Against All Odds | ✓

Chapter 35

Chapter 35. [Last chapter]
 
 

After that day, we bought a house together. Ang kasal din namin ay after the board exam, and we’re preparing for it.
 
Abala rin kami ngayon ni Jaziel sa pagre-review para sa board exam namin. Three times a week kami kung magkita pero okay lang naman sa kaniya iyon. Maging sa akin.
 
Because if he’s with me the whole day, lalandiin lang ako no’n at wala na kaming matatapos. Kaya tinitiis ko talaga na ilang araw siyang hindi makita dahil may mga pangarap pa kaming dapat abutin.
 
“Xachi, I brought something.” Speaking of. Lumingon ako at sinalubong agad ako ng mga halik niya.
 
“Aga-aga, ha,” pang-aasar ko sa kaniya.
 
“Your favorite donut with a twist,” said Aniya.
 
He sat in front of me. “Twist?”
 
He slightly nodded. “I’m the baker. Tinuruan ako ni mama Xiara para makuha ang timpla ng gusto mong donut,” he said proudly.
 
“Let me taste. I’m the judge!”
 
Binuksan niya ang kahon ng donut at inusog sa nay harapan ko. Kumuha ako ng isang piraso at tinikman iyon. Sa bawat pagnguya at siya ring lasap ko ng linamnam.
 
“It’s more cremier than usual. Saka mas maraming strawberry syrup?”
 
“Yup! Sabi ni tita ay madalas mo raw hanapin iyon.”
 
“Masarap siya. Pero gusto ko pa rin ang original. Mommy’s made,” I told him.
 
He laughed. “I know that nothing can beat mom’s. So yeah, I understand.”
 
Kumuha pa ako ng isa. “Pero masarap talaga siya, ah!” sabi ko.
 
“It’s all yours, Xachi. Eat more.”
 
He became more sweet than usual. Napansin ko rin na mas sumaya siya. Natutuwa naman ako dahil makita lang siya na masaya na makita ang mga magulang niyang magkasama. Their relationship became stronger, and I love how they faced the struggles.
 
Nagkaroon kami ng 2 days rest from review, kaya nag-decide kami na dalawin ang mga kaibigan namin sa La Union. This time ay pumayag na sila dahil hindi na gaanong busy.
 
“Chim!” sigaw agad ni Ayel at tumakbo papunta sa akin. Niyakap niya ako kaagad. “Na-miss kita...” Tumingin siya kay Jaziel na nasa tabi ko. “‘Wag ka na.”
 
Natawa naman kaming tatlo dahil sa kaniyang inasta. Biruan na talaga nila, ‘yang mga ganiyan.
 
“Love!”
 
Sabay-sabay kaming napatingin sa main door. Nandito kami sa bahay nina Ayel at kitang-kita naman na ang saya sa mukha niya.
 
“Hi, love.”
 
My lips parted in surprise as I caught sight of a familiar figure—it was Lander. Ayel hurried towards him, planting a kiss on his cheek. My gaze shifted to Jaziel.
 
“Are they in a relationship?” I began.
 
“I'm not sure,” he replied with a shrug. “But I think so, yeah.”
 
I covered my mouth in surprise. Since when? So many things have happened! They approached us, arms wrapped around each other.
 
“So, you guys are together now?” I inquired.
 
“No’ng college lang! Akala ko no’ng una ay kinakaibigan lang ako. Tapos biglang umamin,” Ayel chuckled, recounting the story to us.
 
We settled on the sofa, awaiting Karla’s arrival. Ayel and I sat side by side while the guys were busy in the kitchen, preparing our meal. The room was filled with laughter and the familiar warmth of reunited friends catching up on old times.
 
“Girls!”
 
Sabay kaming napatayo ni Ayel nang dumating na si Karla. “I miss you, guys! "Aniya at sabay yakap sa aming dalawa.
 
She’s with her boyfriend, Jaspher.
 
“Hi, Chim.” I waved my hands at him. “Nasaan sila?”
 
“Sa kusina. Puntahan mo na lang,” sagot ko.
 
Sabay-sabay kaming naupo at napangiti na lang ako nang makita silang masasaya sila sa nga buhay nila. Wala na talaga akong naging balita sa kanila,.
 
I learned that Karla graduated with a BSED major in English, while Ayel graduated with a BS nursing. Si Karla at Jaspher ay matagal na talaga at hindi sila naghiwalay. Plano na rin nilang magpakasal. Samantalang si Ayel at Lander ay travel travel daw muna sila.
 
“Taray, ganda ng singsing,” puna ni Karla sa singsing na nasa kamay ko.
 
“Naku! Ikakasal ka na rin?” tanong naman ni Ayel.
 
I shyly smiled at them. “Oo, eh.”
 
“Darating din ako diyan, wait n’yo lang!” saad ni Ayel.
 
I tapped her shoulder. “Oo naman.”
 
Inaya na rin kami ng boys sa dining area. Para pa silang nagkakagulo. Nang umupo na si Ayel ay nagulat na lang kami na nakaluhod na sa gilid niya si Lander habang may kahon ng singsing.
 
Grabe!
 
Naramdaman ko ang kamay ni Jaziel sa may bewang ko. I smiled at him and hugged him. “I’m happy to witness this proposal.”
 
Maluha-luhang humarap sa amin si Ayel nang isuot na sa kaniya ang singsing. Itinaas niya ang kaniyang kamay para ipakita ang kaniyang singsing.
 
“Girls, sabay-sabay na tayong ikakasal!”
 
After, we had a mini-celebration for 2 days. We decided to go back to the city.
 
“Excited na akong pakasalan ka, Xachi,” sabi sa akin ng fiancé ko. We’re here at his car, and he’s driving.
 
“Alam ko. Ako rin kaya. How many children do you want?” I asked him casually.
 
He held my hand. “Do you want a child?”
 
My brows furrowed because of his question. Ayaw niya bang magkaanak kaming dalawa?
 
“Kung may chance. Ayaw mo ba?” tanong ko kaagad.
 
“I just want to make sure that you want to have a child. You will be the one who carries our children. Your decision is important here. I want to have children with you, but if you don’t want it, I will respect your decision.”
 
I kissed him on the cheeks. “Oo naman, Jaziel. Bakit naman hindi, ‘di ba? I hope mabigyan tayo after marriage.”
 
He smiled while driving. “Hopefully. I love you so much.”
 
Napatingin ako sa harapan ng aming kotse. Medyo madilim dito, pero kakaunti lang ang mga sasakyan na dumadaan.
 
A deafening horn shattered the silence, causing me to cry out in alarm, followed by a blinding burst of light that left us disoriented.

I lost track of everything; it was as if the world around us was whirling uncontrollably. Gradually, aches and pains gripped my entire body.
 
As consciousness crept back, I found myself lying on the road. Jaziel lay close by, unmoving, blood trickling from a wound on his head.
 
“J-Jaziel,” I murmured weakly, my voice barely audible.
 
I closed my eyes for a short moment, trying to understand what was going on. Suddenly, a strong pain made me snap back to the present. When I opened my eyes once more, I saw many people gathering around us.

They had worried looks on their faces, leaning in to see if we were okay. All the cars on the road had stopped, and the people inside were looking out, wanting to help however they could.
 
The sight of Jaziel lying on the other side, unconscious, pierced my heart, and tears flowed uncontrollably down my cheeks.

Memories flooded my mind—the day we first met, the moments of shared laughter, and our special times together. It was all about him; he was my world, and I yearned for more moments in his presence.
 
In the middle of feeling sorrow, tears kept rolling down my cheeks as I remembered all the things that happened in my life—happy times, sad times, and everything else. In that quick moment, I almost said goodbye to life.

With a faint smile, I closed my eyes, allowing a gentle sigh to escape my lips. In that fleeting moment...
 
I wish there’s another life wherein me and Jaziel have a chance to fight against all odds.
 
 
 
 

 
 
 

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✓JonalynYan