah….. ano…. Wait lang tol.” Bigla ring napatakbo si Kevin at umalis.
“Sir, dito niyo po siya ilagay.” Nilagay na nila si Fara sa isang stretcher at mabilis na tinakbo sa Operating Room.
“Sir, paki-fill upan po.” Saad nung nurse.
“What?! Can’t that wait? Please nurse, my Wife’s delivering.”
“Ok. Breathe in- breathe out po tayo Sir. Kalma lang po tayo. ”
“Ok. Breathe in.” Sinunod ko yung sinabi niy without really paying too much attention.
“Now, let go.”
At least some of the tensions went out of me.8_8
“Now Sir, fill this up dahil hindi ma-ooperahan ang asawa nio kung hindi to mapipirmahan.” The nurse stayed calm and I’m grateful she is calm. I don’t need another freako right now.
After a while, kahit nanginginig ang kamay ko, I really focus on filling that sheet of paper.
“Can I go now?” it sounded more of a demand actually.
“Go to the Operating Room at your left Sir.”
“Thanks Miss.”
“Congratulations in advance Sir!” She waved. What a wonderful kid. Fresh grad lang siguro yun.
I went there and I saw my wife…. Uhm, delivering?
I put on a mask and went beside her. Hindi talaga ako keen sa medical terminologies ng taong nanganganak; all I hear is my own heartbeat na parang sasabog na sa puso ko. All I can see is my wife’s face struggling so hard. She’s clasping my hands like it was the only way to get some strength. I clasp her hands harder.
“Kaya mo yan Fara. Breathe.”
“I am trying! Uggggggggggggggh!”
I heard the Marie Clare said, “Come on, Fara! Push harder!”
Fara let out a loud squeal.
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!” Oh my God. Now I know why women are so much more of a man than a man himself.
“That’s it Fara. Now, push again! Harder!”
She breathe for several seconds and started squealing again.
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!”
“Good Lord, the head is coming out! We’re doing good Far! Keep this up! Malapit na!”
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!” I let a soft prayer every time she did that. It takes an ounce of self will not to faint.
“Come on Wifey! You can do this! You’re better than this! The twins need you!”
“YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!” she croaked and started screaming again.
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!”
I thought that there’s something beautiful and angelic on how babies cry. And I’m experiencing it now. My own firstborn child.
I saw Fara smiled. Took a few deep breathe.
“Welcome to the world Baby.” Said Marie Clare.
“Nurse.” I wanted to held close that baby pero alam kung may isa pa.
Everyone is sooo ecstatic about the first one. But I saw Fara started closing her eyes.
“Oh no you don’t Fara! Don’t close your eyes! May isa pa! Fara! Wake up!” Marie demanded. Siya kasi ang aming OB eh. We changed doctor for the obvious reason.
Her face is wet with tears and sweat combined. I saw her lips formed a smile.
“Ready Fara?”
“Ready na Doc!”
“Ok! Pussssssssssssssssssh!”
She started screaming again.
We did it again for a few several minutes. The longest minutes of my life ever.
Until…..
We heard a cute little baby, well she’s still covered with blood but she’s just screaming so loud. Nakuuu, mukhang magiging iyakin ang isang to.
I thank the Lord.
“Fara?”
“Hmmm.”
“Our babies waiting for you.”
“hmmm” I saw her formed a weak smile.
Did you also have that feeling? That euphoric feeling after a job done? Ganito yung feeling na yun.
EUPHORIA.
After that, akala ko okay na. Pero, she started losing her consciousness, worse, her hearbeat’s getting really slow.
I don’t know what happened but they let me out of the room and told me to wait. I was restless. Two doctors came in there and I heard them talking but I can’t understand them. There like, talking alien words. At that time, my mind is not only tired but my whole body is dog-tired.
And then, it enveloped me.
My worse fear ever.
They’re trying to revive my wife.
And I can’t do anything about it.
*End of Flashback*
“Josh anak, magpahinga ka na. She’ll be okay. Babantayan namin siya. Put something in your stomach Anak.”
“Hindi ma. Ok lang. I want to be with her when she wakes up.”
“Josh, we understand but..”
“No buts mom.”
“Ok.” Her mother gave her an apologetic smile.
“Your wife’s very brave. She’ll wake up soon.” I put my palms on my face. Agitated.
“Kelan yung soon mom?!” I asked her harshly.
She was taken aback.
“Sorry.” Lumapit siya sa akin put her head on my shoulders.
“Believe in God hijo. The doctor already assured you, it’s ok.You don’t have to worry about it.”
“But she won’t wake up!” Frustrated na rin siya.
“She will. Anyway, I saw my grandkids and oh boy! Kamukhang kamukha ni Lola! Ang gaganda’t gaguapo! Did you decide on the names already?”
“I told Marie Clare na, I’ll let Fara wake up first. Siya kasi yung superrr excited sa mga pangalan. I missed her mom. Why won’t she wake up?”
“Hijo….”
For the first time, I felt like I was a kid again. Yung batang nawalan ng kalaro at nagsusumbong sa nanay niya. Yung batang, umiiyak kasi ayaw niyang mawalan ng playmate. I was a kid again.
--
A day after
“Hayyy nako Fara, kung ako sa yo gumising ka na! Nilalapa na ng mga nurses itong asawa mo dito!” biglang sabi ni Charis.
“Oo nga Fara. Mamamatay na si Josh dito oh! Gusto mo ba yun?!” bigla namang sabi ni Keith. They’re trying to kill the sad atmosphere in the room.
“Fara is a very brave person. I commend her for that.” Sabi naman ni Marie Clare na fiancee ni Kevin.
“She is. My wife is really amazing.”
“And FYI, ikaw Josh! You stink! Really stink! Ilang araw ka ng nandito! Please naman! Maligo ka na! Umuwi ka! Get some proper clothes on! Papano mo mahahalikan asawa mo niyan, eh, bad breathe ka?!” bully naman ni Keith.
Tumawa pa nga sina Charis at Clare.
Inamoy naman ni Josh ang sarili. Medyo…. Umaasim na nga. \*_*/
“Oh sige, mga 30 minutes lang. Huwag kayong aalis dito ah? Bantayan nio yang asawa ko!”
“Get your butt outta here!”
--
30 minutes laterrrrrr
“I’m afraid so..”
“How will we tell him?”
“W-what?”
“Huwag mong sabihing….?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh God.”
“Kumusta na siya?”
Biglang pinanlamigan si Josh sanarinig.
Pagpasok ni Josh sa Room ng asawa ay:
“Josh.. we…”
“I’m sorry.”
“WHAT?!” 0_0
“ASAN NA ASAWA KO?! BA’T WALA SIYA DITO?! DON’T TELL ME, NAGLAKAD MAG-ISA YUN?!”
“No. Josh, she….”
“Oh Josh! Ba’t ka sumisigaw? At ba’t nakaluhod ka diyan?! Sinong dinadasalan mo?”
0_0
I blinked several times pero si Fara talaga ang nasa harapan ko.
“Fara????” :?
“Multo ka na ba?”
“Huh?”
That’s when the whole room erupted laughing and looking at him weirdly. Sina Keith at Kevin parang mamamatay na kakatawa. Si Marie Clare at Charis naman nagpipigil na tawa.
“They told me you….”
“I’m what?”
I can’t even utter the word dead. It scared me.
“We didn’t tell him anything. He just assumed!” Tawang-tawa pa ring sabi ni Kevin.
“Ay nakooo. Napagtripan nio naman itong asawa ko. Alam nio namang mababa ang tolerance nito sa mga ganyang bagay. Tayo ka na diyan hubby. Napagtripan ka na naman.”
I let out a loud groan.
“Naka-isa kayo don! Huwag kayong mag-alala! May araw rin kayo! Intay lang!”
They just laughed. That’s when I noticed she’s really standing in front of me- amused.
“I woke up 20 minutes ago. It was the driest feeling ever. I was thirsty. Hinanap kita kaso pina-uwi ka nila para maligo. Totoo ba yun?” She’s still smiling.
“You find it amusing na hindi ako nakaligo kakabantay sa yo?” I pouted.
“Naks. With pouting lips pa oh! Anyway, lumabas ako saglit para tignan yung babies. Any minute now, darating na sila.”
“Speaking of” sabi ni Doctora.
“Let’s give them a minute alone guys.” Sabi naman ni Charis na lumabas na.
And she winked to the both of us. What’s that supposed to mean? Kapapanganak pa lang ni Fara for Pete’s sake!
I closed the door and looked at her- mesmerized.
Mga ilang minute rin ang binuhos namin kakatitig lang sa isa’t isa.
But then, she broke the magic moment.
“So…?” she said.
I smiled.
“So I guess, I took the liberty of having a deadly experience in the Living Dead World.”
Hindi ko siya pinansin.
“Do you know how much you mean to me, Mrs. Valdez?”
“I do know you’re not going to survive without me Mr. Valdez.” She chuckled.
I laugh. I cannot contain my happiness that I close the distance between us and hugged her.
“aw.”
“Sorry. Hindi ka pa pala masyadong magaling.” I said apologetically.
“It’s ok. I love your embrace. I miss you too.” She said while hugging me tighter.
“I died a million deaths while your unconsciousness. Just… just seeing you.. God. You scared me woman!” I kissed her in the forehead.
“Me too. I mean, truthfully. Akala ko patay na ako. I saw my dead lolo and there’s something really weird happened after.” She then told me about that eye-popping experience which is ironically creepy.
“I don’t even want to entertain the thought with you gone. I can’t bear it. I love you too much.”
“I love you too.”
“God, I missed your voice!”
Inangat ko ang ulo niya at akmang hahalikan ko na siya ng..
“UWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! UWAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!”
“Well I guess, let’s kiss later. Aw. Our babies so cute. Kamukha ko.” Kinuha niya si Junior at kinarga. Instinctively, kumalma ito. Babies instinct rin talaga.
“Hindi kaya. Mas kamukha ko yan oi!” Kinuha ko naman si Marie Angeline dahil talagang nakikipagduet siya sa kuya niya.
Habang naghuhum ako ng lullaby eh bigla na lang kaming nagkakatitigigan ni Fara.
Parehas pa kaming natawa!
“Welcome to the world of stinking diapers Babe!”
I guess, this is just the beginning. The end is where it all starts from.
--
FIN