In the Heart of Horizon (Sunset Avenues #4)

Chapter 47

Chapter 47

Island 

 "I promise."

Those two words echoed like they were meant to be ingrained in my memory. I touched my husband's face that time. Words hadn't escaped my lips but my gaze was trusting. Pipilitin ko ang sariling magtiwala kahit pakiramdam ko nga ay onti-onti na ring nahuhulog ang haliging iyon.

Make me understand.. I whispered as I caressed his jaw. Hinuli niya ang aking kamay na marahang humahaplos sa kan'yang panga. Hinalikan niya nang marahan. Binabawi ng halik ang aking paghaplos.

Bumungad sa akin ang hubad na likod ni Vance. Ang planong huwag pakausap sa kaniya ay nawala ng parang bula nang makita ko siya, he seems so weary and looking at the vast ocean.

Miski ang paglabas ko ng silid ay hindi niya napansin. I bit my lips. I wanted to ask him what exactly was happening but I couldn't seem to talk. Bumalik na lang ako sa silid na mabigat ang aking dibdib.

I caressed my tummy as I tried to succumb to sleep.

Baby, maaayos din ang lahat okay? Aayusin ni mommy..at daddy.

Lumundo ang kama, hudyat na sumampa si Vance. Nakapikit pa rin ang aking mata nang iikot niya ang kan'yang braso sa aking tiyan. Inunan niya ako habang marahan niyang hinahaplos ang aking ulo. I was pretending the whole time that I was asleep. I was so thankful that the lights were already off. Sunod kong naramdaman ang paghalik at paghaplos niya sa aking tiyan.

Pinigil ko ang sariling huwag mapahikbi.

Paano kung maling desisyon pa pala ito?

Paano kung hindi ito ang pinili namin una pa lang? What if we stayed on our ordeal? Perhaps, he would marry Angela once her contract ends. It would have been easy to accept.. and walk away and consider all these as a taste of my medicine. However, I couldn't seem to imagine what life would be like in the next few days without him.

I have faith in him.

But what if he chooses to have us abroad because he'd eventually fix whatever there is to fix between the Viveros and Mejias? Ayoko mang mag-isip nang ganoon pero hindi pabor sa aming dalawa ang pamilya niya. Matindi ang disgusto sa akin ng lola niya. I have also disappointed his family a decade ago. It wasn't us from the very beginning.

Alin ang mas magulo? Which path shall we take, na kahit hindi na kami, basta ang mga anak namin ang hindi masaktan?

Hindi ko magawang isatinig iyon sa kaniya. I was comforted by his warm embrace, but my heart couldn't be stilled. My mind wouldn't just stop running. Alam ko ring ang lahat ng negatibong emosyon na aking nararamdaman ay nakakasama na sa buhay na nasa sinapupunan ko.

Natigilan ako sa pag-iisip nang maramdaman ko siya sa aking tiyan. May mainit na bagay na humaplos sa puso ko.

Can you feel that, baby? That's your daddy.

"Huwag mong pahirapan si mommy, hm? Mahal na mahal kita, ang kuya mo, at ang mommy mo. I promise I'll be there to watch your first step, bagay na hindi ko nagawa sa kuya mo.. I promise I'd build the father that you both deserve to have.. so you wouldn't experience what I and your mom experienced when we were young.."

That made my tears fall. I tried it so bad not to envelop him in my arms. Kapag ginawa ko iyon, malalaman niyang gising pa ako at naririnig ko ang lahat ng sinasabi niya.

May mga gabi simula noong nalaman naming buntis ako na nararamdaman ko siyang nakikipag-usap sa aking tiyan. Itinataon niya iyon sa tuwing tulog na ako.

Hindi niya lang alam.. On those nights, I'd pretend to be asleep just so I could hear him talk to our baby. He'd always tell us our plans, our travels together, the things that we want to do as family.. Bagay na hindi niya naranasan noon..