Bouquet of Heartbreaks (Fitzmael 5)

10: Thrice The Love

"Please, take care, okay?" sabi ni Cedar nang matapos niya akong yakapin. Siya ang naghatid sa amin sa airport.

Ngumiti ako sa kanya at tumango. "Bisitahin mo ako, ah!"

He chuckled. "I will. Promise," he said, nodding.

Ilang minuto ang nagdaan nang pumasok na kami sa private plane.

"Nagugutom ako," I said.

"May dadating pagkain mamaya-maya. Hinahanda pa ng crew," ani Ren.

"Thank you," I said then I opened the small monitor to watch some anime.

"What are you watching?" tanong ni Catmint habang nakatingin sa pinapanuod ko.

"Bungou Stray Dogs," I uttered.

Nanliit ang kanyang mata. "Is that about stray dogs? I didn't see any dogs," aniya.

I glared at her. "Hindi 'yan tungkol sa aso. Manuod ka na lang."

Kinalaunan ay nakita ko ang papalapit na crew na mayroong dalang mga pagkain. Nanubig ang aking bibig nang makita ang chicken adobo, watermelon, banana, siomai at coconut water.

"Wow!" I uttered.

Nakita ko ang malawak na ngiti ni Ren. "Kain na tayo," aniya.

Masaya akong kumakain nang makaramdam ako ng pagduwal.

"Okay ka lang?" pag-aalala ni Catmint.

I nodded. "Hindi ko alam. Masarap naman ang kinakain natin pero lagi talaga akong naduduwal kapag malapit na akong matapos sa pagkain."

Ren's forehead creased. "Kailan mo pa 'yan nararanasan?"

Napaisip ako. Napalunok ako dahil naaalala ko na naman si Erazius.

"After Erazius and I broke up, nagsimula na akong mag ganito. Hindi ko alam. Dati naman nakakatatlong plato pa nga ako pero ngayon kahit isang serve pa lang parang busog na ang tiyan ko kahit gutom ako. Does it make sense?"

Ren nodded. "Hindi naman ganyan ang symptoms ng pregnancy."

"You're not depressed, are you?" pag-aalalang tanong ni Catmint.

"Huh?"

"Kasi 'di ba you've been down these past couple of days. Baka factor 'yon kung bakit nagkakaganyan ka?"

I immediately shook my head. "Nah. I'm not depressed."

"Sure ka ba?"

I nodded. "Bakit naman ako ma-de-depress? Eh, may triplets naman ako."

Bumagsak ang balikat ni Ren. "That's not how it works," he said, sipping a coffee.

Catmint cleared her throat. "You've been feeling down when Ren left. You were heartbroken. You started to doubt yourself and Erazius was the only person who understands you for months. He was your safe haven, your comfort zone and when he left, you felt empty."

I nodded.

I tried to take a bite of my food. I was forcing myself to finish eating them all. I want my triplets to be healthy.

She tucked her hair behind her ear. "Erazius was your world, Lilac. I've witnessed your love story. And I know it's hard for you, especially when it all happened two or three days ago. I know you're blaming yourself all over again."

She was right.

"Yes, your pregnancy is good news but it doesn't change the fact that you're still broken. You don't have to hide it with us. You can lean on us, Lilac. They hurt you-Zius, our parents... This and the next years will be hard for you but I'll do everything to make you feel that you're not lonely," she said, sighing.