UPDATE! But before that, guys, pagpray natin ang country ha? Let's pray for protection. Seriously. Bago mo basahin yung update, why don't you talk to God for a while? As in, now na. Let's ask God for protection para sa lahat, na humina kahit pano yung bagyo. Nothing is impossible right?
Oh game na. Seryoso ha? Pray ka muna. ;>
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Okay na? Sure ka ha? Let's all trust God in these times of storms, kahit literal man na storms yan o mga "bagyo ng buhay". Tiwala lang sa Kanya. ;> Keep safe guys!
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Kakatapos lang namin kumain ng breakfast nang biglang may kumatok sa pinto. Agad din naman itong nagbukas, at laking gulat namin nang pumasok sina ate Jenny, kuya Paolo, at syempre si Princess. Sumunod din ang mga magulang nila.
“Hi,” nakangiting bati sa amin ni ate Jenny. Pero halatang pinipigilan niyang umiyak. Medyo basa pa ang mukha niya.
“Oh, ate, nandito kayo!” masayang sabi naman ni Price.
Nakangiti parin si ate Jenny habang papalapit siya kay Price, pero tumutulo na ang mga luha niya. Siguro dahil na din nakita niyang sobrang saya ni Price nang dumating sila.
Agad naman siyang niyakap ni ate Jenny. Nakita ko ang reaction ni Price. Sobrang saya niya. He was so happy, his eyes were beginning to fill with tears. He was trying hard not to cry, but he couldn’t control it.
Napaka-genuine ng saya ni Price ngayon—ngayong kasama niya ang buong pamilya niya. Hindi ko ma-describe yung liwanag sa mga mata niya eh. I... I felt a strong tug at my heart. I knew I had to give them time with each other. He needed to spend time with his family.
“Mommy,” sabi ko sa mom ni Price na pinipigilan ring umiyak. “I’ll... just go outside and get some food. Do you want anything?”
Ngumiti siya. Siguro naintindihan niya kung anong gusto kong gawin. “No, dear. Thank you,” sabi niya. “Your family is outside, too.”
Napangiti din ako. Nandito din pala sila Mom. Niyakap ko nalang sina Mommy at Daddy at saka lumabas. Doon naman ay nakasama ko din ang pamilya ko.
I stayed with my family for about an hour, until we finally decided to return to Price’s room.
Madaming sinabi sakin sina Mom at Dad, pero may isang ‘di ko makalimutan, “Just trust God, and know that no matter what happens, He knows what He’s doing. He knows what’s best.” Ganun din ang paulit-ulit na sinabi ni Price sa akin.
Pagbalik namin sa kwarto, kasama ni Price si Princess sa kama niya at masaya silang naglalaro. Kitang-kita ko na naman yung tuwa sa mga mata ni Price. Napangiti din tuloy ako.
“Look, there’s your tita!” masayang sabi ni Price sabay turo sa akin. Agad namang tumingin si Princess. Tumakbo siya agad nang makita ako, tapos sinalubong ako ng mahigpit na yakap.
“Hi, baby! You’re already so big!” masaya kong sabi, tapos agad ko din siyang binuhat.
Grabe, ang bigat. Hahahaha!
I hugged her tightly, immediately remembering that so many things fell right into place because of her. Sa lahat ng tao, si Princess pa ang ginamit ni God para magkaayos kami ni Price. Who knew, right?!
“I missed you so much. Did you miss me, too?” tanong ko. Tumango naman siya.
Dinala ko ulit siya sa kama ni Price at dun na kami naglaro na tatlo. Everyone else was talking, so we were left in our own little world.
“Tito Price, are you sick?” tanong ni Princess nang umupo siya sa kama.
Natawa si Price. “Yes, Princess. Tito Price is sick.” Nag-pout pa ang asawa ko. Haha!
“Ohh... okay,” sabi lang ni Princess. Hindi niya man ipakita, nakita naming nalungkot siya.
“Want to pray for your tito? You can ask God, so that tito Price won’t be sick anymore, right?” biglang sabi ni ate Jenny kay Princess. Nakita din naming biglang nagliwanag ang mga mata niya. Tumango siya agad at excited na pumikit.
“Lord, I pray for tito Price. Please don’t let him be sick anymore, so that mommy and daddy, and lolo and lola will not cry anymore, and tita Saydie, too,” dahan-dahang sabi ni Princess. “In Jesus’ name, amen!”
Masaya niyang idinilat ang mga mata niya at tumingin kay Price.
“Tito, are you okay now?” excited niyang tanong.
Nagkatinginan kaming lahat at saka natawa. She was just too cute! Haaay, sobrang sarap talaga siguro ng may anak.
“Hahaha! Yes, baby, I’m okay now. Thank you! Hahaha,” natatawang sagot naman ni Price.
“Tito, what’s this?” tanong naman agad ni Princess sabay turo sa IV na nakatusok kay Price. “Does it hurt?”
“That’s an IV,” sagot naman ni Price na parang teacher lang. Hahaha! “And yes, it hurts a lot.”
“Aww!” gulat na sabi ni Princess.
Nagulat din naman kaming lahat nang i-kiss niya yung kamay ni Price na tinurukan ng IV.
“There, all better!” masaya na namang sabi ng bata.
Natawa ulit kaming lahat. “Hahaha! Yes, thank you, Princess!” sabi ni Price.
Nagpatuloy lang si Princess sa pagdadaldal niya at pangungulit. Dahi diyan, hindi rin nawala ang ngiti at tawa sa mga labi namin ni Price.
At least, kahit papano, naramdaman namin ni Price na isa kaming maliit na pamilya.
O___O?!
Saan naman nanggaling yun?! Ano na naman yung naiisip ko--
*tok tok*
Hmm?
Unang pumasok si Raissa, tapos si Chris, tapos nagtuloy-tuloy na hanggang sa nakumpleto ang buong barkada. All of the important people in our lives were all in one room—all because of their love for Price.
Binati muna nilang lahat ang mga pamilya namin. Nakipag-usap ng konti. Price and I just watched them. Hindi ko ma-describe ang nararamdaman ko. Parang puputok ang dibdib ko sa sobrang saya! I feel soooo complete right now. And I know Price feels the same way.
Napatingin ako sakanya. He gave me a big smile. I knew he was getting weaker, but now, he seemed so much stronger. Pero napansin kong may mga luha na namang namumuo sa mga mata niya.
“Hey,” sabi ko at hinawakan ang kamay niya. “Are you okay?”
Ngumiti ulit siya at agad pinunasan ang luhang tumulo sa mga mata niya. “I’m fine. I’m just... really really happy.”
“I know,” ngiti ko din. “Alam mo, sobrang iyakin mo na. Hahahaha!”
Natawa din siya, at sakto namang lumapit ang buong barkada sa amin.
Nakipagkwentuhan sila sa amin for a short while; nakipaglokohan, tawanan. Maya-maya lang ay may kanya-kanya na naman kaming mga mundo. Kanya-kanyang grupo kami. Well, except for me.
I was preparing food in the kitchen. I didn’t ask for help because I was sure they were all enjoying.
Pero nagkamali ata akong nag-eenjoy sila.
Dahil paglabas ko ng kusina para magserve ng food, naluluha ang buong barkada?! Lahat sila namumula ang mga mata. Sina Raissa at Hannah, talagang nagpupunas ng luha!
“A-Anong nangyayari? Anong nangyari sa inyo?!” tanong ko sakanila. What the heck is happening here?!
Biglang natawa si Hannah habang pinupunasan parin ang mga luha niya. “H-Haha. Si... Si Price kasi eh! Nakakainis! H-Hahaha!”
Nagsisinghutan silang lahat at tumatawa. Clearly, they all know something that I don’t.
“Hahahaha! Bayaan mo yang mga yan, Saydie! Mga iyakin din. Hahaha!” biglang sabat ni Price. Obviously, may kinalaman siya. Tch! Bahala na nga sila!
“Okay, that’s enough. Time to eat,” sabi bigla ng mom ni Price at kinuha yung dala kong pagkain. Kaya naman lahat sila at pinilit na tumigil sa pag-iyak at nagsimula nang kumain.
Lumapit ako kay Mom. “Mom, ano bang nangyari sakanila kanina?”
Ngumiti siya. A small smile—a smile forced to comfort me. “It’s nothing, dear. Don’t worry about it,” sagot niya. Hinawakan niya bigla ang kamay ko. “Sweetheart, just remember to trust God, okay? No matter what happens.”
Tumango lang ako. But I knew those words were starting to stick to my heart and mind. I am going to trust God... no matter what.
Everyone stayed for the whole day. Napuno na naman ng ingay ang kwarto. Pero ngayon, mas buhay na buhay ang paligid dahil kumpleto ang lahat.
Si Princess halos hindi mawala sa tabi namin ni Price. Ayaw na ngang pakawalan eh! Hindi rin tumigil sa lokohan yung mga lalake. Pati buhay ni Princess ginugulo eh! Hahaha!
Despite being in a hospital room, everyone was smiling and laughing. I saw a certain twinkle in everyone’s eyes. Even our parents were laughing along the boys’ jokes. There was never a dull nor a silent moment.
Madilim na nang magdesisyon silang umalis. Suddenly, everyone was gone. Naiwan nalang ulit kaming dalawa ni Price.
Tumahimik bigla ang paligid, pero ‘di nawala yung saya sa mga mata ni Price. That certain spark in his eyes was still there. Nahahawa din tuloy ako.
I felt so light! Alam niyo yung feeling after mong tumawa ng sobra-sobra? Ganun ang feeling ko ngayon. It’s been so long since I’ve felt this happy.
“Saydie,” biglang tawag ni Price sakin. “Come here. I want to tell you something.”
Pinaupo niya ako sa tabi ng kama niya. Pinasok agad ng napakaraming possibilities ang utak ko. But his voice and warm eyes assured me that there was nothing to worry about.
I just looked at him and waited for him to say something. But then I noticed his intense yet gentle gaze at me.
“Hey, are you okay?” tanong ko sakanya.
He gave me a genuine smile before answering. “Yes, I... It’s just that with everything that’s been going on... I haven’t had time to really actually talk to you.”
Well, I’m confused. Ano kayang gusto niyang sabihin?
Suddenly, he took my hand and looked at me straight in the eyes.
“Thank you, Saydie,” he said. “I don’t know, I just had the sudden urge to thank you.” He looked at me sheepishly.
“Ever since this whole marriage started, you’ve done nothing but put up with my attitude. Kahit sa mga oras na sobrang sama na ng ugali ko, you stayed with me,” pagpapatuloy niya. “Thank you, love. Salamat sa pagtitiis mo sakin. Salamat sa pagtitiis sa luto ko. Hahaha. Salamat sa pag-aalaga sakin, for giving me all the love that I need and more. I’m really so blessed to have you.”
“Thank you for sharing your life with me. There isn’t anyone else in the world I’d rather share my life with,” dagdag pa niya. “Sobrang dami na nating napagdaanan, and I wouldn’t change any second of it. My life with you... is an adventure—an amazing adventure that can’t compare with anything in the world.”
I looked at him, speechless. I felt like a huge ball of air was growing in my chest. Still, it was like my heart was going to explode, but now there was a certain feeling of warmth that came with it. Parang pinipiga yung puso ko, but at the same time, I felt like I was breathing fresh air.
I can’t even begin to describe how I’m feeling right now. Basta ang alam ko, masaya ako. I’m even happier than I was before. I was so happy I was crying.
“Honestly, even if God took me tonight, I’d be happy, because I’ve already spent my life with you. And I know that He’d always always look after you.”
Hindi ko na napigilan ang emosyon ko. I was crying like crazy. And I felt like my heart was telling me to savor every second of this moment. Without even a hint of hesitation, I threw my arms around him in a tight embrace.
His arms wrap around me as well, and I felt so much warmth as I stayed in his arms. In my heart, there was a slight feeling of fear, but that warmth from Price’s embrace pushed it away. Even if there was a nagging voice in my head that was telling me to be scared, it was so easy to ignore because of my happiness right now.
“P-Promise me you’ll be happy, Saydie,” bulong niya. “Promise me you’ll always be happy.”
We broke from the hug, and he held my face close to his. He stared intently into my eyes as his breath gently brushed across my face.
“Promise me, okay?” he whispered.
His gaze pierced through me yet it was also so mesmerizing. “I-I... I promise.”
“Remember that I will always be happy as long as you’re happy,” sabi niya. “Never forget that... I love you, Saydie. I love you so much, and I always will.”
I couldn’t speak for a few seconds. I felt like my heart just stopped beating.
“I love you, Price,” I whispered.
Did he just... say good bye?