Chasing sunsets

Chapter 19- Married

ELLA

"everything's settled?" Mommy asked

Tumango naman ako

Nasa kabilang kwarto ako, getting ready for our marriage

Today is the last date of the month

Also her last day

Naka prepare na rin kaming lahat

Sa possible na mangyayari after our wedding

"Gandang pogi besh ah" Alyssa smiled

I smiled back and nodded

"Saglit lang daw muna anak, Jema's having seizures pa daw" tatay said

Tumango naman ako

2-3 minutes yung seizures, Jema

Labanan mo yan

Ikakasal na tayo oh

"You may kiss your wife" the pastor said

I smiled and leaned closer

I gave a peck on Jema's lips

I smiled and hugged her

"I love you, my Mrs. De Jesus" sambit ko

I saw her nodded

Andun silang lahat sa baba, kumakain

I stayed here with Jema

"Hello wifey, Do you need anything?" I asked

She was about to vomit kaya kinuha ko yung planggana

She vomited, I carresed her back

"You good na love?" I said

I let Jema drink water muna

I held her hand and squeezed it

"Do you want to go to Elyu?" I asked

Tumango naman siya

"I'll ask permission muna kina mama and tatay ha? You stay here" sambit ko

I kissed her lips first before going down

"Mama, tatay" I called them

"Yes anak? bakit" mama said

"Gusto ko po sanang magpa alam, Pupunta po kasi kami ni Jema sa La union" sambit ko

"Oo naman anak, basta mag ingat kayo ng asawa mo dun ha?" sagot ni mama

Napa ngiti naman ako

Asawa

Asawa ko si Jema

Jema is a De Jesus

Nasa elyu na kami ni Jema

I brought a blanket at tsaka nilapag iyon sa sand

We sat there,naka higa naman si Jema sakin

Sakto ding sunset na

"G-ganda n-ng s-sunset" She softly said

I looked at Jema

I know what she meant

Ikinuyom ko ang kamao ko

"A-are you... A-are you tired na ba, wife?" I asked, trying not to broke down

"S-sobra..."she whispered

Pinipigilan ko ang sarili kong hindi umiyak

"T-thank you,f-for s-staying E-ella...P-pero..." I cut her off

"I love you wife,so much"I hugged her

I am already sobbing

"A-ayokong u-umalis na g-ganito ka"sambit niya

"P-pero paano?Love,masakit sakin eh... I've been holding it for the past few days. Everything was heavy,I lost dad last month,tapos ikaw? I-I can't...Love I can't"I said

I felt Jema's cold hands on my cheeks

"I-I have t-to g-go,e-ella...P-pakawalan m-mo n-na ako" nahihirapang sambit niya

"N-no, please. Wag muna, Jema" i sobbed

Niyakap ko lang siya ng mahigpit

Malapit na pa lang mag gabi

I felt Jema's breathing, parang unti unti na ding bumababa

"W-wife" I called

"L-love" She softly said

"I-I love you" Sambit ko

"P-please, l-let me go" sabi ni Jema

Hindi na ako nagsalita

Hinahayaan ko nalang na tumulo ang mga luha ko

I don't want her to leave

Can she just stay here?

"L-love" I cried

"I-I love y-you, s-so m-much E-ella" She softly said

I kissed her cheeks

"Y-you can rest now, m-my love... Y-you fought w-well, my bravest warrior" sambit ko

"T-thank y-you, s-sa lahat...A-and I-I'm s-sorry, I h-have t-to g-go" Sabi ni Jema

Hindi na ako nagsalita

Tuluyan ng dumilim ang paligid

Kasabay ng pag tigil ng tibok ng puso ni Jema

I hugged and cried, Even if her body's cold

"Jema" I cried

I kept on crying out her name

"J-jema" sambit ko

Payapa na siyang natulog

At hindi na ulit gigising pa

When we got home, I saw the st peter and sila mama, I cried inside the car

nasa back seat si Jema, lying down

Kumatok naman sila sa window

"Ella, anak" It was tatay

I wiped my tears at tsaka lumabas ng sasakyan

Niyakap naman ako ng mga magulang namin

Binuhos ko lahat ng iyak

"M-mama, w-wala na si J-jema" I sobbed

"A-ate...A-ate Jema" Mafe's crying

I hate this

Bakit ba ganito