Unfinished Business

To have and to hold...

After a few weeks,may napapansin siyang kakaiba sa kanyang katawan.Palagi siyang nahihilo sa umaga,at wala siyang ganang kumain.Lately,kailangan pa siyang katukin ni Mike sa cottage para lang makakain.Ayaw niya ang amoy sa restaurant.Nasusuka siya sa mga pagkain doon.

“Hey,you look so pale.You’re not eating either.Is something wrong?”tanong nito sa kanya.

“I don’t know.I’ve lost my appetite,”sagot niya dito.

Pagbungad pa lang sa restaurant,parang babaliktad na ang sikmura niya sa amoy ng mga pagkain.Pinagpawisan agad siya nang malapot.Hindi pa sila nakakaupo,bigla siyang tumakbo palabas at nagsusuka.Parang kulay berdeng laway na ang lumalabas,wala na siyang maisusuka kasi hindi siya makakain sa sama ng pakiramdam.Nakasunod si Mike sa kanya at hinimas himas ang likod niya.Matiim itong nakatingin sa kanya na tila ba may iniisip na ayaw namang sabihin.

     “I will go with you to the nearest clinic.You have to see a doctor.You don’t look good, but you are still cute,”pagpapatawa nito.Tumuloy agad sila sa isang clinic malapit sa resort.Kinunan siya ng iba’t ibang test.After an hour,pinatawag na sila ng doctor sa loob ng office nito.

     “Congratulations to you both!She is pregnant,nothing’s wrong with her.It is part of her pregnancy on the first trimester,the nausea,vomiting,cravings,etc.I’ll just give you some vitamins,and do eat fruits and vegetables.I’m sure,you’re going to have a beautiful baby.Enough rest and be happy always,ok?”

     Hindi siya nakakibo, si Mike ang nakabawi agad.

     “Thanks, doc. We will remember everything.”

Hanggang sa paglabas ng clinic, hindi siya nakakibo.Talagang nashock siya sa nangyayari.Siya?Magkakaanak?Paano na?

     “Hello, mom.So,we are going to have a beautiful baby soon,how about that?”

Tiningnan niya ito nang mataman.Hindi na siya nakatiis at tuluyan nang bumigay.Kailangan niya ng masasandalan,niyakap siya nito at inaalo habang humahagulgol.

“It’s ok, having a baby is a blessing.You are one lucky woman.Stay healthy,by being happy.You heard the doctor,right?”

Binuhos niya ang lahat lahat,para isang iyakan na lang.Feeling niya,siya na ang pinakakawawang nilalang.Nagself pity siya,naiinsecure at lahat na ng pangit na dapat maramdaman.Ang tagal nilang nagyakap.Ni hindi man lang siya nahiya dito.Kulang na lang,eh,singahan niya ito.

“Ssshh, I’m here.I will never leave you.Come,let’s talk about it,but first,you must eat.Don’t worry,not in the restaurant.”

Nagpatianod siya dito.Dinala siya ni Mike sa isang floating cottage.

“What do you want to eat?”

“Pasta and green mango with bagoong plus ice cream, please,”sagot agad niya.Ngumiwi pa ito sa inorder niya pero agad ngumiti at sinabing,”Right away,Mom.”May tinawagan ito at inulit ang pagkaing gusto niya.

“I don’t like your cologne, it makes me wanna throw up.So,with garlic and onion and everything else.”

“What? I’m 100% sure my cologne doesn’t smell like garlic,but as you wish.I won’t use it anymore.Just be sure you’re not gonna throw up when you see my face,goodness!”

“I’m sorry,Mike.”Nadamay ito sa kanya.Hindi niya ito yayo para maging utusan lang.Napakabait nito sa kanya.Parang binigay sa kanya, para maging sandalan.

“Wanna share it with me? If it is ok,but if you’re uncomfortable telling someone about it,then,no problem.”

Tinantiya muna niya kung ready na ba siyang sabihin sa iba ang kinikimkim.Napag isip isip niya,siguro nga,kailangan.Para naman maibsan ang dinadala niyang bigat sa dibdib.Habang kumakain,sinabi niya dito ang lahat.Ang sarap sa pakiramdam.Kasi nakikinig lang ito,without condemnation,without judging her.

“I’m right after all.You are one of a kind,such an amazing woman.I have an offer that I hope to God you won’t refuse.I want to take care of you,like a brother would to a sister.You see,a love like that is haunting,it will forever be etched in your mind,I really do not believe that you can just forget,’coz it would be a big lie.I have no one in Australia.Having you and the baby would be great.But of course,as a man,I do think,we have the right to be informed about something of great importance,like being a Dad soon.He deserves to know,and later,your child should know also.Hey,just a piece of my mind.You will decide what you think is best,of course.”

Hindi nakakibo si Kryztel, kakayanin kaya niyang sabihin dito?Kaya kinagabihan,tinawagan niya ang kapatid niya,siyempre nangangamusta,alam niyang maraming nasasabat ang satellite nito na reliable naman.

“Oy,ang ganda ni Jenny ha?Kasal niya noong sabado,ang suwerte ng babaeng iyon,isang Yanzon ang ama ng anak niya.Minadali,kasi alam mo na,buntis na pala.Pero hindi pa naman masyadong halata ang tiyan niya.Bagay nga sila,eh.”

Hindi na niya pinatapos ito, nagpaalam agad siya.Tumulo ang luha niya,nahabag siya sa baby niyang walang makagisnang ama.Last na lang,hindi ko na siya iiyakan,last na lang talaga,pangako niya sa sarili.Kailangan niyang maging matatag.Wala siyang maaasahan.May nabuong pasya sa isip niya.Kinaumagahan,naglakad lakad muna siya sa dalampasigan bago pinuntahan si Mike.Unang katok pa lang,bumukas agad ang pintuan.

“So, early bird huh?What a miracle!”Palabas na rin pala ito para kumain.Dinala siya nito sa may floating cottage at doon na sila nagpahatid ng pagkain.

“Can I grab your offer?I can’t afford to tell him about the baby,he’s a newly wed,got married last Saturday to a girl he first met.They are going to have a baby soon.I don’t want to complicate things for them,maybe someday,he’ll know.I don’t want to bother him on his honeymoon.”Her voice betrayed her.Hindi na kakayanin niyang magsalita na para bang hindi siya nasasaktan.She looked away and cursed the tears about to fall.Mike held her hand.

“So as to make deciding easier for you,I have a confession to make.You can trust me,Kryztel.Before I go,I want to feel what it’s like to have a family.You see,I am sick.I won’t live long enough.I never believe in love nor am I capable of giving such.My childhood made sure I will die alone and bitter.Seeing you changes everything.I became a better man.It is quite a surprise that I did not flinch when the doctor mistook me as your husband.Infact,I kinda like it.I have allowed you to invade my once lonely life.You came and gave me life.I thank you for that,in return,I want to help you.Not as a replacement of a love lost,’coz I know,a love like yours can never be forgotten in this lifetime.What I am saying is,I have no one.Will you be with me same as I would be with you in times like this?Marry me.I can be your husband,friend ,a big brother,you know.When I am gone,I will give to you everything I have worked hard for in this lifetime.Then you won’t have to worry for your baby’s future.I will make sure,both of you will live abundantly even when I am not around anymore.”

Tiningnan niya ito na parang hindi makapaniwala.Ano ba itong nangyayari sa buhay niya?Pakakasalan nga siya,may expiry date naman.May magmamahal sa kanya uli,kinukondisyon naman ang isip niya na mawawala ito.Gosh,bakit?Ano ba ang meron?When it rains,it pours?Napakaunfair naman.Pwede ba?kailangan niyang makalimot,kailangan niyang maging praktikal.Wala nang mawawala pa sa kanya.Alam niya,hindi na siya magmamahal pa uli.Pero hindi dapat madamay ang anak niya.Pwede naman sigurong may makagisnan itong ama.Bahala na si Batman kapag nagtanong na ito ng sandamakmak na tanong.

“Thank you so much,Mike for offering to be my superman.It has been my dream to be a supergirl.Now I will be,if  married to you,”sabi niya.Humahalakhak ito sa sinabi niya.

“You are really something.Now am gonna have a fun-filled life waiting for me.I am pretty sure, there’ll be no boring moments with you.”

“Don’t be so sure, I have my tantrums.When I do,you better hide.”

“Catch me if you can, then.I have a secret room,you won’t find me.I won’t come out until am sure enough your tantrums subside.”

“So, it means I have to take care of my documents.”

“Don’t worry about the visa, passport and everything,I will take care of it.I have contacts.”

“I have to resign.I must go home and do the necessary things to do.And of course, inform my family.”

“Not I,from now on,it’s we.I have to meet my family,too.Thanks for this gift,Kryztel.I promise,I will make you happy.You will only cry tears of happiness.”

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