Our Married Life

36

Read more of my exclusive stories on Patreon and Facebook group! Message my Facebook Author profile Rej Martinez to join. Thank you!

Chapter 36

Baby

Nagising ako na nasa tabi ko na si Hale. And we were already in the hospital. Agad siguro akong sinugod dito nang mawalan ako ng malay sa bahay. Inisip ko ang mga huling pangyayari bago ako nawalan ng malay... Naalala ko na nandoon sa bahay namin si Ella at sinisigawan niya ako...

"Hale..." I called him. Nasa tabi lang siya ng hospital bed ko nakaupo doon at nakayuko. Pero hindi naman siya mukhang natutulog...

Nag-angat siya ng tingin sa akin. "Liz... How are you feeling? Are you all right now?" I can see his worry for me.

Tumango naman ako. "Ayos lang ako, Hale. Si Ella?" Naalala ko pa rin ang kapatid ko.

Nakita ko ang pag-igting ng panga ni Hale. "I already sent your sister to where they live. Hindi ko nagustuhan ang ginagawa niya sa 'yo kaninang naabutan ko, Liz. I made sure na hindi na siya uli makakalapit pa sa 'yo. She's not good for you especially now..." Bahagyang nanghina ang boses niya.

"She's asking for my help, Hale. And I can't help her the way she wants me to..."

Umiling si Hale at hinawakan ang kamay ko. "It's not your fault. They're just paying for what they did." he said.

Natuon naman sa kaniya ang atensyon ko.

"Truth is that... When we met at your house years back, I was actually on a mission to help my friend, Migo. As you know, he's a detective. Iniimbestigahan niya noon ang mga illegal na gawain ng pamilya mo... It was favor, and I went to Mr. Chavez as a potential business partner... And I'm glad I did helped Migo... Kasi nakilala kita, Liz." Hale gently smiled at me. Gumalaw din ang kamay niyang hawak ang kamay ko.

Habang bumukas naman ang bibig ko pero tahimik lang ako at medyo nalilito at nagugulat pa sa rebelasyon ni Hale ngayon sa akin...

"When I met you, pinaimbestigahan ko na rin na ako mismo ang pamilya mo... I wanted to know more about you, and for you."

"Doon ko nalaman kung paano ka pala nila tratuhin noon. And Mr. Chavez did not even send you to school..." His jaw clenched again. "It made me angry, Liz. I want to respect your father because he's still your parent. Pero sa tuwing naiisip ko ang ginawa nila sa 'yo... Nagagalit ako, Liz."

Bahagyang humigpit ang hawak ni Hale sa kamay ko. "And I promised myself na hindi ka na nila uli masasaktan pa... I'll make sure that I will be your family and I will give you a home. I couldn't believe what they did to you all those years..."

Nagsalita na rin ako sa wakas. Naintindihan ko na ang sinasabi ni Hale ngayon. Hindi ko pa rin inasahan ang ginawa niya, but it touched my heart that he's thoughtful enough to went all the trouble for me. Bahagya akong napangiti. "Kaya ba parang masyado kang maingat sa akin...?" I asked him. I realized that Hale was always gentle with me. And I was spoiled by his affection. He's always so thoughtful when it comes to me.

Bahagya na rin napangiti si Hale. "Because I love you. And I want to take care of you. And I hate your family para sa pagpapahirap nila sa 'yo noon."

Tumango ako kay Hale. "I understand... I want to help my family, Hale. Pero sa ibang paraan. Alam kong sapat ang mga ebidensya ni Detective Migo Peralta na nagpakulong kay Papa. Tutulong ako sa kanila sa ibang paraan. But I also think that Papa needs to pay the consequences of his bad actions..."

Tumango rin si Hale. "I hope you understand, Liz, that I can't let your family harm you again or worse endanger your life..." That's why he doesn't want me involved with the Chavezes. "But if you want to help them I will support you. After all they are still your family...so I understand."