The Ruins of Winter

Chapter 37

Chapter 37

"Yuri, can I ask you a favor?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"Ano iyon?" he asked, looking intently at me before sipping his coffee. Nandito kami ngayon sa Starbucks malapit sa ospital. Juan Luis is with Isaiah, dahil wala siyang pasok, siya na muna ang nagbantay habang nagpaalam ako na kakausapin ko si Yuri. Ice will be discharged tomorrow.

"Pupwede bang... matapos muna ang hearing ni Tain bago kayo magkita ni Ice?" tanong ko. Napahinto si Yuri. I know that this is probably too much but I don't want to add to JL's pain right now. Alam kong hindi naman dapat ito madamay sa bagay na iyon but...

"Bakit?" Yuri asked.

"Una, baka mas okay kung magpa-DNA test na muna tayo." paliwanag ko sa kanya, "Pangalawa-"

"This is about Juan Luis, right?" he asked, "Erys, believe me, I won't force you to be with me. Kahit gusto ko, hindi kita pipilitin dahil naiintindihan ko na ang mga nangyari sa atin noon ay hindi naman sapat na rason para maging pamilya tayo. We can be civil. But... I know that Isaiah is my son. I feel it here,"

Iyon rin ang nararamdaman ko. Pero iba ang nararamdaman ni Juan Luis. Kaya hindi namin pwedeng ibase sa mga nararamdaman namin ang mga ganitong bagay... because humans feel what they want to feel. Humans base their decisions to their feelings way too much.

"Yuri, it's better that way." sagot ko, "Respeto na rin sa mga magulang mo. Do they even know that you have a son?"

He sighed and shook his head, "I am planning to tell them already. But I'm sure that Ice will receive so much love from my family, Erys. I know the truth. I feel it here. Hindi namin kailangang mag-away ni Juan Luis dahil ako ang tatay ng anak ko."

"Hindi ko sinabing mag-away kayo." I said, "I just want us to be sure."

"Do you really want to do it then?" he asked.

Tumango ako sa kanya, "After Tain's trial. After all of this, Yuri... pupwede ba? Is it not too much to ask for that?"

He gave me a small smile, "Yes, it's too much. Pero sige, dahil iyan ang gusto mo. You are Isaiah's mother and I will never speak over you because I know that you know the situation better then I'll respect your decision. I'll always respect your decision."

"I'm sorry."

Yuri is true to his words. Hindi natuloy ang pagkikita nila dahil sa pakikiusap ko. But one thing's for sure, Isaiah is going home. After all the trials we had to endure, he's finally going home. Alive and well.

"Thank you, Dr. Ivo," Isaiah reached for Dr. Vazquez, hugging him with his small arms with all his might to give his gratitude.

"Thank you for being strong, Ice." Dr. Vazquez chuckled. May kinuha siya sa bulsa at ibinigay sa anak ko. It's a little heart keychain, gold plated, he says, "I give this to my patients as a way for me to thank them for being strong."

Parang nakita ko na ang disenyo ng keychain na iyon sa office niya. I recall a painting in his office with almost the same design, the difference is the painting has a baby figure inside the heart. Isang sanggol na nakakonekta at nasa loob ng puso. It must really hold a very deep meaning for our doctor.

"Everything is settled." Luis approached us, "I contacted him."

By him, he's talking about Yuri who still paid for everything. Hindi na kami nakipagtalo sa kanya dahil alam naming hindi naman kami mananalo. It's the least thing he could do for the meantime, he said. At hindi ko na magawang hindi-an dahil iyon lang rin ang pwede niyang gawin sa ngayon. Yuri has been very understanding of me and my decisions.