Note. This is an updated and revised version of the story. Please do read it again if you like.
"We will what? I don't want to go back to the Philippines Axelle."
I gritted my teeth after what Axelle told me.
"Kahit na ayaw mo Xy. My decision is final. It's been five years, are you not ready to face him yet?"
May lungkot sa kanyang mga mata. I went near him and caress his cheek.
"What am I gonna do for you to believe I've lost all of my love to Nathaniel already?"
Tanong ko. Tinitigan niya akong mabuti bago magsalita.
"Dalawang bagay lang ang gusto kong gawin mo Xy."
Huminga ito ng malalim.
"Ano? Then tell me."
Tanong ko sa kagustuhan kong malaman ang dalawang bagay na iyon.
"First is, sasama kayo sa Pilipinas, face him Xyrene."
Napangiwi ako sa unang bagay na hiling. I don't like the idea. Napabuntunghininga ako.
"And the next thing is?"
I asked after. Napasinghap naman si Axelle bago sinabi ang pangalawang hiling.
"That is, to stop pretending that you have no feeling left for him anymore, because clearly, you still do. Okay?"
He said seriously as he looked at me straightly. Napasinghap ako. Mariin kong ipinikit ang aking mga mata. Naramdaman ko ang masuyong halik niya sa aking noo bago niyakap ng mahigpit, hindi pa man ako nagsasalita.
"I want to own you completely, love. This is the only way for us to finally be together without your past haunting you back."
Masuyong dugtong pa niya sa akin. God! Why is he doing this to me! He's too good to be true! Unti unti kong inangat ang aking kamay para suklian ang yakap niya. Huminga ako ng malalim at nagsalita.
"Is this the only assurance for you to believe and trust me Axelle?"
Marahas siyang napasinghap at humiwalay bahagya sa yakapan namin. Dinungaw niya ako. Malungkot akong ngumiti bago hinaplos ang kanyang pisngi.
"No love, it is your assurance that you are ready for us. I want you to be my wife but I know I can only do that if you make peace with your past."
Namumula na ang kanyang mga mata dahil sa mga nagbabadyang luha pero pinipilit niyang magpakatatag. Niyakap ko siya muli ng mahigpit.
"Okay. We will go to the Philippines then."
Suminghap siya sa naging desisyon ko bago ako niyakap pabalik, mas mahigpit.
"Thank you. I love you so much."
Napangiti ako sa narinig.
"I love you."
Sagot ko pabalik.
"Mama!Papa!"
Masayang nagtatakbo palapit si Oliver sa aming dalawa. Naghiwalay kami ng yakap at parehong yumuko. Nakatungo ito at mukhang naghihintay na buhatin ni Axelle. ang bata. Axelle sweetly smiled at him and carried him in his arms.
"Here you go buddy. Ugh. You're too heavy now."
Oliver is turning ten years old now kaya talagang bibigat na ito. Napangiti naman ako lalo noong makitang nakakunot noo ang anak ko.
"Really now pa?"
Tila hindi pa masayang tanong niya. Ayaw maniwala sa pinagsasabi ni Axelle.
"But my classmate told me I lost weight after I got sick last month."
