30 Days With You (RitKen Fanfiction)

36

"READY?" Dani asked Grant for the third time.

This will be the first time that he'll watch the video that she made for Xavi. She really made that video for him. Some clips won't be seen on the vlog. It will be for Grant's eyes only.

Hindi siya sigurado kung ano ang nasa isip nito ng mga sandaling iyon. He just got his eyes fixed on the laptop. Ni hindi kumukurap ang mga mata. It was as if his eyes were glued there. He's not even blinking.

"I-play mo na," she encouraged. Ngumiti siya nang mag-angat ito ng tingin sa kanya. 

She knew it wasn't easy for him. Ngayon pa nga lang tila naiiyak na ito. Well, she is too. Anytime soon, she'll cry. Alam niyang pareho lang din naman sila ng nararamdaman. But it was something more special for him. It was Xavi, their son.

Grant breathe in. Napangiti siya dahil doon. If she's in his place, she'd be crying now just looking at the thumbnail of the video. 

When he tapped the play button, her eyes automatically focused on the video. She watched it with him while sitting beside him on the bed. 

"Hi." Her pale face showed first. She was that skinny. Kalbo na rin dahil sa chemotherapy. Her dark circles were so visible. Looking back, hindi niya alam kung paano niya nakayanan ang lahat. Maybe, Xavi really did gave her the strength.

"Today's my last day of chemo, for now." Ngumiwi siya sa video. A sign that she's in a lot of pain but in the end, she managed to smile. "I'll give birth soon so we have to stop for now. It won't be good for my little hero here." She showed her big tummy. "I don't know what will happen but..." She paused for a while and there was this long sigh that made her heart ache in pain. Like everything's happening again. It was like going through that tough times again. "I just wish that he'll see the world."

The video was still focused on her tummy but her heavy breathing was still visible. "I always wonder what this little hero will look like. I can't picture him to be like me. I just hope he looks like his father." She sounded so happy then. Like she's really imagining those things at the moment. "From his eyes, a bit cold but there's more to it. The nose... pointy but cute. The thin reddish lips that I always envy. This little hero will be the spitting image of him, I'm pretty sure." She can hear her own laughter.

Hindi niya alam na hindi pala ganoon kadali lang ang panonood niyon, lalo na at nasa tabi niya na si Grant ngayon. Her tears started to fall one by one as the video continued to play. Grant remained quiet beside her. Ni hindi niya ito magawang lingunin. She was so afraid to see his reaction. Baka lalo lang siyang maiyak dahil doon.

"Hi," it was on the day that she gave birth to Xavi. Malamlam ang mga mata niya sa video at sobrang payat na. Her hair was shaved under that beanie she's wearing. 

"I think he's about to come out. I can feel it." She laughed at the video. "He was this excited to come out and see the world. Maybe he wanted to have the same birthday as his father. This little hero really don't want me to move on." She smiled to the camera but the pain was visible in her eyes. "He wouldn't want me to forget about her father. Ang daya naman. May favoritism agad." She laughed and tears fell from her eyes. "Sorry, hormones."

The video lasted for two hours. Hindi niya alam kung paano haharapin si Grant nang matapos iyon. The clips were short but every significant memories of Xavi was there. Especially when he wished to see his father on his third birthday. That's when she heard him cried and it breaks her heart.

Wala ni isang nagsalita sa kanila matapos niyon. She couldn't find any right words to say. They remained quiet for a long while. Pinapakiramdaman niya ito.