CAPTAIN
Matapos ang tatlong araw na pananatili ko sa ospital, finally nakauwi na ako. Sabi ni Dennise pinakuha niya raw muna yung mga aso kay Deb and Aries. Baka raw kasi manggulo lang sa akin. Nagtataka nga ako, bakit naman manggugulo ang mga anak ko? Pero anyways, kung ano ang sabihin ni Misis——yun nalang ang sundin.
"WELCOME HOME, CAPTAIN!!!!" I got startled when I hear greetings when I finally reached the house. Well, I am still in my wheelchair because I have to.
The gang is here. Nag-abala pa talaga, akala mo naman birthday ko. I thanked them all. I can feel the love, somehow blessed pa rin talaga ako kahit may mga ugali sila 'no?
"Welcome home ulit, pare! Try mo nga tumayo." saad ni Anton tapos ay pakunyari akong hinila. Dennise pinched him slightly on the waist.
"YEEEHEEES! Nakabalik na siya, o. By the way, may bayad 'tong mga food a. Bayaran mo nalang kapag magaling ka na Bale..." Frank fished out a long piece of paper, pretending to read all of those.
"....10,890 pesos lahat." he added. Jill rolled her eyes in annoyance.
" 'Di na no! Oorder nalang ako sa fast food kaysa kumain ng napakamahal niyong pagkain. Mga garapal kayo." I told them. The gang laughed, pati sina Manang nakisabay na rin.
Dennise kneels down, gently holding my face,"Are you sure you're fine? Do you wanna rest? We can go upstairs."
I shook my head, "I am fine, mahal. Don't worry. Tsaka I love to see them here. Ikaw? Hungry ka na? I'll get you food."
Dennise giggles, playfully tapping my shoulders. "Ang yabang. Kaya mo ba? Huwag na. Ako nalang, stay put ka lang 'diyan."
Eto talagang asawa ko...Ano kala niya sa akin? Lumpo? Masakit lang ang katawan ko pero kaya ko naman tumayo no!
Dennise came back with food in her. I told her, I am not hungry yet kaya siya nalang daw muna. Tumabi lang siya sa akin habang kumakain. Tapos ako, tinitingnan ko lang siya.
"You're distracting me," she hissed. I smiled automatically. She gained weight, her cheeks turned a little bigger. Pero hindi naman sobra, she's still exquisitely beautiful. "I know pumapangit ako—"
"Huh?" I asked. She put down her plate and pouts. "Ano? Anong pumapangit?" tanong ko ulit.
She heaved a sigh, "E kasi...parang iba ka na tumitig. Parang, parang napapangitan ka na sa akin—dahil ba tumaba ako? Or...basta pumangit?"
I looked around first. Lahat naman sila nasa pool area, kami lang ni Dennise ang nandito sa dining kaya safe kami sa asaran.
I turned back my attention to her, "It's not what you think, mahal. Okay, let's say you gained weight, some of your facial features did change—but hey, you are still so sooo pretty. You are still my wife. And I love you..." I told her, genuinely.
Do I make her feel bad because of that stare?
She bit her lower lip. Her eyes close to crying, "Pasensiya na. Sobrang overacting. I'm just scared na baka kapag nagbago ang itsura ko, magbago na rin ang love mo for me. I don't want that."
