For Keeps (Completed)

Growing old with you

Forever..... Meron nga ba? The question was answered... There is indeed someone who will be forever with you but may not be physically present. Sarah was deep in thought as she reminisce the time she bid her Daddy Delfin goodbye in his deathbed several years back. At least, magkasama na sila ni Mommy. I could not imagine losing Matt. I have spent the past 40 years with him by my side and raised our three children the best way that we can. Now, all of them have families of their own and we now have 8 grandchildren. In two months, Christmas season na ulit and I will have the whole family spending Christmas day with us.
Matt: Mahal, mukhang malalim na naman iniisip mo ha? May problema ba?
Sarah (smiles): Wala. Naisip ko lang. We are not getting younger. We are already in our 60s and several years mag 70 na ko. I don't complain naman dahil we have a successful family life and we raised our children well. Pero hindi ko maisip that we can never tell kung hanggang kailan tayo nandito sa mundong ito.
Matt: ahmmm...you worry too much. Sabi nga ni Ed Sheeran... Will be loving you til we're 70 (laughs). Pero kidding aside, sabi ko nga we live day by day to the fullest. Yan ang tinuro ko sa yo and you told me that our life is borrowed from God kaya anytime siya lang nakakaalam kung kailan nya kukunin. As long as we have lived well, ok na yon. One thing I am really thankful for is having you to grow old with (smiles)
Sarah (smiles): Ikaw talaga hanggang ngayon ang galing magpakilig. Mag decorate na tayo for Christmas excited na ako darating mga apo natin.
......
Christmas Day
Sarah: Ang tagal naman nila dumating. Rosa! Prepare mo na ang mga softdrinks make sure na malamig. Ang mga bata hindi umiinom ng hindi malamig.
Rosa: Opo Mam.
Matt: Mahal, relax. Parating na sila. Manu just called papasok na sila ng subdivision. (Puts his arm around her shoulders)

Sarah: Sabik na rin kasi ako makita sila kahit last week lang last silang dumalaw dito.
Matt: Hay naku! (Car horn blowing outside the gate) O ayan na sila.
Kids: Lolo! Lola! Merry Christmas po! (As they got down from the car and run towards them)
Sarah: Hello! Hello! Merry Christmas din sa inyo. (She kissed them one by one and Matt also kissed them.
Cathy: Lola, gutom na po kami. Ang bagal kasi ni Dad magdrive (the eldest child of Manu 13 yrs old)
Sarah (laughs): Hay naku hija. It's better that careful ang Daddy ninyo sa pagdadrive.
Everybody gathered round the dining table laughing at each other's stories.... A perfect picture of a happy family. Matt looked at his loving wife already teary-eyed looking on their children and grandchildren.
Matt: Mahal, Mukhang nagiging emotional ka na naman.
Sarah (smiles): Ikaw naman. I'm just happy na kumpleto tayo.
Ashianne: Uy, si Mommy. May balak pa magdrama sa teleserye (everyone laughed). Kids we better hurry and get done with dinner. We have to do exchange gifts pa.
After dinner, everyone gathered their entertainment room and gave each other's gifts. Manu stood up after and made a statement.
Manu: Mom and Dad.... We are truly thankful to have you as our parents and as grandparents to our children. You never really told us in detail how your love story evolved through the years and it got us curious how can you manage to keep your love for each other burning after all these years. I have a friend who happened to have a Mom who has been an avid fan of yours and had a complete treasure chest of all your pictures, videos, articles and we had come up with this sweet treat.
Matt and Sarah were surprised as they watched the audio visual presentation. Their whole love story right before their eyes starting from the time that Matt entered showbusiness declaring his admiration to Sarah. Clips of their past loves until they meet again for the concert tour. The several dates they had in the beginning, the sweet moments and even the intrigues. Sarah couldn't help but cry and Matt hugged her tight. At the end of the clip, everyone clapped and even the small children giggled in delight.
Gia: We love you Mom and Dad. We are truly blessed to have you as parents.
Everyone chanted... Speech! Speech! Speech!
Sarah (laughed as she cries): Kayo talaga! Pinaiyak ninyo kami. (Matt also wiping away his tears as he kissed her wife's hair). Pinalaki ako ng sobrang pagmamahal sa pamilya and always putting God first in our lives. When I met your Dad or Lolo, at the beginning I admit may mga doubts. After several heartaches, nawalan ako ng tiwala sa mga lalaki. I am happy that God redirected me and proved me wrong. May tao pa rin talaga na para sa yo. Our relationship is not all bed of roses, there were challenges. Pero sa amin we always go back why do we love each other in the first place. We placed God in the center of our relationship and everything fell into place. (Held Matt's hand and squeezed tight) I'm glad I married the right man. (Kissed his cheek)
Ashianne: Wow naman ang sweet!!! Hon, alam mo na ang dapat (she told his husband Tony). Dad, your words naman (she chided her Dad)
Matt (wiping his tears): Your Mom is my ultimate dream girl, that once I had her I never thought of letting her go. Your Lolo and Lola never made it easy though (laughs as he pointed out MD and DD) but I guess they just wanted to be sure that your Mom was in good hands. I love her so much and until now it never changed. I love growing old with her. As I have said before she is a life's gift.... God's gift of life for me. What we have is strong relationship bounded by love, trust and loyalty... with God in the center. You are all blessings to us and we are so proud of everyone. We are so happy to have you all in this family. And to my dear Sarah....love....mahal.... Thank you for coming into my life, for being a loving and faithful wife and a great mother and grandmother. I am truly blessed to have you. I love you more after all these years. (kiss her forehead and hugged her tight)
Sarah: I love you very very much (hugged back)
Everyone clapped until...
Joaquin: Eeew. Mamsie, Papsie you're so cheesy. Aren't you too old for that? (squealed their 7 year old apo)
Everyone laughed.
Manu: You'll understand better son once you're older and fall in love (ruffled his son's hair)
Sarah: Enough of the drama everyone.... Time for singing Christmas songs.
Everyone gathered and sang Christmas songs all throughout the night.

Fin.....

Author's note:
Sorry guys took some time for an update. I have been busy with stuff. I haven't move on from the kilig during Matt's 25th birthday. I have drafted his update long before the birthday and I already thought of Thinking Out Loud to be a good song for them. Like most of us hope and pray.... I am praying so hard and believe that they will be together in the end. I am a believer of FOREVER and I know Matteo and Sarah have what it takes in their relationship to make it work. Hope you like my story. Thank you for reading 😍